Plant Your Dreams by Gail Johnson

Gail Johnson

Spending time in nature gives me peace, and it stirs my creativity. It’s where I feel closest to God. So, today’s post by author Gail Johnson deeply inspires me—and gives me hope. Enjoy! ~ Dawn

Plant Your Dreams

When we moved our house to the piece of land we call home, it was nothing but a barren sand ridge. The only trees in our yard were the ones we left standing when we cleared the land. We didn't have money for landscaping, so every spring found me planting tufts of grass taken from our former yard behind my in-loves.

Throughout the coming years, I planted shrubs, trees, and flowers. I enjoyed some plants the moment I stuck them in the dirt, but I had to wait for certain flowers. Like the year I planted gladiolus and daffodil bulbs.

Those bulbs didn't bloom that year or the next, or the year after that. In fact, they remained hidden for so long, I completely forgot about them. When they finally appeared in all their glory, I had to think hard about where they came from and when I had planted them.

Our writing dreams can be like those bulbs. We may spend years cultivating stories without a promise of publication. The longer we write, the more we fight the urge to give up. If you're in a waiting season, remember, burying and planting are the same in action, but not in thought. When we bury something, we don't expect to see it again in this lifetime. But when we plant something, we plant it knowing that it will soon appear and bring pleasure to others.

Don't bury your gift. Cultivate with confidence. Plant your dreams in faith and expect "that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." And one day, when you least expect it, your story will bloom for His glory.

What are you planting this year?


Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

If you're in a waiting season, remember, burying and planting are the same in action, but not in thought. #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @GailJohnson87

Don't bury your gift. Cultivate with confidence. Plant your dreams in faith and with expectation. #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @GailJohnson87

Treasures of Hope

Treasures of Hope

When long-buried memories of abuse resurface, Gail faces a choice: continue ignoring the implications of her nightmares and remain a captive of fear and shame, or dare to remove the painful chains binding her present to her past. Unearthing the sorrows of her past would not be easy and distressing questions would arise along the way to challenge her faith.

Why would a God of both love and justice allow this abuse?
Why does He expect me to forgive my abuser?
If He let this happen, does He truly love me at all?

In her memoir, Treasures of Hope: Discovering the Beautiful Truth Beneath My Painful Past, Gail Johnson shares the truths she uncovered while studying earlier daughters of both harm and hope. As she became better acquainted with women of the Bible like Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Rahab, Tamar, and Esther, their stories spoke truth into her own, mining the jewels of Identity and Purpose, Intimacy, Incomparability, Courage, Peace, and Victory. With each new discovery, Gail traded a length of chain for a balm of gold . . . and unearthed treasures that would sever the past’s stranglehold on her life, allowing her to live joyously in the present and anticipate the future with emboldened hope.



Gail Johnson enjoys sharing her passion for life and Christ through the power of the written word. Whether it’s through stories, articles, or songs, she invites her reader and listener to “taste and see” the hope she has found in a faithful God and loving Savior. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the author of Treasures of Hope, Discovering the Beautiful Truth Beneath My Painful Past, a memoir.

You can find Gail online—at Inspired Prompt, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Amazon Author Page.

Happy Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
              -Psalm 100

Seriously Write is closed today to allow us to spend the holiday with our family and friends. We wish you a blessed Thanksgiving. We will be back tomorrow and look forward to visiting with you then.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Seriously Write Team

Look Up! by Elizabeth Musser

Often when I see a musical, one song will resonate with me so that it replays itself ad nauseum in my brain for days and weeks and months afterwards. Such was the case when I watched the wonderful film Mary Poppins Returns back in February. Here we are many months later, and I’m still singing, “Count your blessings; you’re a lucky guy for you’re underneath the lovely London sky.”

But I don’t mind.

Everything about the lyrics in this song makes me smile. First of all, the London sky doesn’t exactly have the reputation of being that welcoming for much of the year. But can’t a gray sky be lovely? It’s all about perspective as the song goes on to tell us.

When we write, we are giving our readers a certain perspective and hoping that they’ll catch on. Part of that perspective for us as Christian authors is to infuse our stories with hope.

The song from the film continues, “There’s a different point of view awaiting you if you would just look up.”

I want to give encouragement to my readers, but sometimes I sense the Lord simply wants my readers to be an encouragement to me. He whispers to me on those days when I’m feeling distracted or uninspired or discouraged, “Count your blessings and look up!”

As writers, we need to do this throughout each day so that our imaginations which are often creating conflict and angst don’t hijack the joy of the present. It’s a juggling act, isn’t it?

Usually I’m not underneath the London sky, but the Lyon, France sky where my husband and I serve as pastoral care missionaries. But we’re back in the States for the launch of my new novel, When I Close My Eyes. Yesterday, under my north Georgia sky, I watched my grandchildren frolicking right outside the window of my office, making it very hard for me to concentrate on writing and delighting me with the simple experience of being together on the same continent. So I looked up from my manuscript, waved to them, and hummed that tune in my head.

This morning, I drove up on Lookout Mountain underneath an autumn-blue sky to speak to a book club. In my talk, I addressed the major themes in the novel: depression, hypocrisy and grace, sharing from my own experience with depression. I was blessed and encouraged by the honest conversation that followed as these women responded to both the story in my book and my personal story. I sensed the Lord saying, “I don’t waste anything in your life. I’m using your story to impart hope. Look up!”

A few days ago, I was talking on the phone with my father in Atlanta. He told me that his new next-door-neighbor had just discovered that I was an author and that she’d read and greatly enjoyed some of my novels and couldn’t wait to meet me. Look up! That was a fun and unexpected blessing for my father, this woman, and me.

A few months ago at our little church in France, my husband, Paul, met a young Dutch woman named Judith who was visiting her sister in Lyon where her sister and husband attend our church. Paul mentioned to Judith that we had traveled to The Netherlands often because my novels are published there. Then Paul introduced me to Judith, and I explained that I write Christian fiction. Her eyes got wide when she asked me my name and I replied, “Elizabeth Musser.”

“I’ve read your books and love them!” she said. “And I just bought another of your novels to give to my mother for Mother’s Day.”

We chatted for a while, both of us certainly blessed by that serendipitous encounter. Later that week, I mailed a few signed book plates to Judith to put in those books.

