Beau Cornerstone

*Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labelled, "This could change your life!"*

Gidday from Downunder!
I produce educational resources for teachers, home-schooling families and distance education students. I also proofread manuscripts and teach students to improve their essays. And I write inspirational fiction and non-fiction for young adults.
The e-fiction I have up on Smashwords at present is for readers who like thought-provoking, coming-of-age stories with a Christian vein.

Some of my inspirational writing has been published in print format by traditional publishers. There is a place for printed books and magazines. However Smashwords is unique because it gives an author the freedom to be highly creative in their genre. An author can include dialogue between characters which will never be censored by an editor. The eBook might be labelled avant-garde by a mainstream publisher. But from the reader’s perspective it’s enjoyably different and potentially liberating.

What’s compelled me to write avant-garde Christian fiction?

I managed an Aussie Christian bookshop for a number of years and I remember the types of Christian books customers wanted. Often they were too risky for a traditional Christian publisher to print for a variety of reasons. Yet customers wanted to buy these types of books for themselves, their children or their grandchildren.

I was particularly disappointed by the books that were on the market for Christian teens at the time. The cookie-cut college characters in the fiction books were so unobjectionable… they had clear complexions, pure thoughts and perfect partners. Meanwhile my pimple-faced, teen customers were sneakily reading the books on sex and depression from the counselling section (I knew this because I had to put the books back on the shelves after they left).

As I’ve penned the Rebelutionaries series, I’ve kept in mind that my target audience are intrigued... interested... know-it-all... and sometimes bashful about their growing bodies and s-e-x. So the teenage characters in my books are intrigued, interested, know-it-all and sometimes bashful too.

Why do I enjoy publishing through Smashwords?
When I managed the shop, Christian books were mega-expensive. Even though we sold our books below recommended retail price, I knew that many people had to settle for buying something on sale rather than what they wanted. And seeing a customer leaving empty handed when I knew they wanted to buy a particular book really irked me...

These are the days of recession, so it's more important than ever for writers and authors to provide affordable (even free) quality reading material to their readers. Fortunately this can be achieved through Smashwords.

Before I read a book, I like to have a feel for where the author is spiritually. If you'd like to sus me out a bit more, find out the themes I address in my inspirational fiction or read about the facts which inspires each fiction eBook, check out my blog - http://beaucornerstone.blogspot.com.au/ Also check out my website - https://sites.google.com/site/proofreadingandwriting/ for samples of the educational resources which will eventually be available here on Smashwords.
Beau

Website: https://sites.google.com/site/proofreadingandwriting/
Blog: http://beaucornerstone.blogspot.com.au/

adventure    alternative technologies    australian    christian    christian fiction    clean romance    coming of age    conspiracy theories    creation    homeschool    homeschool resources    inspirational    inventions    leadership    rebelutionaries    reluctant readers    sex education    teens and young adults    time travel    ya fiction    young adult