Have you ever had something happen and you knew without a doubt, it was all God? You know an Amos 9:13 kind of thing.
That’s exactly what happened last year when on a last-minute whim, I entered Harlequin’s Blurb to Book Contest.
In 2010, I entered the National Novel Writing Month Contest, otherwise known as NANOWRIMO. It’s held each year in the month of November. To win, you must write 50k words in 30 days, not quite traditional novel length, but a way to get a fast draft start to a novel.
Easy enough—so I entered. I wrote like a maniac every day. I knew as long as I wrote 1667 words a day, I could do this. Oh, by the way, I didn’t have an outline. In those days, I was a pantster.
I picked one of my favorite areas in the state of Virginia, the Shenandoah Valley, created a hero and heroine and away I went. Did I know what I was doing? Heck no, but I kept writing. It was exhilarating slapping those words on the page. My adrenaline surged each day as I met my goal.
On November 28, 2010, I reached 52k words and do you know what happened…I ran out of gas. Exhausted, I turned off my computer and the story sat for five years. Sure, I tinkered with it here and there, but it was such a mess, I moved on to another story.
Over the years, the beautiful Shenandoah Valley and the two characters I created stayed with me. Often I felt like a failure for never completing the book. How could I just leave it unfinished?
In March of 2015, I heard about the Blurb to Book Contest and I knew this was an opportunity to finish what I’d started. I made up my mind, even if I didn’t advance through the stages of the contest, I’d rewrite this book to the finish, and so I did.
On August 17, 2015, a typical Monday morning at my day job, it happened. My cell phone, buried in my purse showed two missed calls from area code 212, which I knew was New York City. My heart pounded in my chest. Do I call the number? Do I wait? I remember sitting at my desk asking God if I was ready for this because I didn’t feel I’d paid my dues. I’d never attempted to seek publication, never queried an agent. I wrote because I’ve always loved to write.
When my phone rang a third time, I heard God speak to me. “You’re ready,” He said. I answered the phone and it was an editor with Harlequin offering me a contract on my book. I couldn’t tell you what she said or what I said. I was in shock. To be honest, I still am.
There’s no doubt in my mind, having advanced through each stage of the contest, and ultimately receiving a contract on the first book I’ve ever written was all orchestrated by God. He carried me through every stress-filled stage of the contest and in the end fulfilled a dream I never thought possible.
I’d love to hear a time when God took you completely by surprise.
***I’m at my day job today, so I’ll be around later this afternoon to chat.
By day, Jill Weatherholt works for the City of Charlotte. At night, and on the weekend, she writes contemporary stories about love, faith and forgiveness for Harlequin Love Inspired. Raised in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., she now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, but her heart belongs to Virginia. She holds a degree in Psychology from George Mason University and Paralegal Studies Certification from Duke University. She shares her life with her real-life hero and number one supporter. Their relationship grew on the golf course, and now they have one in their backyard. Jill believes in enjoying every moment of this journey because God has everything under control.
Great post, Jill! I love that God told you that you were ready, even when you didn’t feel you were. Such a great story of blessing. And now we’ll get to hold that story you began in 2010.
God has surprised me in many quiet ways lately, mainly through people who walked up to me and began to pray for me–just when I needed prayer. Still waiting on some big prayer requests to be answered. But since He answered the little ones, He’ll answer the big ones too.
Congratulations, Jill! Your story is such an inspiration.
Definitely head-spinning blessings. God’s ways are not always our ways. If we do not listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and put ourselves out for a challenge, how can we know God’s way. Sometimes God says a definite NO – sometimes MAYBE – and then there is the head-spinning blessing YES. Regardless of the answer, we have to follow through and let God continue to lead in our lives. Not always easy!
Thanks for the encouraging thought-provoking post. Have a great week.
Great story, Jill! I loved hearing about your road to publication. I love how the Lord orchestrated the book contract coming to fruition in HIS time and appreciate how you were able to be patient. As far as my own story, it’s all on my website (www.joanndurgin.com). I lost half of my debut novel and God gave it back to me in a way that STILL gives me chills. And then he confirmed it (And the Man Said Peaches…also on my website). Wishing you all the best, and keep writing! Gotta LOVE how He works in our lives. I stand amazed. Blessings, and thanks for sharing! :)
Wonderful, Jill! Grinning for you! God is so good :)
Jill, I love hearing about other writers’ journeys, long, short or in between.
My husband and I had been missionaries in Hong Kong for 19 years, and felt our time there was finished – we’d done what God wanted us to do, and the church was mature enough that they didn’t need us anymore as missionaries. So, what next? Well, everyone started suggesting we go to Cambodia, so work alongside missionaries from Hong Kong. NO WAY! We did NOT want to go to a hot, undeveloped country, learn a new language, etc., etc. Couldn’t we go to beautiful, cool New Zealand and speak English, or at least the Cantonese we already knew?