So often we can’t see the impact of our words on others. “Is what I’m doing really making a difference, Lord,” we may ask. Then He pulls back the veil, ever so briefly, and gives us a peek at the lovely sky, reminding us that there’s a different point of view awaiting us if we will just look up. He intertwines lives at the right time so that indeed we’ll be blessed.

My sky today keeps changing from sunny and blue to moody and gray to frivolous with puffy white clouds. I think it is going to rain soon. But I’ll keep looking up. Won’t you, too?

As writers, we need to count our blessings throughout each day so that our imaginations which are often creating conflict and angst don’t hijack the joy of the present. via @EMusserAuthor #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

ELIZABETH MUSSER writes ‘entertainment with a soul’ from her writing chalet—tool shed—outside Lyon, France. Her new novel, When I Close My Eyes, was released on November 5 of 2019. For over thirty years, Elizabeth and her husband, Paul, have been involved in missions’ work in Europe with One Collective, formerly International Teams. The Mussers have two sons, a daughter-in-law and three grandchildren. Find more about Elizabeth’s novels at www.elizabethmusser.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and her blog.

When I Close My Eyes

Could she ever share the secret of The Awful Year?

There is one story that novelist Josephine Bourdillon shirked from writing. And now she may never have a chance. Trapped in her memories, she lies in a coma.

The man who put her there is just as paralyzed. Former soldier Henry Hughes failed to complete the kill. What’s more, he never received the full payment—funds that would ensure surgery for his son.

As detectives investigate disturbing fan letters, a young but not-so-naive Paige Bourdillon turns to her mother’s tormented past for answers. Could The Awful Year be worse than the one they’re living now?

Set against the flaming hills of North Carolina and the peaceful shores of the Mediterranean Sea, When I Close My Eyes tells the story of two families struggling with dysfunction and finding that love is stronger than death.

Persevering Through Rejection by Emily Wickham

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58, NASB

She looked at me with pity as tears gathered in my eyes. Despite the editor’s kind nature, her rejection of my manuscript crushed me. And I couldn’t stop the emotion that trickled down my face.

Just one year prior, the same editor told me to complete my manuscript and bring it to her at the next conference. I followed her instruction by teaching a ladies’ Sunday school class and writing one lesson per week over an eight-month period. Satisfied with the final product, I presented my entire "book" printed on linen paper.

Come to find out, this editor’s company recently had published a Bible study on the book of Esther. They didn’t need another one. Though I understood her predicament, disappointment surged through my spirit.

Our written words form a bridge between our hearts and our readers. They enable us to communicate thoughts, feelings, imaginations, and more. We pour hours of time and creativity into our projects, which become extensions of our inner selves. Sometimes our material is received favorably while at other times it’s turned down. Either way, we feel the impact.

How would the Lord have us respond to positive feedback? With humility. Gratitude. And joy. He’s opening another door for us to glorify Him.

On the other hand, how does God desire us to receive rejection? With humility. Gratitude. And hope. He’s closing a door … for now. In His sovereignty and wisdom, He might open that door later, so we must persevere. Or, He’ll close it completely, re-directing our steps.

The Lord will show us the way.

I continue to write even though I didn’t receive the answer I longed for almost 12 years ago. That experience and many others along the way have shaped me. I’ve learned the value of persevering through rejection, pressing forward, and pursuing opportunities as God opens doors. While my journey doesn’t appear as I once envisioned, it looks exactly like the Lord planned.

Rejection hurts. But God ultimately uses it to beautify our writing journey. It enables us to embrace each success with greater delight, plus it develops a deeper Christlikeness within us.

Jesus understands rejection better than anyone, yet His journey resulted in victory. And because of Him, ours can too.

Note: “Persevering Through Rejection” first appeared on June 4, 2019 at www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com.

Rejection hurts. But God ultimately uses it to beautify our writing journey. via @emilywickhamPH @MaryAFelkins #ChristianWriter #Rejection #WritingCommunity #SeriouslyWrite

EMILY WICKHAM seeks to stir hearts toward Jesus. She writes for Journey Magazine, a LifeWay publication, speaks at ladies’ events, and shares “Devotions for Women” videos on social media. Emily encourages Christian women plus equips Christian writers on her blog, www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com. She is the author of one Bible study, which was translated into Spanish in 2016. Emily, a resident of North Carolina, is Mark’s wife of 29+ years. They are the blessed parents of four children and one daughter-in-love. God’s faithfulness and love inspire Emily on her journey through life as she purposes to exalt Christ through written and spoken words.

Connect with Emily:
Website: www.proclaiminghimtowomen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/emilywickham.author
Twitter: www.twitter.com/emilywickhamPH
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/estherstudy
Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilywickham.author

Alcanzando la Justicia Book Blurb:
Whether you’re a Spanish-speaking sister who longs to grow closer to Christ, or you’re looking for a Spanish Bible study to use for outreach in your community, please consider using Alcanzando la Justicia. It guides women through the book of Esther, challenging them to grow in righteous behavior—to make God-honoring choices each day. Daily prayers, Scripture readings, observation sections, author reflections, and application questions are included. This workbook is designed for individual or group use and contains instructions for following a one month, ten week, or thirty-one week schedule.

See Emily’s website for special offers or purchase the book on Amazon.

Business Card Contacts

“May we exchange business cards?” A question I often ask during conversation when meeting someone new. We’ve chatted about writing, the weather, family, etc. After a time of learning about the other person, I will inquire about exchanging cards.

Many times the answer is “Yes, I forgot I have business cards. Let me give you mine.”
Other times the answer is “Oh, I haven’t published anything. I don’t need business cards yet.”
Or “I’ve been meaning to purchase business cards.”

Whether you are published or not published, exchanging business cards is a great way to help others remember you, especially if your photo is on the card.
Having something published isn’t a requirement to have a card. I have friends who write a blog and hand out cards with the blog address. Some people list their website only while some list various ways to contact them, including social media.

My business card has my photo, a brief description of what I offer (Inspirational Author, Blogger, Speaker), my website address, and my email. The back of the card lists our family motto “It’s Always A Story With The Henderson’s”.
Brief and to the point.

