Joyce is offering one copy to one randomly chosen commenter the choice of one of the following novels: CAKE, HARRIET BEAMER STRIKES GOLD, HARRIET BEAMER TAKES THE BUS, BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE, OR GRISELDA TAKES FLIGHT. The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 15th, between 5-6 PM EST. For convenience, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!
I Owe It All To The Martians, Well Sort Of by Joyce Magnin
That’s
right, the Martians. Here’s the thing, I never wanted to do anything else in
life besides write. I guess you can say I was born with it. By the age of three
I was totally and irrevocably word struck. Smitten with words and what they
could do. I remember sitting on the floor or at the table reading the headlines
on the back of my father’s newspapers. I loved words and stories and books. By
the time I landed in kindergarten I was reading pretty well and reading
whatever I could get my hands on.
Then
in third grade something spectacular and amazing happened. My teacher, Mrs.
Nichols asked us to write a story. (Oh Boy!) I wrote an imaginative piece
entitled The Day The Martians Came. It was a story of how men from Mars came to
earth to knock over Fort Knox. Apparently, Martians eat gold. Mrs. Nichols
loved my story and asked me to share it with all the classes at Westbrook
Elementary. Yikes! When I was a kid I had a terrible problem with sweaty
palms—I’m talking Niagara. So by the time I made it back to third grade I had
perspired so much that my story, written in pencil was nothing more than a gray
smear. I cried. But Mrs. Nichols comforted me. She told me that my story wasn’t
really gone. She said my story and a lot of other stories were in my heart. She
told me that I had been gifted with words and would some day write books.
I
remember that moment so clearly to this day. I remember it as the day God
reached down from heaven and set the gift and desire to write inside me. I held
the hand of God that day.
Sure, it’s been a rough haul. I was an overnight success but it was a decades long night. I worked hard, read a lot, honed my craft, went to school, joined critique groups, collected rejection slips, cried. I even tossed a keyboard out the window once because I was convinced I would never be published. But then it happened and all the fear and struggle and wondering melted away. I knew it was all about God’s timing—not mine.
But when you are in the
thick of trying to find success, it’s hard to believe that. So, if you are
still waiting for that first contract, I’m not going to say, don’t cry, don’t
get frustrated. I know you will. I’m just going to echo the words of the poet,
Rilke. If, when you go to sleep at night and close your eyes and all is dark
and quiet and you can look into your deepest heart and say, I am a writer, then
by all means write and don’t give up. If you are called to it, God will
accomplish it.
Joyce's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Author
Joyce Magnin: If you are called to it, God will accomplish it. (Tweet This)
Everyone
has a story: author Joyce Magnin shares about Martians and God (Tweet This)
Want
a great and fun read? #BookGiveaway of author Joyce Magnin (Tweet This)
Author's Bio:
Joyce
Magnin is the author of nine novels including the popular and critically
acclaimed Brights Pond novels, the
Harriet Beamer books, Maybelle in Stitches (Quilts of Love series) and two
middle grade novels—Carrying Mason and Cake—Love, Chickens and Taste of Peculiar
which was awarded the coveted Kirkus Star. Joyce is a frequent conference
speaker and instructor. She also does school visits and runs a small
editing/critiquing business.
Find Joyce on the Web:
If
you would like to book Joyce for your event or for editing services please
email her directly at jmagnin56(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the Martian story! I remember when God tapped me to write. Night after night, I couldn't sleep, and one night these people came to live in my head. And they had this really neat story. But then they started bugging me to write it down. And they wouldn't go away, until finally, I did write their story. And here we are 33 years later, writing almost every day. Thanks for a great interview and a trip down memory lane. :-) pat at ptbradley dot com
ReplyDeletePat, I'm so thankful for you, Joyce, and my other writing friends--we're the only ones who really "get it" when we share about the other people and their conversations in our heads.
DeleteI'm always happy to see you here. Actually, I'm blessed.
Thank you for sharing your story. It's so encouraging to hear. my parents often tell me that before I could write I would make up stories for them and my dolls. That was a long time ago. I've finally worked up the courage to do what God has gifted me for and I'm loving it. I think I'm still in the honeymoon stages so it's great to hear from someone so experienced. matt.linsey@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLinsey, it's nice to see you again. Thanks for visiting. I'm past my honeymoon stage, although still waiting for a publisher to fall in love with my stories… but speaking from my own experience: never forget that zest that you're experiencing now.
DeletePlease check back for Joyce's reply.
Once I read Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise, I became a Joyce Magnin fan and have read the Bright's Pond Series. This is a very encouraging post. Thanks, Joyce! I'd love to win a Harriet Beamer novel. pdyer3 at cfl dot rr dot com.
ReplyDeletePat, it's so nice to see you again. I'm glad you've gained some encouragement from the post--I love to hear that!
DeleteI'm a big fan of Joyce Magnin's books! Glad to see her on Everyone's Story and to hear more about her own story!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back, Sara. And I'm glad--and thankful--for your visits.
DeleteHey Kids, thanks for stopping by. I love to share my writing journey and I am always so blessed when folks share back. If there is one thing I've learned through all the ups and downs of the writing life, perseverance and faith make it happen. Hang tough!
ReplyDeleteI like that, Joyce: perseverance and faith. Such an important lifesaver when it comes to not only writing, but really, all of life.
DeleteWonderful perspective! Thanks for sharing your story Joyce. Writing is such a joy and such a challenge. I can't imagine doing anything else, but there are days that I wish I was doing something else. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit today, Lisa. Oh, I hear you. While I daydream about traveling the world and just kicking back and having fun, I cannot stop thinking of and writing stories. To me, that is truly fun!
DeleteYeah, I hear that, Lisa but unfortunately or fortunately, writers are ALWAYS wring.
DeleteOh how I LOVE Mrs. Nichols. We all need one of those in our lives! I loved Carrying Mason. Gave it to my daughter to read. She not only loved it, she kept pointing things out to me that made it so good. cbalmony(at)yahoo(dot)come.
ReplyDeleteI love when you visit, Connie. Thanks! I'm sure you'll make Joyce smile today when she sees your fan affection for her novels.
DeleteThanks, Connie. And say hey to your daughter. Perhaps she'd like to read Cake. Let me know if you get it and I will be happy to send her a signed bookplate and other goodies.
DeleteJoyce, your story is a beautiful reminder of what one person's single action can accomplish. God bless the teacher who encouraged you.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kathy. The memory of Mrs. Nicohls is amazing. And she continued to encourage and i spire me for many yeas after third grade. Teacher rock!
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I really enjoyed what you had to say, especially the decades long night part and realizing God's timing in it all. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to see you here, Jeff. Welcome to Everyone's Story. Joyce has definitely been an amazing encourager!
DeleteHope to see you again.
What a fun and motivating week it's been here on Everyone's Story and I have author Joyce Magnin to thank! Joyce, you really helped to put things into perspective for me and many others when you've posed the question: Called to write? Well, then God will accomplish it! With God, all things are possible. Personally speaking, I know my thoughts and creative spirit wouldn't take the shape they are without Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for the fabulous book giveaway…
The winner is Kathy. Yea, Kathy. Both Joyce and I will contact you in a direct email. Enjoy the great read!
Blessings to all. Hope to see everyone again.