Finally, we just said “yes” in obedience, not because we wanted to go. Well, our 3 years in Cambodia ended up being the biggest blessing from God! The college students we mentored became our kids. We developed wonderful friendships with the pastors and workers in the churches. God knew what He was doing!!
Always fun to hear about “the call!” Your first NaNo was the last one I attempted. After succeeding at four in a row, in 2010 my mother died on Nov 5 and that took my legs from underneath me. I scrapped the story completely in the end. Maybe one of these years NaNo will fit my schedule again. :)
It was time, Jill. Congrats.
Congratulations Jill. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
God took me by surprise 11 years ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a total shock, as I had no symptoms. A regular mammogram showed a lump on my chest wall. Doctor said I would never have felt it because of the location. God carried me through this cancer journey through my loving husband, son, family, friends and even people I didn’t know that prayed for me. I am blessed. :-) 11 years cancer free. Praise God!
Oh yes, L. Marie, He’ll answer those big prayers when the timing is perfect. Thanks so much for all of you support. I appreciate you stopping by!
Thanks so much, Kimberly! I appreciate you reading my journey.
You’re right, Renate, it’s not always easy. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate it.
Thanks, JoAnn! I can’t wait to read your story. I’m right with you…standing amazing each day. Thanks for reading!
Yes He is! Thank you so much, Autumn.
I always have too, Merrille. I never imagined I’d be writing my own call story. :) Thanks for reading!
What a beautiful story, Margaret. I’m so happy you shared that with us. It’s a good thing God always knows what he’s doing because sometimes we’re clueless. :) Thanks for reading!
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother, Valerie. Perhaps someday NaNo will fit into your schedule and you can dedicate that story to your sweet mother. Thank you for reading!
Thanks so much, Ginger. I sure didn’t expect it, especially on a dreary Monday morning at the office. :)
Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment.
It’s unfortunate not all surprises are happy ones, Melissa. I’m thrilled to hear you’re cancer free after all those years. I’ll pray that you have continued good health. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Praise God indeed!
Congratulations! That is an exciting story . I love how God surprises us with His prefect provision! He gives strength, healing and peace for the journey☺
Thanks, Diana! It was an exciting time…I don’t think my feet have hit the ground yet. God certainly provides us with everything we need and always at the right time. Thanks so much for reading.
Love this, Jill!
Great story. My story sounds like yours but alas I am not published yet.
Thanks for reading, Sally!
Have you participated in NaNo in the past, Linda? If so, keep writing and I highly recommend entering contests. Thanks for reading!
Congratulations! My most recent surprise from God was about two weeks ago. A couple in our church invited my husband and I over unexpectedly and while we were there, the man offered my husband a job. Other than a few odd things here and there he had been out of work since the beginning of August. We had not expected God to provide in this way, but what a blessing!
Thanks, Katy! Oh, that’s such wonderful news! Thank you for sharing how God took you by surprise. Wishing your husband the best in his new position.
What a great story, Jill! As a new Love Inspired author myself, I know how great those editors are to work with. I also have done NaNoWriMo a few times, and find it a good way to get a lot of writing done in a compressed period of time. Congratulations on your new book. What’s it called and when does it come out?
Thanks so much, Lee! You’re new and already hitting the PW list…awesome! I agree, my editor is an absolute sweetheart. I’m currently working on my line edits, so no release date yet. My working title is Capture the Dream, but as you know, they have other ideas for titles, so I’m sure it will be changed. Thanks for reading!
What a great story, Jill. I love how God works! So amazing. My first sale was a little unconventional as well. An editor neededicated an inspirational story, and while my story wasn’t right for that project, she bought my story anyway to publish. Good knows where our stories need to be. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I love how He works too, Lindi! Thank you for reading and sharing your own first sale story with us.
I loved your post. The anticipation must have been hard at times. Isn’t God good? He knows just when we need something. My unexpected news was after remarrying my husband we had Another child. We already had two but God said there is one more to join your Family. I was 43 at the time and very nervous. It turned out to be the easiest pregnancy ever and we call our daughter the restoration baby.
God’s timing is always perfect. Knowing God is never late, makes it easier to wait!
Isn’t it awesome when God takes you by surprise? Ours was when my husband started a new job in October. Going from being in a job where he saw himself stuck in for a long time (he’d been there 6yrs already) to God’s perfect timing in an even better one :-) It’s amazing, awe-inspiring, unexpected, completely took us off guard kind of surprise…it’s been a real blessing for our home life & marriage :-)
Thank you, Harley! I’m glad you enjoyed it. What a great story! I appreciate you sharing it with us. The “restoration baby”…love it! Thanks for reading.
Exactly, Gail! It’s such a comforting thought, isn’t it? Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment.
Oh, that’s wonderful, Trixi! I’m so happy for you and your family. Those unexpected surprises are often the best, aren’t they? Congratulations! Thanks for stopping by.