Friday, September 26, 2014

Janet Sketchley: Making Daydreams Real

Everyone's Story welcomes author Janet Sktechley. I won her novel HEAVEN'S PREY as a giveaway on another blog and devoured the story. It's intense and different from other novels I've read and I had difficulty putting it down. I'm so grateful that Janet is one of the novelists I've had the pleasure of hosting on my blog because the wonderful words she shares here represents the message I try to encourage: Do Not Give Up Your Dreams And Hopes. Janet also offers a Giveaway of the novel, plus an excerpt. And, I must say this as well--Janet is from the enchanting land of Nova Scotia, a place where my husband and I both left our hearts when we visited a few years ago. Both Janet and I look forward to hearing from you.

BookGiveaway:
Janet is offering 1 copy of HEAVEN'S PREY--either print or e-version within US or Canada or e-version elsewhere--to one randomly chosen winner who leaves a comment for Janet. The winner will be announced here on Friday, October 3rd, between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment. Thanks!


Book excerpt from HEAVEN'S PREY:


Excerpt from HEAVEN’S PREY by Janet Sketchley

Another gust of wind pelted rain against the kitchen window. Ruth Warner sopped up the last of her homemade chili with a thick slice of sourdough bread. Too bad she didn't have time for a little more.
The kitchen lights flickered, and her husband, Tony, groaned. "I hope the power holds. There's a ball game on later." He carried their cutlery and bowls to the sink and rinsed them more carefully than Ruth would have done. She'd wiped hers clean enough with the bread. It could have gone straight into the dishwasher.
Tony turned from the sink, bowl in hand. "Why don't you stay home tonight? It's nasty out there."
Halifax didn't often get storms this bad. If only she could avoid going back out in it. But since Harry Silver had escaped from prison, her weekly prayer meeting was more important than ever. Ruth grinned at her husband. "It's prayer, not baseball—they don't call rain delays. Don't worry, I won't melt." She tucked a pocket-sized Bible and notebook into her purse.
Tony walked away from the sink, dripping water on the floor from the bowl he'd been rinsing. He blocked Ruth's way out of the kitchen, feet wide, other hand planted on his hip. His stare pushed her back a step. "This is about Silver's escape. Isn't it?"
The flat accusation in his voice twisted Ruth's stomach into knots. She looked past him to the front entranceway. "I told Norma I'd pick her up. She's nervous driving when it's windy." She sidestepped around him but he caught her arm and drew her back toward the counter.
"The truth, babe." His frown pulled his eyebrows into one, his mouth a thin line.

[To read the rest of chapter 1, visit the Heaven's Prey page on Janet's site and click the "free download" button.]


Resuscitated Dreams by Janet Sketchley
A young girl wrote stories, swept along by the fictional dream. When she received a portable typewriter (yes, she's that old now) she cleared a space in her closet to make an “office” in which to write. And made herself a badge that said 'Author.'
If she'd show you scraps of those stories now, you'd see childish construction and all the characteristics of bad writing. But she wouldn't show you. The dream meant too much, even though its delivery was clumsy.
Would-be novels started strong but fizzled after a few chapters when the novelty wore off. After all, pushing through the dreaded middle is hard work, and there was other fun to be had.
She met a boy in high school and joined a Star Trek club. Then came university papers, which cured her of wanting to write. She married the boy and they took a few months' adventure in the UK. One short story emerged, the first to include her faith. No, you can't see that one either.

Back in Canada, the young couple found work in cubicle-land. Job stress and general busyness leached away any potential inspirations. Their first baby changed their lives for the better, but with him came things like sleep deprivation and reduced finances. By now the girl, his mother, had forgotten the dream.
With a second baby on the way, the husband wanted to give the at-home mom a creative outlet. "My wife writes," he told a new lady at church who wanted to start a writing group.
The tired, pregnant (need I say overworked and grumpy?) wife saw this as one more demand on her time. She hadn't written in years. But this newcomer was nice and needed encouragement. The wife went to the first meeting, albeit grudgingly.
Hanging around with writers is dangerous. After a while she wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper. She began writing personal experience articles, and received her first rejection (an encouraging one) on her birthday.
She wrote short non-fiction, but she daydreamed novels. Until her imagination seized an idea she didn't want to explore. When it wouldn't go away, she started writing just to get it out of her head. Surely it would fade after a few chapters, like her childhood stories.
Eventually she admitted to her husband and her writer friends that she was writing a novel. Years, another baby, and many revisions later, she finished it. And wrote a sequel.
She's had articles, short stories and reviews published. Including a true-life story in the Canadian bestselling anthology A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. She blogs three times a week. She's judged contests and critiqued other writers' work, even served on a panel at the Write! Canada conference. She occasionally edits. She has an active leadership role in The Word Guild as prayer team coordinator.
It's fulfilling. It matters. It's making a difference.
But fiction—the rush of discovery, the satisfaction of polishing—that's her heart.
From childhood, she's wanted to see her name in print on a novel. Not to be famous. Not even to be part of the intricate world of publishing. Just to have a story—her own, from her own imagination—made into a book.
In 2013, Choose NOW Publishing took a chance on her first novel, Heaven's Prey. She'd tell you it was a surreal experience. And she loved it.
Choose NOW has closed its fiction line, but she reissued Heaven's Prey as an independent author. The next in the series, Secrets and Lies, releases in November 2014.
Do you have a long-held dream? Even a faded one? If God gives it a nudge, let Him resuscitate it. You'll thank Him later, even if it doesn't turn out like you first imagined.

