Content Coming

As the publication date draws nearer and pre-press publicity has started, I will be updating this blog with all kinds of support information for The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats. If you have questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me at churchrae@yahoo.com. Stay tuned...

And Better!

Yesterday was a topsy turvy day. I discovered, by accident, that my beloved cover design for my first book had apparently been changed. It wasn't that I didn't like the new cover, but I LOVED the original. I felt sort of like a new parent must feel when you're expecting to have a boy baby and it comes out a girl. Thrilled, overjoyed, grateful...but surprised, nonetheless.

Turns out, another retreat planning book came out this fall with a cover very similar to mine. So, at the last minute, the publishing team pulled it in favor of their second choice. I'm all good with that decision, just trying to get used to the new look is all.

On the heels of that information came the exciting news that you can already pre-order The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats online at Judson Press.com and at Amazon.com ! Pretty neat seeing my name out there for the first time:)

But the highlight of my day was that I also received an email from my editor asking if I'd be interested in a second book project, working with her to update content from two old books and adding new material of my own. This continuation of my writing for Him is exactly what I prayed would happen when I cleared my calendar for God this past winter and gave all control back to Him. As I said to my husband, it's so hard to believe a second book is coming through before the first one even hits the shelves and yet it's so easy to believe because this is such a God-thing, from start to finish. And more than excited, what I feel is thankful, along with a sense of contentment from trusting that my Father knows best. Amen. Let it be.

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Thrilled by the news that my book, The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats, was coming out 4 months earlier than expected, I emailed all my faithful supporters to share my exciting update. Then this week I got word that my book will be the inside front cover of the Judson Spring 2009 catalog. Wow! For the most part I'm overwhelmed with gratitude...to God, to Judson, to my family and friends and people I met along the way who helped the book take shape. And as much as I'm starting to feel a little anxious about living up to the expectations related to this book, I find that I can laugh off the nerves and know it will be all good because this book has been such a God-thing from start to finish. And I know God's not even finished yet! For a girl who prefers a peaceful, even keel, the energy of being full speed ahead is feeling pretty natural. Who woulda thunk? Thanks, God!

From Discarded Dream to Joyful Reality

What a road I've been on to get where I'm going. I'd say I can't believe I've finally arrived...at the brink of "real" authorhood with the upcoming publication of my first book by a legitimate, royalty paying publisher...but that's not true. I can believe it because it has been such a God-thing from start to finish, and, in many ways, my life (as an aggregate of 40 years lived) makes so much more sense now. I can see why this book didn't go anywhere 7 years ago when I "first" wrote it...God wasn't finished with it yet, nor with me.

In any case, here I am, with The Complete Leader's Guide to Christian Retreats due out in December, 4 months earlier than my editor said (when does that happen???). When I officially got my contract back in April, I threw myself a little "publishing party", and my family and I celebrated this milestone with those who have been encouraging me in this writer's journey. However, with the recent news that my book will actually be in print before the end of the year, I was overcome with emotion to discover my response was not to party...but to praise God.

Ten years ago when I was starting in the Christian freelance field, I applied to Group to become an approved writer for their curriculum. Part of the application was to create a full lesson based on an assigned scripture. My text was the Israelites' response to God when Moses leads them out of Egypt to freedom, and my task was to apply it in explaining our response to the knowledge that Jesus sets us free. Well, I read that passage over and over again and for the life of me could not get the connection. Then slowly but surely the truth sunk in...the Israelites' response to freedom from physical and spiritual bondage was to worship God in the wilderness. Our response to Jesus' forgiving, redeeming, bondage-breaking love should mirror that of our Bible relatives. Naturally, spontaneously, joyfully we should worship and praise God for the gift that changed our lives, that changes our lives, forever. As children of God, when our true focus is on him, worship is part of our innate expression of who we are and what God means to us. It's not something we "have to do" on Sundays; it's something we want to do, every day of our lives. (BTW I did get approved!)

And so, I can't think of any better way to celebrate this book coming into being than to ask my church to hold a Book Baptism, so to speak. I've made a request to our church staff to hold a special worship service in the late afternoon one Sunday before my book hits the stores. I want to sing the songs that most connect me to the Lord. I want my kids to be a part of the worship team and lead these praises with me. I want my "good strong women" friends who prayed me through the final stages of my book proposal to now publicly pray for this book and God's plans for me as I share it with others. I want my pastor to give the message, encouraging me as I go out into the world as a servant of the Kingdom. I want God to know that I know it's all because of him.

From discarded dream to joyful reality, I find that I instinctively desire to celebrate this gift of authorship that God has given me by praising and worshipping him. Wow! Does this mean I'm growing up (into Christ)? Would that I could always keep him this much in focus. No doubt my life would be so much easier! Stay tuned...