Real-Life Encouragment from Ficition by Delores Liesner | Guest Post

Books are everywhere in my house. Nonfiction, commentary, spirituality, health and research are in the study. Biography and Bible study form 1/3 of currently reading or to-be-read shelves, writing related materials line my office, Biblical fiction, nature, historical and cozy mystery fill baskets by the reading chair, all the books in which I have a story have their own cabinet and in every room in the house and in the car – inspirational stories – mostly fiction. I read an average of 2-3 books a week and during December (and months when I do judging) a book or several novellas each day. Books have affected and continue to affect all areas of my life.

Grace Livingston Hill and O’Henry got me hooked on story, Liz Curtis Higgs and Florence Littauer on humor, and Chicken Soup books on brevity. My most frequently read genre is Inspirational Fiction - preferably with humor and a little romance because I enjoy the respite they offer.

Sequential stories are favorites - Jan Karon’s Mitford series, the Sisterchick series by Robin Gunn, Neda Jackson’s Yada Yada books, the Texas Crossroad Series by Amanda Cabot, numerous series by Janice Hanna Thompson including Brides with Style and multiple-author series like Grace Chapel Inn and Love Finds You. Weekly reads are Heartsong authors like Linda Glaz, Jenna Mindel, Coleen Reece, Lauraine Snelling, Melody Carlson, and Christine Johnson. Other fiction I enjoy are Dan Walsh’s Restoration Series and his fiction based on a true story like The Discovery, and The Reunion — keepers that I read again and again.

And they all have something in common – something I wish more professors, counselors, psychologists and therapists realized. It is that fiction can bring life change in a non-threatening way (tweet this) and action steps to make those changes are more clearly understood through story than textbooks. I particularly choose and read fiction centered around real-life situations and responses because I can then pass them on to someone with a particular need, and know this book will clarify what worked for someone else and bring hope to the reader.

It’s tough, I can imagine you saying, (ha ha) to “have to” read all those books because I am not comfortable recommending something unless I have read it. I love to read and it is more like I ‘get to’ choose 2-3 books a week to expand my knowledge, increase vocabulary and enjoy a unique prayer-starter for acquaintances struggling through similar situations.

Because I’ve experienced encouragement myself from inspirational fiction, and know many others who also have, I am learning how to round out all those what if stories into a book or novella. In the meantime, the value of story in communication remains vital to my writing – and my personal growth. I still enjoy imagining the story behind from otherwise boring classes. Each of those famous historical names, were after all, people, just like us with worries, challenges, dreams and goals, and crazy adventures. I’ve prayed for generations yet to come in our family and just recently learned of some characters from my own history that appear to have also believed in generational prayer. What if? What if before I was born someone was praying for me?

Could that be why my grandkids said when they were with Gramma they knew something amazing (or at least unusual) was going to happen? Thirty-one of those (true – nothing fictionalized) stories have been compiled in Be the Miracle! published by Elk Lake Publishing.

I’m happy to share a copy of that book with one of you readers. Not only will you read of some of my amazing adventures, but, I hope, be encouraged to recognize, activate and record some of your own stories. Come along and join others who are not just reading others’ miracle stories, but learning how to Be the Miracle to others.

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Delores Liesner’s motto, putting hands and feet to our faith, is revealed in the true stories in her book Be The Miracle (2015 Elk Lake Publishing). She longs for her articles, stories, devotionals and columns to lead others to recognize miracles in their lives. Delores writings will benefit children with life-threatening illness via Fullness of Life Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ Website/Blog: http:/deloresliesner.com
Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/Delores-Liesner/e/B00PB8866G
CWA - http://www.cwareviewcrew.com/the-crew
E-Mail – delores7faith@yahoo.com
Facebook – www.facebook.com/deloresliesner-author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/dliesner
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/dliesner
Linked In - www.linkedin.com/in/dliesner/

