I am so pleased to have guest Martha Rogers here with an extraordinary story of her path to publishing as well as introducing her newest release slated for June!! And leave a comment for a chance to win!!What Does Age Have to Do With Anything?
We make so many excuses for not submitting our writing. I don’t have enough time. I have too many other obligations. I’m too young. I’m too old. I’ve got too many rejections. I don’t have an agent. Any sound familiar? If I had used the excuse of age, I would never have been published. My agent believed in me and kept submitting my manuscripts. When I wanted to quit, friends encouraged me to keep on.
When God calls us to a task, He expects us to finish it. If we’re obedient to that call, He will give us what we need to complete it because He who began the work in us will carry through until it’s completed. Galatians 6:9 tells us not to grow weary when we’re doing God’s work because we’ll reap a harvest when God sets the time.
So many younger authors were getting contracts and having success that I wondered if He’d forgotten how old I was getting. Well, God doesn’t forget. He doesn’t sleep. He never quits work. He’s always there willing to help us reach our goals when we call on Him for help. The Lord does expect us to do our part. That part is to put ourselves in that chair and write.
My first contract came at age 73. God’s timing was perfect. It always is. I’ll be 75 in two months and by that time I will have five novels and one novella published with another five novels contracted. When God opened the door for me, He kicked it wide open. Prayer, perseverance and patience reaped the harvest at the time God ordained.
Do whatever it takes to write. If you’re serious, God will help you find the time. At other times He may tell you to wait a season and take care of other things first. Listen to His voice and calling. Write as much as you can when you can. Be patient, and pray for His guidance in all that you do. Jeremiah tells you to call on Him, and He will answer and tell you great things you do not know. Jeremiah also tells us that God has great plans for us, plans to give us hope and a future. So press on to what God has called you to do whether it is to wait for a season to begin or whether it is to work hard now, for pressing on will lead you where you need to go.
So what excuses have you used to keep from submitting?
Martha Rogers is the author of Becoming Lucy; Morning for Dove; Finding Becky; Caroline’s Choice; Not on the Menu, a part of a novella collection with DiAnn Mills, Janice Thompson, and Kathleen Y’Barbo; and River Walk Christmas, a novella collection with Beth Goddard, Lynette Sowell, and Kathleen Y’Barbo. A former schoolteacher and English instructor, she has a master’s degree in education and lives with her husband in Houston, Texas.
Summer Dream
As the daughter of a small-town minister in Connecticut, Rachel Winston fears that the only way she’ll ever find a husband is to visit her aunt in Boston for the social season. But when Nathan Reed arrives in town, she can’t help but wonder if he could be the one. Although attracted to Rachel, Nathan has no desire to become involved with a Christian after experiences with his own family. What’s more, until he resolves his anger with God and his family, he has no chance of courting her. When Nathan is caught in a devastating blizzard and lies near death in the Winston home, Rachel and her mother give him a lesson in love and forgiveness that leads him back to his home in the South. Will he make peace with his family and return before Rachel chooses a path that takes her away from him?
Summer Dream will be available in June on CBD, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble on line or pre-order now. Check with your local Christian book store for availability.
To win a copy of this new title available in June, please leave a comment with your e-mail address. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to subscribe for all the latest writing news and future guests to come like Loree Lough, Lynn Coleman, Laurie Alice Eakes to name a few!
14 comments:
I love that verse in Jeremiah! How exciting to know God has a GOOD plan for us.
The points you made about people's excuses are so true. I hear them all the time. At nearly every book signing *someone* has to say, "I have a book I want to write too. I just don't have the time." As if I had nothing better to do, therefore plenty of free time.
Your cover is beautiful. It looks like a great story.
Blessings!
Hey Martha! Your message is so inspiring and encouraging. I started writing after my kids were mostly grown. With God beside us, it's never too late to start down a new path.
Love that beautiful picture of you.
fictionfan1 [@] me [dot} com
Your road to publication is inspiring. Of course, we never have the time, but we make time for what we love to do.
I also waited to write and thought I would never be published. I seem to do everything a little behind others, but God's timing is right.
Your book looks like one I'd love to read. One that should do well.
Martha, you are such an inspiration to me and others. Would love to read your book.
Tammie
Congrats Martha! What an amazing book cover! I can't wait to read it and I am looking forward to our upcoming interview! Blessings!
Salena Stormo
srstormo@yahoo.com
There are so many ups and downs, it's easy to grow weary! Thank you for sharing your inspiring words of wisdom.
Martha, You have been such an inspiration to me! Thank you for sharing your journey. I too, have started this pursuit late in life, but hold onto the belief that this is the time and season for me. You are an encouragement to those of us who have just begun this God-given dream.
Blessings,
Marilyn Turk
Martha, You are encouraging me to get back on the writing trail. I'm not much younger than you.
rkulp000@centurytel.net
Martha, You are an encouragement to me to get back on the writing trail. rkulp000@centurytel.net
For some reason blogger is having difficulty and some posts are coming by twice. If you see me remove a double post it's so we can do the giveaway ok. :) Many thanks for your interest. Martha is an inspiration as many have said!
Thanks to all of you for your kind words. God has been so good to me, and I can't help but share the way the He has blessed my life. I pray God will use me to encourage others to pursue their dream.
You are an inspiration for us all, Martha!
Post a Comment