One of my blogger friends, Casey, runs Operation Encourage an Author.
I encourage you to bookmark her site and stop there weekly. There are plenty of websites that offer giveaways, but few for the purpose of encouraging authors. It is a discouraging journey out there filled with rejection letters, unexpected changes in plans, negative reviews, and unkind emails.
Please take the time to not only encourage the authors that you admire but pray for them as well. That is the best gift you could give your favorite authors. Most of them joined this business for the purpose of encouraging us. So let's give back.
In that spirit, I would like to share several examples where I have been blessed by authors:
The ACFW discussion book of the month is Jen Stephen's The Heart's Journey Home. I won this book a few months ago and boy was it a God thing. I didn't know this at the time but Jen and I had something in common both of us lost fathers during our young adulthood years. Both of these fathers were a legacy on our lives. Everytime I "found" Jen around the web talking about her father it was a healing experience for me. I was hesitant to read her book knowing that it dealt with the subject of loss, but I found it a healing experience as well. Jen holds a contest and includes other's journeys as part of her fiction. What a blessing! I encourage you to visit Jen at:http://theheartsjourneyhome.blogspot.com/
I "met" Laura Frantz online earlier in the year. She has a wonderful ministry of encouraging her readers. I encourage you to take the time to encourage her today as she has encouraged so many along their journey.
I haven't read any books by Lisa Buffaloe yet, but I can't wait as she has been an encourager. I have a feeling it will be soon as she is one talented lady. Lisa's testimony is simply amazing and I highly encourage you to listen to an interview, as listed on the top right side of her blog. You will be so blessed by the life of this lady and her words which are encouraging, uplifting, and convicting.
These are just a few of the authors I have been blessed by online. There are many other bloggers I have been encouraged by as well. In fact, I'm hoping to post a series soon on this topic.
What authors (published or not) have encouraged you in your journey? Why not send them a note letting them know. I know I need to do this more.
Posted by
Julia M. Reffner
12 comments:
Cyberspace is actually so small, especially within the CBA, so I'm not sure why I'm surprised that you know Casey and Lisa - they are wonderful encouragers who have blessed me so much. You have also, Julia! I'm not familiar with Jen but will stop by her blog and visit.
And thanks for the mention here. I really do think blogging is a ministry. Haven't really thought about all the whys and wherefores of that but each of us are called to be salt and light and blogs are a part of that. It's so interesting to me to see who comes to our little blogging corner of the world...
Anyway, bless you for being my friend, Julia:)
Laura, I completely agree about Casey and Lisa. And there are so many others I could bring up. I have a feeling you will be blessed by Jen, Laura. She has such a beautiful heart for others, and her blog is such a healing place for the grieving, as is Alice Wisler.
Thanks so much for your friendship, Laura :) As you can see I've very much had this on my mind and God used something YOU posted and something Casey posted to bless me.
Thank you for posting this Julia. I have been praying for more interest in OEA and I think God just might have answered my prayers through you. Thank you!
Bloggers and authors who have encouraged me?
Laura Frantz, Julie Lessman, Cara Putman and Amber from Seasons of Humility. But there are so many others, those are just the ones that come to mind. There are so many other people that comment on my blog like yourself that are so supporting; I could never express how much this blogging experience has blessed me.
Thank you again, Julia! God bless. :)
Well I hope it will bring more interest. All of those whom you have mentioned have definitely encouraged me as well :)
Thank you so much, Julia! I'm so glad that my book has touched your heart. THAT is the very best way to encourage an author because sometimes, especially for authors like me who are also a mama, wife, and has a demanding career (teaching), well, sometimes I feel like what's the point??? Grief is hard, isn't it??? But it's so much more bearable when you have someone to talk to who's experienced something similar.
Authors that have blessed my heart the most are those that have taken time to HELP me: Jodie Bailey, prepublished author, has become my crit partner and has helped me with my new project in a way no one else could. There are so many more I could be on here all day, but the bottom line is this: Paul wrote to the Galatians and told them that by bearing each other's burdens they are fulfilling the laws of Christ . . . "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." I believe Christian writers are a family of faith and I know I fail a lot, but we should certainly try to encourage each other and bear each other's burdens. So thank you again, Julia! And Casey! ;o)
Jen, I'm glad to hear that. I love that verse you shared in Galatians...so true. I fail a lot at that, too, but it sure gives us something to strive for. I hope someday we'll get to see Jodie's works, too.
Jen, I'm glad to hear that. I love that verse you shared in Galatians...so true. I fail a lot at that, too, but it sure gives us something to strive for. I hope someday we'll get to see Jodie's works, too.
Julia,
Are you writing? You've got to check out the Christianwriters.com discussion forums. There is an amazing group of authors and writers who post over there that are sooooo encouraging! It's like my home online.
Thanks for reminding me about Casey's site. I need to get over there more often.
Have a great weekend.
Joy
Joy,
Yes, I am writing. I don't always get a lot of time for it as a homeschooler. Are you working on an MS? I will have to check that site. It sounds great. And yes Casey's site is fantastic and a much encouraging place. Enjoy your weekend, Joy. Looking forward to reading Havah.
Yeah, I've been working on the same one for two years, an inspy romance. I don't know if that's good or bad. LOL.
What are you working on? When you visit CW, find me. I'm JoyG over there.
That's totally understandable since I know you're a mom like me. Family comes first :)
I'm writing a women's fiction novel. Recently started over.
this sounds like a really powerful book! thanks for such a thoughtful review :)
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