When I was little, serving God seemed daunting and, to be quite honest, difficult. So, how is it that I wake every morning and get to glorify my Lord and Savior with my words?
I never expected God would bless my faithfulness.
To understand those words, you need to know I struggled through High School, not making the best marks in English. I didn’t read a book for pleasure until years after completing University. And I am the queen of using the wrong word, making my sentences hysterical or embarrassing when that is not my intention.
Writing does not come easy, but I needed to get creative when I no longer had a platform to share Jesus the way I had through my ESL program. Sharing Christ verbally is challenging for me. I shut down, mix up my words, and my mind goes blank. But allow me time to process and rework a thought, and the result is often usable.
Please know I didn’t wake up one morning and write a novel. The author’s journey is challenging and entails far more administrative work than I could have imagined. I may have quit if it were not for the many who walk beside me in my writing ministry to get my books into a readable format.
My sister, Davida, spends hours giving of herself to make my words flow for a reader. My precious friend, Danica, takes those written words and helps me share them through her technical expertise. KC Hart listens, encourages, and takes and shares her notes as we swim the shark-infested waters of Facebook and Amazon Ads.
But it isn’t just these three women. It is a multitude of others. Individuals like my beta and ARC readers who love me better than I deserve. They believe in me and support me even when I’m unsure I am making a difference or if there is another word in my head. They encourage me to push through and finish the race set before me.
Being an author should not be a glamorous job. I’m no different from another who is sharing Jesus Christ using the giftedness God gave them. My job is to provide an escape where readers can see Christ working in a character’s life. If I do this well, readers will see the parallels of how God can work in their situation.
What I do is one small part of a bigger picture.
Yet, God is personal enough that I have tangibly felt His pat on the back through Barr26 Publishing. Why they featured me in Romantique Magazine, I do not know, but I am thankful.
If you are reading this, you likely played a part in making that happen. There is no way I made this journey alone. Thank you for walking it with me.
How can you encourage and walk alongside an author today? Beyond commenting on their posts or leaving a review on their social media, have you ever considered sending them a message or email saying how God has blessed you through them? These small acts of kindness keep me going. Please consider reaching out to an author you admire today. And, if you do, leave a note in the comments below so readers know who to add to their To Be Read pile!