Updates, Blessings, and Revelations

I am saturated with gratefulness and blessing after this weekend. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I sit in the funk of the valley for a while, unsure which way to go to climb out. I try and remain focused on the truth that God’s mercies are new every day (see Lamentations 3:22-23). And faithfully, he pulls me out of the valley time and time again. Here’s how he encouraged me this weekend. How have you been encouraged lately?

Update: book signing & conference plans

On Saturday I attended a book signing event at Lifeway Christian Bookstore here in Fort Worth. Through Facebook I heard that four of the Christian authors I’ve been following for some time were going to be together in one place! (Eek!) I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Karen Witemeyer, Becky Wade, Julianna Deering, and Anne Mateer. They were all gracious to speak to me about being a new author. Their one piece of advice? Attend a conference and meet agents/publishers face-to-face.

So…I’m now saving every extra penny to register for at least one day of the American Fiction Christian Writer’s Conference coming to Dallas in September! (Eek, again!) The timing should be perfect if I stay on track with the final stages of rewriting/editing Good Graces.

Watch for a GIVEWAY, coming soon,
for a signed copy of Becky Wade’s new book
A Love Like Ours that I picked up for you this weekend!

Blessings: Reminder at Church

The church my family and I attend on Sundays is in the middle of a sermon series on the Gospel of Mark. One little line hit me over the head yesterday and blessed my socks right off (had I been wearing socks)!

Jesus taught in parables, simple stories to illustrate a moral or lesson, throughout his ministry. The pastor pointed out this key phrase in Mark 4:10: “When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables.” After Jesus was done telling the parable of the sower that opens the chapter, most likely scurried out for lunch or to get back to their chores. How often do we scurry after the closing prayer at worship to get to lunch before it gets crowded? Instead, these “others” who hung back with the disciples asked Jesus to explain more about the story he’d just told. They were eager to GO DEEPER.

Our pastor labeled this as a perfect example of discipleship: a curious humility. BANG! Socks knocked right off. How often do I take the time to admit I might not fully understand, and seek to go deeper in God’s word? Are you curious to know more about Jesus and his teachings? Does this “curious humility” resonate with you, too? I’ll be reflecting on this a lot this week.

REVELATION: Book Series Plans

The last several nights I’ve had a difficult time falling asleep. As soon as my head hits the pillow my mind awakens with thoughts of Good Graces, things to add, places I want to expand on, and even to my characters and what they might be feeling. I’ve also had flashes of characters I’ve not yet met in Laurel Cove, the North Carolina mountain town that’s the setting for Good Graces. Who are they? What is their story? Why can’t I stop thinking of them?

Saturday night, about midnight, it hit me like lightening. In fact, I sat up in bed as if awakened by a loud crack of thunder. My heart raced and a smile broke across my face in the darkness of the room. I grabbed for my phone by my bedside and punched out a quick note to myself. And just like that, I’ve got the framework for what I now see clearly to be a 4-book series, of which Good Graces will be Book 1. So, now the task is to begin outlining books 2, 3, and 4 of The Seasons of Laurel Cove Series. DOUBLE, TRIPLE EEK!

I’d love to hear about any updates, blessings, and/or revelations you’ve experienced lately. I really want to know what’s up with you all! Share in a comment below.