Book Contract: How It All Happened

I write Appalachian romance. And if you read last weeks post, know that I recently signed a three book contract for the Cadence of Grace Series with WaterBrook Press. Yippee!

The first book in the series, Be Still My Soul, drops readers in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the turn of the last century at a time when honor and duty walked the same path as hope and faith. It's my prayer that this love story will touch hearts and encourage readers.

When I originally sent out queries, I knew this series was going to be a tough sell to agents. If I managed to get an agent, I knew it would be an even tougher sell to a publisher. Which is why I am throwing confetti in the air in honor of my fabulous agent, Sandra Bishop (MacGregor Literary). The woman is a rock star and not only saw potential in my story, but had enough faith in it to sign me on and pitch it to publishers.

When she informed me that WaterBrook Press was considering my proposal, I was over the moon. I've long admired their taste in fiction and am a huge fan of titles from authors like Liz Curtis Higgs, Susan Meissner and Kristen Heitzmann. The journey continued for months and months as my proposal went farther down the conveyor belt, constantly under the scrutiny of publishing pros. I was prepared that most likely, nothing would come of it. If by some miracle anything did, they just might want one...maybe two books. But all three?

As the waiting continued, I checked my email every day, chewed my fingernails down to stubs, and wore holes in my jeans for all the time I spent talking to God about it.

Then one day, I got The Call. Hearing my agent's voice on the other line with that mysterious-happy-restrained tone, my heart went into over drive. When she broke the good news that all three books had been chosen for publication, I wanted to cry. I think I might have. I immediately called my husband and of course my mom and I know I did the happy dance. I was REALLY pregnant then and let's just say...no that wasn't an earthquake you felt. :] That was one happy author!

Photo credit: Cold Mountain, 2003

The Winds of Change

It's one of those times of life for me. Great change is on the horizon. I feel it coming. It's exhilarating. Thrilling...and a little... intimidating. 

Why? Because change is different. The old will be no more and the new will come. 

I've been waiting for this for a very long time. It's the type of change I've prayed about, worked like crazy for, and knew that if it was in God's plan, it would eventually come to be. Standing on the threshold of that change fills me with an overwhelming urge to laugh, cry, and to celebrate. The road will be hard and the road will be incredible. There is nothing to do now but continue to place my hand in the Lord's and with the confidence that we're in this together, take one step at a time. I hope you will be with me to share in this journey. Your comments and support mean so much to me!

Tell me, have you experienced change lately? Looking back now, what advice would you have given to yourself as you were on the threshold of that change? 

Photo credit: Pride and Prejudice, 2005

Yea Though I Walk Through The Valley

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil;

For You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD

Forever. (Psalms 23)

The 23rd Psalm has never had much impact on me before. Aside from memorizing it as a child with my parents help, I just thought it had something to do with a Shepherd his staff and something about lying beside still waters. I just never quite got it. Until now.

The valley of the shadow of death is a very real place. For those who find themselves in the valley, away from the mountain tops and sunlight, take comfort that it is something we walk through--not around in aimlessly, not back and forth...but through. There is a beginning to it which can feel the darkest, but there is also an end. And though it may feel that way at times, we are never alone.

It is not a place of abandonment--God is there to be our comfort. And though it is so hard to see, we will not be the same as we were in the beginning. With each step, God does a work to transform us. To strengthen us. To bring us closer to him.

To God be the glory.

A Case of Sour Grapes

Jealousy. A word that's green with envy and a little bitter to swallow. A word that most of us have been familiar with at one point of our lives or another. I got hit with a case of it recently. I stumbled upon an author awhile back with a book contract I would have probably sold my left patella for and a series of the most beautiful book covers I've ever seen. Instead of being happy for them, I plopped down on the floor and cried "Why them, God? Why not me?" Me, me, me, me.

Ew. It was rather unattractive.

But I was frustrated. Really frustrated. Have you ever had that feeling? It was hard not to throw my hands in the air and count off all the reasons why I should be as fortunate as them and who are they to... yeah, like I said, pretty unattractive. It was at that moment I halted in my tracks. What I felt was wrong. Very wrong. And suddenly, the only emotion I felt was shame...OK, I'll admit, the jealousy was still lurking in the shadows. So I asked, "God, what do I do about this? It's not right to feel this way."

Then the answer came--the way to cure a case of sour grapes:

I added this person to my prayer list.

Yep, you heard me.

Beyond their name, pretty book covers and 3 book contract, I really have no idea who they are. I don't know anything about them. I don't know how hard they worked to get to where they are or how many hours were spent on their knees talking to God about their hopes and dreams or how excited their family and loved ones were when the big "call" came through that a publishing house had offered a deal. 

But here I was, pouting about their success. So I did what I felt God calling me to do and I immediately began to pray for them. And I continue to pray for that person until this day. Whenever they pop into my head, I immediately lift them up to the throne of grace and pray for God's hand to continue to bless their life and writing career.

And you know what? The jealousy vanished. And if ever there is a moment where it tries to creep back in, I turn right around and spend those moments that I could have wasted stewing about how others have it "better" than I do, into a time of worshiping my God and trusting that he knows what books need to be published a WHOLE lot better than I do, and thanking him for the lives that have been touched through that very special author.

Encouragement For Mothers: Patience

In honor of mothers day, I would like to share a thought that has been close to my heart for the last few days:

"Why is my patience conditional?"

My relationship with Christ is not conditional.
My relationship with my husband is not conditional.
Therefore my relationship with my children should not be conditional--and one of the most tangible ways a mother demonstrates her love for her children is through patience. Yet I find myself often losing my patience with my children based on factors or conditions that arise throughout the day. Perhaps my daughter dumped out the box of raisins or perhaps my son decided to unroll the toilet paper into the bathtub only to make a wet sopping mess. Even though I have to address them as an authority and correct their behavior, it should always be done through NEVER ENDING patience. How I wish that were the case, because I am ashamed to say, that is sometimes (more often than not--wince) not my resulting attitude.

God handles us, his children with never ending patience. He is perfect at it because he is 1) God and 2) fathomless in all that he does. So since I am called to have a Christ-like mindset and heart, I want to follow in my Father's footsteps. I want to stop losing my patience and start gaining it!

This was my cry last week when life and motherhood were not going my way: "My patience is wearing thin. My patience is wearing thin!" I was frazzled and my children had a front row, interactive seat.

Then the Lord spoke to my heart and He helped change my mindset. This became my prayer: "Lord strengthen my patience, deepen my patience, let it not be conditional. Let my patience be ever growing and steadfast. This is how I can be a good mother to my children." With this prayer filling my heart, my patience suddenly was not a conditional thing, something that swayed with the tides of my emotions. It became steadfast and solid, something my children could depend on as I loved them and nurtured them throughout the day. Then, even when trials arose, I was calm in addressing those trials. I want my little ones to look to me for refuge and stability and they should be able to rest in the security of my patience.

I'm still working on it, but I am determined to hold myself accountable for my behavior and temperament by trying to overcome the little things throughout the day that try and throw me off course. When daily life begins to escalate, and the teakettle of my heart is close to boiling, I don't want the result to be a steaming, fuming mother for my children. I must pause for a moment, remember to pray my little prayer and allow God to do his work in my heart.

Blessings to all you mothers out there. The Lord is watching over you and your little ones. Lean on Him and let Him be your pillar of strength.