Sometimes, I can be philosophical and think deeply about life. Life gets busy and we get caught up in the rat race, but every now and then, we feel this emptiness and wonder what it's all about.
I've been thinking lately. What is my real purpose in life?
Yeah, sure, I'm a writer. That's what I spend most of my time doing nowadays (except for mindless housework). My kids are bigger now and they do most of their school work independently. I also feel, in a way, that as I work hard on my writing and persist even when it's hard, I'm setting an example to them of hard work even when I don't see big results straight away.
But really, in the end of my life, am I going to be satisfied with just being a writer? As a Christian, no. That's not enough for me. I want to feel like I've changed the world - made it a better place, somehow.
On the weekend, we went to visit friends of ours who are starting an orphanage. They've been building for three years and have gone through many trials with getting approval and funding for their project. But now they have a house up which they live in that has three rooms with beds in for some orphans. They have a games room and dining room with fitted kitchen and a small room for a preschool. They even have some jungle gyms up. The place is rustic, but it's awesome! It's away from town in the middle of nowhere, but I know it's going to be full of life. I felt quite taken aback by the way they've laid down their lives for helping children who are born to less fortunate circumstances to what we or our children have been born to. They're not living in the easiest spot. I really respect their dedication and love. I chatted with my friend and told her, "I don't do anything for God." Yes, I used to be involved in mission work in Zambia (more education as opposed to mission.) And I did teach Sunday School for many years and even worked in a church, but of late, I've become so busy being a wife, Mom and writer, that I've had little time to impact my world. It kind of feels dry and lonely.
So, I've determined in my heart to impact my world in some way. Even if it's in small ways like loving other people, helping other authors, taking time to listen to a friend, giving them a small gift, anything. I also pray that God uses my books to touch people's lives in some way. Some of what I've learned about life comes out in my books and I hope that springs forth into someone's soul and they feel a measure of hope or anything good from my books.
Maybe one day, God will open the doors for me to do something really grand. Maybe not. But even if He doesn't, I'm going to try my best to do good with the small tasks I have every day.
I think that's a little bit what Alicia learnt in my book, A Better Promise. She had such grand ideas as a young person of what she was going to do for God. I know I did. I thought I was going to be a missionary or pastor's wife. I'm really glad I'm not either of those because they're not my gifting. But Alicia thought God had called her to be single and only concentrate on His work. God brought Braedon to show her He had other plans. Isn't love what it's all about? Whether it's love for our spouse, our kids, our friends, a stranger in the shop, that's the foundation of how we can impact our world. It's not about grand deeds (although they're good) but about doing the little things every day to make it a better world.
A Better Promise comes out tomorrow. You can purchase it at Decadent Publishing now or pre-order it on the other sites:
Decadent Publishing
Amazon
Kobo
Google Play
Itunes
Opal from Videos by O designed a book trailer for me. Check it out here.
Showing posts with label A Better Promise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Better Promise. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2015
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Pre-release News
Phew, I've been a bit AWOL on my blog writing lately. But guess what that means? I'm upping my book word count, which is great news. I've had a breakthrough with a book that started off very difficult in the beginning - Book # 2 of The Album series. Pauline and Xaden are going to make for great sexual tension. There's nothing more fun than forcing two people together who don't want to be together yet are attracted to each other. Bound to have many sparks fly.
Anyway, that's not why I'm posting today. I'm just letting you know that my third book in The Creator Series is now available for pre-order. It's on special while on pre-order at only $0.99 which comes to $3.41 for us in South Africa (don't taxes and surcharges stink?) But really, that's only like R40 or so. Which for a book is nothing. Here says someone who often doesn't buy books because well, I don't always have the extra for luxuries. But I'd love a big fat Amazon voucher for my birthday coming up. *hint, hint*
Talking about my birthday, my book is releasing on my birthday this year. I was born on St. Paddy's day so lets think of green, four-leafed clovers, leprechauns.
Okay, seriously, I'm going off on way too many tangents. Seeing it's my birthday coming up, I'm feeling generous too. I'm going to gift someone a copy of Book 2 of The Creators series just for fun. So up until the 16th March, if you comment on this blog post, you get entered into the chance to win The Dance of the Firefly.
So here's to what I'm really posting about:
A Better Promise
Anyway, that's not why I'm posting today. I'm just letting you know that my third book in The Creator Series is now available for pre-order. It's on special while on pre-order at only $0.99 which comes to $3.41 for us in South Africa (don't taxes and surcharges stink?) But really, that's only like R40 or so. Which for a book is nothing. Here says someone who often doesn't buy books because well, I don't always have the extra for luxuries. But I'd love a big fat Amazon voucher for my birthday coming up. *hint, hint*
Talking about my birthday, my book is releasing on my birthday this year. I was born on St. Paddy's day so lets think of green, four-leafed clovers, leprechauns.
Okay, seriously, I'm going off on way too many tangents. Seeing it's my birthday coming up, I'm feeling generous too. I'm going to gift someone a copy of Book 2 of The Creators series just for fun. So up until the 16th March, if you comment on this blog post, you get entered into the chance to win The Dance of the Firefly.