A card with too much information may cause the receiver to glance and put the card away. Bright colors and a photo and a bit of information is easier to read. Give the receiver of the card enough information to make them want to find out more about you.

Once you have given and received cards from others, please keep in contact with the people you meet. If an email is listed, send a note of encouragement or thank them for chatting with you.
If a website is listed, visit the site and leave a comment.

I have found great friends and writing contacts by chatting and exchanging business cards.

Do you have a business card? Shall we exchange cards? :-)

"May we exchange business cards?" A question I often ask during conversation when meeting someone new. #seriouslywrite @mimionlife

“Whether you are published or not published, exchanging business cards is a great way to help others remember you, especially if your photo is on the card.” #seriouslywrite @mimionlife

Have a blessed day of writing and sharing God’s love,
Melissa Henderson

Melissa Henderson is a writer of inspirational messages through fiction, non-fiction, devotions, guest blogs, articles and more. Her first children’s book, “Licky the Lizard” was released in 2018. Some of her passions are helping in community and church. Melissa and her husband Alan moved from Virginia to South Carolina in 2017 to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. The family motto is "It’s Always A Story With The Henderson".

Website and blog : http://www.melissaghenderson.com
Amazon link to "Licky the Lizard"
Facebook : Melissa Henderson, Author
Pinterest : Melissa Henderson
Twitter : @mimionlife

What Are You Sure About? by C. Kevin Thompson

C. Kevin Thompson

As you get older, you spend more and more time thinking. I guess it’s because you realize you have more years behind you than what lies ahead.

Often, it’s about the things you could have done, but for some reason, never did. Like for me when I was in high school, I wish I would have known I could have stood on the sideline of a football field, held a clipboard, and wore a headset while I followed around a great college coach, to learn from him and eventually be ready to tackle that profession on my own. But I’m too old now.

Other times, we think about the things we did that we wish we could have or would have done differently. There are too many things for me to list here. Suffice it to say, hindsight is always 20/20, and even if I had it to do all over again, middle and high school would not be on that list. I do remember, though, my dad urging me at the age of eighteen to set aside twenty dollars a week and sock it away for retirement, come thick or thin, drought or plenty. More when you can. No less than that during the down times. Had I followed that advice, I’d have a minimum of $41,000 saved right now, and that doesn’t include the interest that would have accrued over all these years.

At other times, we think about the things you wish you would have started sooner. I wish I would have pursued my writing career sooner. I had the itch for years, but for whatever reason, I never pursued it until I was in my forties. Better late than never, I guess, but I often wonder how far along I’d be in my writing career if I had started sooner.

Do you do this? Take these little strolls down Memory Lane?

It’s in these times of contemplation when I’m reminded of the dinner scene in the movie, The Family Man, starring Nicolas Cage as Jack Campbell and Téa Leoni as Kate Reynolds. Jack and Kate are sitting in a high-end New York City restaurant, and Jack explains how he “feels like” he is living someone else’s life. How he used to be so sure of himself. And now, he’s unsure about everything.

Kate responds by saying that she too has wondered what kind of life she would have had if she hadn’t married Jack.

Jack replies, “And?”

Then Kate says this: “And then I realize I have just erased all the things in my life that I’m sure about. You…the kids…”

“Good things…” Jack says.

“Yeah,” Kate responds. Then she asks Jack, “What are you sure about?”

And his response? “I’m sure that right now, there is no other place I’d rather be than here with you.”

It’s easy to wish we could do it over. It’s easy to imagine what things would be like if we had chosen “the other path.” However, if we did, we’d give up everything we are sure about. The good things in our lives. And instead, we would fall prey to the lie that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. What we forget to remember is that when we climb over that proverbial fence, we take our decision-making process with us. We take our sins with us. So, even if we had it to do all over again, we’d still have regrets. They would just be new ones. We’d still make poor choices and end up wishing twenty years later we could do it all over again, again.

So, when does it stop, this wishing for a “do-over”?

It stops when we realize how blessed we are in the moment. A moment that took years, even decades to create.

When you have a spouse who loves you for who you are, even if you’re overweight. When you have a job that may not get you that million-dollar resort home in the Poconos, but it keeps a roof over your head on rainy days. When your children drive you up a wall sometimes, but bring you laughter and joy and a never-ending mountain of laundry. Yes, even the laundry is a blessing, for there are many adults who would wash twice the amount of clothes you have to do if it meant having a child to hold in their arms.

You see, the blessings that lead to a thankful heart come from what has already happened in your life and mine. We can be joyous for the future, for promises made, for things to come that can be counted on, like Jesus’s return and a Heavenly home, for example. But to be thankful, it has to be for things that have already occurred. Things that have been done for you, given to you, even happened to you beyond your control. When we wish for do-overs, we erase everything for which we should be thankful. It’s a truly selfish act, if you think about it. What made us, that which shaped and molded us into the people we are today, we now wish to wipe out because we—let’s admit it—want a better life? As if the one God has given us is somehow faulty and defective?

So, my friend, in this season of Thanksgiving, be truly thankful. For this very moment. And the next. And the next. For it is all you are truly sure about.

And give Him praise.

It’s easy to wish we could do it over. It’s easy to imagine what things would be like if we had chosen “the other path.” #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @CKevinThompson

When does it stop, this wishing for a “do-over”? #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @CKevinThompson

The Tide of Times

The Tide of Times

(The Blake Meyer Thriller Series, Book 3)

A Perverse Tale. A Precarious Truth. A Personal Tribulation.

Supervisory Special Agent Blake Meyer is at an impasse. Bound and beaten in a dilapidated warehouse halfway around the world, Blake finds himself listening to an unbelievable story. Right and wrong warp into a despicable clash of ideologies. Life quickly becomes neither black nor white. Nor is it red, white, and blue any longer.

Every second brings the contagion's release closer, promising to drag the United States into the Dark Ages. Tens of millions could be dead within months.

Every moment adds miles and hours to the expanding gulf between him and his family. What is he to believe? Who is he to trust?



C. KEVIN THOMPSON is a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a kid at heart. Often referred to as “crazy” by his grandchildren, it’s only because he is. He’s a writer. Need he say more?

