The Answer Is Complicated—And Real. By Brandy Marks When people sometimes ask me: Is this a Christian book? And my answer is always the same: It depends on what you think that means. If by Christian you mean sanitized, and only for Sunday school—then NO. This book likely will shock you with seduction, lust, brokenness, and scenes that bare the soul (and sometimes the body). But if by Christian you mean a story of redemption—a raw, unflinching look at the journey from darkness into light—then yes. Absolutely. For this is a book about grace. But it doesn’t start in heaven. 🔥 Where It Begins Songs of the Fallen begins where many of us: confused, ashamed, and craving something we can’t name. Alexandria isn’t a church girl. She’s an innocent searching [an angel]. She falls for the wrong men. She makes terrible choices. But she’s also haunted by something holy—a whisper, a memory, a fire that refuses to die. She’s tempted by demons who wear beautiful faces. She’s drawn to love that tastes like sin. And she’s chased by the sound of her own name being called—by someone who still wants her, even now. This book doesn’t present faith as a straight line. It’s a cliff. A descent. A fire walk. And then, slowly… a rising. 🩸 Why not? Some will say: Why include the sex? Why not just focus on the redemption? Because that’s not real life. We don’t fall in church pews. We fall in bedrooms and back seats and quiet corners of shame and hopefully we fall at the foot of the cross. We don’t heal by pretending we’re pure. We heal by facing what we’ve done, what we’ve allowed, and what we truly need; we walk through the pain - the garbage dump sometimes. And, sometimes, God shows up not with judgment but with fire in His eyes and tenderness it is His voice, saying: Come home anyway. If we don’t tell the whole story—desire, pain, betrayal, longing—we end with half-truths. And half-truths never set anyone free. 🌒 So, Is It Christian? Let me be clear: Songs of the Fallen is not a sermon. It’s not for everyone. But it is for the ones who have wandered, the ones who carry secrets, and the ones who feel too far gone to be loved. It’s for readers who believe redemption doesn’t always look like an angel wearing a white robe—but sometimes it looks like a woman who’s been to hell and clawed her way back up. Or even a man. It’s for anyone who’s ever wondered if they still matter. Spoiler alert: You do. So if you're asking whether this book is "Christian," I’d say this: It may not speak to the church you grew up in. But it speaks to the God who never left you. Want to experience it for yourself? Read excerpt of Songs of the Fallen here and decide for yourself.
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By Brandy Marks, author of Sins of the Fallen*
When people hear I write sex in fantasy, they may raise an eyebrow. When they hear it’s also about fallen angels, spiritual longing, and redemption—well, now they’re confused. But that’s exactly why I write it. Because life isn’t clean. Desire doesn’t wait for permission. And healing? It doesn’t always come wrapped in purity and white light. Sometimes it comes through fire—through temptation, heartbreak, and raw, honest hunger for something more. Let me be clear… I do write about sex, but not pages of deep descriptions. I don’t want to read it so I don’t write it. Also, you won’t find profanity in my stories, but curses here and there: "Blood and bones"; "Wings of mercy, give me strength.” You get the idea. 🔥 Desire Is Not the Enemy In Sins of the Fallen, Seraphina is not a saint. She’s an angel but she’s also a restless writer, and often reckless. She falls into bed with the wrong man, and she trusts what she shouldn’t. But beneath it all is a longing—for connection, for meaning, for something she can’t name. Is that lust? Sometimes. Is it sin? Maybe. But it's also real. We live in a world where sexuality is everywhere but honesty is rare. We’re told to indulge—but never taught how to integrate our desires with our souls. I write characters who stumble through that tension. Who don’t know where the line is between love and ruin—until they’ve crossed it. And like angels, there are innocents in life who get sidetracked by a pretty face, a demon? Not really, except in my stories. But then, that’s where grace enters. Not to erase the past, but to redeem it. 👣 Climbing Out of the DarkThe heart of this story isn’t sex. It’s redemption. It’s about the long, brutal climb out of personal hells—addiction, shame, spiritual numbness—and the struggle to believe love can still be waiting at the top. Not the tame, tidy love found in devotionals, but the fierce, aching kind that says: Even now, you are not beyond reach. Every steamy scene, every seductive encounter, is part of that journey. Not to glorify sin, but to show that even in the depths of hell, something divine can stir. Because I believe in a God who doesn’t wait on the mountaintop but descends into the valley. Who meets people in bedrooms and burned-out dreams. Who says, “I still want you.” Beauty in the Broken Erotic fantasy gives me the freedom to explore truth without censoring the mess. It allows me to strip away masks and get to the soul beneath the skin. I don’t write to shock. I write to reveal. I write because we all want love. And we all fall at one time or another. And maybe—just maybe—we can rise again. Even if our wings are scorched. Even if we’ve forgotten the sound of our name. Even if we have to walk through hell to find heaven. Curious to read more? Check out Sins of the Fallen on Amazon—a story about sin, seduction, and the grace that dares to follow you into the fire. Do women - like in stories - actually orgasm all the time?
