Excited to share the new book trailer for The Perfect Blindside.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJtBlkiKcls

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A friend recently asked me what my writing time looked like. She was genuinely curious about how I managed my time. I’m not really sure what I answered in that moment but lately I’ve been thinking about her question and am reminded of a cruise my family took a few years back.

During one of the days at sea two of the entertainers, very accomplished jugglers, held a little seminar to teach passengers the art of juggling. We joined our kids who were eager to learn this new skill. The performers started everyone out with one ball, to practice tossing it in a perfect arch. When that was mastered a second ball was added. They told the rapt audience that only after perfecting two balls could a third be added.

Well, that is kind of how my life as a writer feels lately – like I’m juggling multiple things.

When I first began my writing journey, The Perfect Blindside was my only focus – the only sphere I had to worry about. I spent years writing, editing, re-writing, sending it out, collecting rejection letters, etc.

Eventually when the novel was picked up by Pauline Books and Media and the long editing process began, I started to write a second book – adding a second item to my juggling act.  I admit there were a few times when I had trouble tossing around the two projects. Once during the revision process my editor sent back one of the new scenes she had asked me to write and questioned who the new characters were. I couldn’t believe I had used the character names from my second book in this new scene for the first book.

But for the most part controlling the two writing spheres was not too overwhelming.

This past summer when The Perfect Blindside was being printed, I put the finishing touches on my second book and actually began a third novel. Even then I had no idea how challenging the juggling would become.

Even thought The Perfect Blindside is a finished book and printed, the work doesn’t end. The never-ending marketing aspect has begun, for if no one knows of the book, no one can buy it.

So now I find my writing time split three ways. First, I’m constantly trying to find ways to market The Perfect Blindside, set up school visits, contact bloggers, etc. Second, I’m trying to secure a home for my second book, which can be a very time consuming process full of query letters and researching publishers. And third, my new writing projects need quite a bit of my time and attention to get written and edited.

This new stage is exciting because I enjoy having so many projects but it’s more challenging than I would have imagined. If I focus too much attention on one – the others fall. I just wish I had it figured out and could juggle it with the ease of those entertainers on the cruise ship.

We all juggle different parts of our lives and struggle to keep them all in motion. Lenten season seems to be the perfect time to remember that we must rely on God and let Him help us when we’re weary from managing it all. Our loving Father will always be there to help us keep everything perfectly orbited.

This month “The Perfect Blindside” won a silver medal – just like the book’s hero Jake!

I’m very excited about this honor but must give the glory to God who placed this story on my heart and in my mind. I pray this recognition will help me further my message of finding and using your gifts from God to help others.

When I first found out my book was going to be published I was ecstatic. I had dreamt about it for years but I didn’t really think much about what would happen if my dream ever did come true.

I had heard over the years, from authors, that the marketing aspect of the profession was the tough part. It’s not that I doubted that assessment but at the time I was totally focused on actually getting published and thought – gee, stop complaining, I wish I had such problems.

Getting the word out about the book is tricky and rather time consuming but last week I was blessed with a full week of indepth marketing activities. A school visit to share my message with an 8^th grade class, a radio interview, a bookstore meet and greet, and a library event with 7 other authors.

These of course are great opportunities and I was thrilled to have them but for someone who would prefer sitting on the couch wearing pajamas and being creative from the comforts of her own home – these things are terrifying.

Standing up in front a room full of people to give a speech is one of the worst things I can imagine.  Thinking on my feet while being asked unknown questions for an audience is something I’m completely terrible at. The added stress of having to do this while “on air” makes me feel like hiding under the bed.

The underlying theme of my book is about using your gifts from God to help others. This is a belief I feel passionate about but I can’t help but wonder if God is chuckling a little because while I spread the message of using our gifts I am having to face my biggest fears and use skills that are definitely not among my talents.

Before each event I prayed. I asked for God to calm my racing heart, to give me the right words to say and for God to – and I’ll quote my favorite TobyMac song here – “steal my show.”

Of course God was faithful and answered my prayers. Some events went better than others but with His grace I made it through them all.

To my delight those middle school students were sweet, attentive and had a ton of great questions. The radio interview was an interesting experience which I’m not sure I care to repeat but learned a lot if there ever is a next time. At the bookstore I did sit there most of the time with no one buying the book as a snowstorm howled outside keeping the patrons away but I survived it. And in the process I met some wonderful people and came away with some great ideas for my sequel. And at my library event, I was able to connect with some other authors who shared some marketing tips and was blessed by the encouragement of several friends who came to support me.

I’m not sure I’ll ever feel comfortable with this part of my writing journey but as I told the middle school students during my presentation – we don’t always know what God’s plan is for us but if we say yes he will always lead us in amazing ways. I said “yes” to this journey when I began to write The Perfect Blindside and I guess I should take my own advice and enjoy the incredible ride.