Be the Miracle

by Delores Liesner 

Whether we title these unexplainable happenings miracles, God-sightings, or some other name, people love to hear of such occurrences. Why? They increase our faith by providing evidence of the miraculous in our everyday lives and heighten awareness of God's desire to minister personally to us and through us. Unique connecting verses, defining thought, key words, and personal challenges will help the readers go beyond the "good for her" feeling and bring each story's teaching to life in their own daily walk. Many will find comfort knowing they are not alone in hearing God's voice or direction. Others also will deepen their walk with God, gain the courage to listen for God's voice, be a noticer of others' needs, and practice hearing and answering God's call to deliver a specific answer to a specific person. Sometimes walking in faith seems risky because it means obeying even if the directions don't seem to make sense. When Abraham brought Isaac in faith up the mountain for a sacrifice, he risked all believing that God's character would not fail him. God did keep His promise and provided a lamb, and Abraham passed the test of trust and faithfulness. What do we risk daily for the Lord? These life-vignettes encourage readers that risking embarrassment is a small price for the incredible joy of seeing God work over and over again. How can YOU put hands and feet to your faith and BE The Miracle for someone else?

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::WINNERS::

Lots of amazing books given away last week! We've got winners....

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering

Rebecca Peterson

The Red Door Inn by Liz Johnson

Heidi Robbins

Restored by Tanya Eavenson

Vicki Geslak

The Warrior Spy by Dony Jay

Vicki Geslak

Why do we write? by Delores Liesner

If you missed it, Delores was on the blog last week for {Writer Wednesday}. I invited her back to talk about writing...

IT’S COMPULSIVE

It’s true – I used to enjoy eating – but no ambrosia is a match for the written word. I used to shop for clothes, electronics, and chocolate… now I ‘shop’ for topics. Sleep, also once a familiar friend, has become an enemy of sorts, snatching the elusive turn of a phrase or singing conclusion I’ve searched for all night in self-imposed insomnia.

My job – you know – the avocation that lines the pocket that pays the conference fees, that buys the postage stamps, that stuffs the envelopes with SAE’s, is what feeds the flame. Like maple syrup running down the tap into the bucket, every moment of my work has become nothing more than a funding source to fuel the addiction. I’m out of control. I can’t stop.

I can’t drive across town without “seeing” a story – hanging out a window, screeching by in a wildly-painted 1956 T-bird, or dallying in the middle of the street, making faces at me as it sidles past…. just slowly enough to antagonize by whispering the seductive message I cannot resist - “there’s a story here!”

IT’S CONTROLLING

I don’t talk to my colleagues anymore – I interview them! They laugh and string me on but then I hear the theme in their monologue, see the twist in their character, and I feel the pull - the challenge to create a story again – to find their soul and show them to others with just the right words.

The evidences of my addiction are at my side constantly. My favorite Zebra pens and the note pads are everywhere. It seemed normal when they took over the magazine rack in the bathroom, but I should have realized something was amiss when I began stashing them under my pillow, in the glove compartment, slipped into every coat pocket, between the file folders, in the hamper… yes, even there. Deep down I know it is because I am helpless against the intoxicating desire that can strike anywhere, at anytime, and I must be prepared to satisfy its call.




IT’S COMPELLING

Face it, I tell myself unabashedly: writing what God has done is the one thing that I cannot NOT do.

Feeling brain-dead from searching for some elusive prose, I climb the treadmill to pray and pound out my disconnected thoughts, making room for God to write on the slate I definitely know is blank. Recorded scripture forces my concentration and I feel it flow through me like oil on a snarled gold neck-chain, relaxing the knots, smoothing the kinks and restoring its purpose.

My heart pounds as much from the sweat and the cleansing as from the sudden treadmill stop at the discovery that my sovereign God has done it again – bringing light to a dark spot by uniting my thoughts with His. I dash to the computer to capture the found treasure, feeling one with my Abba – amazed and astonished how He draws me to hear His message.

IT’S CONSUMING

Finally, thoughts that began as subtly as wisps of fog are curling into words that form on the tongue and waft up more delectable than the smell of freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies. They sift and swirl through my mind, reforming into their own life form until I get it - that high that nothing but writing words can match! At last those little words, those tasty bits of life and eternity that led me on, taunting for resolution, have come together. Exhaustion and victory warred for supremacy. Both won.

The sense of fulfillment is so powerful, so confirming, that I am impelled to repeat the cycle, to revel in the view from the summit while simultaneously acknowledging that it is not really over. For me the pull of words will never be over. I live for that feeling of completion. Yes, these are the words of an addict and proof of the power of my obsession.

