Anchored in Faith Spiced with Romance & History Tears & Laughter Janet Stobie’s new novel To Begin Again will keep you turning the pages.
Every time I release a new book, I experience a test of faith. Writing requires trust, yes, and it’s fun. I get lost in the creative process. Whether it’s a reflection, a short story, or a novel, writing feeds my soul. I feel God’s presence with me. My heart soars as my fingers fly over the computer keys. When the rough draft is finished, satisfaction reigns. I’ve responded to God’s inspiration.
Editing is not quite so much fun. It requires hard work and determination. Still, my editor, Ruth Walker, and I become a team. Once again joy begins to flow as she pushes me to use my intellect and creativity to polish the raw manuscript. Yes, it’s work but I’ve come to trust the process. For me it resembles pregnancy. It often takes at least nine months. Yet, I know the baby is forming just as God intends. Eventually, the time comes. I’ve done my best. “To Begin Again” is finally ready to be born.
For me the next two steps require the biggest leap of faith. Ordering one thousand copies from the printer is a tough and painful process. It’s not just the investment of dollars. Yes, it usually pretty well empties my book business bank account. But that’s only money. As I wait for delivery I imagine all those boxes filled with books. This time my study closet will be crammed full, as well as shelves in the furnace room. My mind hammers, “What if they don’t sell? A novel isn’t a ‘how to’ book. Novel’s are hard to sell. What will you do with all those books. I know you’ve already sold one thousand books many times before, but this time. Will people like To Begin Again?”
Then comes the biggest “leap” of all. Selling!! For me selling is painful. It requires sitting behind tables, catching people’s eye, talking to strangers, friends, family, offering my beautiful baby and risking rejection. Of course, not everyone will buy. Not everyone even wants to see my baby. This is the point when I cry out to God:
“Thank you for calling me to write. I love it. Thank you for the work of editing. It’s worth it. Thank you for your inspiration. Our baby is beautiful. Poster for blogBUT, THIS TIME GOD, you do the work of selling. Send me heaps of orders especially online. Everyone says that’s the easy way. Make it happen. After all this is book number eight. I’ve given them my heart and soul as food. you make them eat it.”
When I wrote that last line, I smiled and I imagined God smiled too. So here we are today, “God and I”, offering you the opportunity to purchase our baby, TO BEGIN AGAIN.
Buy one for yourself and for your friends and family. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy the story. Discuss it. The questions for discussion are right there in the back of the book. Use TO BEGIN AGAIN to open a conversation about life, your values, what you believe. A stand – alone novel and a sequel to Fireweed.
WELCOME BACK TO CATALPA CREEK
Rejoin Steve, Renée & friends.