Today we welcome author:
Hannah Conway
To win a copy
of Hannah's release:
The Wounded Warrior's Wife
of Hannah's release:
The Wounded Warrior's Wife
Scroll to the end of the post
to see how to get your copy.
to see how to get your copy.
Mary Vee here. Hanna and I wrote back and forth a few times before we settled on this visit. In this time I saw what a devoted person she is to God's calling.
I asked Hannah to join us and share how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said:
He Dared Me to Ask
The Young Author award. Anyone remember those from elementary school? I’m not sure what stories I wrote during my formative years, but they put three young-author-genie lamp-trophies on my shelf, and for an eight year old, it didn’t get much better than that.
Since I can remember, I’ve written stories, and imagined countless more. It’s something I love. I see stories everywhere bubbling up from history books, a biography, random artifacts at an antique store, or a conversation with a cashier. Some have never made it to paper, but play in my mind like a movie, perhaps waiting to debut in print. My own life can be a story. Confession: I mentally narrate real-life events as they happen.
“Hannah reached for the pantry handle. Her stomach grumbled. Grr.
Snack-time, but the children played close by. She sighed, shoulders sinking. If
only a way existed for her to eat that sugary sweet without being spotted—caught
in the clutches of little toddler fingers begging for a bite.”
That is funny, Hannah!
Ha. Yes, I, for real, narrate things in my head. Odd? I admit it’s
strange, but true.
God put this love of writing, and stories inside me. They have to come
out, because to keep them in would be to tell Him no, and telling God, no,
never pans out well. Anyone else have to learn the hard way?
I never intended to become an author. I mean, that would be awesome, but
who can make a living at it? Why pray for a career so improbable anyway?
Besides, I’m no Karen Kingsbury. Teaching was a safe bet. Telling stories to my
two children, friends, and students in the classroom suited me fine, but I
still had a desire—a dream.
Stories kept coming. Life got real. Ever experienced an event that
rocked your world? Yeah, me too. My husband, an infantry soldier at the time,
struggled with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Our marriage and faith
was tested and stretched beyond anything I ever imagined. The need to write,
pursue a dream to be an author cried louder during this time of personal
turmoil.
“Not now, God.” I’d soak in the bath tub and talk to Him. “Life’s a
mess.”
God won, and I wrote. What a therapeutic experience. Out of much effort,
groaning, and coffee, a story came forth. I wasn’t sure what to do with it.
God said, “Ask me.”
"To be an author? For publication? What are the odds of that ever
happening?” My stomach turned. Flipped. He dared me to ask. “What if I get
rejection letters? What if no one reads it, or what if they read it and then
hate it?” Oh the horror!
He asked me to ask for the impossible. Isn’t that what He wants us to do
–ask for the things that only He can do?
Oh, the rejection letters came. Some nicer than others. All said, “Great
story. Learn to write.” Nice. Thanks. So, I took their advice. I read books in
my genre, other genres, countless books on writing fiction, joined ACFW, a
critique group, and doors began to open.
During this time of learning to write, God gave me (and my husband, when
available), a speaking ministry on Marriage, Military, and PTSD. We’d been
speaking for about a year, when in the spring of 2014, through a chance meeting
online, I bumped into Hallee Bridgeman of Olivia Kimbrell Press. After spending
time with Hallee, and sharing my story, I was asked to submit my novel to their
press.
Not long after, I signed with Olivia Kimbrell Press, and in September of
2014, The Wounded Warrior’s Wife, a
novel, came to life. It attended every single speaking event with me, and has
since resulted in numerous message from readers across the nation relating to
the marital struggle of the lead characters, Whitleigh and Collier Cromwell. Wedding a Warrior, the novella prequel and free eBook, released in January of this year.
Wow. Talk about God’s timing.
When God opens a door, sometimes we fly through it. And I’m
flying on this new, fast-paced, nothing short of an answered prayer and
exciting journey—still a young author. I’m learning as I go, but one lesson I
pray sticks, is to continue to ask God for the impossible. I encourage you to do the same.
Ask Him. I dare you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hannah Conway, a Kentucky native, Army Wife,
Stay at Home Mother of two, Author and Speaker, lives in Clarksville, TN near
Fort Campbell, KY with her family. Hannah holds a BA in History from the University of Colorado
at Colorado Springs and is an active member of the American Christian Fiction
Writers.
Contact Hannah through:
She loves to hear from her readers!
 |
| Click Here to Buy or see the "Wounded Warrior's Wife" |
The Wounded Warrior’s
Wife
Battles Raging Within
Are The Ones You Must Fight To Win
Army wife, Whitleigh Cromwell, struggles after an unexpected
deployment during the height of the Iraqi war sends her husband, Collier
Cromwell, away for another year. Their lives tumble down a path marked with
strife, and fatalities, crippling their faith when Collier brings home a war of
another kind leaving Whitleigh wondering if some wounds are beyond God’s
ability to restore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can Download a free copy of Wedding a Warrior
Whitleigh Haynes wrestles with the boundaries of her limited faith after an unexpected marriage proposal leaves her wondering what to say to longtime boyfriend, Collier Cromwell, now Army soldier, who’s asking her to leave everything she’s ever known, loved, and planned.
Download a Free eBook of Wedding a Warrior or Purchase a Paperback Here: http://amzn.to/1EErpIQ
To enter the contest for a copy of
Hannah's new release:
"The Wounded Warrior's Wife"
leave a comment (and email address)
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The winner will be announced on my facebook page.
Thank you, Hannah, for Joining us This Weekend!
We love chatting with you, reader, and are looking forward to reading your comments and questions. Or at least your hi, hello, hey, or ...
Thanks for stopping by!
Don't forget to comment!
Comments
momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com
I am so glad you stopped by today and am proud of you for working through your own situation. I am thankful for your husband's service, but have seen with my dad, brother, and husband, that service can bring home some trying times. They need our love like we need God's love. Thank you for all your efforts, Loraine.
I'm so glad I was able to meet you and chat with you today. Thank you for downloading and reading Hannah's book Wedding a Warrior. This is such an important topic, don't you think? And having this message in story form really helps us to better understand.
Hope to see you again.
So nice to see you today. Like Hannah says, one of the biggest helps that vets have is each other. They've gone through the same basic experience and can say the right words that comfort. I think this is true for any rough experience. Thats why sharing is so very important.
Thanks for chatting with us today, Maxie. Hope you have an awesome day!
mo1202007ATyahooDOTcom
This post has touched the heart of several readers. I'm so glad you were able to come today and be a part of our chat. Hopefully this story will bring comfort to you. Blessings.