The second edition of his award-winning debut novel, The Serpent’s Grasp, is now available! The first four books of his Blake Meyer Thriller series are out as well. Book 1, 30 Days Hath Revenge, Book 2, Triple Time, Book 3, The Tide of Times, and Book 4, When the Clock Strikes Fourteen, are now available! Book 5, A Pulse of Time, is coming soon! And, his new standalone novel, The Letters, is due out January 7, 2020, in e-book, February 18, 2020, in paperback! It is a “Christmas Carol-esque” book that will haunt your family pleasantly for years to come!

Kevin is a huge fan of the TV series 24, The Blacklist, Blue Bloods, NCIS, Criminal Minds, BBC shows Broadchurch, Shetland, Hinterland, and Wallander, loves anything to do with Star Trek and is a Sherlock Holmes fanatic too. But you will never catch him wearing a deerstalker. Ever.

Website: www.ckevinthompson.com/
Kevin’s Writer’s Blog: www.ckevinthompson.blogspot.com/
Facebook: C. Kevin Thompson – Author Fan Page
Twitter: @CKevinThompson
Instagram: ckevinthompson
Pinterest: ckevinthompsonauthor
Goodreads: C. Kevin Thompson
BookBub: C. Kevin Thompson

Things I'm Thankful For by Terri Weldon

On Thursday, November 28th, Americans will sit down at their tables and have a wonderful meal with family and friends as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

Since Seriously Write will be closed I thought I’d share a few of the writing things I’m thankful for with you today.

1. The Gift of Writing – I’m so thankful God has blessed me with the gift of writing. Penning stories may be overwhelming at times but it is a true joy.

2. My Sister – she also happens to be my number one fan and encourager. At times she is also my harshest critic. I’m thankful for her encouragement and honesty.

3. Writing Friends – it’s a blessing to have friends who understand what it means to be a writer. Friends who don’t blink an eye when you ask for a way to murder someone that starts with a T. Instead they start brainstorming with you!

4. A Mentor – I’ve been blessed to be mentored by an extremely talented author who has helped me improve my writing.

And last, but not least

5. Seriously Write – I’m blessed to be a part of a wonderful blog. The four women, Annette Irby, Mary Felkins, Sandra Ardoin, and Dawn Kinzer, who host on the other days of the week are talented, fun, and such a blessing. Another Seriously Write blessing is my two regular contributors, Sally Shupe and Patti Jo Moore. Life is so much nicer since they’ve joined the Thursday team!

What writing things are you thankful for? I’d love to hear all about them.

Amazon Link

A Match Made In Sheffield (The Matchmakers)

Natalie Benton bounced from one foster home to another until she landed on Ellie Alexander’s doorstep. Natalie’s vagabond childhood caused her to yearn for a secure life, which led to Natalie’s five-year plan: complete her law degree, marry the perfect man, become a partner at Montgomery, Haynes, and Preston, and produce one child. Getting arrested wasn’t in Natalie’s plan. Needing a public defender wasn’t in her plan. Falling for Grady Hunter, her public defender, definitely wasn’t in her plan. Can Grady convince Natalie there is more to life than her five-year plan? Is Ellie the only one who sees a future for Natalie and Grady?

Terri Weldon feels blessed to be a full time writer. She enjoys traveling, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA.

What I Know About Writing Could Fit in Thimble by Patty Smith Hall

I was once paired with a young writer who to my surprise, knew everything there was to know about the craft of writing. According to her, the writing groups she’d visited ‘just didn’t get her style.’ She refused to part of a critique group because in the past, they ‘tried to change my voice’ with corrections and suggestions. She finally told me she didn’t need nor want any help.

Bless her heart!

I didn’t have it in me to tell her that learning the craft of writing was a life-long journey or that the input of more experienced writers can propel you to the next level. She’d have to learn this the hard way like I did.

Yes, I had an unteachable spirit early in my career. In those first days, I was giddy with excitement over everything I wrote, certain that I’d enter a contest, win it and draw the attention of a big publishing house dying to publish my story. I thought I’d be on my way!

Boy, was I stupid! Not only did I not win, I didn’t even final, and the red marks on my returned entry covered so much of my work, I actually asked the contest coordinator if there had been a mistake. (To this day, I still cringe when I think about it!) When she gently explained there was no mistake, I understood the truth. Not only was I embarrassed, I’d sabotaged myself by not listening to the more experienced writers around me trying to help me become a better writer.

So how do you tame the unteachable spirit? Here’s three ways:

1) Admit you have a problem.

Be honest with yourself. When a critique partner makes a note that something is unclear in your writing, do you try to explain yourself? (A big no-no. Remember, you’re not going to be there to explain it to your readers!) Do you think any type of correction is an attempt to change your voice? Do you scoff at people who offer suggestions to your story? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you’ve definitely got a problem. The only way to grow as a writer is to admit you don’t know much at all. But take heart. None of us do, which is why writing is a life-long learning experience.

2) Grow a thick skin.

Years after the contest fiasco, I signed up for Jerry Jenkin’s thick-skin manuscript class. I even sent in my first chapter for one of the in-class critiques. It didn’t really hit me what I might be in for until I talked to a multi-published friend who said(with a look of absolute terror in her eyes) she’d never been brave enough to let Mr. Jenkins use his red pen on her work. But I had a reason for my madness; I needed a thicker skin if I ever wanted to get published.

Writing is a tough business. The truth is you’re never going to please everyone with your stories. Contests, while good, are subjective. Editors and agents are looking at what readers want and what sales. When you’re published, some readers will leave you a one-starred review even after admitting they didn’t read the book. So if you are working toward publication, you’d better toughen up. You can’t survive this industry without a thick hide.

3) It takes a village to write a book.

Writing is often referred to as a solitary job, and I agree to a point. Alone, we wrangle with phrases and sentences until we arrange them into the perfect combination. But writing a book also takes the help of many others; critique partners, mentors, your local writing group, agents and editors. These people walk alongside us, offering encouragement and advice, sometimes even reading your work for the twenty-fourth time just to help you fill in a plot point. Writing a novel is a group effort.

Now for the hard question—do you have an unteachable spirit when it comes to your writing?