Janet's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Everyone’s Story: Meet @JanetSketchley, author of HEAVEN’S PREY. #BookGiveaway. (Tweet This)

Everyone has a story: See what happened when Janet Sketchley didn’t give up hope on publishing. (Tweet This)

Janet Sketchley asks: Do you have a long-held dream? What are you doing about it? (Tweet This)

Author's Bio
Janet Sketchley is the author of Heaven's Prey, a story of suspense and redemption. Her second novel, Secrets and Lies, releases November 2014. You'll find Janet's Christian living articles and book reviews on her website, plus a true-life story in the award-winning anthology, A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider. Janet lives and writes in east coast Canada.

Places to connect with Janet:

44 comments:

  1. This is so true!

    "Do you have a long-held dream? Even a faded one? If God gives it a nudge, let Him resuscitate it. You'll thank Him later, even if it doesn't turn out like you first imagined."

    I'm glad you kept writing. I'm glad He's kept me writing, too, even though it's turning out nothing like I thought it would!

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    1. Welcome back, Autumn. You know what they say--writing is a journey. Truly, it is. I echo you too: my writing is turning out different from what I tried at first and I'm so happy it is.

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    2. Autumn, congratulations on your novel! It's funny how our writing takes us in different directions that we first expected. Like life, it's good that God doesn't show us what's ahead.

      Elaine, thank you for such gracious words about Heaven's Prey, and for hosting me!

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    3. Janet, HEAVEN'S PREY is one of my faves now!

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    4. Wow, Elaine! And you read a lot, too.

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  2. Like how you've told your life story as a story. God bless.

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    1. Wow, Bobbie. I'm pleased that you've visited this evening. You too have a fascinating story. Perhaps you'd like to share it with us some day. Blessings.

      Hope to see you again.

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    2. Thanks, Bobbi! Telling life stories as story is one of your strengths, I know.

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  3. Love tis story. When God calls you to write, you find yourself doing it, even reluctantly sometimes. But I believe he honors obedience...Congragulations on your book. It really sounds like something I would love...if I don't win it, I'll be buying it!

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    1. Pat, the visual of you taking the time to comment here from the busyness and excitement of the ACFW conference warms my heart and has me smiling. Thank you! I hope you're having an awesome conference.

      And, I know you would really enjoy Janet's novel.

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    2. Patricia, I've been trying to reply but the Internet keeps eating my messages... I hope it gets indigestion :) God does honour obedience... probably more than we know. I'm glad you persevered with your writing, too -- I've been enjoying the Logan Point series, and I see my copy of A Promise to Protect arrived on my Kindle app this morning. Looking forward to it!

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    3. Grrrrrr, Internet. Yea, Janet, for getting through.

      It will be a good day!

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    4. Aww, thank you Janet for buying A Promise to Protect! I hope you enjoy it...And yes, it's a great day!

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    5. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, Patricia. Love my reading line-up these days.

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  4. Thank you Janet and Elaine - I'd love to be a guest here at your convenience. You can email me at bobbie@testimonytrain.com.

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    1. I'll be in touch, Bobbie. Looking forward to it.

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  5. So nice to hear your story, Janet, right from the beginning and your first 'office'! Wouldn't you love to have that 'Author' sign now!!

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    1. Nice to see your smiling face and hear your warm heart, Sara.

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    2. That would be so cool, Sara! Reading those early stories makes me cringe, though.

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  6. Wow! This sounds like a great book!
    I really hope I win ;)
    I'm so happy you didn't give up on your dream Janet. Keep on writing :)
    Here's my contact info: sbissonnettes_23 at videotron dot ca

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    1. Samantha, welcome to Everyone's Story. I appreciate your visit.

      Hope to see you again.

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    2. Thanks, Samantha, and good luck in the draw :)

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  7. Thanks, Janet, for this touching reminder that dreams can (and should) be resuscitated at any time. You've reminded me of similar days churning out partially finished stories from an electric typewriter, and trying to fiddle around with the correction tape.
    I love it how you knew fiction writing was your real heart, and made it happen. What great encouragement that you didn't give up. I loved 'Heaven's Prey.'

