My dad was my greatest cheerleader when I shared with him at a young age that I wanted to be a writer. He told me to enjoy the good days and to embrace the not-so-good—even the awful—since they would provide a foundation for my writing, as well as my life.
This was tough advice to swallow on one particularly rough school day during my early teen years. Luckily, I arrived home to find him sitting on the front porch waiting for me so he could ask about my day. I joined him on the concrete landing and he spent a good hour listening while I vented about the trials and tribulations of being a thirteen-year-old in a cruel, cruel world. I imagined he had no idea what I was going through, since he couldn’t have possibly ever been as young as thirteen. Little did I know!
The next day, Dad came home with a small treasure for me–a picture with the most forlorn-looking mutt that looked as if his world had just ended. Dad told me if he could caption the picture it would read, “Was today really necessary?” couldn’t help but chuckle as we sat together and talked some more. That’s when I began to understand the power of adversity in shaping who I am as well as my life’s path.
Today, I use the trials of my life–both the small inconveniences that jab like bony fingers along my rib cage as well as the tsunamis that sweep through to wash away any semblance of sanity–to shape and mold my writing. Characters come alive when their story is infused with nuances of my personal trials. In daily tribulations I find a never-ending fount of inspiration. The passion to write the next story burns continuously inside me, and with every detour that comes my way I know that the round-about will lead to another exciting chapter.
This is how my Potter’s House books were formed, especially Proven Love. I hope this hard-fought story gives hope to others, so they might find rays of sunshine through tough situations.
My dad succumbed to Non-Hodgkin lymphoma eighteen years ago, but his memory is alive and well in the poster that has traveled with me through the decades. It reminds me to stay tough, write well, and to be thankful for each day because they’re all necessary.
#Giveaway! One digital copy of Proven Love. Must leave a comment to this post by Friday, April 26. Good luck!
Mary Manners lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats Colby and Rascal, 6 rambunctious chickens, and 13 fish. Mary writes small-town family romances laced with faith, hope, and humor. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold, the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Mary loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, flavored coffee, and chocolate…lots of chocolate.
This is exactly how I approach life. I have learned to “lean in” to my situations.
I am sorry about your dad. But it sounds like he was a very wise man and a fantastic father. This is such a wonderful blessing to have had. Happy Easter
Oh I would love to read this book, but right now I have so many to read, I dont want it to sit while I try to get to it. So please give it to someone else who does have time.
Some of my favorite stories are ones that show “Beauty from ashes” and how “nothing is wasted in God’s economy.”
What a great memory to have of your Dad!! Thank you for sharing it with us, and telling us about your writing. My Dad passed away 23 years ago, and I have wonderful memories of time spent with him! Your book sounds really good! How great that your Dad encouraged you to reach your dreams, just as mine did!
My dad has been gone almost 21 years now, before I began to get serious with my writing. He and my mom were both avid readers but mostly nonfiction. Missionary biographies were big favorites. My dad also wrote, hunting for the right keys on his old typewriter to peck out terrible poetry, usually in the guise of writing letters to my older sisters about our daily doings back at home. I should dig some of those out and have a read again…
Not sure what he would have thought of me writing romance LOL. Thanks for sending me back down memory lane. He would have turned 97 next Monday.
Thanks so much, Susan!
Thank you, Lori. I appreciate the kind words and your generosity.
Thanks so much for sharing, Valerie. Your dad sounds like a great man.
Me too, Stacy. They are lovely testaments. Happy Easter!
Hi Trudy! I am so glad you have wonderful memories of your dad. They help sustain us, don’t they? Thanks for the kind words concerning Proven Love. Happy Easter!
Mary, thanks for an inspiring post.
Welcome Mary! What a good reminder that even the hard things and not-so-great days play an important role in our lives.
Thank YOU, Merrillee!
Such wonderful memories of your dad❤️.
Thanks got the encouragement! It’s good to give thanks in all things and not to get bogged down with discouragement!
I’m glad you have great memories of your dad. I still have mine. He just turned 94 on April 11th. I was diagnosed with NHL several years ago but have never had symptoms, so never had treatments, thankfully. I hope your dad didn’t suffer much. Proven Love sounds very interesting and I’m looking forward to reading it. I’ve put off reading the Potter’s House series. Do they need to be read in order? I generally prefer to read a series all at once and haven’t designated the time it would take for this series.