Three ways to know if you have a teachable spirit. via @pattywrites #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Patty Smith Hall lives in North Georgia with her husband of 36+ years, Danny. Her passion is
to write tender romances based in little-known historical moments. The winner of the 2008 ACFW Genesis award in historical romance, she is published with Love Inspired Historical, Barbour and Winged Publishing, and is a contributor to the Seriously Writing blog as well as Journey magazine. Patty is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. 

4 Women Bring Southern Charm to a Cowboy Town 

Crinoline Creek, Texas, 1868
A Cowboy of Her Own by Patty Smith Hall

Bookish southern belle Madalyn Turner knows what she wants—to be a cowboy and own a Texas ranch. But books are far different from real life and soon she realizes she needs help.

The Green River Race by Shannon Moore Redmon

The Green River kayak race is not for the faint of heart. If the cold-water temperatures don’t take out the weak, since the event is always scheduled the first Saturday in November, then the class 5+ rapids will.

Take a look at a few of the names the famous whitewater sections have received:

The Gorilla, Go Left and Die, or Nieces Pieces. Not for the inexperienced.

So, when I was invited to join my friend and her extremely talented husband who risks his life every year to run this wild river, needless to say, I was excited.

The hike into and out of the event should’ve given me some idea to the intensity of this race. The first mile and a half was an easy walk, but the last mile was straight down the side of a mountain. We used ropes, roots and limbs as hand holds to keep us from stumbling down the steep embankments. All was fun going down, but climbing back out, almost induced multiple heart attacks along the way. More than one person took breaks on the sidelines trying to breathe.

The sound of beastly rapids reached our ears long before we saw them. Whitewater is a mild term when considering these watery creatures ready to devour any kayaker who isn’t prepared for their wrath.

Over one hundred and fifty racers entered the event, both male and female. The number one place finish was completed in four minutes and four seconds.

Several other kayakers were chomped up and spit out by ‘the gorilla’ with one even busting his eye on the rocks when he flipped upside down. Thankfully, safety crews stationed nearby pulled him out of the raging water.

The one thing I admire about these men and women paddlers is whether they have a good run or not, they never give up. They keep doing what they love in some of the most dangerous conditions.

Writers must also take on that same tough kayaker mentality.

1) Rejection.
When the whitewater waves of rejection pull us down and drown our efforts, we must battle for the win. Even if we are flipped upside down, we must reach for help, regain our footing and try again.

2) Hard work.
The climb might be hard and laborious, but we must push through the pain and continue. If we quit, then we will never make it back to the truck.

3) Breaks.
Taking breaks when needed is also a must. We need time to catch our breaths, restore our creativity, muster up the strength to move forward with the next story.

For no one ever wins the number one trophy by sitting on the sidelines. They only get wet.

For no one ever wins the number one trophy by sitting on the sidelines. They only get wet. @shannon_redmon @MaryAFelkins #amwriting #persistence #SeriouslyWrite

Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown up book she checked out from the neighborhood book mobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop teenage chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.

There’s nothing better than the power of a captivating novel, a moving song or zeal for a performance that punches souls with awe. A rainbow displayed after a horrific storm or expansive views on a mountaintop bring nuggets of joy into our lives. Shannon hopes her stories immerse readers into that same kind of amazement, encouraging faith, hope and love, guiding our hearts to the One who created us all.

Shannon’s writing has been published in Spark magazine, Splickety magazine, the Lightning Blog, The Horse of My Dreams compilation book, and the Seriously Write blog. Her stories have been selected as a semi-finalist and finalist of the ACFW Genesis Contest and won first place in the Foundation’s Awards. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. The StoryMoore Blog is named in memory of her father, Donald Eugene Moore.

Connect with Shannon:
www.shannonredmon.com
The StoryMoore Blog
FB: https://www.facebook.com/shannon.redmon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shannon_redmon @shannon_redmon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonredmon/

Check out Shannon's story in a compilation with other authors, published by Revell.
The Horse of My Dreams

Cord of Three Strands by Patty Nicholas-Boyte

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This last weekend, I and five other writers gathered together for a mini retreat. We were working on a specific project, and each one of us struggled in one area or another. As we brainstormed through each person’s story, I witnessed the beauty of the body of Christ in the writing community.

This verse is also special to me as my husband and I braided a cord of three strands in our wedding ceremony three weeks ago as a symbol of how Christ is at the center of our lives as individuals and will be interwoven into our marriage as we become one.

The two events, while still fresh in my mind, have given me a new appreciation for how interconnected we truly are. As writers, our work by nature is one of solitude, but what is true in our lives as Christ followers, is just as true for writers who happen to be Christians. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing. Writers do not put our Christian identity away when we write. We need Jesus at the center of our lives or our work will be meaningless.

Even though we must write on our own, God created us to be in community. Even though we must write on our own, God created us to be in community. click to tweet it! This is why writers retreats and group gatherings are important. Every time I get together with a group of other writers, I see introverts come out of their shell, and ideas freely exchanged, and creativity flows.

When someone is stuck on a particularly difficult passage, others jump in. When a story needs fleshing out, someone will offer a suggestion. I always look forward to the times I can get together with my writer friends, whether it’s at a conference, a mini retreat or one-on-one with a critique partner. I count these times as very special. It has always been through these times that I have the biggest burst of energy and creativity.

What about you? Do you have a group or critique partner that is one of those strands in the “God Knot?” Where is God in your cord, is He at the center?


Multi award winning writer, Patty Nicholas lives in the mountains of North Carolina. She is a busy event planner for the Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove, and is a member of the Blue Ridge Writers Group. She is a mother of two grown daughters and grandmother of three. She writes Bible studies and devotionals as well as contemporary romance. Devotions are published in compilations by Lighthouse Bible Studies.

facebook.com/patty.l.nicholas
twitter.com/PattyNicholas2

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction by Christina Coryell

Christina Coryell

As writers, we work hard to create believable characters, motivations, and outcomes. When it comes to our God and stories of faith, should the unbelievable have a place as well? Author Christina Coryell shares her personal guidelines. ~ Dawn

Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t. – Mark Twain

I’ve always been a Missouri girl, born and raised. Although my building contractor husband and I moved a lot when we married (something like 7 times in the first 8 years), I’ve never lived more than an hour away from the home where I grew up. Since we rarely stayed in one place long enough to get to know anyone, during those early married years, we didn’t interact much with our neighbors.

