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The Affirming Faith Community
bacon grief follows a pair of young men whose online meeting ignites a journey of self-discovery and acceptance amidst the challenges of reconciling their identities with their faith and societal expectations. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I like to say the story is forty percent true. In other words, my now husband and I met online and went through some of the journeys that Tim and Charlie go through in the book. Fictionalized memoir in that way, I suppose.
Charlie and Tim are intriguing and well-developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
To my knowledge, bacon grief is one of the only works of fiction for teens and tweens to celebrate and affirm both faith and sexuality. In most of the works for this age group and, honestly, for adults as well, faith is a common thread that LGBTQIA+ people tend to walk away from. Which is totally fine, it’s part of their story. But it isn’t my experience, and I knew there were others. Gratefully, the affirming faith community seems to be trending upward and so queer people that want faith can more easily find it. I think that’s Tim and Charlie’s experience also.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I think I’m mostly trying to put a humorous book out into the universe that is geared towards reluctant readers that will hopefully allow queer teens and tweens of faith to find themselves. I tried not to be overly didactic, but I did long for readers to feel accepted by the book and, hopefully, by a community of believers outside of it.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My picture book debut, Silas on Sundays, arrives June 4 from Wildling Press. It is a return to these themes but from a younger perspective. Silas is a gender nonconforming child with accepting parents and, ultimately, they find an affirming faith community. It’s dedicated to Nex Benedict.
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After meeting online and given the green light to attend a youth group at another church, Tim and Charlie become fast friends with more and more in common. When they consider more than friendship, Tim is faced with his reality and the choice to reconcile faith and sexuality or walk away from it all.
Bacon Grief
In Bacon Grief, author Joel Shoemaker skillfully navigates the intersection of faith, sexuality, and the tumultuous journey of self-discovery. We’re introduced to Charlie, an exuberant musical theatre aficionado, and Tim, who, with a palate for the peculiar, faces the challenge of reconciling his sexuality with his conservative Christian upbringing. Their online meeting blossoms into a deep and complicated friendship against a backdrop of Christian youth culture, which sets the stage for a narrative that is rich with humor, warmth, and poignant reflections on faith and identity.
Shoemaker’s writing shines in its ability to infuse humor and heart into a story that tackles complex themes. The character development is robust, with Charlie’s unapologetic embrace of his identity providing a stark contrast to Tim’s internal struggles. Their online interactions, which are laced with wit and teenage awkwardness, are particularly well-crafted and capture the authenticity of youthful dialogue. While I enjoyed the story, I felt that, at times, the narrative meanders through anecdotes and backstories, which, while charming, occasionally take readers away from the central storyline. Despite this, the novel’s heart remains in its exploration of acceptance, both self and societal, within the context of religious belief.
The thematic juxtaposition of conservative Christianity and LGBTQIA+ issues is handled with both sensitivity and boldness. Shoemaker doesn’t shy away from depicting the pain and conflict inherent in such a clash but also injects a sense of hope and potential for reconciliation. The characters’ journey through the landscape of religious dogma, family expectations, and self-acceptance resonates with a raw honesty that is both touching and thought-provoking.
Bacon Grief is a provocative novel that offers a story that is as entertaining as it is meaningful. This book is an excellent pick for readers who appreciate a blend of humor and depth in their reading. It will particularly resonate with young adults grappling with their identities, as well as anyone interested in the nuanced interplay between faith and sexuality. Shoemaker’s book is a heartening reminder that amidst life’s challenges, acceptance and love can often find a way.
Pages: 114 | ASIN: B09JV8F3HD
LITERARY TITAN 