The Journey

It's been said that the journey of a lifetime begins with one step. For me, as a writer, the journey of a lifetime began with more than just one step, it began with one word and a dream.

I tell people that I started seriously writing more than ten years earler, but the dream began many years before.

As a child, I discovered reading and fell in love right away. When I became a pre-teen I found romance novels and I was hooked! That's when the dream first began for me.

I wrote my first novel as a pre-teen  (It's tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day). Although I continued to read romance and occasionally write it as well, as is in most cases, life got in the way of the dreams.

About ten years ago, with the kids gone and before the grandbabies arrived, I made up my mind it was time to pursue the dream once more and so I did.

I wrote many stories that were not inspirational romances and had several of them published, but through it all, I felt God's presence there beside me telling me, 'this is not where you need to be'. I knew what I should be writing. So, I stepped out on faith and wrote my first inspirational romance. It was rejected, but I kept trying and writing and reading and submitting.

Last Summer, I entered a contest hosted by Love Inspired Editor Emily Rodmell. On the day of the contest, I was so nervous. My husband and I were in Colorado and it turns out at the time of my pitch, I was away from our cabin. I ended up sitting in the parking lot of a Ace Hardware store in Pagosa Springs, Colorado doing the pitch on a laptop.

Emily requested a synopsis of the book. When I sent that in, she asked for a partial. I sent that in as well and she was so kind. She recommeded changes to the story and asked for the full. I sent that in all the while refusing to get my hopes up. Emily got back to me and let me know the story wasn't right for Love Inspired as it was and suggeested changes as well as let me know that if I wanted to resubmit with the story, she'd be happy to read it again.

I did and a few months later she called and told me that Love Inspired wanted to publish my story. You can't imagine what that felt like.

Ten years + and the journey of a lifetime started with a single word and a whole lot of frustration and faith.

It's been said that sometimes God speaks to us through the voice of thunder. Sometimes it's a still small whisper at the darkest point of the night, but He always speaks to us. We just have to choose to listen.

I hope you listen.

Mary
Somet

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Sometimes it's a still small whisper in​​ the darkest point of the night.

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He always speaks to us. We just have to choose to listen