Today is a "When Day"

Sometimes when a project seems to be taking

forever, you may find yourself saying, "IF I ever finish . . ."

 I've been working on Phoebe's story for almost 40 years! I created her character in a creative writing class during my senior year of high school. Then the blessings of life happened - love, marriage, children - and all that it includes. But the story of Phoebe was always there in the back of my mind. I'd work on the plot in my mind and sometimes scribbles some thoughts in a spiral notebook.

It wasn't until my children were grown that I got serious about finishing Phoebe's story. I entered my novel in the Christian Writers Guild novel contest and fell flat on my face. I knew I needed to learn more about the art of writing. I signed up for the Journeyman Course and joined the Christian Writers Forum. Then I found Faithwriters, which challenged me and sharpened my writing even more. I attended writing conferences and made dozens of new friends who understood me and pushed me higher.

With each step, I stretched and grew and learned more about the world of being published. I looked for an agent and found one that helped me see that my Phoebe story needed more work. I was getting discouraged. I wanted to give up. I began saying, "IF I ever publish my book."

I have a friend who would stop me and say,

 "No . . . WHEN you publish . . ."

I'd smile and say, "WHEN I publish . . ."

She never let me give up.

I re-worked my story. I tightened it and found someone who could give it a thorough editing. . . and I re-worked it and edited it again.

Just when I'd wanted to give up - to lock it away in a box and chalk the whole thing up to experience -  God would send someone else along who would ask, "WHEN are you going to publish your Phoebe book?"

(I wish Evelyn Bryant could have seen the finished novel.)

There was that word again. - "WHEN"

Another writer friend encouraged me to self-publish, retaining my rights to continue developing other books and products to accompany my novel. (I have plenty of ideas - sequels and easy-reader books and study guides and crafts and . . . so much more! ) I didn't want to lose my story to a contract that would stifle my ideas. I was also tired of searching for an agent or publisher who didn't insist that I change my book to fit their mold. It was time for Phoebe to be introduced to the world. So . . . I proofed it and polished it and formatted it and polished it some more . . . until - VOILA' !

Today is my "WHEN" DAY.

Today is Phoebe's WHEN DAY.

It has finally happened!

You can get a signed copy of A Home for Phoebe

from Full Sail Books
or EMAIL me.

You can also purchase it at Amazon.com .