After all that moving around, we ended up living in one house for about a decade. I couldn’t have chosen better neighbors if I’d hand-picked them, and it was an ideal neighborhood. There were loads of kids around, and most days I could find several of them in my front yard. The boy who lived next door played with my kids so much, he jokingly started calling me “Mom” when he stepped into the house. His mother and I walked around the neighborhood together on Halloween, and they even took care of our dog when we went away on the weekends.

A couple of years went by, and those neighbors went out of state to visit family. It wasn’t until that point in time that we realized we shared a greater connection than we could have imagined. When she was a little girl, my next-door neighbor had been my aunt’s next-door neighbor. In Ohio. 600 miles away.

A story like that can feel difficult to chance when it comes to fiction. With millions of people in those 600 miles between Ohio and my house, the probability of the two of us becoming neighbors was statistically minuscule. Face to face in the real world, talking about it might earn a response of, “Wow, that’s crazy.” Put the same exact scenario in a made-for-TV movie, and I can see it playing in my head: “Oh, of COURSE she ends up living next to the exact same family. Where else would she live? I bet that bearded guy driving her taxi is actually Santa Claus.”

Like it or not, sometimes our minds draw parameters around fiction. We’re willing to entertain pretty much anything…as long as it fits within certain boundaries of plausibility. If writing honest, true-to-life fiction means walking a tightrope between the believable and the unbelievable, there has to be a balance, right? While I’m not one for following hard-set rules, over time I’ve tried to stick to these overarching guidelines when I write:

1. Write with Confidence. I’m not talking about self-assuredness in my abilities, but rather a belief in my story. If someone comes to me and says, “Character A wouldn’t respond that way,” I can’t have a check in my gut about whether he would or wouldn’t. Either I’m able to stand behind what I’ve written one hundred percent, or the editing process isn’t finished.
2. Know When to Listen. Feedback comes a mile a minute in this business. If I took every opinion I’d ever received to heart, I’d be working on revision 430 of my first novel, likely undoing all the revisions requested on versions 2 through 429. When my mama tells me something doesn’t seem right, though, I take a hard look. While I’m taking that hard look, if I get the aforementioned check in my gut, I know she’s right. (Side note: I have the best Mom in the world, who happens to be an avid reader. For clarification purposes, though, I’m not saying that everyone should run their novels past their mamas. Even though I do. 😊)
3. Is it God or Fairy Dust? When something a little more extraordinary makes it into my novel, it has to matter in the larger scheme of things. Life is often wild and crazy and unpredictable. If my character moves across three state lines and ends up living beside the exact same family she lived beside before, she’s going to realize that the Creator of the Universe is invested in her life. At the end of the day, even if it seems a little improbable, it’s nothing for the God of the impossible.

Is it God or Fairy Dust? via @c_tinacoryell #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters

If writing honest, true-to-life fiction means walking a tightrope between the believable and the unbelievable, there has to be a balance, right? via @c_tinacoryell #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters

Written in the Stars

Written in the Stars

Roundabout these parts, dirt roads don’t just get you from point A to point B. They intersect to create a maze of life often missed when outsiders drive through a sleepy town. The number on the population sign might seem insignificant, but a few short steps from the beaten path, there’s more than meets the eye.

Look a little closer… That sleek out-of-town convertible is bringing former pageant queen Brooke Langdon back into town for the first time in a decade. She’s dragging nothing with her but the hyphen in her last name. Gatlin Moore is running his tractor along the fence line, spending his days keeping up his parents’ farm instead of living out his dreams in Nashville. The sheriff is pulling into Holly Christian’s driveway, preparing to tell her that her life’s about to crumble. And Hunter Pearce, the guy everyone calls when they need something fixed? He’s racing to Holly’s place too, wondering if things are too broken to put back together.

Welcome to Hope Canyon. This is our backroads story.


ACFW QIP author Christina Coryell lives with her husband and children in southwest Missouri. She’s published ten novels and several other stories since 2014, but she’s never written a novel at a desk. Cold metal bleachers during baseball practice, in the back hatch of an SUV, and sitting on a trampoline—she’s written in those places. A mom has to do what a mom has to do. Some days she dreams of writing at a desk. Maybe a treadmill desk would be an easier transition. Her novels have spanned the genres of women’s fiction, southern fiction, and romantic comedy, but mostly she aims to write authentic characters.

Written in the Stars is a nod to the place where she grew up—a candid look at the rural mid-south.

Connect with Christina at www.christinacoryell.com.

Be Kind To Others - - - And To Yourself 😊 By Patti Jo Moore

As Christian writers, we want to show kindness. This is done in countless ways—including encouraging other writers, sharing lessons we’ve learned in our own journey, posting great reviews for books we’ve enjoyed, and lifting up an author-friend who may have gotten a not-so-great book review.

If we’re published, we also want to be kind to our readers. This can also be done in countless ways—from corresponding with them via e-mail and blogs to giving away prizes to show our appreciation for readers.

But I was recently reminded of another way writers need to be kind, and that is to ourselves. I’ve battled a rotten cold for a full week—nothing major, but still feeling miserable. My worst day of this pesky cold was last Friday. I’d been home since Wednesday, not even venturing out to my mailbox. I was reminded of the fact I have a December first deadline, and had gotten behind (okay…waaay behind) on my word count. I had everything I needed—medicine, tissues, coffee, soup, and my kitties napping close by—and the sunshine was streaming in my window next to my desk. It was the perfect setting for me to dive in and let those words flow.

Except…I did not feel like doing a thing. Not one thing. Even my favorite hobbies of reading and needlepoint held no appeal. What was going on? I didn’t want to turn on the television (not even to the Hallmark channel!) and couldn’t think of anything at all I wanted to do. So guilt poked me with that annoying voice. You’re wasting this entire day. Since you’re not sleepy, you should be at least doing something! Remember all those words you still need to write before December?

And it hit me then—something I’ve often heard other writers say. We tend to be hard on ourselves. Sure, it’s great to push ourselves to write or do writing-related tasks even if we’re not feeling motivated. But when we are ill—even from nothing serious—our body still needs rest. And if that means simply gazing out your window and being thankful for the sunshine and Autumn leaves, then that’s okay. 😊 Even Jesus took time to rest.

