Friday, March 22, 2013

Jordyn Redwood: Recognizing God's Lamposts On The Journey

Everyone's Story welcomes author Jordyn Redwood for her 2nd appearance. Jordyn has enjoyed an awesome year since the release of her first novel: she's received a 2nd starred review in Library Journal for POISON, her 2nd book in the Bloodline Trilogy Series, and as I'm putting together this segment, I just learned that PROOF, her debut novel, is a finalist of ForWord Magazine's 2012 book of the Year Awards. Blessings to you, Jordyn, for continued success! And for viewers this week, Jordyn shares her thoughts on why authors write for the Christian market and exactly what defines success and keeps one pursuing the writing journey. Jordyn's offering a Giveaway of POISON. Please see below for details, a synopsis, and a dynamic book trailer. Most of all, Jordyn looks forward to hearing from you and hearing your thoughts on how you're managing on your journeys.

                            Book Giveaway Opportunity:
Once randomly selected commenter will receive one copy of POISON, Book 2 of the Bloodline Trilogy Series, though it can be read as a stand alone novel. The winner will be announced on this site on Friday, March 29th, between 4-6 EST. Please leave your email within the body of your comment for easier contact. Thank you!

Synopsis of POISON: Five years ago, Keelyn Blake's armed, mentally ill stepfather took her family hostage in their house in rural Colorado. She and her half-sister Raven made it out alive, but others did not. Authorities blamed the father's frequent hallucinations about a being named Lucent, but in the end, even the best of the FBI's hostage negotiators failed to overcome the man's delusions and end the standoff peacefully.

Now, Lucent is back, and he's no hallucination. In fact, he is a very real person with dangerous motives. He has kidnapped Raven's daughter, and--Keelyn worries--maybe has hurt Raven as well. Though she is estranged from her sister, Keelyn feels the immediate need to find Raven and save what family she has left. But when others who were involved in that fateful day start dying, some by mysterious circumstances, Keelyn wonders if she can emerge unscathed a second time.



The Letter by Jordyn Redwood

Sometimes, I don’t think we as “Christian” authors give credit to how extraordinary our calling is. I’m speaking specifically to those writers who feel it is God’s will for them to write. We write because we feel burdened to do so. Not burdened like a chain around our necks but restless that if we don’t write then we are not fulfilling what we are here to do.

Sometimes that calling in light of our circumstances is hard to manage.

Long hours at the keyboard. Perhaps long hours banging your head against the wall when the words don’t seem to be flowing as they should. Managing two careers and likely a family. Wondering how long you can keep up the pace of working two jobs (yes, writing is very much a job) when one’s maybe not paying you as much as you thought it would. Yes, I haven’t gotten a James Patterson paycheck. Wondering when, if ever, we’ll hit it “big”. Wondering what “big” is?


I think, too, there is added pressure if we consider ourselves Christian authors. Now, there’s a whole other level of worrying/thinking. Is this what God wants me to write? Why did God take me down this path if I can’t survive on this income? Am I writing when God wants me to do something different? Am I still working my “real” (and paying) job when all God wants me to do is write?

And so we look for God’s little lampposts along the path. Something—anything to affirm that this is the right, chosen path. That our typed words on a white screen would make a difference to someone, somewhere in a Godly way. That someone’s faith would be affirmed—strengthened. That maybe our words would give sense to what Jesus did on the cross in a way that someone could then believe in that sacrificial offering for their own lives.

Now, after being on this journey for a couple of years—this is what I know for now. Sometimes these lampposts along the path are not what we think they will be. Maybe my affirmation is not in selling a gazillion copies of my book or hitting the bestseller lists.

But in a letter.

One of the smartest things I did as an author was leave an e-mail address in my published books and ask readers to e-mail when they finish with their thoughts. Some authors don’t do this for fear of spamming, privacy, etc. You can list your own reasons.

So far, I haven’t received any creeping/concerning e-mails. I have gotten over fifty letters from readers which is nice when you’re also getting one star reviews (particularly on Christmas Day—yes, that did happen!)

I’ve only sobbed over one letter—thus far.

