Comfort Zone? What Comfort Zone? by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

There are times when I’m outgoing, engaging. There are times I love being part of a ‘party’ or a spirited gathering full of talk, laughter, discussion, and even more laughter. But then come the times when I crave nothing more than solitude, and the ability to blend into obscurity so I can people watch, listen, observe and chronicle. I love those moments when I can sink inside myself, absorb, and then share the world I've discovered.

As such, I’ll never be a sales person. I admire those who can effectively sell a product, or themselves. Doing so is a skill and a gift. Me? I detest the necessary ‘promo’ component of my writing ministry, because I never want this journey to be about me. I want it to be about Christ, and the gifts I offer Him via storytelling. In our present techno-based, social-driven world, however, there’s no escaping the need to put yourself forward. Case in point? Last month I traveled to Atlanta to tape a television segment for Preach the Word TV’s ‘Book of the Month’ show. The topic? My second Harbourlight Books release, Forgiveness.

Um…yeah. This required things like studio sets. Stage lights. The daunting task of trying to sound natural and confident while staring down the lens of a trolley camera. Stage hands with cue cards would buzz with graceful stealth from spot to spot during filming.

Daunting puts a pretty accurate descriptive on the event.

The host of the show, Bishop OC Pringle, pre-interviewed me, and intended to work from a line of questions we had already discussed. During taping, however, he veered off-script. I found myself open to God’s Spirit, and His vulnerability when Bishop asked: “Marianne, what’s the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to forgive?”

I believe—with all that I am—that God prepared me for that question just moments before taping. While sharing lunch with my editor and some newfound author friends, a memory buzzed, and filled my soul: the memory of losing my mother-in-law to a broadside automobile accident caused by an inebriated driver who ran a red light and ended her life all too soon.

And so, when he asked that question, sure, my nerves sang, and tears welled but God kept me steady as I proceeded to answer Bishop’s question.

My comfort zone had been left far behind, but God’s purpose, and call, had been answered in full. I had been prepared in such a way that I hope others who have been required to forgive much, can relate, empathize, and move forward in their own faith journey.

Where is your comfort zone, friends? Where is God calling you to share—no matter how “uncomfortable” – or expand your horizons? I’d love to hear about it! 

~~~~~

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. Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association. She is also a two-time recipient of the Selah Award, Then & Now for Best Contemporary Romance and Finding Home for Best Novella. 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.

~~~~~

Country music bad boy Chase Bradington is on the comeback trail. Fresh from rehab for alcohol addiction, and transformed by the power of Christ, Chase is battling to rediscover the music he loves and a career he nearly ruined. Then he meets up and comer, Pyper Brock, and instantly sparks ignite.

Pyper knows of Chase’s reputation, so despite a rampant attraction to the handsome and talented icon, she soundly dismisses his romantic overtures. Decades ago, her father, in a drunken rage, tossed her and her mother onto the streets. No way will Pyper make the mistake of falling for a man whose done battle with the bottle.

What happens when Chase’s quest to win Pyper’s love breaks down chains of resentment and eases the long buried wounds of her childhood? And what happens when Pyper’s father shows up in Nashville, clean, sober and seeking a chance to apologize?

Can Pyper follow a pathway to peace when it comes to her father? Can she fully trust Chase? Above all, can a sin damaged past be released in favor of forgiveness?

Available in print and e-book formats:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Christian Book ~ Pelican Book Group

A Tribute to Sandie Bricker

Sandie Bricker

Our hearts are saddened this weekend. As many of you know, the writing community lost a beloved friend, editor, and writer Saturday when Sandie Bricker graduated to heaven.

Sandie was our dear friend here at Seriously Write. She contributed regularly, on the first Monday of the month, encouraging and coaching writers. Many of your hostesses here also knew her as a friend. She is already sorely missed.

I first learned of Sandie when her 2009 book came out with Summerside Press: Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas. What an enjoyable and humorous story. Soon after I read, we connected online. Then, I met her in person at an ACFW conference. She was a delightful friend and most recently, a source of personal inspiration to me.

Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with Sandie’s family and friends at this time. 

Grief is a heavy burden. But it’s made lighter by the love and support of many friends together. I invite you, our readers and friends, to share your thoughts and memories here as we celebrate Sandie’s home-going and hold each other up. Do you have special memories of Sandie you’d like to share? Please do so below.

Your Work + Silence = God’s Mighty Plan? by Sonja Anderson

Sonja Anderson

I love today’s journey to publication story!  Sonja Anderson’s experiences encourage us to remember that God’s silence doesn’t mean he’s not listening or preparing the way for us to unlock gates to opportunities. Instead, he may be waiting for the right time to fling closed doors wide open. 
~ Dawn

Your Work + Silence
 = God’s Mighty Plan?

It doesn’t get much better for an elementary school librarian than to watch five copies of her very own book be in constant circulation.

Sophie’s Quest (released in 2015) contains a double whammy for a diverse, public school audience: as a Holy Land quest, religious themes run throughout, and there is even a Christian emphasis to the ending. People seriously wondered if it would even be allowed. Kids of every religious background, however, don’t let that worry them and they all check it out—even Muslim students tell friends it’s a “good book.”

