Today I welcome an authoress who has a gift for humor, a kind heart,
and is my treasured friend, Mary.
and is my treasured friend, Mary.
Enter to win an autographed copy of Out of Control by Mary Connealy see below.
I met Mary through ACFW and through my friends at the Writer's Alley. She truly has a gift for writing romantic comedy. I laughed through the pages and couldn't wait to pick up another of her books.
I asked Mary to share her writing journey with us. Here is what she wrote:
I asked Mary to share her writing journey with us. Here is what she wrote:
God Gives Seasons of Life
I am a big believer that God gives us seasons of life.
I couldn’t see it while I struggled to get published but
now, looking back, I realize that God waited until exactly the right time in my
life to let me be published.
I sat down to write a book, a full length novel, with the
intent of getting it published, the year my baby, the youngest of four
daughters, went to Kindergarten.
I wrote for ten years before I got my first book
published. At the end of that ten years, I had twenty finished books on my
computer. That is; twenty full length romance novels. I had other, shorter
works, Middle Grade novels, short stories, children’s books, novellas, even a
few poems and songs, in addition to the novels.
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| Mary Connealy and Mary Vee at ACFW Conference |
It’s not like I would type up my story thinking with
sublime confidence, “God will send my books to the right publisher at the right
time.”
Oh no.
I was entering contests, querying agents, mailing
partials into publishers, using my Writer’s Market Guide and my Romance Writers
Report Magazine, to hunt down editors and agents and contest where ever I could
find them.
Through all that writing and querying and rejection, I
always got just enough encouragement to carry on. I was a finalist in a contest
with the second book I wrote. I’d get a occasional request for a full followed
by a ‘nice’ rejection.
I got some short plays published and made actual tidbits
of money.
It all kept me going.
When I finally sold, my first book, Petticoat Ranch hit
the shelves in February and my baby graduated from high school in May.
I worked so hard promoting Petticoat Ranch. I did book signings
and gave talks in any place that would let me in. Bookstores, libraries,
churches. I attended conferences and went to ICRS. I was crazy busy hustling
around selling that book. I had no idea just how demanding it would be.
To me it was a light going on. The season of my life that
I could devote to being a published author came when I had time to be a
published author. I could give myself whole-heartedly to it without neglecting
my children because they were grown.
I just couldn’t see this when I was struggling all those
years. But I needed those years. I needed them to get my daughters raised and
also to get a back list of books because, once Barbour Publishing bought my
first book, they wanted more and more of them. I published nineteen books with
Barbour in four years. Twelve full length novels, four Heartsong Presents
shorter romances and three cozy mysteries. Of those nineteen books, eight were
already written. I would never have been able to keep up that pace if I hadn’t
had those years to write all those books. And it was really good for my career
to be able to say YES every time Barbour asked for another book.
That was God’s plan. I try to remember that when I’m
impatient with anything, not just writing. Wait on the Lord. Embrace and enjoy
the season of life I’m walking through with Him.
Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is
a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader's Choice
finalist. She is the author of the bestselling Kincaid Brides Series: Out of
Control, In Too Deep, Over the Edge, Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, Montana
Marriages Trilogy and Sophie's Daughters Trilogy. Mary is married to a Nebraska
rancher and has four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren.
To enter the contest for an autographed copy of Mary's book, Out of Control, leave a comment and become a follower of this site if you aren't already. Please also include your email address (username (at) yahoo (dot) com) so I can contact you if you are the winner. The winner will be selected by a third party, random.org, and will be announced next week. U.S. residents only.
Thank you Mary for joining us this weekend!
Reader, How has God show you the need to wait for the right season?
Comments
As a never married 'older' single gal I trust that the Lord is waiting for just the right time to bring that special guy around=) I try not to stress about it, and just TRUST.
I am a follower.
Patty
pattymh2000(at)yaho(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by.
Trust is key. Hard to hold on like a cowboy hat in the middle of a rodeo, but doable.
Sure had fun seeing you here.
Good to see you!
And, God opens our eyes to the blessings of the seasons when we are ready. Has happened to me countless times.
Thank you for sharing the background that encourages others to go forward in their journey. I am blessed for the reading of this blog.
Blessings back to you!
Janice
Wait on the Lord is probably the hardest lesson there is. (well, there are PLENTY of hard lessons, so who knows which is hardest)
But only looking back can I see that season I was passing through.
I know young mothers who are published. They can handle it. They have their own season of life (or maybe I was just a slow learner) so just because God gave me that time of being a mom and then afterward gave me a time to be published, doesn't mean it is WRONG for someone to do it a different way.
I have a friend who is published with four little ones, I think she's only got one in school so far and she's published multiple books.
I asked her to come be on my blog, Seekerville and pick a day close to her book releasing. She sort of smiled and said, "I'm not sure when they're releasing. I don't do blogs. I write the books, send them in and then forget them. I let my publisher do any marketing and selling. I'm busy writing the next book, that's the only thing I have time for is to write them."