Because I have tasted, I continue. I know that every struggle is worth it to experience the one-step cure that at least temporarily alleviates the symptoms – publication!

What about you? Why do you write? If you're a reader, why do you read?

Delores Liesner {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Delores...

Writing, Speaking or as God’s delivery girl, Delores lives life passionately and humorously revealing dynamic hope and confidence found in the heritage of our personal God. She writes from Racine, WI. Is a CLASS graduate, and has published over a thousand stories, devotionals and articles as columnist, freelance writer, and teacher. Delores is represented by Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency. Part of Delores’ dream is that her writing could help support the Fullness of Life Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ – which provides treatment funding for children with life-threatening illness.

How to connect with Delores...

Blog/Website: http://deloresliesner.com
CWA: http://www.cwareviewcrew.com/the-crew
E-Mail: lovedliftedandled@wi.rr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/deloresliesner-author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dliesner
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dliesner
Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/dliesner/
Her first book to be published early in 2015, is a devotional called Be The Miracle! 

Author Interview | Delores Liesner

You and Writing

Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...I’ve always been a storyteller, and as a teen, often crawled out of my 2nd story bedroom window to sit on the roof under the stars and write stories and poetry. I was able to use my skill during various employments (including a nursery school, for elementary through high school education, church plays and curriculum, and as a forensic coach).

Do you have a favorite book or work that you’ve written? If so, why?
...Be The Miracle is very dear to my heart because I lived all the experiences in the devotional and I truly believe we can live in expectation that God is up to something good because those who have a personal relationship with Jesus bring Him with us into every situation.

What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest? 
...The first hardest thing about publishing was waiting, then hearing genuine compliments from several well-known traditional publishers. Really? I am not kidding you, it was hard — because the compliments were followed by that little word: but. The second challenge was having several offers, and not having peace about them. I was praying about it when I got a call from Elk Lake Publishing (same owners I greatly respect at Book Club Network) and I had complete peace that this was the right decision.

Your Writing
 
What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with? 
...That God still does miracles today and that he wants his followers to put hands and feet to their faith and be the answer to prayer for others.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors for writing and/or publishing?
...Attend writers conferences! My first conferences were CLASS Christian Writers Conference and Write-to-Publish in Wheaton, Illinois. Both were life-changing, spiritual experiences, and I received important training, professional critique, and had appointments with editors and publishers that resulted in writing opportunities.

Writing

Where do you find inspiration?
...Life inspires me! I’ve heard of writer’s block, but I’ve never experienced it. Honestly, I think I am the world’s most mature toddler! I am always asking why is that, what just happened, and what if…

How do you find inspiration?
...I journal a lot and try to re-write scripture in my own words, or sometimes in the words I feel God is telling me from my Scripture reading. I try to answer questions like is there something I need to do or stop doing, a teaching I can live out today or new-to-me details about God or the characters in the reading. Notebooks and pens everywhere and jot down bits of conversations, scenes I witness, descriptions of scenery, characters, and ideas for what if… I used to keep them on 3x5 cards in alphabetical file, but I now translate them to documents on my computer and keep them in folders titled Fiction, Greeting Cards, Devotional Ideas, Bible Study, Blog Ideas, Personalities, etc.

Why do you write?
...I am a Writing Junkie. I cannot NOT do it.

...Yes, I’m confessing. I admit it. I see it now for what it is. A habit. No, it’s stronger than that - an addiction.

...I found myself at it again, you see, just this morning. I was casually flipping through Webster’s Dictionary when suddenly my eyes bugged, because I saw myself. There I was - me and my life-blood all wrapped up in that one small word: ad.dict: to apply habitually, as one’s mind to speculation; to give (oneself) up to or over, as a constant practice. 

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Thank you so much for visit the blog today, Delores! For you readers who also love to write - I enjoyed Delores so much I've invited her back next Tuesday to share some thoughts on writing with you all! Make sure you stop by to say hello then (and while you're at it, say hello now!). 

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Last but NOT least... Last week's winner!

If you missed it, check out LoRee's post from last weeks {WW}. But, without further delay, here's the winner...

Constance

Congratulations! Contact me and we'll get you your PDF copy!