Fabulous Friday Feature-Varina Denman. God Leads Me Whether I'm Following or Not

Today we welcome author: 

Varina Denman

To win a copy
of Varina's release:
Jaded

Scroll to the end of the post 
to see how to get your copy.
International Readers May Participate!

Mary Vee here. Doesn't Varina have an absolutely lovely name? I wonder if it has a special meaning, don't you? Varina said her name is Russian and her mother picked it because she liked it. So do I. I stopped by the Writer's Alley, where I am a contributing writer, to read the monthly announcements. That is when I met Varina and was quite intrigued with her release, Jaded   

I asked Varina to join us and share how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said:

God Manages to Lead Me Whether I'm Following Him Or Not

I’m not one of those people who knew she wanted to be a writer at a young age. In fact, when I was in school, writing was nothing more than an assignment, and frankly, I had better things to do. I never dreamed I would write a book, but little did I know God was preparing me.

While I focused on college then marriage then children, God introduced me to lots of people, and I heard their stories of pain and growth. He exposed me to a few ugly things in the world, and He shined His light on many beautiful things. He shoved me into difficult life problems and helped me live through them. He gave. And he took away. And through it all, I learned to lean on Him.

When I finally slowed down and considered writing, I mistakenly thought it was my idea. I decided to write a Christian romance that would be a light, humorous, care-free read. The kind of book I enjoyed reading to get away from the stresses of life. But God had other plans.

Often as I sat in worship, He would give me character motivations, and I would scribble them on the back of the worship handout before I forgot them. He would place issues on my heart and gently nudge me to include them in the manuscript. As I went about my daily routine, my path would randomly cross with people who, in some way, added depth to the plot. God was pretty sneaky.

As I worked on my story, the plot became deeper, the characters developed problems, and I soon realized I wasn’t writing the light romance I had planned. Even though I enjoyed reading romantic comedy, it definitely wasn’t my calling. As it turned out, I was more of a Romantic Women’s Fiction kind of writer, and God taught me to listen to His voice and not ignore His gentle nudges.

I’ve noticed I have the same tendency in many areas of my life. The tendency to do things on my own, to jump into things without consulting God first, to take credit for ideas He places on my heart. Thank goodness He’s patient with me. Not only in writing, but in life, God continues to teach me to lean on him, to accept his counsel, to trust Him.

He’s pretty cool that way.

Mary, thank you for inviting me to your beautiful blog. It’s so good to be here!
You're welcome Varina. :)

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Fun holiday Shopping with the Denman family

Varina Denman writes stories about the unique struggles women face. She has five children, teaches creative writing and literature, volunteers in her local homeschool cooperative, and boasts sixteen years as a home educator. She resides with her family in North Texas. Her first novel, Jaded, won the 2013 ACFW Genesis Award.

Contact Varina through: 

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest 

She loves to hear from her readers!

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Click HERE to buy
 or see Jaded

Jaded:

As a child, Ruthie Turner was shunned by the local congregation. Now, thirteen years later, Ruthie’s heart begins to stir when an attractive single preacher arrives. But their relationship is bitterly opposed, and a string of secrets are unearthed that threaten to turn the church, the town, and her world upside down.

Jaded is the rare novel that is a love story between both a woman and a man ... and God and His church. Plunging deep into the waters of shame, forgiveness, and restoration, this book will resonate with every woman who’s experienced a loss of heart ... and a thirst for hope.

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Click HERE to buy 
or see Justified

Justified, available June 1 

In a small Texas town ruled by gossip, Fawn Blaylock believes others are justified in condemning her untimely pregnancy. Stifled by guilt, she yearns for grace while the local football coach treats her with gentle respect.

Justified perfectly captures the rhythm and romance of life in a small town, telling the unforgettable story of a woman searching for renewal, a man looking beyond what others see, and a community torn between judgment and love. It is the unforgettable story of broken dreams second chances, and relentless hope.

To enter the contest for a copy of 

Varina's  new release: 

"Jaded"

leave a comment (and email address)

AND become a follower of this blog, 

OR sign up to receive posts by email

if you aren't already.

International Readers Welcomed to Participate for eBook if chosen,
US may choose paperback

The winner will be announced on my facebook page.

Thank you, Varina, 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!