Being a writer isn’t easy. I have a feeling there is a sea of heads bobbing up and down out there. It takes a lot of work, and you get a lot of rejections. Sometimes the road to publication can seem downright impossible. . .
What made me
nearly give up.
In the fall of 2010, I was so hopeful that we (my agent and I) had found
a home for The Soul Saver—Lexie’s
story. I believed that The Soul Saver
and the nonfiction book I co-authored, Winning Him Without Words (Regal Books),
were a perfect match, like Fireproof and the Love Dare.
Needless to say, I was pretty upset when the rejection came from what I
thought was a sure thing and my last hope. What I considered the heart of my
story was the very issue they didn’t want to deal with.
I was crushed.
God bless my wonderful agent who stood by me and encouraged me not to
change the story, to just hang on a little longer. I went to God in prayer and
laid The Soul Saver and writing
fiction at His feet, asking Him to take the desire to write it away if I wasn’t
supposed to. It was too painful.
Then I let it be.
A couple months later, God released me from doing design work (my day
job)—something I’d been praying about letting go so I could write full time. Up
until this time, I kept hearing, “Not yet.”
So why now? It didn’t make sense. Nothing had changed. I assumed it
meant I would need more time for the SpirituallyUnequalMarriage.com ministry
and our Winning Him book releasing in
a few months.
This “release” happened on a Saturday. My agent called Tuesday to give
me the unbelievable news that a publisher had made an offer on The Soul Saver.
How God opened the
door for The Soul Saver in a place I
least expected.
The Soul Saver seemed to cross
genres with a story that fit women’s fiction, a thread of danger that fit
suspense stories and a supernatural element as well. One house even said they
liked the story but didn’t know how they would market it.
So when the offer came from a house I had already assumed wouldn’t be
interested, I was floored. But isn’t that so like God? Like Gideon defeating
120,000 Midianites with just 300 men, God wants us to know that it’s Him who
brakes down barriers and opens the door to the impossible.
Not only had God opened the door in the unlikeliest of places, He
brought my story to a publisher that supported its connection to our Winning Him book and our marriage
ministry. (Thank you, Becky Germany and Barbour Publishing!)
I have another story to tell—one I’m not sure will find a home. Sound
familiar? But I know God is faithful. He’s the one who makes the impossible
possible.
In addition
to writing for Spiritually Unequal Marriage, Dineen Miller has won several
prestigious awards for her fiction. She’s also a C.L.A.S.S. Communicator and
has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Family Life and Focus on the
Family Radio.
Married
for 24 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her
husband and two adult daughters, who surprise her daily with their own
creativity.
She is the co-author of Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage and the author of The Soul Saver.
She is the co-author of Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage and the author of The Soul Saver.
Websites:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dineen.miller
Facebook pages:
Personal Blog: http://authordineenmiller.com/journal/
Twitter: @dineenmiller
The Soul Saver
Lexie Baltimore is in the supernatural battle of her life. In obedience to God’s calling, Lexie uses her dreams and sculpting to help others. But will she have enough courage to help herself when she becomes torn between her atheist husband and a godly man? As events unfold, Lexie becomes entangled in a twisted plot. Will she unmask the evil before it’s too late?
See the book trailer here.
Lexie Baltimore is in the supernatural battle of her life. In obedience to God’s calling, Lexie uses her dreams and sculpting to help others. But will she have enough courage to help herself when she becomes torn between her atheist husband and a godly man? As events unfold, Lexie becomes entangled in a twisted plot. Will she unmask the evil before it’s too late?
See the book trailer here.
How encouraging Dineen Miller's words are. The Lord answered her prayers and she has a good agent too....It must have been hard to make the changes, but what a feeling of accomplishment to see God working when she did. Congratulations on faith in motion!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane! :-)
DeleteThanks SO much for sharing this ... really needed to hear it this morning! And I'm really looking forward to reading the story. Blessings, Dineen!
ReplyDeleteHugging you, Shannon. Hang in there. God has a plan. :-)
DeleteThanks for sharing your journey with us, Dineen. It's a wonderful example of how we need to trust God's plan and timing!
ReplyDeleteAmen, Dawn! Not easy but so very vital to the journey, right? Hugs!
DeleteLove when things like that happen! What a blessing.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Dandelionfleur. Not so fun in the thick of it but to look back...wow! When I stand faithful to God, He always blows me away with His faithfulness.
DeleteI think it's awesome that although you felt like it, you didn't give up and I think that the dependence you have on God is just amazing and inspiring! Very encouraging and helpful to know that perseverence pays off when God is in the picture! Love ya girl!
ReplyDeleteAmen, my friend! I love that saying, "Don't forget in the dark what you knew to be true in the light." I held to that and when I DID forget, God reminded me. He's so good! :-)
DeleteBecause I was familiar with your ministry, and nonfiction book, I immediately bought "The Soul Saver" to see how you weaved the threads together, and I wasn't disappointed. I've already bought copies to give to family and friends as well. Keep up the good work, Dineen, you have a gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Beverly! That is such a blessing. Thank you, my friend. :-)
Delete