Writing Through Your Pain

Finding clean, wholesome fiction in a world filled with explicit content can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. That's why the story behind Denise Clanin's debut novel "Among the Stars" is so inspiring – it represents a triumph of creativity and a beautiful testimony of faith through suffering.

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WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE?

• Denise's journey to becoming a published author is intertwined with her family's story of loss and resilience. Her older brother was diagnosed with a rare condition called NF2 (Neurofibromatosis Type 2) at just eleven years old. This chronic disease causes tumors to grow throughout the body with no cure available. Despite facing this devastating diagnosis, Denise's family maintained their strong Christian faith, choosing to focus on creating beautiful memories together rather than dwelling on the uncertainty of their future. They participated in charity events for the Children's Tumor Foundation, went on family vacations, and celebrated life's moments while they could. Her brother maintained his contagious sense of humor even as the disease gradually took away his abilities to hear, speak clearly, and see well.
• The writing process for Denise began long before her brother's passing. Like many writers, she started crafting stories as a child, stapling pieces of paper together and filling them with her imagination. Though she always dreamed of publishing a novel someday, life initially took her down a different path, pursuing an accounting degree in college. It wasn't until after her son was born that she found small pockets of time during his naps to write what would eventually become her published work. What started as scattered ideas and bullet-point outlines gradually transformed into a complete manuscript. Denise describes her writing process as organic – writing scenes out of order when inspiration struck, then connecting the pieces over time.
• What makes "Among the Stars" particularly meaningful is how Denise has woven tributes to her brother throughout the narrative. She dedicated the book to him and included "Easter eggs" referencing his hobbies and interests. It's a beautiful way of preserving his memory and celebrating their time together. The novel is categorized as "new adult" fiction (aimed at readers 18-25). It combines mystery, romance, and themes of connection, not just romantic relationships but also the importance of community, friendship, and family bonds.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

For Denise, publishing her work was both exciting and nerve-wracking. She approached the writing process with authenticity, creating the kind of book she would want to read rather than trying to cater to what she thought would sell. This philosophy echoes what many Christian content creators face – the challenge of producing work that upholds their values while still engaging audiences. As she puts it metaphorically, publishing is like "throwing a bowling ball" – you can't control where it goes once it's released. It's in God's hands now, both scary and reassuring.

Our conversation highlights an essential point about Christian fiction – it doesn't have to be cheesy or predictable to be wholesome. Quality storytelling that avoids explicit content is possible and needed in today's literary landscape. Authors like Denise Clanin are fresh air for readers tired of sifting through inappropriate content to find a good mystery or romance. Her story reminds us that sometimes the most powerful testimony isn't just in the content we create, but in the journey that brought us to make it.