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| Brenda S. Anderson |
Do you
ever wonder what it would be like to become an overnight success? How do some
writers manage to achieve it? Or do they? Author Brenda S. Anderson shares great
insight on the subject.
~ Dawn
Becoming
an
Overnight Success
One of my favorite songs from 2016 was “The River” by Jordan
Feliz, a newcomer to the Christian music scene. I remember hearing “The River”
for the first time, and being immediately captured by its unique, fluid
rhythms, and driving music so much like a river itself. Add to that, the song’s
catchy lyrics and Feliz’s vocal talents, and you have an instant hit. From
Feliz’s very first release, I was a fan. And I was in awe of his overnight
success.
Then I heard how many years it took him to become that
overnight success.
Ten, to be exact.
His career began in 2006, touring with a heavy metal band. He
transitioned to being a worship leader, and then he stepped out in faith and
moved his family to Nashville where they scraped by doing odd jobs until he
signed a record deal in 2015. Nearly a year later, “The River” was released.
Ten years of hard work, struggling, and persevering. Ten years
of obedience and stepping out in faith led to his “overnight” success.
In Christian fiction, a few overnight successes come to mind:
Lori Benton’s award-winning debut, Burning Sky, came out nearly twenty-two years after she’d heard the
call to write. And now, with each book, she receives more acclaim. Twenty-two
years of learning and persevering and trusting in His plan led to that success.
Charles Martin, one of my favorite authors, received
eighty-six rejection letters for The Dead
Don’t Dance. How do you take eight-six rejections without believing those
rejections are personal? By learning and persevering, by walking in faith and
trusting. Now this bestselling, award-winning author has twelve books
published, with The Mountain Between Us
now a major-motion picture.
That’s success!
But let me give you another, different example:
I’ve written for as long as I can remember. In 2005, I took
the call to write seriously and began penning my first novel. Six novels
followed that one. After receiving forty-plus rejections over the years, I
signed a four-book contract with a small publisher. That first book came out,
and then the publisher went under. There’s no bestseller or award-winning flag
next to my name, and my sales are plodding along. Yet, when I read reviews such
as this one from Renee on Goodreads,
“The biggest thing that stood out for me is walking a life
with God. I could relate to [the hero] and needing to reestablish my
relationship with God. You never know what avenues God will use to reach you.”
Now that’s success.
Success isn’t found solely in the number of books sold or
awards won, it’s also found in being humble, teachable, and obedient. God’s
definition of success is not the world’s definition. We may never know, this
side of eternity, who our writing has impacted, or how it’s impacted them, but
when you step out in faith, and trust God to lead you on the long, rutted path
of storytelling, know that you are a success.
What is
your success story?
(Where the Heart Is #3)
When flowers and chocolate collide, romance is sure to bloom.
Family
has always been the one constant in Jess Beaumont’s messy life, so when her
parents separate, she puts “Operation: Planting Hope” into action. All she has
to do is recreate the circumstances that helped her parents fall in love.
Unfortunately, that includes the daunting task of restoring the family cabin’s
gardens. When the handsome candy store owner shows up to help, she’s certain
she has all the elements required for her parents’ love to bloom again. After
all, flowers and chocolate are the perfect ingredients for romance.
Luke
Harrison has spent his life trying to win his father’s approval, and a
promotion in the family land development business would be a step in that
direction. But when he inherits Gran’s candy store, his dreams of being
promoted start melting away. Then his dad dangles a Vice President position in
front of Luke, with one caveat—acquire the land on both sides of Gran’s store
within five months, including the Beaumont cabin, and the promotion is his.
What at
first seemed a simple challenge for Luke becomes a tangled mess. Buying the
Beaumont cabin and land will nip his blossoming romance with Jess in the bud.
Even worse, it could end her parents’ marriage. But if he doesn’t succeed, he
could be trading in his corner office for the corner candy store.
Brenda S. Anderson
writes gritty and authentic, life-affirming fiction. She is a member of the
American Christian Fiction Writers, and is Past-President of the ACFW Minnesota
chapter, MN-NICE, the 2016 ACFW Chapter of the Year. When not reading or
writing, she enjoys music, theater, roller coasters, and baseball, and she
loves watching movies with her family. She resides in the Minneapolis,
Minnesota area with her husband of 30 years, their three children, and one
sassy cat.
Connect with Brenda ~
Website: http://brendaandersonbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrendaSAnders_n
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/brendabanderson/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/BrendaSAnderson
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/M0ZZr
