And a Robin to Write It?

I caught a brief snippet of Alistair Begg's Truth for Life the other day, but got a very profound message--one that he really didn't even intend--in just a couple of sentences.

I turned on the radio in my car and caught him in mid message, but I believe Begg was talking about the authority of the Bible, and the fact that Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit. He explained what this did NOT mean--that God didn't choose random people and knock them into a trance and dictate the Scriptures to them. Rather, he said, when God saw that He was going to need something like the book of Romans, which was written by Paul, He planned and made a Paul. A man with certain personality traits and life experiences and abilities which are part of his writing.

As a writer, of course, I took that idea and ran with it.

I certainly don't claim that my writing is Holy Spirit-inspired--not in the sense that Scripture is. But I did start to wonder...what if God did want something like my novels to be written? What if He had a plan for those stories, to touch someone's heart and life in a certain way? So He planned and made a Robin to write them.

I love this idea! It turns everything around for me. So often I say "my writing," and I view it as "my dream." There have been so many obstacles that I often feel myself in an adversarial position with God--begging Him to bless it or allow me to do it. But what if...

He planned that writing? He wanted it done? And it's my job to write it.

A little scary. But also an awesome and cheering thought. If He has a purpose for it and wants it to reach certain people, then it will reach them. I just have to pick up the quill...or tap on the keys.

A Winner and a Nifty Prize Give-Away

After a lot of incredible suggestions from friends, readers, and authors, I've settled on a new name for Glass Houses. And the winner is...Summer's Winter, suggested by the lovely and talented Ane Mulligan.

I love this title on so many levels. In my story, my protagonist is obsessed with a character in a book and movie series, and the character's name is Danny Summer. The series has temporarily "died" (as in winter) when the story begins, but will be resurrected. And the crisis in the life of Jamie, the actor who plays Danny Summer, happens in winter. I hope everyone else will be drawn to the title as I was! Thanks again to everyone, especially Ane.

On another subject, there's a great Christian book marketing effort out there, called the John 3:16 Marketing Network. I'm passing along info about a give-away they're hosting.

The John 3:16 Marketing Network is hosting their August Book Launch by giving away a Kindle, $25 Amazon gift card and a $10 Starbucks card. If you would like to enter, go to http://bit.ly/Christian_Books  and look for the Rafflecopter raffle. While there, please check out the two great books being showcased -- Children of Dreams, a creative nonfiction memoir, and Keeper of Reign, a YA adventure fantasy. Both books promote a Christian worldview. You don’t have to buy an ebook to enter, but for $1.98 cents, if you buy both books, you get 20 chances/entries  to win one of the prizes.

Thanks! Hope you win!