When I started this writing fiction business, I had no idea what I was doing or what God would do through the stories He gave me. I just mainly had fun with the characters, but I did pray for the journey—mainly for ideas, for help with the writing, for courage at writing conferences.
After the first two books had been in print for a few months, I added another request to my list: that God would get the books into the hands of the people He wants to read them.
A friend of ours, an English teacher in France, recently emailed to say I had a new fan**. She related that she’d given my second novel, Mars…With Venus Rising, to a colleague with a similar experience to Penn Davenport, the main character.
Penn has to overcome her fear of flying to reach her great aunt who’s experiencing medical problems. The colleague also had to conquer her own fear of flying. She liked the book, so my friend gave her my first book. She liked that one, too.
Then my friend gave her the third one. She’s already waiting for the fourth. This French person I’ve never met likes my stories, but more than that. She doesn’t believe in God.
When I prayed for God to get those books into the hands of people He wants, I was thinking of Christians who may be strengthened in their faith by reading about a character undergoing similar circumstances. I never thought about unbelievers, unfortunately, because Christian Fiction readers are mostly Christians.
I don’t present the Gospel message in my books, but God is evident throughout the stories. My characters struggle with everyday problems, pray to and receive strength and wisdom from a loving God.
While I’m continuing to pray for God to get the books where He wants them to be, I’m also praying for someone in another country to have a softened heart toward God, to come to a saving faith in His Son. The seeds have been planted.
God is awesome and amazing.
He continues to do more than I ask or imagine!
**Partial email with deleted names:
I have a colleague who also loves English. Your second book reminded me of her own experience: she’s afraid of flying but took a plane to join her mom faster. I lent her the book a week ago and…she’s already finished it! She really enjoyed it. So I lent her the first one yesterday. And…she’s just texted me that she’s finished reading it !!! So I’m going to lend her the third one, which I haven’t had a chance to read myself yet. Is there a fourth one underway? I don’t suppose it’ll be published and available by next weekend, but there are definitely people waiting for more!
#### – doesn’t believe in God but it doesn’t prevent her from enjoying the story line and style.
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