Elaine: It’s time for me to level with my fellow authors and readers.
I
have no superhero red cape with the letter A for author adorning its center.
Nor drive a brand new shiny car or have quit the day job. I certainly do not
wake each morning to admire shelves lined with trophies and plaques while
waiting for my agent to phone with a movie deal. While I may have dreamed of
becoming an author for years, I never did conjure up the above scenarios. Okay.
I confess. I do daydream of quitting the day job, but doesn’t everyone?
Before
my debut novel, Always With You,
launched in January 2016 I’d read countless blog pieces and attended many
writing workshops to hear others say life doesn’t change overnight and become
perfect upon publication. And nodded my head in agreement. I’ve experienced
enough ups and downs in life to get what others were saying: there’s no magic
wand to happiness. Then why, oh why, do I ride the rollercoaster of shaky
self-confidence since publication? How can I possibly go from enjoying a
feel-good buzz of having my “story of the heart” novel successfully published
as my debut novel to the low of fearing no one would read Isabelle and Tyler’s
story to grinning silly because, wow, I received a 5-star review to the blues
from the reality of the day job paycheck beating my book royalties to shedding
joyous tears upon receiving word from a reader that my story touched her soul?
I’m
human.
A
quiet person by nature, I slip into my writing gloves and tap away at the
keyboard to soar to places and circumstances I’d never dare to otherwise.
Writing is the special one place where I can go where there’s no one monitoring
my words or thoughts. Or quashing my dreams and hopes. I can live vicariously
through my characters, experiencing the blessing of pure unconditional and
always perfect love and conquering evil and hardships, once and for all.
In
creating and living in my story worlds I’m never wrong. I’m never judged.
I’m
safe.
Until.
Until
I submit my work. And wait. For writing critiques. For massive editing without
promises. For acquisition. For reviews. For another book deal. For fans.
For
that peace of mind that all will be well. And I can breathe my pent-up breath
and relax.
Out
of the many lessons I’ve learned this past year since becoming a novelist,
here’s the most essential: my confidence and self-respect will NOT come from
making a name out of myself as Ms. Big Author. Nor in how many reviews and book
deals I have. Nor the ability to quit the day job. It will come from putting my
whole heart and trust in God.
Will I one day walk through the gates of heaven because I’ve pleased Him as a beloved daughter or because I wear my flashy author cape? How about you?
~~~~~~
Elaine Stock is the author of Always With You, which is up for the 2017 Christian Small
Publisher Association Book of the Year Award. Her novels fuse family drama
and psychological suspense. She is a member of American Christian Fiction
Writers and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and contributes to
the international “Happy Sis Magazine.” Elaine hangs out on her active blog, Everyone’s Story, dedicated to
uplifting and encouraging all readers through the power of story and hope. Look
for a Christmas novella to release in the fall. And maybe more.
Links:
Website: http://elainestock.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ElaineStock
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/ElaineStock
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1JYAwNy
Buy link on Amazon: http://amzn.to/21uGtGF
Buy link on Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1PfRyXX
Always
With You
Can she move forward without knowing her past?
Will he enjoy his present if he can’t free himself from what he left
behind?
In the heart of the Adirondacks, Isabelle lives in the shadow of a
dark family secret whose silent burden strips her family of emotional warmth
and faith in God. Tyler belongs to the religious sect called The Faithful,
which Isabelle’s father dislikes immensely. Yet, because Tyler belongs to this
group, Isabelle sees only a man devoted to his family and faith.
She wants it; she gets it; they marry.
And when the truth comes out, Isabelle faces two choices:
Staying could endanger her child.
Leaving could cost her life.
