Into the Fire

There is always a process. Learning to add, to think, to do a cartwheel, to create, to pay a bill, to move to a new home. Since God's creativity made human brains with all kinds of synapses, extended all sorts of talents and abilities, and while He can be intimately involved in the lives of His children given their permission, there are multitudes of ways to "process".

I'm mad at myself for taking so long to complete my latest novel. There was a long dry spell between it and the one before it, and then once this book was begun, there were more long dry times between start to finish. However, during a segment of the "in between" times – yes, plural – I started two more stories and stopped each of them. Since finishing the first of the three efforts, the other two are beckoning to me. And I'm grateful for that.

But . . . I'm in the process of getting the first of the three published, and I know I'm going to have to go over it for typesetting errors once it's that far along. Right now, the cover is being designed. First two selections have been rejected – not because the designer did a terrible job but because I failed to explain something that he wouldn't have understood without being familiar with it. I know that's vague and confusing, but I'm going to leave it at that. So I submitted a much simpler idea with a picture that I hope will help the designer to grasp the necessary image for this cover because in this case, for this setting, it has to be accurate. 

The process for my covers has been interesting. Since I'm not traditionally published, I have the final word on cover design, and, frankly, I'm picky. The Famous One and Sweet Release were the quickest designs to be completed. Well communicated, easily grasped, minor changes. Hope of Glory was a struggle but turned out fine. Destination took a little doing but rendered a solid cover that captured the storyline. Breath of Life required a telephone conversation with the designer for him to ask the right questions in order to "get" it, and I love the final cover. So with this one, we're in the process. 

I had hoped to release this new one in late summer, but unless the Lord sees fit to make some room where none exists right now, this will be a fall release. The story takes place in the summertime. Who wants to be reading about sunshine and hot temps when it's pouring down rain or starting to snow? Bad timing on my part. 

So. Now I've brought you up to date on the process for my latest novel. 

Father, your timing is all that matters, but I often interfere with it. Please bless the process for this one, and thank you for the inspiration and every word. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.