It was written by a woman who had just finished Proof—my debut medical thriller. Proof, at its heart, is about Lilly Reeves, an ER doctor without faith and her journey to coming to know Christ through a trial by fire series of events.

In the novel, a physician friend tells Lilly the story of Lazarus. How Jesus waited three days to respond to his good friends cries for help. At first, this seems unusually cruel. But in the end, when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, Jesus does a miracle he’s never performed before and gives a prelude to his own forthcoming sacrificial offering.

The letter that brought me to tears was from a woman who was in the midst of her son being diagnosed with cancer. He’d just been through the surgery to retrieve lymph nodes and the surgeon was fairly certain of a lymphoma diagnosis—they were just waiting for the final biopsy results. She specifically mentions this passage of the book and what it meant to her at that moment – “. . .we are praying for healing for our son, but completely trust him to God's plan, whatever that is . . .”

So humbling.

Remember, God communicated his presence to us in two ways. Through his creation and through his words.

Typed words on a page.

Consider this and the smaller lampposts along your path when you’re wondering exactly why you’re on this crazy writing journey. Maybe it’s not for a James Patterson type paycheck.

But simply for a letter like this . . . and the impact your words will have for one person.

Would this be enough for you to keep going if God has placed the call to write on your heart?


Author Bio:

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. Her first two novels, Proof and Poison, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal and have been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike Dellosso to name a few. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.



Additionally, you can read more about POISON at:
Link to the first five chapters of Poison: http://www.jordynredwood.net/resources/

Jordyn's Ah-hahs to Tweet:

“…I don’t think we as ‘Christian’ authors give credit to how extraordinary our calling is.” (Click To Tweet)

“…God communicated his presence to us in two ways. Through his creation and through his words.” (Click To Tweet)

What will sustain you “if God has placed the call to write on your heart?” (Click To Tweet)



39 comments:

  1. Jordyn,

    I especially appreciate your 'lamppost' imagery. Thank you for creating a picture of the guidance I'm seeking.

    All the best with your work and your calling!

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    1. Sara, welcome back ♡ That lamppost imagery has also helped me. Thanks too, Jordyn.

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    2. Thank you, Sara. Elaine,thanks so much for hosting me, too. It's a pleasure being here.

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    3. Jordyn--you're a blessing for me!

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  2. What a wonderful post, Jordyn--honest and heartfelt. Yes, it is indeed a struggle, and the inevitable doubts (and tears, disappointments) don't make it any easier. But those bright spots--those notes, affirmations that we have indeed encouraged a reader--are so very heartening. His Word breathed into our (oft times shakey) words. It's what we must do. And as one of your fans, I'm VERY glad that you are.

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    1. Candace, thanks for your visit today. As an unpublished author--yet--it too is a struggle. Yet, this blog is an extraordinary lesson, much as Jordyn has said: it's the little thanks, the little words of encouragement, the little notes that say a viewer has been uplifted and again has hope after reading a segment that makes me grateful to focus on God and to let Him shine His light wherever and whenever He thinks it should be.

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    2. One thing I've learned on this crazy writing journey is that God shines through our weakness and Lord know I need all the help I can get to make His story shine through these fingers.

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  3. You must have been pickin' my brain this week. Wondering again. Whenever I wonder, God makes a connection through my blog that reminds me WHY I do this!!! For Him, not the paycheck.

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    1. Hi Connie... I must have missed the memo... there's a paycheck? LOL. Yes indeed, God has an amazing ways of showing us why we write, blog, attempt to reach out to others. I'm grateful for your visit this evening.

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    2. I'm glad the blog post spoke to you to stay on your writer's journey. We need lots of people sharing His story in as many ways as possible.

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  4. Beautiful words, Jordyn. Increasingly, I'm realising following Jesus is all about the journey, not the destination, outcome or paycheck. It never ceases to amaze me how much Jesus desires intimacy with us, irrespective of how we fill our days and nights. It's in those little (but big) moments like receiving that letter you describe, where we (and hopefully others) are able to draw closer to His heart.

    Thank you for reminding me of this, Jordyn. And Elaine, thank you for having Jordyn over on Everyone's Story.