That seemed really smart to me. And she keeps writing and getting new contracts so God bless her for having her priorities straight.
Walking through the seasons of life is like trudging through a lovely forest. We can't see the sky above the canopy, yet we know it is there. We can't see the holes beneath the leaves, yet we stumble. How blessed we are to have God walk with us to pick us up and speak soft encouraging words.
Now, I think the big problem with the ‘seasons of life’ is that they don’t come back again as they do in nature. I’d sure like to be in my Spring season once again.
I have Mary’s books but, if it is possible, I’d like a chance to win the time to read the one’s in my TBR pile. : ) Vince
So glad you came today. You are first on the list to receive the gift of time for reading a book. :)
It would be nice to have those favorite seasons of our life repeat again and again. Thank God for pictures and other forms of memory:)
It would be nice to have you back again. I look forward to future chats.
I think many of us find writing, publication, and marketing a time puzzle. Very few are blessed to leave the marketing to the publisher.
I am so thankful for the books you have written, they inspire and help me relax after a busy day. You are such a funny and witty writer and I am thankful for your writing ministry.
nm8r67 at hotmail dot com
No wonder you love her books. It is a great compliment for an author to hear their books have given hope. I love her humor as well. I end up finding the nearest family member and reading the humor passage to them...then walk away laughing and laughing.
God's blessings on you.
I hope to see you back again.
I can't give you the gift of time, but I guess I can (from the outside looking in mind you) tell you there are worse things in this world than being busy.
What's sadder than to have days and weeks stretching out ahead of you with nothing to do but read.
Enjoy the Hectic Life
When you finally get your chance are you READY TO TAKE IT????
Get Ready. Be Ready. When that fateful days comes that someone wants your book will you be able to say, "Yes, I can have it for you tomorrow?" Or will you have to say, "I need three months or six months?"
BE READY FOR YOUR CHANCE!!!
HM at HVC dot RR dot COM
You are so funny. I love that, "fruit of the month club." I will remember that one and work harder to focus on my fruit each day.
Love yah!
but that's all just RUMORS. There is no truth to it. Trust me, my husband has had me tested!!!!
tissakay(at)aol(.)com
Thank you for signing up to be a follower!
I love sharing books with my daughter as well. Isn't it fun to quote some funny line at a random time? The two of you break out laughing and everyone around looks at you with a weird look.
I love those moments.
samanthaakuiper(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a follower!
So nice to see you again. And so happy you like Mary's books.
You are entered in the book drawing:)
And I just signed with my publisher, Bethany House, for six more books, plus I've got three novellas coming in the next year or so.
I can keep you busy for a LONG LONG TIME!!!!!!!!!
Mary Vee, I am a follower of your blod, and a subscriber. I have not read any of Mary Cinnely's book but would like to win this one! Thanks!
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Of course i remember you. So happy to have you join us again. We sure enjoyed seeing you around the virtual fireside today.
You definitely are in the drawing for the book!
I almost missed your comment, it was snuggled in between others I had read.
I'm so glad you came and saw Mary Connealy today. You are definitely in the book drawing.
Hope to see you again! And brrr..our house door just opened. Think I'll put on more virtual cocoa. Ready for a cup?
Mary C. you never cease to amaze me. And you're so right in the fact we don't see those "seasons of life" until we can look back. sigh
Like Vince, I already have all of Mary's books since she is one of my favorite authors, but if you find a way to give Vince more time, I'll take some of that also. smile
I didn't know you just signed with Bethany for six more books!
Congratulations!
We are the beneficiaries :)
Welcome. So glad you could come today.
Yes, Mary has been awesome this weekend.
I hope to see you back here again for future guests.
And, if your library doesn't have them, ask to get them though interlibrary loan that is either free or maybe a dollar or two in most libraries.
Or, you could try and get your library to buy one of my books.
I recommend a lot of screaming. Maybe fall to the floor and kick, hold your breath. Oh, and make sure and call the TV Station first.
And spell my name right.
And pretend like it was your own idea!
It was so great to see you in Dallas!
Thanks so much for reading my books.
Good grief, with the double "n" and single "l" in your name Maxie has to spell your last name right to the TV station. Yikes!
This would be fun to see.
Mary Connealy, I am so sorry for botching up your name. I really did know how to spell it. LOL Forgot to edit for my mistakes in typing, which are many. Mostly learned since I've had my computer. Never had typing until Jr. or SR. year when I was in school. Well, I married in my 10th grade year, then got pregnant first thing, and, had to move to Texas for my asthma, so was the end of my school. So, forgive me please. LOL Maxie
Mary and I just glad you came and read what God did for her.
Congratulations on winning Mary's book!
Looking forward to seeing you again.