by Roseanna White | Nov 6, 2014 | Remember When Wednesdays, Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
It was probably 20 years ago, though I don’t remember the exact date. I was just a kid, at home in my safe little world. But we had friends who had gone into missions. The whole family, gone for months at a time, off spreading the good news. This time, it was to Bulgaria. I doubt I could have even found it on a map, but off they went. A few adults stepping out in faith and a group of YWAM kids on fire for God.
Our friend Mike recently shared this story of his first trip to Bulgaria with our church, and though it’s so long past, it spoke to me on so many levels.
They showed up in a bus in this tiny Bulgarian town. They were there to preach to the gypsies. Now, I don’t know what you know about the gypsies, but let’s just say that they’re not well received in Europe. They’re the outcasts, the unloved ones. They’re viewed with suspicion and prejudice and have been for centuries.
And this town they arrived in…it’s not like any town we know. There are no fast food restaurants, no food trucks waiting on the corners. And to hear Mike tell the tale, they didn’t arrive with big plans. They arrived with big faith…and a few dozen hungry teenage mouths to feed.
He said he got off that bus not knowing exactly how he was going to find food for 40 teenagers–food was kinda scarce in that region. Times were tough. But he started down the road looking for restaurants that could take their crowd.
Then, down the street, a man came running. Waving his hand. Yelling, “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare!”
Make stopped, turned, probably frowned. Probably wondered if, somehow, he was taking the food from this man’s family by trying to buy it for his group.
The man huffed to a halt in front of him. “Don’t you dare,” he said again, “steal my blessing. I am to feed you. My wife has been cooking for days. Come. Come. All of you.”
This man and his wife had never met these people before. They didn’t know they were coming–even the group didn’t know they’d end up in this town. But the Spirit knew. And the Spirit had made arrangements.
The group followed this man back to his small house and found tables set up outside. Pots and pots of steaming food waiting for them.
Bulgaria has, since then, been a second home to this family mine loves so well. I always love listening to their stories, but this one…this one is something special to me.
When Mike stood at the podium shouting out an echo of that long-faded “Don’t you dare steal my blessing!” something went tight inside me. Because how often do we steal blessings from each other?
We’re a society of prideful, arrogant, self-sufficient people. We rely on the money we can make, the health insurance plan we can afford, the car we drive, the clothes we buy. We rely on us. Not on God, not really. Not most of the time.
And on each other? Forget it. Even in the church, we have this idea that it’s great and noble to give…but it’s chafing to receive.
I have a friend who jokes about having “the gift of receiving.” It’s a joke…but it’s also true. It’s a gift, one many of us deny. But by denying someone else the opportunity to give to us, denying them the opportunity to be generous, WE ARE STEALING THEIR BLESSING.
Because when you give, unreservedly…
When you give, without thought to how much that will leave you with…
When you give, not even knowing if the people will show up…
When you give, sacrificing your own pleasures, your own time, your own sustenance…
God gives back. And He gives back from His storehouses, which, let me just tell you, honey, are a whole lot fuller than ours. He gives back with eternal life, not just in heaven but here on earth. He gives back with spiritual understanding. He gives back by making less become enough. He gives back by turning people who were once sinners into saints. Now. Here. He gives us His glory, His promise, His Spirit, His truth, His power.
But if we’re not let to give–if we don’t let others give to us–then what?
As the holiday season approaches, as Thanksgiving looms around the corner, I’ve been talking a lot to my kids about how the most noble gift, the most noble giving, isn’t to the ones who will give us a present in return–it’s to those who can’t.
I’d say I also need to teach them how to receive, but to be honest, that’s something kids already know. Right? It’s another part of childlike faith, because every gift we give our kids is undeserved. They don’t earn it. They don’t give us something in return. They receive in love and give back love. Something we un-learn as we age, but which is oh so important.
Because I have nothing but my heart to give my Father. Nothing but my heart and my willingness to let Him use whatever else I have for His other children. That part’s not so hard to understand. But I also need to have hands willing to receive from others when it’s their turn to give–even when I look at them and think, “But I have more than they do, I can’t take this from them.” I can’t just give, expecting blessing. I have to be willing to let others give too.
The next time someone wants to do something nice for you or give you something, I hope you pause before you refuse. I hope you stop to think, “If I say no, if I try to do this/get this on my own instead, am I stealing their blessing?”
I hope we all pause to consider what we might be really taking from them by refusing to accept a gift from their hands.
by Roseanna White | Oct 30, 2014 | Uncategorized
She’s alive!
Well, halfway. Paperbacks are now available on
Amazon, and will be showing up soon at B&N too! Digital versions will go live at midnight on 11/15, so if you have pre-ordered, it’ll automatically download then. =) If you pre-ordered the paperback, those will likely be on their way to you in the next day, if they aren’t already. =D
If you haven’t ordered yet but intend to, I would ask for my own selfish purposes (LOL) that you either pre-order or place the order on the official release day of November 15. I ask this solely because all pre-orders count as first-day sales, and the more sales you get in the one day, the higher up the ranks you go, and the more visibility you get.
For those of you who signed up to be influencers, I’ll get copies in the mail to you as soon as I have them. If you requested digital versions to influence, I’ll have them to you in the next couple days.
If you were one of my beta readers and feel inclined to write a review, you can now do that at Amazon and Goodreads, and I would greatly appreciate it if you did. Amazon searches/ranks apparently incorporate number of reviews in their algorithm somehow, and having 25 reviews or more is quite helpful.
