Of Love and Treason is officially out in the world!

I admit, four years ago, I thought it was impossible. I recently stumbled across the notebook I used to keep track of random scenes and conversations as I was writing Of Love and Treason. The back pages are filled, not with stories, but with journal entries and prayers, and I thought I’d share one with you all:

September13, 2020

I’ve been in a place of waiting for what seems like a long time. I know This Thing is going to happen because God has confirmed it over and over and yet…here I wait.

“If God is making you wait, He is making you ready.” Ever since I heard Susie Larson say this two years ago, it’s been my “chin up” encouragement. So, I put my focus on seeking after God and allowing Him to work on my heart–and goodness, He’s been working on a lot. Last night as I lay in bed, I said, “How long, Lord?” and He spoke to my heart and simply said, “David.”

David, anointed king as a very young man. David, still a shepherd after that. David working for the current king of Israel. David on the run for years. David, finally king, but not over all of Israel. And finally, David king of Israel years and years and years after he was anointed.

Those “waiting” years were not wasted.

It was not a mistake for David to be promised something and not receive it immediately, nor was he the first waiting on a promise (Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) but God had a plan. He was working on David’s heart, teaching him the pattern of following, and trusting, and repenting. There was purpose in his waiting.

There is purpose in mine.

Two months later, I won my first writing contest. In the two years that followed, I won more writing contests and faced rejection or silence from every agent I queried. But that is not the end of the story. Because when the time was right for the long-awaited “Yes!” It was right. And there was no mistaking it.

I hope this encourages you wherever you’re at–whether you’re waiting for an agent, or a book contract, or a job, or a spouse, or a child, or whatever it is–there is purpose in the waiting.

Well. This was supposed to be a short post full of exclamation points, but I think it’s important to send this book into the world with a bit of background. Because this book might be the story of Valentine, but this story, the whole of it that surrounds this book, is the story of God’s faithful love, enduring through all generations