Eric E. Wright
Eric E. Wright has two pieces in Hot Apple Cider. The first, on page 61, is "The Neatness Wars," a short personal experience story from the viewp[oint of a husband who likes his things visible while his wife prefers everything neatly put away. The second, "The Pink Blossom," on page 230, is a short story about an elderly man who is wondering if he may have made a mistake in judgment years earlier.
Eric E. Wright studied forestry at the University of Toronto. Following his conversion, however, the Lord called him into missionary service. While at Columbia International University in South Carolina, he met and married Mary Helen. Together, they served in Pakistan for 16 years with International Christian Fellowship, an SIM affiliated mission. In Pakistan, he was the co-founder of the Open Theological Seminary, an extension training school now serving well over 1000 students.
Upon return to Canada, he pastored Long Branch Baptist Church in Toronto for nine years and taught missions at Toronto Baptist Seminary. In 1991, they moved to a country home. Since then he has served as interim pastor of a number of churches and focused on writing.
Eric is the editor of the Fellowship LINK magazine. Eight of his books have been published, including Church—No Spectator Sport, Revolutionary Forgiveness, a novel The Lightning File, and his recent devotional book, Down a Country Road. Eric and Mary Helen have three married children, all active in their churches, and nine grandchildren.
Hot Apple Cider came together in a rather unusual way. What made you want to have your work in it?
The huge readership potential of Hot Apple Cider. Although I believe God has led me in writing books that can serve His people, I’ve been stymied when it comes to their distribution. Hot Apple Cider enabled me to make more potential customers aware of my existence.
This book is 100% Canadian. Canadian authors, publisher, printer—everything. Is that important to you?
Yes, because Canadian Christian writers are very under-represented in the North American market…an oversight that needs to be addressed, not by becoming Americanized but retaining Canadian identity.
In her foreword for Hot Apple Cider, Janette Oke mentions that writers are often asked, “Why do you write?” How do you respond to that question?
God created me with a teaching gift. As a result it has ever been my goal to make biblical truth interesting, relevant, understandable, and transforming. So, I write to inspire people to find in the Scriptures that which answers the great questions of life and grips their heart with love for Christ.
I believe you began writing to create educational materials while you were on the mission field – was it in Pakistan? And you have several “teaching” nonfiction books that also came out of your missionary and pastoral days. But your last three books consist of two devotionals and a novel about terrorists in Canada. What made you change your writing style?
Yes, it was in Pakistan where I wrote six self-teaching textbooks for extension training of Christians. From the beginning of my writing, for example—writing missionary letters—it has been my goal to write in an engaging and interesting way. Few will read what is not interesting, even entertaining. Over the years I’ve sought to engage people where they are, lead them from the known to the unknown. Two of my last three books, including Through a Country Window, draw lessons from what is fascinating about country life: the weather, the seasons, the flora, the fauna. They have been very well received, even by non-Christians.
I’ve always had a desire to communicate with the unchurched. A neighbour, when he saw my book, Revolutionary Forgiveness, asked me why I don’t write about forgiveness in story form. And it is true, everyone loves a story while few enjoy reading tomes of theology. That crystallized a desire I’d had to write a novel that would be enjoyed by all, but gently touch on eternal verities. The Lightning File has been well received and now its sequel, The Captives of Minara is being published.
Would you say there’s a central theme that runs through your books, or do they go off in a variety of directions?
They go off in different directions, and all seek to make biblical truth simple, interesting, and relevant.
What would you say are the differences between writing non-fiction, devotionals, and novels?
My non-fiction starts with a life problem, for example, forgiveness, and seeks to bring all the relevant biblical material together in a logical and relevant way. Hence my non-fiction requires careful biblical research, study and outlining. I’m able to lay out the whole book in a logical way before I write.
My devotions, on the other hand, start with interesting facts or events that take place around me in nature, and in the county where we live. They suggest to me a spiritual lesson that leads me to dip into the Bible for relevant truths. For example, Jesus taught about salt and light and water and trees.
My novels begin with an intriguing idea, newspaper clippings, overheard conversations on the train, etc. Then I imagine a cast of characters and begin to lay out a plot. Although I may have a general idea of where the book is going, the direction often changes as I write. Some new character appears. Some unexpected plot twist occurs to me. It’s almost as if the main character is leading me by the nose. And of course, as with all my books, extensive revision is required.
Do you ever get the impression some people don’t take your novel as seriously as your other books? In your mind, is it purely entertainment, or does it also have a teaching component?
Yes, that’s true. Especially from men in general and Christian men in particular who look more for enlightening content rather than entertainment. Yet in my novels I have a teaching component. For example, in my new book, Captives of Minara, I want to introduce people to the rich culture of Pakistan—a country most have distorted views of; and to make people aware of the scourge of slavery, the struggles of women in Muslim cultures, and the challenges of churches in those places.
You have also been the editor of Fellowship Link for a time. Has editing the magazine given you a different perspective on your own writing, or did you find it a natural progression?
Since self-editing is a vital part of writing, editing the magazine came as somewhat of a natural progression. However, it has helped me to write tighter prose to deadlines since we’re always working with article word limits. It has also given me greater understanding of the financial challenges a small magazine has just to survive.
At this point, you’re essentially retired from pastoral ministry and can actually focus on the writing. What is a typical week like for you?
Five days out of seven, I try to walk with Mary Helen for 30 minutes, have a leisurely devotional time and then spent the rest of the morning (about 9:30 to 12:30) doing creative writing. However, every week a day or two is interrupted by a variety of things: medical appointments, preparation to teach for Sunday school or home Bible studies, etc. Afternoon, following a nap, I try to catch up on revision of my writing, accounts, e-mail, etc., etc. Saturdays I try to give to work around the house and in the garden. Sundays I set aside for church and rest and inspirational reading.
I’m assuming you get feedback from a lot of people because of the nature of your books, and feedback is great for the author – you know someone is actually reading your words! But I’m wondering if you’ve learned anything from your readers that you could share with us?
Of relevance to Canadian writers; many readers love being able to identify local landmarks, towns, etc.
I’ve also learned to be more concise. If written today, I’d shorten some of my earlier writing.
Aside from your own pieces, is there a particular piece or thought in Hot Apple Cider that stood out for you?
It’s hard to pinpoint any one piece. I loved them all. I was touched by Angelina Fast-Vlaar’s write-up of her experience in Australia; thought Keith Clemon’s piece really good, and laughed at Brian Austin’s poem about Nitro.
A lot of people want to share their stories in order to help others. What advice do you have for someone who wants to write but doesn’t know how to begin?
Start small; a one page story. Join a writer’s group and encourage the members to give helpful critiques. Try to get your story published in a magazine. Go to a workshop such as those put on by The Word Guild. Read a lot of books and short stories.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve just finished the copy edit of A Practical Theology of Missions, a textbook tackling everything about missions with real life vignettes after each section. This should come out from Day One Publishers in early 2010. My book, Captives of Minara, should be coming out from Word Alive Press before Christmas. So I will be very busy in promotion of that book through Christmas. In terms of writing, I’m working on a suspense novel set on St. Simons Island, Georgia.
What is your prayer for the readers of Hot Apple Cider?
At a recent fall fair, I ran into a few people who have the book but have not read it. My prayer is that those who have it will read a chapter a day and be blessed by the descriptions of God’s love and providence.
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