Missionary-surgeon and novelist Harry Kraus believes that a spoonful of imagination can help the medicine go down.

The suspense writer who has practiced medicine in the U.S. and East Africa says that "story is a great way to ... communicate the biblical truth about the grace of God, (that) I just don't have to earn my way forward into God's acceptance."

Readers can find it less threatening to read about an issue in the life of a character with whom they form a bond, he says. Speaking about his writing in Christian Retailing's new Author Corner, a service connecting authors and Christian retailers, he admits to getting ideas while he is in the operating room.

"Writing for me is more than the process of just putting your fingers on the keyboard," he says. "Writing for me is a mental engagement, and so I'm doing that all the time. Maybe some of my best ideas have come to me when I have a scalpel in my hand."

In five video postings—including a special message to Christian retailers—Kraus speaks about his inspiration for writing and personal influences. Among the books he says everyone needs to read is John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life, for its challenge to "live life in the perspective of eternity."

Intended to help store staff and consumers find out more about the people behind the books, Christian Retailing's Author Corner videos can be found by clicking here.

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