So with the holidays fast approaching, if you should become sick (which I hope you won’t!) or even overwhelmed with the dozens of items on your To-Do list, please take some time and rest. Without feeling guilty. Then when you’re feeling better, you’ll be ready to tackle whatever has been waiting on you! Be kind to others—and to yourself.

And be ye kind one to another. Ephesians 4:32

Amazon Buy Link

Sadie's Dream

In a coastal Georgia town in 1900, a young woman prepares to serve as a missionary in Africa.

After being jilted the previous year, she's certain she's meant to remain single.

When she meets a handsome businessman from Savannah, she begins struggling with doubts.

Over time she learns that the Lord's plans are best, and dreams really can come true.

Patti Jo Moore is a retired kindergarten teacher and lifelong Georgia girl. She loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee, and is blessed to be published with Forget-Me-Not Romances. When she’s not spending time with her family (including her sweet grandbaby) or writing her “Sweet, Southern Stories” Patti Jo can be found feeding cats—her own six and local strays.

She loves connecting with readers and other writers, and can be found on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com

Never Give Up! By Elva Cobb Martin

Have you ever thought of giving up on getting your book finished and published? Well, I want to encourage you. Never give up that dream. God is in the business of helping you finish what He has begun in your heart, according to Philippians 1:7 “Being confident of this very thing that he which has begun a good work in your will perform it...”

I wrote my first novel, Summer of Deception, after attending a writers' conference. Once I started submitting it to publishers and agents, it was rejected 26 times. But I kept revising and rewriting. Meantime, my husband and I were called into full-time ministry, and the manuscript went into my attic for the next 20 years. End of story. Right? 

Nope. Summer of Deception, an inspirational romantic suspense, was contracted and published in 2017, thirty years after that first draft. It has spent time on Amazon’s 100 Best Sellers’ List for Women’s Religious Fiction. A prequel, In a Pirate’s Debt, the story of the pirate ancestor of the hero in Summer, soon followed. November 12, Marisol, a heroine who would not give up, was released.

My Five Steps to a Book Contract

Step 1 – Keep God’s Confidence in Yourself and Never Give Up

Many may reject your manuscript, but someone will love it, if you don’t give up.

Step 2 – Hone Your Craft (Planning Your Novel blog series  http://bit.ly/2HbB5qM)

Carve out praying time, writing time, sharpening craft time, and reading time in your genre.

Step 3 – Find Writing Workshops and Critique Groups

How about your local American Christian Fiction Writers’ Chapter?

Step 4 – Help Other Writers

This is a spiritual principle. You will reap help you need when you sow into others.

Step 5 – Learn how to Submit to Editors and Agents

 Follow their submission guidelines.

Can you add to my list? What helped you not give up?

