Why I Left Fiction Writing . . . and How I Came Back To It

Mostly, "real life" intervened.

If you've read my other pages, then you know how busy things must have been the last several years. I laid aside my novel when the older children were all very young. There didn't seem to be time, and the Lord was dealing with me about some heavy issues regarding priorities. (Read: I'm obsessive, and have a hard time putting family before writing, and the Lord convicted me of my writing becoming an idol.)

But . . . the writing came out of me in other ways. What you see on my Birth page is part of the result of that. I also became very active on several forums online, both in debate on Christian issues, and a community for homeschooling (Homeschooling A Houseful, aka HAH, formerly of Practical Homeschooling and later Christianity Online).

Then, early in 2001, a friend asked me to accompany her teen daughter to a 2-day writing seminar for children, hosted by Young Writer's Institute, and taught by Nancy Rue and Stephen Bly. Steve's books rekindled my love for Christian fiction, and I joined his fan e-list. Not too long later, I discovered that another friend and fellow homeschooler, Lee S. King, was also a writer. One thing led to another, and soon she was helping me pull the chapters of what was then The Gift of the Stranger out of dry dock. (Everything was stuck in WordPerfect 4.something format, which doesn't mesh well with MS Word.)

Then, miraculously, Lee tells me she likes my story. So, with the help of good old AOL, we become writing partners, or critique buddies, or whatever you wish to call it . . . she is my dearest friend in the writing world, and without her I'm not sure my story would ever have come back to life.

Over the course of the next few months, I was helped most graciously by Steve and Janet Bly, and I found an online critique group for Christian science fiction and fantasy writers (Xianscribblers, you still rock!), and, most amazingly to me, the Lord opened the door for me to attend my first writer's conference, sponsored by the Christian Writer's Guild.

My husband has been extremely supportive, and my children too, although once again I've had to learn to balance priorities . . . and I've learned that it's the journey, not the perceived destination, that the Lord cares most about. That's not to say I wouldn't be thrilled at getting a publishing contract, of course!

Things I can add to my "credits" after two and a half years at this:

  • Member of several online and local writer's and critique groups, including Romance Writers of America , American Christian Fiction Writers, and Writer's Network of Charleston, South Carolina.

  • Participant and/or judge for several contests, including On The Far Side (RWA FF&P chapter), the Golden Heart (RWA), the Noble Theme (ACFW, 2005), and the Genesis and Book of the Year (ACFW, 2006).

  • Placed fourth out of 20 entries in the 2005 Barclay Sterling, paranormal.

  • First-round finalist in the 2005 Noble Theme, sci-fi/fantasy.

  • First-round finalist in the 2006 Genesis, sci-fi/fantasy.

  • Writing Challenge winner in January 2004, Deep Magic, "Bitter Chivalry." A slightly different version of this vignette can be found here.

  • Review editor for the western fiction pages of Christian Fandom.

For some good information on writing, check out the following links:

Some excellent writer's organizations:

And what am I working on now?

I recently started work on a historical, Loyalty's Cadence, set during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. But closest to my heart is a series titled The Gift of the Stranger, which grew out of my first novel by the same title. I currently have one novel completed, that first novel all grown up and possibly about to become a trilogy in its own right, and a first draft of a sequel, which looks as if it, too, will become a trilogy, and the first prequel, which was a finalist in the 2006 Genesis contest.

  • The Gift of the Stranger—Life is a struggle even on a fresh, new world. Jake Pearson only wants to live a simple life and raise his family in peace, but this is no Eden—and mankind is the worst peril of all. When the Stranger who rescued them makes an unheralded appearance, Jake becomes more than a man searching for meaning. He is a chosen bearer of truth and the recipient of a Gift that will enable him and his family to be the guardians of this world’s spiritual purpose.

  • Daughter of the Gift—Brenna Colworth, last survivor of the Gift's female side, is aware of the awesome prophecy of the Renewing—that she may be one half of the couple through whom the Gift begins again—but for now she is content with serving her community as a healer. When war again sweeps Androvia, carrying her with it, she is made the instrument of the Gift's preservation in a way never hinted at by the Renewing.

  • Heirs of the Gift—Kolin Penwelle is determined not to walk in his father's footsteps as Marauder chieftain, but can he bring Law back to a lawless people, and more importantly, lead them to true knowledge of the Everlasting? In the meantime, Princess Cymalyn must reconcile herself to her heritage as a half Marauder, and find the inner strength to eventually be queen.

Longing For Home . . .

A certain chording in a song,
An almost-familiar landscape,
A certain scent . . .
Awakening memories--
Leaving me breathless--
On the verge of tears--
Hoping, wishing, trying
To return to a time or place
So far beyond my reach
That it's impossible to recapture.
The Past is past,
I am told.
You can never go back.
And so I remind myself
When this ache grips my heart.
And yet I can't help but wonder
If this, too, is not part of something
greater, deeper, older--
A small part of the continuing proof
That we are not alone
That this place is not . . . the only one
That all of humanity longs
To reach back
Return
To Whence we came.
O Lord, I know You are real
And You need no proof
Still I am grateful
For a small demonstration of the truth
That I have a Home waiting
And someday I'll be there
Where all that was broken or lost
Will truly be regained.

For more ramblings, check out my blog: Shenandoah's Eclectic Musings.
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