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    1. Paula, I'm thankful for your visit. Oh yes, I remember that awful correction tape--give me a computer any day!

      Blessings.

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  8. Oh my word that opening was gripping! It had me hook, line and sinker. I also loved reading Janet' story. What a delight it is to see a dream obtained! God is so good!
    Elaine, thank you for sharing Janet and both of her stories!

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    1. Kelly, thanks for visiting with us at Everyone's Story. I have always been "addicted" to stories of people succeeding in their dreams and goals, especially when they give the glory to God.

      You gotta read Janet's novel!!

      Thanks for Google Following this blog… looking forward to seeing you again.

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  9. Janet, you have a wonderful story! Thank you for encouraging others to follow their dream. I agree with you (and Elaine); God puts dreams in our hearts for a reason. He helps us achieve those dreams when we work hard and do our part. Blessings to you and Elaine!

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    1. Kathy, I love when you visit!

      I'm glad you enjoyed Janet's powerfully motivating segment. And thanks for the uplifting reminder about how He works within us--perfect words to my reading yesterday of how God uses the Spirit that He sets within us to work on our behalf. Believe me, more so than daily vitamins, I need this reminder!

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  10. Hi, Janet! (from another NS author) Thanks so much for sharing a teaser...I'm hooked! :o)

    And, thank you for sharing your writing journey. I haven't been published in a while...I let 'life" get in the way, and then discouragement crept in...

    Many blessings!
    Joy

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    1. Welcome to Everyone's Story, Joy. I hear you on the life getting in the way issue. I think of myself as an optimistic person so please don't think what I'm about to say is a downbeat, but life *always* seems to get in the way. Of course, sometimes it's just impossible to write because of the demands yet whenever possible, if you're yea ringing to tell the story inside you I hope you will push past the discouragement that naturally would tend to occur. Blessings.

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    2. Joy--if you'd like--please leave your e addy in another comment and you will be entered in Janet's Giveaway drawing.

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    3. Joy, it's great to meet another NS author! I know what you mean about life getting in the way, and I hope you're soon able to reclaim your writing time. Life doesn't feel complete without it.

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  11. Hi, Elaine, ... I totally agree...life does get in the way...and we have to make a deliberate choice to carve out time. I just went through a nasty time and it took me a while to rebound. It was a tremendous growth time, so there was good from the that 'season'.

    My email is joyliddy@gmail.com

    Thanks for responding...
    Blessings,
    Joy

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    1. Ha on me, Joy. Looks like you navigated around that typo I didn't catch: should have been "yearning to tell."

      You're blessed to see the life lessons from the rough times you've been in recently. I'm sorry you've gone through it, but so happy you have rebounded. Thanks for including your contact info. Do check back later for Janet's response.

      Nova Scotia rocks!!

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  12. Paula, Kelly and Kathy... I've tried responding individually to your comments, but am having trouble. Sometimes technology is not my friend... Here's plan B.

    Thank you each for your encouraging words about my stories--both fictional and real. And another thank you to Elaine for hosting Everyone's Story each week. It's so encouraging to see how God works in our lives, and it gives us hope to keep pressing on when our own dreams feel stalled.

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  13. The excerpt has me hooked, and now well... I hope I win the book :-)
    Thank you for sharing your resuscitated dreams. That is such encouragement and hope for the rest of us.
    Can't wait to read your work! God bless

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    1. Amy, I'm thankful for your visit this evening. If you have a chance, please drop by and put your contact info in a comment and you'll be in the drawing for Janet's sensational novel!

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    2. Good luck, Amy! I wish I had a free copy for everybody. Oh, to be independently wealthy...

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  14. Hi Elaine--I loved Janet's biographical story! It's amazing the plans that God has for His children, if only we are willing to follow. Many blessings, Janet, as you continue your writing journey.

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  15. Kay, welcome back. You've been missed!

    You captured the operative word: willing. And it is amazing indeed what happens.

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  16. Thank you, Kay! God bless you today, and enable us each to walk in obedience each day.

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  17. This has certainly been a buzz-filled week here on Everyone's Story and I have Janet Sketchley to thank for all the activity! Thank you, Janet, for being a great guest. I hope the many international viewers that have read your segment will bless you by becoming long-time fans and will tell their friends to pick up your novels.

    Thanks for the offer of HEAVEN'S PREY as a Giveaway. The winner is…

    Sara G. Yea, Sara. Happy reading! Both Janet and I will contact you shortly in a direct email.

    Blessings to all.

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  18. Congratulations, Sara, and thank you to everyone who stopped to chat. Special thanks to Elaine for hosting!

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