So here's to what I'm really posting about:
A Better Promise
When Braedon hires shy and serious Alicia as a secretary in his
furniture business, he falls for her instantly. Alicia admires Braedon for his
kindness and warms up to him despite her decision not to. There’s just one
problem—Alicia has plans to enter the mission field and follow her vow to
remain single the rest of her life. When she takes up an offer to help teach
the Basotho teenagers in Lesotho, things don’t go as smoothly as she hoped.
Braedon soon gets wind of her troubles and joins her. But will Alicia open her
heart to love or hold fast to her childhood pledge?
An Excerpt:
Braedon smiled. “Have you had anyone special in
your life?” he asked.
Alicia’s face burned, and she turned her eyes
away from his gaze. Braedon was the most forward and open man she’d ever met,
and he made her feel like she lived in a foreign land with strange people, having
to adapt to strange customs. She braced herself.
“As a teenager, I wasn’t into boyfriends and
guys like the other girls—I studied my Bible and distant countries because I
believed God had called me to something special. When I reached twelve, I made
a vow to the Lord to remain single so I wouldn’t be distracted from my work for
him. I didn’t want to be bogged down with duties at home and with children. I
have so far stuck to my vow.”
Braedon kept silent, and she suspected he
despised her for her radical views. Everyone had. That’s why she didn’t talk
about them anymore. Safer to keep them to herself. She daren’t look at him, in
case she found the disdain in his eyes.
He spoke, his voice clear. “Kirsty was the only
true love in my life, and I lost her because I feared telling her about my true
self. I’ll never make that mistake again. It’s always good to be upfront with
people. Well done for being honest with me and telling me such a private
thing—I know you found it difficult. You were very brave to tell me that.”
Alicia nodded and offered him a small smile. He
seemed to reassure her in any way he could, turning any negative into a
positive, if he had a chance. He also had the uncanny ability to get things out
of her she preferred to keep trapped inside.
The room seemed to close in on her. The
feelings for Braedon were magnifying with every moment she spent with him. She
shouldn’t have turned back and come to him when he asked. She should have made
some other excuse about having to get back to her work. Learning about him
hadn’t helped. Kirsty was a crazy chick. Why had she given up on Braedon and
not given him a chance? If she were free to date him, she would have given him
a second chance. She couldn’t date him though because she’d bound herself to a promise.
Braedon reached out to touch her hand resting
on the desk. To her greatest relief, the doorbell rang, and she sprang up to
meet the customer before he made any contact with her skin.
Pre-order Links:
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Cover Reveal - A Better Promise
When I first started writing romance, I wrote only Inspirational Romances. I really believed that's what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I sent off my manuscripts and didn't get any contracts. I finally realised I had a tendency to get a bit preachy in my books. So, I glutted myself on some gorgeous Harlequin Love Inspired romances. None of them were preachy. They had soft, gentle romances, some even with spunky heroines, all learning something about their faith along the way. I knew my books just didn't do that. So I branched out into sweet, contemporary. Then at least I wouldn't resort to preaching. That's when my breakthrough came, and I knew I'd found the sweet spot for my writing.
One of my inspirational romances sat in my computer unused. I did put it on Amazon kindle for a while, but it got bad reviews - probably all that preachiness. So I took it off and left it. But the book didn't stop whispering to me - I have a message for the world. Send me out there. I struggled with it. Didn't think the book could do it. Years later, several contracts later, I opened it up again and edited it armed with all the knowledge I'd gained from working with seasoned editors. I asked a beta reader to check if it had any merit. She said it had a chance. So I sent it off to Decadent Publishing as Book 3 of The Creators series after tweaking it even more. I was surprised and pleased to get a contract. Still nervous. Even when I was assigned a wonderful editor with DP to content edit my book, I actually told her about my insecurities about the book, lol. Deadra was a gem and helped polish it up, assuring me it was fine.
Anyway, A Better Promise, which was originally called "A Vow to Keep" now has a cover. And a stunning one.
Blurb (unedited):
One of my inspirational romances sat in my computer unused. I did put it on Amazon kindle for a while, but it got bad reviews - probably all that preachiness. So I took it off and left it. But the book didn't stop whispering to me - I have a message for the world. Send me out there. I struggled with it. Didn't think the book could do it. Years later, several contracts later, I opened it up again and edited it armed with all the knowledge I'd gained from working with seasoned editors. I asked a beta reader to check if it had any merit. She said it had a chance. So I sent it off to Decadent Publishing as Book 3 of The Creators series after tweaking it even more. I was surprised and pleased to get a contract. Still nervous. Even when I was assigned a wonderful editor with DP to content edit my book, I actually told her about my insecurities about the book, lol. Deadra was a gem and helped polish it up, assuring me it was fine.
Anyway, A Better Promise, which was originally called "A Vow to Keep" now has a cover. And a stunning one.
Blurb (unedited):
When Braedon hires shy
and serious Alicia as secretary in his furniture business, he falls for her
instantly. Alicia admires Braedon for his kindness and warms up to him despite
her decision not to. Soon her feelings toward him run deeper than friendship.
But Alicia has plans to enter the mission field and follow her vow to remain
single the rest of her life. When she takes up an offer to help out teaching
the Basotho teenagers in Lesotho, things don’t go as smoothly as she hoped.
Braedon soon gets wind of her troubles and joins her for a few months to
assist. The managers quit suddenly, leaving Braedon and Alicia to run the
mission. Their friendship deepens and love grows, but will Alicia open up her
heart to love or hold fast to her childhood pledge?
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