Never give up that dream. via @ElvaCobbMartin #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting

~~~~~~

Elva Cobb Martin,  a mother and grandmother, lives in South Carolina with her husband and a senior mini-dachshund named Lucy, and a sea green bird named Atticus. She is the upcoming president of her state chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers, a retired teacher, minister, and now calls herself a full-time writer. Better make that rewriter. A life-long student of history, her favorite city, Charleston, inspires her stories of romance and adventure. She desires to share exciting love stories of courageous characters and communicate truths of the Christian faith to bring hope and encouragement.

http://www.elvamartin.com

http://carolinaromancewithelvamartin.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/elvacobbmartin 

http://twitter.com/ElvaCobbMartin

https://www.pinterest.com/elvacobbmartin/ 

Sticks and Stones by Marie Wells Coutu

Words have power.

The familiar children’s adage proclaims, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me.”

But that is a lie. No doubt the saying has been used by well-meaning mothers and teachers to make children feel better about being taunted and teased, but the truth is that words can hurt.

As writers, we know they can also soothe and heal.

We make friends by sharing our thoughts and feelings and lives—especially through our words. That’s also how we touch readers—by inviting them into stories where they can share in the thoughts, feelings, and lives of our characters.

Words have substance and shape. They have identifiable characteristics. They represent order.

Words can glorify God and make Him visible. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:1, 14, NIV)

Jesus came into the world and made the Word visible. His physical body provided us a way to see and relate to God. It’s much easier to communicate with God through the man Jesus than if we only knew Him as Spirit. Similarly, we can converse with one who is the Word more easily than if He were only “thoughts.”

In God’s Word, the Bible, we learn about His plan for humanity, His eternal truths, and the laws He provided for our benefit. These laws form the basis for all of civilized society. In giving us His Word, God showed us every aspect of His love. He wrote this love letter to us with the blood of His only Son.

When we write stories based on God’s love letter, our words can heal and restore wounded hearts and broken spirits.

God our Maker signs each life with His unseen mark just as a potter puts his signature on the bottom of a vase or an author signs her book. By inscribing His name on us, He has given us a sign of His love. In our writing, we can reveal His imprint on our lives, and we can help our readers discover His mark on their lives.

Through our stories, God can turn harmful lies into truths that heal.

When we #write stories based on God’s love letter, our words can heal & restore wounded hearts & broken spirits. @mwcoutu on #WritingChristianFiction #whywewrite #amwriting @MaryAFelkins

“Sticks & stones may break my bones, but #words will never harm me” is a lie. @mwcoutu on #writing truth for #SeriouslyWrite @MaryAFelkins

Through our stories, readers can see God’s imprint on our lives & discover His mark on theirs. @mwcoutu on #WhyWeWrite #ChristianFiction on #SeriouslyWrite #amwriting @MaryAFelkins

Marie Wells Coutu finds beauty in surprising places, like old houses, gnarly trees, and forgotten treasures. When she’s not writing about finding restoration and healing through God-designed journeys, she enjoys taking broken things and making them useful.

She is currently working on historical romance novels set in the 1930s. One manuscript won the 2019 Touched by Love Contest and the 2019 Sheila Contest, and a second novel also won in the Sheila Contest.

Her published novels are women’s contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, For Such a Moment, won the Books of Hope Contest. The Secret Heart, her newest release, and Thirsting for More, the second book in the series, were finalists in several contests.

You can find more about Marie and her novels on her Facebook author page and her website, MarieWellsCoutu.com,
Follow her on Twitter @mwcoutu or on Amazon.

Prepare to Define Yourself: Dueling Authors

This author is driving me insane. I disagree with him, and I’m calling him out.

You can read his post here. He says we’re content creators—filling in reading spaces such as social media, blogs, speeches, podcasts. We’re not novelists, we’re creating entertainment for the masses.

I don’t like this guy.

The problem is, the writer is me.

Content Creator

He claimed we’re content creators. A writer focuses on entertainment values, formulas, bottom lines that result in numbers—readers and dollars—to build a resume.

Writing is a business. To this end, the business must grow. The writing, then, is a product and the product must sell. The call to action for the content creator, in the end, is to keep reading more of the content creator’s work.

The Artist

When a writer thinks of self as an artist first, the perspective changes. From self-promotion to human condition, the artist breaks from formula and studies with obsessed purpose the written word to create beauty.

As a content creator, I examine my past and see a gold mine. How did I make my dreams coming true? How did I overcome obstacles? Flashing quick stories and antidotes here and there makes for interesting reading. And it makes me look awesome.

Creating an artistic work resounds more deeply in people’s lives.

For example, I’ve seen my writing life in three stages, and they’re reflected in my western series.

Book One: West for the Black Hills. Philip Anderson wants to remain anonymous but is forced to step into the public eye to defend those he loves. In my life, I won $20,000 and a publishing contract. I can no longer sit on the couch and do whatever I wanted. I am an award-winning author, and I must act like one.

Book Two: Shadow of Devil’s Tower. Philip Anderson must take the next step in his life and become a leader in order to rescue the people he loves. In my life, it wasn’t enough just to write. I had to step up and lead.

Book Three: IN PROCESS. Philip Anderson will have to face his past, the past of others, and deal with injustice. No longer simply to lead, he must effect change in the world. While this book is still being written, it reflects my final stage from being a 100% introvert to comfortably standing in front of many and leading through example and direction.

Be the artist you were meant to be. Take the moments you are creating content and spend some time reflecting. Write deeply reflecting the human condition.

Be funny. Be deep. Be ironic. Be clever. Be bold. Be an artist.

Be funny. Be deep. Be ironic. Be clever. Be bold. How to be an artistic writer. #seriouslywrite #writerslife @petereleavell

prepare to Define Yourself: Dueling Authors. Content versus artistry. #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

How to use your life to become art. #seriouslywrite #writerslife @peterleavell

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history and currently enrolled in the University's English Lit Graduate program, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. A novelist, blogger, teacher, ghostwriter, jogger, biker, husband and father, Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at www.peterleavell.com

Why I Chose the Long Road to Publication by Karin Beery

Karin Beery

Do you want a writing career? Do you want something in print to share with family and friends? Your goals will determine the steps you take. Author Karin Beery shares her personal decisions and why she made them. ~ Dawn

Why I Chose the Long 
Road to Publication

“I love writing books! It’s so much fun, and really easy to do.” (unnamed writer)

The ease of publishing all depends on what you want to achieve as an author. There are writers who simply want to get published. They don’t necessarily care about industry trends, genre rules, book sales, or reviews. They have stories to tell, and they want to make them available to everyone. There’s nothing wrong with that. It works for a lot of people.

I, however, have different goals.

I want to write as many books for as long as possible and sell them to as many people as are willing to buy them. I want to share my advice with other writers and help them do the same. In a perfect world, I’d like book publishing—specifically fiction publishing, including writing and editing—to be my full-time job. More than a hobby, I’d like to actually get paid to spend my life writing, reading, editing, reviewing, marketing, and publishing novels.

Most of the time it’s fun, but (like any job) it’s also a lot of work. I often hear new writers talking about self-publishing because they’ve spent 1-2 years writing and pitching a book that’s getting rejections. 1-2 years.

I wonder if those writers have any idea how long doctors and lawyers go to school before they’re allowed to do their jobs.

I wrote my first novel in 2007. My second in 2008 (and 2009 and 2010—it went through several revisions). Then I had to stop for a while because I couldn’t handle any more rejections, but I knew what I wanted (full-time fiction work!), so I got back to it. While I worked on another novel, I wrote for the local newspapers and learned to write marketing content (I needed something to pay the bills).

In 2014, with my third novel, I finally landed an agent! He submitted my manuscript everywhere, and I received some of the nicest rejections ever. It took four more years (three weeks before my 40th birthday) before I signed it—my first book contract. It took 11 years and three manuscripts to make it happen, but it did.

Last month, I celebrated the release of my second novel, Practically Married. I’ve also edited five published novels, teach writing and editing at conferences and online, and even work for a small publishing house.

I could have taken a different route and published a book a decade ago, but that wouldn’t have helped me achieve the publishing goals I’d set for myself. It’s been hard (and not always fun!), but this path put me exactly where I wanted to be, even if the timing wasn’t quite what I’d expected. I decided to take the long road, and I’m glad I did.

The ease of publishing all depends on what you want to achieve as an author. #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @karinbeery

I decided to take the long road, and I’m glad I did. #seriouslywrite #encouragementforwriters via @karinbeery

Practically Married

Practically Married

Ashley moves to a new town to marry her fiancé. Instead, she buries him.

Ashley Johnson moves to northern Michigan to finally meet her fiancé face-to-face, but she arrives in time to go to his funeral. With no home back in Ohio, she decides to stay in what would have been their house, except his cousin Russ lives there too, and Russ has never heard of Ashley. To complicate matters, her fiancé accidentally willed her the family farmhouse. Eager to please everyone and desperate to disappoint no one, she proposes a marriage of convenience that could solve her and Russ’s problems, if they can get past her aunt, his sisters, and an ex-girlfriend.



Karin Beery grew up in a rural Michigan town, where she wrote her first novel in high school. Today, she writes contemporary stories with a healthy dose of romance. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s reading, editing, or teaching it. In her free time, she enjoys watching University of Michigan football and action-adventure movies with her husband and fur babies.

Connect with Karin and learn more at these online sites:

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karinbeery
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karin-beery
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Karin-Beery/e/B07HQ2GZQS
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2666258-karin