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| Marianne Evans |
What
better slice of Monday encouragement could I possibly deliver than in sharing
the joy I experienced recently via time spent with reader friends and some of
the most incredible author peeps on the entire plant?
In
June, I was blessed to spend time in Deadwood, South Dakota at a reader event
aptly named: Wild Deadwood Reads. Over 80 authors and well-over a hundred
readers, turned out for a three-day extravaganza celebrating the love of all
things story. Long story short? I was in heaven.
There
were meet-and-greets, readings, carriage rides, rodeos, and even panning for
gold at a real-life Black Hills mine. The best part? I met a number 0f authors
and readers face-to-face for the very first time, this after spending years getting
acquainted with them on line, either via book connections, writing stories
together, or sharing life circumstances/battles/victories. I learned, in
powerful ways, how the books I’ve written have impacted people who were kind
enough to not only support and encourage me but share their deepest hearts and affirm
my mission to share love, and God’s truth, through the written word.
From
time to time, I’m the kind of author who lives in somewhat of a bubble. I’m an
introverted extrovert. Does that make sense? Then, once I send my ‘baby’ into
the world, I never truly know how or why (or IF!) my creation will strike a
chord in someone’s spirit or deliver just the right message at just the right
time, to help them through a tough spot in life. That’s God’s job, not mine—I just
move the pen as He directs—but sometimes I wonder if what I do matters.
Deadwood affirmed me. I came away amazed and awestruck. Abundantly blessed.
I
also loved the time spent brainstorming with my fellow writers, or, as I refer
to them, my Sisters in Spirit. When you get a tight-knit bunch of authors
together in one room, that’s what we do. We go crazy plotting, planning,
creating, supporting one another (Oh, and laughing. Did I mention laughing? Yeah,
there was lots of that!). There are no egos, there’s no competition, nothing
but love and encouragement. Sisterhood.
What
a gift, and one I can’t wait to experience again soon—hopefully next year.
Until then, I hope to take these feelings with me to help move past any
frustrations or roadblocks I might encounter on the journey to come. Blessings,
friends, until next month!
~~~~~
Amy Monarch is a tireless volunteer at the Dupont Rescue and
Recovery Center, an establishment for the destitute founded by her mother.
There, Amy has kept her identity a carefully guarded secret. She is actually
Princess Amelia Marguerite Louise DeLaGrande of Remeth. Working at Dupont
offers the opportunity to serve in blessed disguise.
Fresh into a promising career in commercial real estate brokerage, Patrick Sawyer returns to the picturesque isle of Remeth intending to reconnect with his collegiate study abroad friends and figure out ‘what’s next’ in his life. Since his father’s passing, the world he knows leaves him uninspired. He volunteers at Dupont during his visit, and becomes enchanted by Amy.
But Amelia is trapped within a silken web. When she reveals who she is, Patrick pulls back. He’s not interested in royalty—at all—but how can she ever break free? How can she find a way to service and God’s plan for her life? Most of all, how can she reconcile the call she feels toward a remarkable man who may be ‘common,’ yet is ‘uncommon’ when it comes to matters of the heart?
Fresh into a promising career in commercial real estate brokerage, Patrick Sawyer returns to the picturesque isle of Remeth intending to reconnect with his collegiate study abroad friends and figure out ‘what’s next’ in his life. Since his father’s passing, the world he knows leaves him uninspired. He volunteers at Dupont during his visit, and becomes enchanted by Amy.
But Amelia is trapped within a silken web. When she reveals who she is, Patrick pulls back. He’s not interested in royalty—at all—but how can she ever break free? How can she find a way to service and God’s plan for her life? Most of all, how can she reconcile the call she feels toward a remarkable man who may be ‘common,’ yet is ‘uncommon’ when it comes to matters of the heart?
~~~~~
Marianne
Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is
to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts
her to create. Readers laude her work as “Riveting,”
“Realistic and true to heart,” “Compelling.”
Her Christian fiction debut,
Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence
Award. Her follow-up novel, Forgiveness, earned Christian Small Publisher Book
of the Year honors as did her book Hearts Communion. She is also a two-time
recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then & Now and Finding
Home.
Marianne
is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of
America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as
President. You can connect with Marianne at www.marianneevans.com.
