I will never forget the moment! The room was filled with people I love - and then a beautiful, young talented friend gave an award-winning speech describing her experience of "Lavish Mercy" my historical romance book I was launching. The speech itself was poetic, descriptive and a writer's dream. As the organizer of the art show - she was the one who had also decorated my signing table with flowers and a vase overflowing with jewelry reflective of the cover of my book - she had obviously read it and truly enjoyed it. Truly. She said it was a page-turner!
It was in that moment that I was finally convinced that I had done it. I had written a book celebrating love, set in an enchanting village, with an action driven plot that reflected forgiveness. And most important, it was page-turner.
I was capable of fulfilling my childhood dream to become a "historical romance writer." It was a delicious moment. God does give us the desires of our hearts if we believe and act on it.
Thank you Paige Buhler - you truly are beautiful. Thank you to my son, Syras Derksen, pastor of Maplecrest Church, who staged the event and read from the book. (I'm a terrible reader so Cliff usually read from the book I was launching so to have Syras do it was a "moment." ) Thank you to all of the talented artists who created an amazing backdrop of exquisite art. Thank you to the singers, Shauna and Danielle who set the mood. Thank you to Andi (and helpers) for providing lunch and coffee, to Al for guarding us all. Thank you to Merlene for being our officinal accountant, to Muriel and Diane for helping me at the signing table. Thank you to those who came to the launch, who prayed and held me together with all those encouraging words. Thank you to my family - extended and immediate - who have always encouraged my writing.... Thank you to those who bought the book ....
I am filled with gratitude this morning.
I am now letting it go. The book will find its own path now.
For those of you who are asking. It can be bought from Amazon or McNally Robinson. Just for fun you can submit an Amazon review on December 10 - good, bad or ugly. I will be thrilled.
I am so blessed.
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity. - Henri Nouwen
It was in that moment that I was finally convinced that I had done it. I had written a book celebrating love, set in an enchanting village, with an action driven plot that reflected forgiveness. And most important, it was page-turner.
I was capable of fulfilling my childhood dream to become a "historical romance writer." It was a delicious moment. God does give us the desires of our hearts if we believe and act on it.
Thank you Paige Buhler - you truly are beautiful. Thank you to my son, Syras Derksen, pastor of Maplecrest Church, who staged the event and read from the book. (I'm a terrible reader so Cliff usually read from the book I was launching so to have Syras do it was a "moment." ) Thank you to all of the talented artists who created an amazing backdrop of exquisite art. Thank you to the singers, Shauna and Danielle who set the mood. Thank you to Andi (and helpers) for providing lunch and coffee, to Al for guarding us all. Thank you to Merlene for being our officinal accountant, to Muriel and Diane for helping me at the signing table. Thank you to those who came to the launch, who prayed and held me together with all those encouraging words. Thank you to my family - extended and immediate - who have always encouraged my writing.... Thank you to those who bought the book ....
I am filled with gratitude this morning.
I am now letting it go. The book will find its own path now.
For those of you who are asking. It can be bought from Amazon or McNally Robinson. Just for fun you can submit an Amazon review on December 10 - good, bad or ugly. I will be thrilled.
I am so blessed.
Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let's not be afraid to receive each day's surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity. - Henri Nouwen