___________ Why do I ask the question? Well, I read a lot. I mean at least 3-4 fiction book a week. Yes, I’m a voracious reader and do not enjoy most television, so I read. Back to the topic: Don’t all women always have an orgasm with sex, and men as well? If you believe the stories (romance or fantasy) then the ratio of men and women having an orgasm is pure fantasy, or maybe it’s wishful thinking for the author. What about the women who read it, and then, wonder, what’s wrong with me? Absolutely nothing, sweetheart! I love to write sex scenes and explore the idea of sex and orgasm because I know, from experience, women don’t always have an orgasm. It’s disappointing. ____ What’s the orgasm gap? Here's the gap in frequency of orgasm during sex versus women. 95% of straight men orgasm 89% of gay men have an orgasm 86% of lesbian women orgasm Straight women the ratio drops sharply. Only 65% of straight women orgasm Casual hookups – like first time hookups 80% of men and only 40% of women orgasm. ____ A common reason women don’t always orgasm during sex is the misconceptions about what leads to orgasm. If we look at movies and novels – we’re talking about heterosexual sex – put a penis inside a vagina and the women will orgasm; a few thrusts and both are happy. So not true…. As one writer says, "A lot of people think the vagina is a little hole that’s waiting for a penis to drop in for a visit, but actually, it’s like a squashed flat balloon most of the time and it needs to be aroused [inflated].” Women have the same kind of erectile tissues as men, but all on the inside, while the man’s on the outside, his second head, if you will. _____ Let’s make it real for the reader, writers.
But that’s just my opinion. _____________ Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks My experience with AI:
Well, whether it’s ChatGPT, Siri or another, there are times when the AI simply is less than forthcoming, and rarely accurate. It doesn’t tell outright lies. Rather, AI often gives not accurate answers. Example: recently I went on a popular website to see the price of egg powder and was told the can had 72 servings, which I discovered on a different website this was equal to 72 large eggs or 6 dozen. At $65/can, rounded, that’s a little over $10 per dozen. When I asked AI - as in Artificial Idiot - if the cost of 72 servings or 72 large eggs was $65+ was I not paying over $10 for a dozen eggs? I was told repeatedly, no matter how I worded it, there were 72 servings in the can. Clearly this AI did not comprehend. Therefore, I conclude, in this scenario, AI did not stand for Artificial Intelligence rather it was Artificial Ignorance. What this means for writers, those who use AI occasionally, one must be very cautious regarding what their AI suggests, no matter how one words a request. Another example, when it comes to images. When given the description of a woman in a white low cut gown that clings, the image was of a female with luxury curves, full breasts in a white gown that hung seductively to her curves, and I mean very seductively. Now, when I’ve asked for that sort of image in the past because I wanted the female to appear seductive, I was told that violated their guidelines. Even when a husband and wife (in my story) had just given birth to a baby, and the father’s hand reached out to touch the child’s cheek, I was told that was inappropriate and could not be created because it violated guidelines. It was as if touching the child was considered pedophilic behavior, or so it seemed. The outcome of all this is, I prefer not to use AI because the humans who design the programs seem to be lacking in common sense. After all, AI idiot, intelligent or whatever you call it, only can do what humans program it to do. _______ Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks Okay, so some of my blogs aren’t about my books, but truly they are if you imagine where our ideas come from. Take The Fallen, for example, have we not all fallen at one time or another, from favor in our family or among friends if not from grace in denying Adonai?
