Glenys is offering 1 copy of her children's book, LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD, to 1 randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 20th between 5-6 PM EST. To be entered in the Giveaway, please leave your contact information within your comment (you may choose to use the Contact Me form to privately send me your email address--the form is in the right-hand sidebar on the blog's main page, toward the bottom).
The
Story of Half a Book by Glenys Nellist
It’s
summer 2010. My first children’s book manuscript sits on a shelf. Half
finished. Gathering dust. It’s been there a long time.
And
it would have stayed there, had it not been for my husband.
Where’s
your book? He
asks one day.
Oh,
that. It’s on the shelf.
Why?
Because it’s a waste of time, that’s why. Who gets to write a children’s book? Who gets to write a children’s book and have it published by Zondervan?I had started Love Letters from God several months before, inspired by the beautiful words of Sally Lloyd Jones, as I read her Jesus Storybook Bible.
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| Glenys and her husband
Every
morning I would eagerly grab my pen, pour out my soul on the page, and be swept
away by the beauty and mystery of the creative process. What began as an empty,
blank sheet of white was somehow filled with life.
On those mornings, I think I knew how God must have felt when, from a desolate void of nothing, came a wonderful world of everything. It was good. Then I stopped.
I
stopped because I had a visitor one day. I never saw him, but I heard his voice
whisper in my ear as he tapped me gently, but persistently, on the
shoulder.
What are you doing? he asked. You can’t write a
children’s book. You’ll never get it published. You’re wasting your time.
I
listened to that voice. It was hard not to. Obediently, I put my
half-finished manuscript on the shelf, where it sat. For a long time.
Enter
David, my husband, whose middle name is Encourager.
Glenys,
do you believe that God called you to write that book?
The
answer to that was easy. I had known the truth of that since the very
beginning.
Do
you believe God wants you to finish it?
The answer
to that was easy too, even though I didn’t want to say the word.
And
then David says something I will never forget. It’s simple, and silly, and
utterly life-changing.
Well
why would you not finish it…
What
would have happened if Noah had only built half a boat?
One
of the reasons I married David is because he could always make me laugh. I
laughed at the thought of all the animals falling off a half-constructed boat,
and the impossibility of such a vessel floating. But even though I laughed,
that silly statement was exactly what I needed.
I pulled
out that half-written manuscript, blew the dust away, picked up the pen,
and began to write. The rest, as they say, is history.
Love Letters from God would
be published, four years later, by Zondervan.
And I
think about all those abandoned manuscripts, half-written, lying on dusty
shelves, in hope-robbed rooms, and how God cannot possibly publish half a book.
I
think about Jesus, and what might have happened if, half way through his
ministry, he had given up. But he didn’t. He completed fully the work to which
he was called, until finally, one day, he was able to say:
It is finished.
And wasn’t it only when Jesus had finally finished, that God could really start?
**God wasn't quite done with Glenys' children's book idea… her newest book is Little Love Letters From God. This is a toddler, board book version, containing 8 rhyming Bible stories, 8 little love letters, and 1 big message--God Loves You! It's available for preorder: Amazon
Glenys' Ah-hahs To Tweet:
#Writers:
Have you an abandoned manuscript collecting dust? See what @GlenysNellist did.
(Tweet This)
Have
a heart for a child who’d enjoy a storybook about love letters from God? Visit @GlenysNellist.
(Tweet This)
Author's Bio:
Originally
from England, Zondervan author Glenys Nellist is a writer with a passion for
God, her family, and children’s ministry. Love Letters from God, a
heart-warming, lift-the-flap book for 4-8 year olds, is the first in her Love Letters series. Glenys lives in Grand Rapids,
Michigan, with her husband, David.
Places to connect with Glenys:
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Please note:
--I have a title change for my novel coming soon from Elk Lake Publishing: Always With You.
--I will soon launch a specially designed website that will incorporate Eveyone's Story blog. I hope you will follow me on this new site. When it goes live, I'll make the announcement!
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Thanks so much, Elaine, for having me visit your blog. I hope that my story will inspire other writers to finish what they have begun!
ReplyDeleteGlenys, I believe firmly that your words are full of inspiration for all, whether writers or others in need of completing a project, especially one He has installed in one's heart. I'm honored that you're my guest!
Deletewhat a precious idea God gave you on how to share His words with children. Love it!
ReplyDeleteNice to see you, Delores. I agree--Glenys has a unique angle of sharing His love for and with children. I'm so happy a publisher snatched her up :)
DeleteThank you so much Dolores! All the glory goes to God...I really do feel like I am a vessel in His hands.
DeleteSo glad you persevered! And I wonder how many manuscripts are languishing in desk drawers because writers' believed a lie.
ReplyDeleteI imagine one too many, Pat!
DeleteSo glad you visited today!!
Thank you Pat! I'm so glad I persevered too!
DeleteThis has been an amazing week on Everyone's Story, with my guest Glenys Nellist, kicking things off. Based upon the social media activity I've seen circulated on Glenys' feature I can tell her encouraging words hit home to many. Thank you, Glenys, for uplifting our hearts.
ReplyDeleteThanks too for your lovely BookGiveaway. And, the winner of Glenys' children's book, LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD, is…
Delores. Congratulations, Delores!! Both Glenys and I will contact you via direct email.
Blessings to all.