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<\/div>\nI wrote a story five years ago. My footing was finally solid on how to write, after a couple ACFW conferences and connecting with my bestie writing sister, Ashley. So in 2012, I poured my heart out within the parameters of what I\u2019d learned.<\/p>\n
My great grandfather, born in 1884 and immigrated to Utah in 1910\u2019s.<\/p><\/div>\n
The story I wrote stemmed from my heritage. From a very young age, I\u2019ve been inspired by my grandfather. He was the son of a Greek coal miner who came over from Greece in the 1910\u2019s. My grandfather always had wonderful stories to tell\u2013he stirred up my intrigue for WWII era as he was a Purple Heart recipient (twice), and spoke of freeing concentration camps and invading Hitler\u2019s homes; my grandfather lived a rags to riches legacy, having been born in a tent in a coal town, and then becoming a successful home and commercial builder\u2013I declared I\u2019d be an architect at age eleven\u2026even majoring in Landscape Architecture in college.<\/p>\n Papou was one of my greatest heroes. And my novel was a tribute to him, to my Greek roots, to an American legacy.<\/p>\n So, at ACFW 2012, I took my novel to conference with more confidence than I had before. This story caught the attention of an agent\u2013 and I signed a contract with the Steve Laube Agency in November of that year. That was amazing\u2026I chuckle now because the name of the room that I interviewed with Tamela was the \u201cMcKee\u201d room\u2013the last name of my heroine. A sign? Maybe. When she sent my story out for all publishers to see that next month, I thought my time for that book was just around the corner.<\/p>\n And\u2026<\/p>\n Now it\u2019s 2017, and that story is under contract with a publisher as of Fall 2016.<\/p>\n What timing, right?<\/p>\n Why the heck did it take so long? Not for lack of trying. My agent and I took every possible measure.<\/p>\n Why did I get rejection after rejection, and write two other books in the wait?<\/p>\n What happened between then?<\/p>\n Only in looking back, do I see why I had to wait for this book. And when I look back, I realize just how much Timing is His<\/b> and there\u2019s nothing I can do to speed it up or make it mine. All I can do is take courage, and wait.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll give you a quick recap of what happened between 2013\u2013when the book was put in the proverbial drawer of unwanted manuscripts\u2013and now, 2017, the year it will get published (um, after a few rewrites and edits\u2013always learning\u2026).<\/p>\n In looking back, this is what I see:<\/b><\/p>\n My Community was Built.<\/b><\/i> I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it\u2019s the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.<\/p>\n There are several other moments and signs that I see as I look back, but I\u2019m not going for the longest blog post of 2017, but I do want to share two sweet confirmations that the timing really is His.<\/p>\n I had secretly told those closest to me, that it would\u2019ve been nice for it to come out in September instead\u2026just because that\u2019s when the book opens\u2013September, 1893\u2013the historical date of the Land Run.<\/p>\n So, what happens after I turn in my complete book a few days before its deadline? My editor tells me they bumped up my date to September of 2017<\/b>. And I am sure, for them, it had nothing to do with the history, but for me, it was everything to do with the history\u2013and His timing<\/b>. Look for my debut novel, The Outlaw\u2019s Second Chance <\/i><\/b>this September!<\/p>\n There\u2019s more\u2026<\/p>\n My second contract came in! And this was a wonderful surprise. My agent and I had found out last spring that a new series was being launched based on geographical places around the U.S. I immediately thought of my Coal country story. So, I put together a proposal for a book I\u2019d written long ago\u2026and got a contract with Barbour this Fall for my novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n But, the timing? November 2017 is my release.<\/b><\/p>\n God\u2019s Timing in its finest\u2026The book comes out during the centennial year <\/b>of my grandfather\u2019s birth. He was born in Dec. 1917 <\/b>in Carbon County, Utah. My hero and my inspiration for this very book.<\/p>\n I just can\u2019t stop smiling at the chance to honor my late grandfather with a story written by his third generation Greek American granddaughter who was inspired by his roots grown a century ago.<\/p>\n If only he could be here now. But I know he\u2019s smiling, too.<\/p>\n A century.<\/b><\/p>\n It took a CENTURY.<\/b><\/p>\n Only by God\u2019s grace, and His perfect timing.<\/p>\n BLOG STOPS:<\/strong><\/p>\n A Baker\u2019s Perspective<\/span><\/a>, October 31<\/p>\n Faithfully Bookish<\/span><\/a>, October 31<\/p>\n Caffeinated Read<\/span>s<\/a>, October 31<\/p>\n Captive Dreams Window<\/span><\/a>, November 1<\/p>\n Reading Is My SuperPower<\/span><\/a>, November 1<\/p>\n A Greater Yes<\/span><\/a>, November 2<\/p>\n Janices book reviews<\/span><\/a>, November 2<\/p>\n Daysong Reflections<\/a>, <\/span>November 2<\/p>\n Red Headed Book Lady<\/span><\/a>, November 3<\/p>\n Books, Books, and More Books.<\/a>, <\/span>November 3<\/p>\n Just the Write Escape<\/span><\/a>, November 3<\/p>\n Carpe Diem<\/span><\/a>, November 4<\/p>\n Christian Bookaholic<\/span><\/a>, November 4<\/p>\n Radiant Light<\/a>, <\/span>November 5<\/p>\n History, Mystery & Faith<\/span><\/a>, November 5<\/p>\n Chas Ray\u2019s Book Nerd Corner<\/span><\/a>, November 6<\/p>\n Texas Book-aholic<\/span><\/a>, November 6<\/p>\n Babs Book Bistro<\/span><\/a>, November 7<\/p>\n Kristin\u2019s Book Reviews<\/span><\/a>, November 7<\/p>\n Singing Librarian Books<\/span><\/a>, November 8<\/p>\n Connie\u2019s History Classroom<\/span><\/a>, November 8<\/p>\n D\u2019S QUILTS & BOOKS<\/span><\/a>, November 9<\/p>\n J.E. Grace Christian Author Blog<\/span><\/a>, November 9<\/p>\n Neverending Stories<\/span><\/a>, November 9<\/p>\n Have A Wonderful Day<\/span><\/a>, November 10<\/p>\n Pause for Tales<\/span><\/a>, November 10<\/p>\n Tell Tale Book Reviews<\/span><\/a>, November 11<\/p>\n Mary Hake<\/a>, November 11<\/p>\n Splashes of Joy<\/a>, <\/span>November 11<\/p>\n Bigreadersite<\/a>, <\/span>November 12<\/p>\n Blossoms and Blessings<\/span><\/a>, November 12<\/p>\n Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, November 12<\/p>\n Vicky Sluiter<\/span><\/a>, November 13<\/p>\n Bibliophile Reviews<\/a>, <\/span>November 13<\/p>\n GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\nThere was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. <\/i>Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person\u2019s success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. <\/b>Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.<\/p>\nThe Darkest Valley Was Ahead. <\/i>Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you\u2019ll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can\u2019t really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God\u2019s faithfulness to someone who was losing faith\u2013in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did\u2013without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me.<\/p>\nFirst, I got a book contract! You know this, but, the contract came at a time when I had grown peaceful in the journey\u2013the pride monster lay slain, and I picked up a pen and took an opportunity. My Oklahoma Land Run book with Love Inspired Historical won the Manuscript Matchmakers contest\u2026and WAS coming out in Spring 2018.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n