Bumps in the Road. Rocks in my Head.

It's been a rough month for me. How about for you?

Dear Reader/Follower. I must apologize. I've been pretty quiet on social media of any kind for about a month.

Initially, it was because I'd set a goal for when I needed to get my LAST round of edits done on my novel so I needed to focus completely on that. But then, two days before my due date, my hubby and I had to have a hard conversation about some of the content of my novel.

As I've mentioned previously, the beginning of my novel starts in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a city my family and I lived in for many years. So I used references to real people and places connected to the work we did and continue to do. No problem.

But then my story moves to the country west of that, as my protagonist goes on an archaeological survey adventure. No problem, right? Well, two months ago I would've agreed. But not now. Now, that country is suffering as a result of a coup (I can't say more.). Would the references in my novel jeopardize people's lives? Put our work in danger? Was I going to have to shelf my novel until peace returned? And when would that be?

So many questions ran through my head. I was so stunned by it all.

I spent a week wandering through the doldrums of discouragement. Not a fun place to be.

BUT GOD!

But God is faithful. And the Spirit gave me some ideas on what I could do to still publish my novel without endangering anyone or any work. So, with those ideas in mind, I contacted my "boss" in Thailand, who overseas our work and most of the work going on in the north. I knew I needed his "go ahead."

I explained the situation and the plot of my novel and all the changes I planned on making. AND, he gave me the "all clear." Woohooooooo! I could now continue.

Easy peasy, right? Wrong.

I spent time making the necessary changes. But again, I didn't have the energy to continue--to get back into the editing routine. Why?

Fear. You see, marketing scares me. I'm so technologically challenged that I didn't want to think about marketing. The subtle voice in my head said: If you never finish the edits, never publish, then you never have to think about marketing. Sadly, I listened to that voice.

There I was, back in the doldrums. AGAIN!

BUT GOD!!! Again!

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

God didn't condemn. He never condemns. But through my publisher and the team of writers I've become a part of through Siretona Creative, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the spirit of fear I was living by.

I've been living under the "marketing fear" for a long time. God had to remind me that this novel was His. And that HE called me to write. And in that calling HE would give me the strength and power and perseverance to finish the race with this novel. Not just the writing but also the marketing. YES!

I surrendered the marketing to God. And He flooded me with peace, joy and HOPE!

I pressed on with a resurgence of energy.

Three days ago I finished all my edits and sent my manuscript off to my publisher! Woohoooooo!!!!

One more round of light copy-editing from her and it's off to layout!

I can't believe it! After SEVEN years of work, my novel will finally be published, Lord willing.

And I sing--I sing an old hymn that I claimed as my life hymn a number of years ago:

This is my story; this is my song,

Praising my SAVIOUR all the day long.

This is my story; this is my song.

Praising my SAVIOUR all the day long.