Friday, November 20, 2015

Linda Yezak: Is My Work Worthy, Lord?

Everyone's Story welcomes author Linda Yezak. Linda snagged my attention with the word "cat" and I'm glad we connected. Linda joins us this week with heartfelt and candid words that's not easily spoken about from writer to writer or for that matter, from writer to reader. I applaud Linda for sharing this with us. We'll be interested in knowing whether you can relate. And do check out Linda's lovely BookGiveaway. Both Linda and I are looking forward to hearing from you!





BookGiveaway:
Linda is offering 1 copy of her novel, THE CAT'S LADY'S SECRET, to 1 randomly chosen commenter. The winner will be announced here on Friday, November 27th 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).



How I Learned To Like Where I’ve Been Planted by Linda Yezak

Recently, I attended a writers conference at a Baptist university in Texas. The town may be small, the college may be small, but the speaker and guest list included some heavy-hitters in my field. Cecil Murphey, who ghost wrote both Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story and 90 Minutes in Heaven with Don Piper, the preacher who is the subject of the story. Don Piper was there, also. James H. Pence, singer, artist, and author of Terror By Night, the story of the brutal murder that took the lives of the Caffey family in 2008, an event that hit all the major news outlets, because it was Terry Caffey’s daughter who masterminded the murder along with her boyfriend.

I got to visit with these authors and others personally, aside from attending their classes. I couldn’t help being a tad bit star-struck and more than a tad bit jealous. I write romance and women’s fiction, fun little stories intended more to entertain than to deliver a deep message.

I want to be one of the authors who delivers a deep message.

One of the things that struck me during the conference was the number of times someone would tell me of the horrible things going on in their lives or awful things that had happened to them. Some were already turning their traumatic tales into devotionals or non-fiction books or fact-based fiction in hopes of helping someone else in similar problems. How beautiful to be God-led to help others.

I’ve never wanted to write of the things in my past. I’m fine with them buried where they belong. Perhaps that makes me selfish, I don’t know, but I’ve never felt a calling to write about them. And for that, I am truly thankful.


Although I enjoyed every minute of the conference and the entire experience of spending a couple of days with peers, talking of the one thing we all have in common, I came home under a cloud of sadness. I want God to use me like He apparently does those other authors. I want to be a tool for Him, to glorify Him, to help others realize how precious He is.

But I write romance and women’s fiction. Fun little stories intended to entertain.

I wrote about the conference on my blog, 777 Peppermint Place, leaving out all the specifics of my doubts and disappointments, mentioning only that I had a lot to pray about. And I did spend quite a bit of time in prayer–everything from is my work worthy, Lord? to am I being arrogant to want more? to am I even doing what You want me to do?

Self doubt is a wicked thing. It steals your confidence, leaves you questioning your very worth as a person sometimes.

But God is so amazing in His love. He uses His children to uplift each other and to deliver His special messages to us. How precious is He and our siblings who call themselves by His name?

The very day I posted about the conference, one of my friends, a dear sister in Christ, typed this in the comments:

Feeding the Poor

Feeding both body and spirit – complimenting someone, listening, caring, writing stories that feed the heart and mind with God’s love.

See that? “Writing stories that feed the heart and mind with God’s love” is feeding the poor, both in body and in spirit.

Authors of Christian romance pen not just stories about love between a man and a woman. We write about a love that is to be treasured and based on more than physical attraction. We write about hope and forgiveness and second chances and first loves and last loves and long-lasting, till death do we part love. We provide a glimpse of what the marital relationship should be according to God’s greatest scheme and gift–a relationship that keeps God at its center, loving and being loved in return.

There’s far more to it than that, of course, but really–how can you beat that?

So, let me introduce myself: I am Linda Yezak, blessed to be an author of Christian Romance and Women’s Fiction.

Linda's Ah-hahs To Tweet:
Everyone’s Story: Meet @LindaYezak, “blessed” to write #ChristianRomance and #WF. #BookGiveaway. (Tweet This)

@LindaYezak: #Writers, can you admit your self-doubt over the stories you write? (Tweet This)

@LindaYezak: #Writers, how is God using you and your writing? Are you content? (Tweet This)

Author's Bio:
Over twenty years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

Places to connect with Linda:


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Please note:

--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!



27 comments:

  1. Honored to be on your blog, Elaine. Thank you so much!

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    1. It's my pleasure to host you, Linda. So glad you could join me and my viewers this week!

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  2. Linda, you have put words to what so many of us think. Beautifully written.

    Yes, lift your head high when you announce what you do and look everyone in the eye. Not because you are being boastful, because through you God is shinning a very special spiritual light. Thank you.

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    1. Cecilia, welcome to Everyone's Story. I think Linda's lesson here is valuable for all--when it comes to writing Christian fiction we need to--as you say--lift our heads up… in confidence.