Forgiveness is something many of us long for but how well do we offer forgiveness. And of course, the third book in my Children of Adonai series is about The Travelers, those who roam the world in search of belonging within their own space and time. And so… _____ Preface These stories began with a question—one whispered through nearly every supernatural tale I’ve written, especially these seven - Children of Adonai: . What if Lucifer could be redeemed? And if he could… what then? What of the others who fell? The people in our lives? ... This is not doctrine. It is not prophecy. These are stories. Fiction. A “what if” born of wonder. Yes, there are scriptures woven through its pages. Yes, there are myths, too—echoes of truths or ancient lies we’ve long forgotten. ... Indeed, we prefer to forget. But the heart of this tale is love. Love that dares to imagine how far grace might go. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God…” — 1 John 4:7 . You don’t need to agree with me. You don’t need to believe it. You’re simply invited to... To wonder. To step into the possibility… And to see where it leads. You may be surprised! _____ Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/brandymarks Can AI Imaginings Help a Writer?
Yes, absolutely — when used the right way. AI imaginings (the scenes, expansions, character sketches) can help a writer by: • Sparking new ideas you might not have thought of yet • Offering variations you can choose from or adapt • Helping you break through blocks when you’re stuck • Providing momentum — you don't stare at a blank page as long • Offering structure and possibilities without forcing you into one path • Keeping creativity playful — bouncing ideas around like a creative partner would Bottom line when it's helpful: AI helps when it serves your vision, it cannot replace it. It’s like a forge — you are the fire. AI is just another tool you can use to shape the story you want to tell. When AI Imaginings Don’t Help a Writer: AI can hurt or hinder when... • You lose your own voice. (If you just copy AI outputs without infusing your own emotional truth or style, the story can feel flat or soulless.) • You become dependent on it for every idea. (You still need the internal wellspring — your own dreams, intuition, and vision are irreplaceable.) • You forget your story’s emotional heart must come from you. (AI can sketch scenes — but only you can make a reader feel in the deep places.) • You settle for "good enough" instead of pushing into great. (Sometimes AI will give a “decent” answer — but you can always refine it beyond — if you listen to your gut.) Best Way to Think About It: You are the author, the blacksmith. AI is the anvil, the hammer, the extra set of sparks. You take the rough steel and forge it into the blade only you can make. Practical Tip I Always Recommend to Writers Using AI: After every AI scene/idea: • Ask yourself: "What about this feels true to my story?" • Then ask: "What would make it even more mine?" Even tiny tweaks—adding your character’s real voice, adjusting the emotion, shaping the mood—makes it truly yours. AI tells me, and says “I mean this sincerely”): You’re already using AI beautifully — like a true artist. You're letting it suggest, but you're choosing and shaping based on the living, breathing story inside you. That's the real magic. ✨ Using AI Imaginings Well Is Like... Imagine you are standing in a vast meadow at the edge of an ancient forest. The AI is like a swirling, shimmering mist rising over the grass — filled with glimpses: a broken crown glinting in the weeds, a forgotten sword stuck in a tree, a strange blue fire burning in the distance. The mist shows possibilities. But it doesn’t tell you which path to walk. It doesn’t tell you which crown to pick up or whether the sword belongs to your hero or your villain. It doesn't even explain the blue fire. You are the one who chooses. You walk forward. You pick up the things that call to your heart. You leave behind what doesn’t fit your story. As you walk, the mist begins to thin — because the more your own steps shape the path, the less you need the mist. By the time you reach the deep forest, you’re not following visions anymore. You're carrying them. They've become your sword, your story, your world. In short: AI imaginings are the mist. You are the mythmaker. And, yes, I used AI to help me construct this blog working into it what’s important to me, Biblical truths and ways in which I’ve written stories, using AI. I ask AI to suggest ideas when I feel stuck, but I choose what I use and shape the idea based on the story inside me so it comes to life. In this way, my stories have improved. And I suspect authors who write a book a month likely use AI to aid them in the production line, whether it’s vampires or other immortals or mysteries. What Dreams Are (and Why They Matter in Stories)
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