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Fabulous Feature-Virginia Vaughan-Believing My Writing Life Was Over

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Today we welcome author:
Virginia Vaughan

A commenter will win a copy of
Virginia's book:

Ranch Refuge

Scroll down to see how.




Mary here. Well, readers, you know I simply love, love suspense stories. Yah think I just might be jazzed to share Virginia's suspense stories, complete with God's love....absolutely. I must confess, I enjoy going to the Love Inspired parties on FB. It gives me a chance to check out new historical, suspense, and mysteries. While attending the last party, I met Virginia and from the few moments I had, I already knew she would be a great guest for us.  I'm beyond happy to welcome Virginia today. I asked her, How has God led you on your writing journey? Here is what he said: 


Believing My Writing Life Was Over

What do you do when you’re faced with the decision to give up your lifelong dream of being a writer or give your life completely to the Lord?

The day I made that decision was one I remember clearly. I was sitting in my car on my lunch hour feeling broken and wounded. I needed the God I’d walked away from in high school, but I was terrified at the prospect of giving myself over to Him. I’d already made the decision that if I did, it was all or nothing…yet I was still holding on to my writing like a treasure I didn’t want to give up. At the time, my narrow gaze couldn’t see a way to reconcile my love for Jesus with my writing life. Yet I also knew I couldn’t continue on the way I was. My life was a mess and I desperately needed Jesus and the solid foundation He offered. I needed Him more than I needed my treasure. I wept as I reluctantly released my grip on my writing life and surrendered it to Him.

I gave everything I had to God, believing my writing life was over. I would not write anything that wouldn’t honor God and again, in my narrow gaze, I saw no way to do both. Over the next few years, God healed so many parts of my life, but my writing continued to sit on a shelf. Then slowly, surely, God began to speak to me about picking it up again. My pastor gave a sermon about combining your passions and skills and finding a way to use them for God’s purpose. Excitement bubbled through me. After all, God had given me this talent and my passion for writing hadn’t diminished. Could He really find a way to use it? I still didn’t see a way, but I knew too that nothing was impossible for God.

I pulled out an old manuscript I’d previously shelved, cringing at the language and sex scenes. But as I read it, I realized the story was good. I liked it and I wanted to continue it. Then I realized the biggest truth of all—my story didn’t work because my characters needed the same thing I needed—God. A new excitement rushed through me and I began working on the story once again, this time allowing God to weave Himself through it, healing my characters just as He’d healed my life. I still didn’t know if this story would ever see the light of a publisher but it gave me joy to return to something I loved. I was once again a writer!

Over the next years, God opened my eyes to the possibility that writing and loving the Lord wasn’t only possible, it was what He was calling me to do. He led me on a journey, opening doors I had thought had been slammed shut and locked tight. Praise God, His vision for my life was so much bigger than my own.


My fifth book with Love Inspired Suspense, RANCH REFUGE, releases in August and I feel so blessed to be able to write what I love. The Lord has truly given me the gifts of my heart. And my favorite part of writing Christian fiction? Introducing others to the truth that God is so much more than our narrow gazes can comprehend… and that we as Christians can indeed enjoy a good story without compromising our values.
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Virginia's favorite place: a swinging bridge
near her home town. She loves to watch the
river water below. So peaceful!
Author Virginia Vaughan was born and raised in Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those borders. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age and soon started writing them herself. 

Her current release Ranch Refuge, is Book 3 in her Rangers Under Fire series. Yuletide Abduction, the first book in the series won a RT Reviewer’s Choice Award and was a finalist for the Daphne Du Maurier award. Look for Book 4, Mistletoe Reunion Threat, releasing December, 2016.


Virginia wants to hear from you! 
Contact her at:    
  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


RANCH REFUGE
HER COWBOY BODYGUARD 

Laura Jackson trusts no man—especially after her father's gambling debts force her into the crosshairs of a ruthless loan shark. But when fearless army-ranger-turned-cowboy Colton Blackwell charges in to save her from the barrel of a gun, the self-reliant nurse must accept his help. Whisking Laura away to his secluded Louisiana ranch doesn't provide the sanctuary Colton planned. But he intends to keep his promise to protect her, despite secrets in his past that could drive her away. Laura may have a bounty on her head, but the only thing at risk under Colton's care will be her heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enter the contest to win a copy of Virginia Vaughan's book:
Ranch Refuge
US readers invited to enter!!

Here is how:

1. Leave a comment (and email address)

2. AND sign up to receive my newsletter -in the right column

    (subscribers to Mary Vee's newsletter will receive a special gift)

    AND/OR sign up to receive posts by email if you aren't already
Thank you, Virginia, for joining us this weekend!



We enjoy chatting with you, Reader, and look forward to reading your comments and questions. Or at least your hi, hello, or hey.


Thanks for stopping by!
Don't forget to comment!

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Comments

Virginia Vaughan said…
Thanks for having me on, Mary! I look forward to getting to know everyone.
16:50
Anonymous said…
I would love to read Laura and Colton's story. Sounds like a great book for summer reading. I have read Yuletide Abduction and really enjoyed it! Thanks for the chance to win Mary and for hosting Virginia.
marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maryann
17:02
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
Me too! I have all the virtual hold and cold beverages out and some virtual tasty desserts. We're ready to partay!!
17:09
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
Forgot to say what was first on my mind. I've also prayed for all of guests. Can't wait to see everyone!!
17:10
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
Maryann,
You are so assume. You've read Virginia's book...a Christmas one (I totally love Christmas stories) I love hearing what readers think of books. That's what we're here for. That, and chatting, and virtual eating, and laughing...
Thanks for story by Maryann!
17:13
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
You do know I meant awesome, right? I need to slow down...sheesh.
17:15
Virginia Vaughan said…
Hi, Maryann! Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed Yuletide Abduction. Since you've read it, you know Colton made a cameo in that book. :)
22:38
Connie Porter Saunders said…
I finally have a chance to read your Friday post and I am so glad to read Virginia's story. Virginia, I believe that your assumption that you couldn't be a writer and a Christian is basically the way many people feel when they are struggling under conviction. They think they can't enjoy life, have fun or perhaps, like you, they doubt they can have the career they want. I often try to impress on the teens in my Sunday school class that Christians are happy abnd they enjoy life BUT even when they aren't happy or enjoying life, they ALWAYS feel joy!
I am so happy that you are enjoying the career that you wanted and that God chose for you@
Blessings to you and Mary,
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
15:04
Connie Porter Saunders said…
Sorry for the typos. My smart phone auto corrects and I don't always catch them.
15:07
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
Totally. If you look at the comment I posted for Maryann, you'll see the same thing happened to me. Gotta love auto correct...I think I end up with more "typos" thanks to auto correct's help. LOL
15:39
Mary Vee Storyteller said…
Great advice for not only teens but also for adults. Many of us are working our way up or horizontally to a career. God really does love us. He often puts the desire seed in us while we are still unbelievers so there is time for training. I really enjoy chatting with you, Connie.

Thanks for stopping to chat with Virginia and me.
15:42
Virginia Vaughan said…
Absolutely, Connie and Mary! Perhaps if more adults truly believed God is bigger than we can imagine, then more young people would too. Thanks for stopping by.
15:59
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