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| Autumn Macarthur |
Maybe as a writer, you’re experiencing phenomenal sales. But, what if you’re not? What if, as an aspiring author, you’re wondering if it’s worth all the time, work, and heart you’re putting into your books? Dear readers, take encouragement from Autumn Macarthur’s words. ~ Dawn
Who Sees Us?
Ever feel like you’re invisible?
The endless round of household tasks that can sometimes (or often!) feel taken for granted. The extra mile you go at the day job that no one notices or appreciates. The books we’ve put so much time and so much heart into bounced back to us with impersonal form rejection letters. The published books we launch into the ever-growing sea of other books that aren’t seen or discovered by readers as much as we hoped.
Ouch! A painful and discouraging way to start the new year.
It feels good to be seen. It feels good to see our books reaching lots of readers. It feels good to get encouraging feedback from an editor, or a message from a reader saying how much they loved our book. Our lovely book covers look even better if we get to see them on a bestseller chart!
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. When it does, it’s easy to thank God and give Him the glory. When a launch flops, gratitude and giving Him the glory isn’t quite so easy, though just as necessary.
My crit partner and I joke about my goal for book launches. The goal I dare to say out loud, not my secret “Please Lord, make this my breakout book!” goal. The other prayer—that even if a book only ever finds one other reader, I can trust God really really REALLY wanted that one reader to get the faith message in the story, and so that’s enough.
I try hard to mean it!
If we truly believe writing is a mission He gives us, one of our ministries, doing His will has to be enough. We need to simply place our books in His hands, seek His guidance, and trust in Him. Still, feeling invisible remains an ouch.
The truth is, we’re never really invisible or unseen, no matter how much it feels that way. Whether one reader or one hundred thousand see our book, Someone far more important always sees.
God nudged me to go read Genesis, find the story of Hagar. A slave woman, property to be bought and sold, pregnant by her owner’s husband, treated cruelly by her jealous owner, the one who set up him getting her pregnant in the first place. In that time and place she was a nothing, as invisible as it was possible to get.
But the Bible tells us God spoke to her, both via an angel and directly, not once but twice. He saw her troubles. He saved her and her son’s lives. He gave her promises.
The Lord talked to Hagar. She began to use a new name for God. She said to him, “You are ‘God Who Sees Me.’” She said this because she thought, “I see that even in this place God sees me and cares for me!” Genesis 16:13
God kept His promises to Hagar. He keeps His promises to us, too. As we step out into the new year, ready to write the books He gives us, we can trust in that.
Step out boldly. Step out courageously. Step out in faith.
He sees you. And He cares.
If you enjoy heartwarming, inspiring, and emotional Christian romance, don’t miss your chance to visit Sweetapple Falls! Each book is a complete romance set in the small Oregon town, where hope and healing, faith and forgiveness, and most of all, love, wait for each couple to find their heart’s home. In each other, in the small-town community, and in God.
When former bad boy Luke Tanner discovers the son he believed was adopted is fatherless, he's determined to help — and regain the trust of the only woman he's ever loved.
For small-town single mom Anna Harrison, his return is twelve years too late. Luke broke her heart when he left. She can’t risk that for their son, disabled by a life-limiting illness. But she can’t deny Josh the father he wants so badly, either.
To become the loving family Luke hope they can be, they’ll both need to forgive secrets from his troubled and painful past. Can they leave old hurts behind to face the future together with God’s help, or will only a crisis heal their stubborn hearts?
An emotional story of love, faith, family, and forgiveness, set in the small Oregon town of Sweetapple Falls, from a USA Today bestselling author. Clean, sweet, and wholesome Christian inspirational romance.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, I now live in a small town not far from London, England, with my very English husband (aka The Cat Magnet), and way too many rescue cats for our tiny house! We’ve also added two guinea pigs to our family. For such small creatures, they have huge personalities. When I’m not feeding critters, I hand sew, read, and most of all write heartwarming stories of love and faith. With every story, God teaches me the exact same spiritual lessons my hero and heroine need to learn to commit to their lifetime love.
Website/ blog: http://faithhopeandheartwarming.com
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My website is http://faithhopeandheartwarming.com, and I’m on Facebook as Autumn Macarthur. You’re very welcome to join my friendly Facebook reader group, Three Authors and a Blogger!
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