      Hope to see you again.

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    2. Thanks for your comment, Ceci. You are always so encouraging!

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  3. A wonderful post - it is so easy to look at others and wish we could do what they do not realizing God has a place for us just where we are. As a cat lover and the owner of two cats, the book sounds like a delightful read. abilene_nana(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Ah, Ann, looks like Linda got you at "cat" as well :)

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    2. Ann, I think my response to you got lost. Anyway, you're right. God has a place for each of us.

      Good luck in the drawing!

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  4. I read this as my cat snuggled in my lap with her feet pushing against my hands as I type. :-) God gifs us all differently with different ways to reach people. I truly believe stories are an effective way to share God's love. After all, Jesus told parables...

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    1. I so agree, Pat. I think one of the hallmarks of a good writer who successfully zings a reader's heart is the very thing that makes the author riddle their self with self-doubt: one must expose one's emotions… as the cliche goes (and for a good reason!) we must bleed on the page. Of course, this makes us vulnerable.

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    2. When I have an opportunity to speak about Christian fiction, that's a point I make: we as authors of Christian fiction have the opportunity to reach people who wouldn't pick up non-fiction books. We have a responsibility to present Christ to those who don't know Him, or to bring back to Him those who lost their way.

      Okay--don't get me started. I could go on and on!

      Good luck in the drawing!

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  5. God does have a place for us and a plan, and because of that we have a purpose. Isn't He wonderful?

    Good luck in the drawing!

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  6. Thanks for your transparency, Linda. I've always treasured that quality in a person, and if we can carry it over into our writing, what a difference it makes! I'm watching a friend's cats right now while she's away - she would giggle and rejoice at your cover! gkittleson@myomnitel.com

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    1. Gail… I know… I know :) How can you not love Linda's cover, and definitely her uplifting words!

      Thanks for visiting.

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    2. I feel like I'm frequently feeling my way through this maze of publishing, and I tend to share my trek with my readers. Happy for the opportunity to share with Elaine's readers!

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  7. Linda, you had me at Cat Lady’s Secret! So often I’ve felt the same way, also, as a writer of romance and someone who has my cat “writing” posts on my blog. (She is my alter ego.)

    While the Lord has been asking me to expand into speaking and sharing some hard things, I am so much more comfortable writing romance and humor. There are so many tough things in life. It’s so important to minister to others about love, giving them hope and something to smile about.

    Thank you so much for sharing your heart here. And thank you, Elaine, for sharing another great post!

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    1. Kathy, I'm smiling for these reasons: I love when you visit, am thankful you're bravely moving forward in writing what you believe you've meant to write, and the whole cat thingy :)

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    2. Kathy, public speaking can be nerve-racking at first, but once you get into it, nothing beats it. I love meeting readers at my speaking engagements, and I love the feeling that someone learned something from my message or was blessed in some way.

      I hope you dip your toe in. No telling who God intends you to reach as you spread His message!

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    3. Thank you, Linda, for your encouragement!

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  8. I remember going through a phase of wishing I could sing like Sandi Patty, wanting to ice skate like the Olympic hopefuls, or write like my favorite author. Somewhere along the line the Lord whispered in my ear, "Just use the gifts I've given you."

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    1. Susan, your words warmed my heart this morning. I believe we can all relate to what you've said. My first I-wanna-be was at the age of six when I wanted to be a garbage collector (well, back then I thought it would be cool to drive one of those big trucks), then morphed to wanting to become a brain surgeon (I'm too squeamish), to becoming a Broadway dancer… and thankfully, accepting His urging to write the words He puts into my mind and heart.

      Love seeing you here!

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    2. Love both of your comments. Seems like I've always wanted to be just like someone else. In my 30s, I finally reached a point I was comfortable with myself--but here I am in my 50s and still wishing I could be like someone else! You'd think I'd learn, right? :D

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    3. Linda, I think this proves we're all very human :)

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  9. I hope everyone has had a lovely Thanksgiving day yesterday, no matter what country you live in. May you all have things to be thankful for.

    I'm thankful for my guest this past week, Linda Yezak. Linda, heartfelt thanks and appreciation for lifting quite a few spirits here. Stress if flying around the globe, let alone the holiday season always adds more so any time a writer can receive an encouraging word is truly a blessing. I'm sure readers enjoyed seeing what goes into creating a good read.

    Thanks for the BookGiveaway!! The winner of Linda's THE CAT LADY'S SECRET is…

    Susan. Congratulations, Susan. Both Linda and I will contact you directly via email.

    Blessings to all.

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  10. Really enjoyed the comments! Thanks so much for hosting me, Elaine.

    Congrats Susan! I'll get the book to you as soon as possible!

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