    Ian

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    1. Ian-- thanks so much for your comment. It was a blessing to me.

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    2. Ian, I so enjoy your visits. Thanks for sharing.

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  5. When I stopped worrying about getting published and started enjoying the journey, I more fully experienced the joy of writing...even on those head-banging days. Great post...and yes, a letter like you received would be reward enough.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. You're right-- it is the journey and not the end game-- whether or writing or serving Him in some other way.

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    2. Pat, always a pleasure to see you. It's difficult for a pre-pub to not worry about getting published, yet with your--and all the other published authors weighing in here, and Jordyn's terrific account of the letter--it helps to straighten out my focus. And as I'm learning from all of you--that worrying doesn't stop after one's published either. We always need to grip onto His hand, don't we?

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  6. Hi Jordyn and Elaine,
    I was blessed by this post too. As authors, how happy when we do make a timely and significant difference in somebody's day like this.
    Blessings,
    Paula V

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    1. Paula, thanks for your visit. Thanks for your encouragement!

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    2. Glad the post was able to encourage you.

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  7. Wow, your book cover (and blurb) really grabs me, but I must say, your ah-ha tweets are phenomenal! And what an encouraging post! May God bless the work of your hands as you seek to honor Him with your typed words and as you help build up other writers on this journey (as it's clear from this post you do). In my opinion, both are equally valuable eternity speaking. :)

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    1. Jennifer--I am so touched that you're up this early & visiting this little corner of the world :) Your words are well said. Thanks.

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    2. All the thanks for those need to go to, Elaine! She needs to teach me how to do the Tweetables.

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  8. Great post. Thanks for sharing. The video was great! The book sounds amazing.

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    1. Hi Kym. So glad you visited this afternoon. I agree--Jordyn's video is great. Actually, it was so scary I had trouble watching it--and I like dark stories.

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    2. Kym,

      I know you review quite a few book. Have you read Proof or Poison?

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  9. So true
    Can make words at each zoo
    And inspire or make on squirm
    All how you treat the worm
    Hmm bad choice of words there
    Worms are nasty at any lair
    But one gets the jest of it
    With my rhyming fit

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    1. Welcome back, Pat, you birthday boy! Your rhymes are always fun to read.

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  10. Jordyn,

    It always amazes me how writers share so many of the same emotions, doubts, fears... Thanks for your encouraging words. The new book looks to be great!

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    1. Hi Kathy--always nice to see you here. I agree--we writers have so much to share that we're a natural sisterhood/brotherhood.

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    2. So true. I think no matter where you are on the writing journey (multi-published, debut, pre-pubbed)-- there are always doubts to be had.

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  11. Thanks Jordyn for sharing your writing journey and your novel:-)Appreciate your words of encouragement for other writers who are, like you said, are juggling another job and family too. It's posts like this one that encourage me to keep writing...so thanks!

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    1. Hi Lorna--

      So glad that I could encourage you today.

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    2. Lorna--I always smile when you visit.

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  12. I cannot wait to dive into the Bloodline Trilogy, I have Proof sitting on my shelf, ready to read, and would love to be able to put Poison next to it. Hope I win.

    iamdifferentbydesign@hotmail.com

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    1. Hi Joshua!

      Just WHEN will you start reading Proof?

      I'm kidding but I do want to hear your thoughts when you finish. Good luck!!

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    2. Joshua, welcome to Everyone's Story. I hope you enjoyed reading about Jordyn, and hope to see you back here.

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  13. The book looks great! Thanks for the giveaway.

    Katie J.
    johnsonk133[at]yahoo[dot]com

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    1. Hi Katie. I so appreciate your visit here to Everyone's Story. Hope to see you again.

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  14. What a wonderful week it's been here on Everyone's Story. Jordyn--you've been an awesome guest and gauging your international viewer hits and comments left for you on the blog site, I know that not only will you gain more fans but you will continue to do well on your growing career as an author. May God continue to bless you and your readers.

    Thanks too for the Giveaway of POISON... and the winner of Jordyn's newest release is Katie. Yea, Katie. Jordyn and I will contact you shortly.

    Easter blessings everyone. May you always look to be guided by God's lampposts in every turn of life.

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