The call to write it came fifteen years ago, when my kindergartener had argued with friends over “whose God is biggest.” How could I help her become a more respectful neighbor in our diverse community? How could she communicate her own faith more effectively? An idea for a story began to take shape.

Prayers for courage to begin writing led to the Holy Spirit practically hounding me. After a year, I finally said aloud to God, “All right! I’ll do it! Just go with me the whole way, okay?”

And He was! I could sense His presence and help through each step of the research and writing process. When the manuscript was ready, a personal contact soon led to an enthusiastic reading from a Zondervan editor. This is going to be easy, I thought. Thank you, God!

How wrong I was. Caught between her desires and a company shake-up, the editor turned it down. Subsequent submissions disappeared into black holes in the editorial sky. Even editors who requested the manuscript took many months to finally reject it.

Had God fled the scene? Had I done something wrong? Was the manuscript not really ready?

Then, a publisher “LOVED IT.” Sophie’s Quest would be published! Inexplicably, months and then four more years passed leaving a trail of unanswered emails and broken promises. Where had God gone—again? Praying friends kept praying, but I had largely lost hope.

Finally, in a free write during a Christian writer’s meeting, I submitted through tears to God that it was His book to publish—or not.

By the mysterious grace of God, within a month a Christian publisher in the UK offered to publish it. Not only that, but within hours of each other, the actual contract FINALLY arrived from the first interested publisher! God had given me a choice! I took a deep breath, prayed, and took Door Number Two.

Consider what God may have been up to during the long silences: When I started submitting Sophie’s Quest, its publisher wasn’t even a company yet. I wasn’t working at the elementary school yet.  I didn’t know a single Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist child in my community. Now, I know lots! Miracle of miracles, they are all checking out buying, and reading MY BOOK!

What might God be up to during your silent times? May you trust that, like Paul, you will not “run or labor for nothing,” but instead, “shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-15).

To God be the Glory!

Sophie Topfeather, 

Sophie Topfeather, Superstar!

Superstar!

Thorns and thistles! Whoo-oo knew that following the Golden Rule could lead to SO MUCH TROUBLE! Can Sophie and Timley get the Park animals to work together before the entire Park goes up in smoke? A novel for ages 8-12, this is the sequel to a Sophie's Quest, a Holy land friendship adventure. 

Available November 26, 2016!

Sonja lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and two daughters. She works in a public elementary school where she gets to encourage kids to follow the Golden Rule multiple times a day.

To connect with Sonja and learn more about her books, please visit:

www.sonjaandersonbooks.com  

www.facebook.com/sonjaandersonbooks

 www.twitter.com/SonjaMarie9  

www.soundcloud.com/sonjas-bible-stories

 

There’s a Lot More to Indie than Meets the Eye! by Terri Weldon

I have several friends who’ve had great success as Indie authors. After talking with them I decided to check into this new venue for writers. Would you like to know what I discovered? There’s a lot more involved than meets the eye.

 

Today is an interactive learning day. I’ll tell you the few things I discovered and you can correct me and share your knowledge.

 

1. You need good critique partners. As I’m sure all of you know a good critique partner is invaluable. In my humble opinion, they are even more so when you are planning an indie release.

 

2. A good editor is a must. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you or your friends will catch everything a good editor can. Traditional publishing houses hire editors for a reason.

 

3. A proof reader to catch any mistakes you make while incorporating changes from your editor. Typos are so easy to make and as we all know spell check doesn’t catch everything. 

 

4. A cover designer. Now some of you are probably talented enough to make your own covers, but I’m not.  Also, if you want your book to be available in print you need a wrap cover. Meaning there was absolutely no way I was going to figure all this out. So for me a cover designer was a must. 

 

5. The ability to format your book as an e-book and a paperback. There are places to assist you with this, such as Draft 2 Digital and others. However, even that left me feeling out of my league. I chose to go with hiring someone to do the formatting. 

 

6. ISBN numbers. Some authors have ISBN’s for e-books, my understanding is that having one for e-books is a choice. Any knowledgeable indie authors out there feel free to correct me if I’m wrong. But, if your book is going to be available in print then you’ll need an ISBN number. Createspace is one venue that can assist you with ISBNs.

 

7. Don’t forget to go to www.copyright.gov. Your book is your work, your brainchild, so don’t forget to protect yourself. 

 

8. Marketing! There are multiple new releases daily, so you will want to market your book. This is such a tough one. There are ads, words of mouth, blog tours, giveaways, and newsletters. I’m not the world’s best at marketing. What about you? Any tips that have helped you market your book whether it is traditionally published or indie published?

This is a very limited list. I know there are many, many more things to learn. Today I wanted to take the time to interact with all of you and see if you can provide any additional tips. Leave a comment and let me know what else you’ve learned if you have an indie book. If you don’t what are some good marketing tips? And if you’re a reader what draws you to a book? 

 

The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

 

Widowed Pastor Jacob Thompson had vowed to never remarry, but that was before he met Veterinarian Molly Kincaid. Could this unlikely duo be a match made in heaven?

 

Available late November!

Terri Weldon is a lead analyst by day and an author by night. She enjoys gardening, 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 Oklahoma. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and OCFW, a local chapter of ACFW. Her dream of becoming a published novelist came true in November 2013 when Mistletoe Magic, released from White Rose Publishing.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or

Blog: Seriously Write