50 Shades of Grey: Interview with @Vicky_Walker for #CNMAC12

Only just over a week to go to #CNMAC12, and we have another interview with Vicky Walker. Vicky is speaking after lunch on:

50 Shades of Grey: What can the overnight success of an erotic novel teach Christians?

Who are you, what do you do, and how do you come to be speaking at #CNMAC12? What’s your personal ‘story’?

It’s my first time at #CNMAC, stepping in to the digital world for the day! I’m interested in communication, particularly the crossover between traditional publishing and making connections online. I’ve had something of a varied life, including working in fashion PR, events management, answering 999 calls and travelling the world as a trend spotter. More recently I have somehow veered into writing books about life and my attempts to get through it with maximum joy and minimum stupidity. ‘Do I have to be good all the time?’ is the first title and throws out lots of awkward questions many of us are asking ourselves (or so I like to believe). I have also set up Art and Flo, a company specialising in creative communication, which helps people to tell their story.

Can you give us a ‘sneak peak’ into the story of your session at #CNMAC12?

Are you sure you’re ready for this? I will be diving into the controversial world of the 50 Shades trilogy and looking at what we can learn from it. Slightly embarrassed to be the only speaker focusing on erotica. Well, as far as I know anyway!

What is the best ‘good news story’ to come out of your journey as a disciple? What keeps you going when times are hard?

The answer to both questions is the people I’ve encountered along the way and God’s timing in bringing connections, ideas and stories together. Community is so important, whatever shape it takes, particularly online these days. I know as I’ve moved around, sometimes starting over in new places, it’s been a lifeline to stay in close relationship with important people regardless of distance. It’s not meant to be a solo journey.

We’re working on the @bigbible project. How do you think the (stories in the) Bible can inform what we do online, in whatever sense?

The Bible is all about story and much passed on through word of mouth. Online interaction today can be the equivalent of that. I love that we get to think about faith and meaning so creatively, using new media to express old stories in new ways and even catch people’s attention in a potentially life-changing way in just 140 characters. The hunger for newness can be met while expressing and discussing age old truths.

Outside of your own session, what are you most looking forward to at #CNMAC12?

Meeting people I’ve been tweeting! And listening to some excellent speakers. There’s so much to take in!

See full conference agenda.