I’ve posted a couple of blogs recently on the changing of seasons in our lives, and one that suggested that my book writing season may be coming to an end. As I’ve considered this possibility, I’ve waffled back and forth, not sure whether I was hearing God or not.
Finally, when I went to Presque Isle for a personal prayer retreat a few weeks ago, I told the Lord that after my book writing break to do some spring housecleaning, I was going to continue writing books unless He made it clear to me that I was to stop. I didn’t want to keep waffling in my thinking.
This week as Donn and I started the process of publishing Diary of a Call, Volume Two, I had an epiphany that left little doubt in my mind about what God is saying.
I had to look up the word epiphany to make sure I was using it correctly, since we often think of it in connection with Christmas. But one of the meanings of the word is a sudden and profound realization or understanding about something important. It’s that ‘aha’ moment when something falls into place, often leading to a change in perspective or a new way of seeing things. It’s a moment that can be triggered by a seemingly simple event or observation. This describes well what happened to me last week.
Publishing books has always been the most challenging part of the writing process for me. I don’t think I could have done it at all unless Donn had helped me, using talents that I don’t have.
Even though we’ve published a lot of books, it’s usually at least six months between books, which gives us plenty of time to forget the process. Through the years, I’ve made a lot of notes to help us, but even so, it’s been a challenge.
This time was more challenging than most. I pulled out my folder of notes, but still couldn’t remember how to get started. Eventually, with some stumbling around, I found the place to begin. We tentatively worked our way through as far as we thought we could go until we got the cover information back from our friend, Doug.
A little later, Donn said, “I’ve been watching our email, but we haven’t gotten our cover template generator yet from Ingram Spark (the company who prints our books).”
I frowned. “We haven’t done what we need to do yet to get a cover template generator from Ingram Spark. We have to submit our manuscript first.”
In spite of my assertion, I wasn’t sure I was right. I dug through my pages of notes and finally found a sentence after numbers one through six (which we had completed) under “Process for Print Copy” that said, “We will have opportunity to buy ISBNs and then go to Tools and Resources and Cover Template Generator.”
We had purchased our ISBN, so we went back to the Ingram Spark website, found Tools and Resources and clicked on it. Once more we worked our way through the information that came up and finally completed what was needed to receive our cover template generator.
As I sat pondering what had just happened, I realized we could have waited for days for a cover template generator to come even though we hadn’t completed the process to make that happen.
I shook my head and told Donn, “We’re too old to do this. This is the last book!”
Later, Donn came to me and said, “Are we still partners?” I smiled and told him, “Yes, but not at publishing books!”
I recognized that while I’m not too old to write, we are too old to do the intricate process of publishing. I’ll continue writing blogs or devotionals and articles, which I’ll publish on my website and on Facebook, but if I ever feel led to write another book, I will go the route of submitting it to a traditional publisher. I’ve had a great deal of peace since arriving at this conclusion.
Joyce Meyers, who God has used often in my life through the years, has been speaking about sometimes having to realize that we can’t continue to do all the things we did in the past. She is still preaching and doing Conferences at the age of 80, but has needed to scale back a lot.
All that we went through with this latest book has probably been God’s way of getting our attention to make clear that we need to make changes. There are still events at Fresh Grounds Maker’s Market and Spring Market, and various Craft Shows where I can sell my books, but after the book launch and book signings for these last two books, Diary of a Call and Where Is Mary Now, I probably won’t have my own events unless I’m invited to churches, etc. All my bookmarks have my phone number on them and my readers know that they can call me, contact me on Facebook, or buy my books online.
My thanks to all of you who have faithfully supported my book writing ministry. I hope you will continue to do that even though we’re almost finished publishing books!
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us enough to give us the guidance and direction we need when it’s time for our seasons to change. Amen.