Speaking of reviews…please keep in mind that I have sworn off reading any reviews just posted to sites like Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, etc. If you want me to read the review you’ve written, please either email me to say you wanted to share your thoughts with me or tag me in a link on Facebook or Twitter. I made the decision to swear off reviews when
Ring of Secrets came out, for personal reasons–namely, guarding my attitude, LOL, and not getting distracted by the emotions that come along with reviews. However, I do LOVE hearing from readers, especially when they share how stories affected them! If you want to talk to me about the book, I would absolutely love it. =) You can always, always email me at roseanna at roseannawhite dot com.
Let’s see, what else? I don’t know, other than to ask for your continued prayers for this book. Not just for things like sales numbers (though I certainly wouldn’t complain about good sales, LOL), but that God’s work is done and His kingdom expanded.
Squee!!!
by Roseanna White | Oct 23, 2014 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
It’s Xoë’s birthday. That means cinnamon rolls and homemade macaroni, and a day off school (woo hoo!). It means presents and pink and laughter and fun. And a mommy who solemnly swears to stay off her computer most of the day.
Of course, Xoë isn’t up yet, so here I am. 😉
I had preconceived notions of motherhood–who doesn’t? I thought I’d be perfectly patient all the time, nurturing my babies to adulthood with wisdom and boundless love.
I’ve got the love part. And I sure try to be wise. Patience…well, let’s say parenthood has taught me a lot in that department.
And though I have moments of temporary insanity when I walk into the living room and it looks like a toy bomb has exploded, those moments are far, far outweighed by the ones where I draw my kiddos close and think, “Yep, this is it. This is what life is about.”
Xoë is my firstborn, and she’s such a special little girl. I can’t quite believe she’s 9 today (HOW DID THAT HAPPEN???!!!), but I figure it’s a good time to make a list. Nine reasons out of the gazillion that I love my brave little princess.
1. She’s always thinking about others. She shares gladly with her brother (most of the time, LOL) and even more gladly with cousins and friends. She’d rather make sure those she loves are happy than herself. I’ve never met a child more eager to help. (She loved being my helper at book events, like in the photo above.)
2. She’s smart. I’ve yet to introduce a concept in school that she hasn’t grasped within a day or two. (Okay, Roman numerals took a few months–but when she got them, she got them with a vengeance! She’s now quicker at them than I am!)
3. She’s clever. Which is different from smart, LOL. I love hearing the witty things she says, the clever little jokes she’ll make. Makes my day every time. =)
4. She believes in celebrating. I’m talking, any occasion she can come up with. We had a First Day of Fall Festival just last month, and she’ll make decorations and banners for whichever party she decides to throw in a given week–and this girl plans months in advance. I pray she never loses that heart to rejoice over the little things! It makes life so much brighter. =)
5. She’s not afraid to be crazy. Nothing makes me grin more than when she does a silly little walk or dance.
6. She’s still a little girl. In a world where kids idolize TV stars and musicians, where I often shake my head at how primary schoolers try to act like 17-year-olds, my little girl is just that. A little girl. I know part of that is likely due to our lovely little homeschooling bubble, but I’ll keep it that way for a while longer, thanks. A 9-year-old should be a little girl!
7. She’s thoughtful. Just last night when she heard the reports of the terrible events in Canada yesterday, she asked, “What’s terrorism?” And then, after I explained it, “But why would anyone do that?” We had a rather lengthy discussion on it all…
8. She’s creative. She draws, she writes stories, she designed in Photoshop…yeah, I know. Sounds like me, LOL. But seeing what she creates always leaves me with this big ol’ glow of pride…
and..
9. She’s not afraid to be herself. Over the years she’s ended up among some pretty relentless leaders–her cousin, the neighbor girl, etc. And she rarely insists on being the leader. But she also isn’t afraid to say, “No, let’s not do that.” No matter who she’s with, she’s Xoë.
And oh, how I love my Xoë. Happy birthday, pumpkin!
by Roseanna White | Oct 16, 2014 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
When I was a kid, I had big dreams. And this idea that writers lived on mansion on hilltops. I thought that surely, surely fame and fortune awaited me down that road. That I’d be a household name. That people would squeal with excitement when they met me. That I’d be able to dive into my vault of gold like Scrooge McDuck.
Yeah, so…um, no. LOL. That’s not the life of a writer–at least, not many of us. But that’s okay. Because the more I travel this road, the more I know it isn’t about those old dreams. It’s about the stories God puts in my heart.
For a lot of writers, writing is a career. They love it, but it comes down to the bottom line. I get that…but that’s not me. To me, despite those childhood dreams, writing isn’t about what I get from it. It’s about what I can give with it. Writing is my calling. Writing is my ministry. Writing is the way I share about faith, about God, about how He guides through our lives. About how love lifts us above the dark places–though those dark places will always come.
Tonight I have a book signing at my local Library, so my thoughts this morning were on the subject. And I’ve also been hearing back from my beta readers for
A Soft Breath of Wind, so that makes me think about it even more. I guess as a kid, I would have imagined that praise for my books would have made me smile like a movie star, utter a gracious
thank you so much! and go about my day knowing I’d done that, I’d done what I set out to do.
Instead, every time I get an email or message from one of these early readers with words like your best yet and this opened my eyes to faith on a whole new level, there’s no euphoria. There’s no glow of accomplishment. There’s something better. There’s that deep-down, bone-level gratitude to God for helping me write what He wanted me to. For putting down a story I wasn’t sure would be what my core readers want and finding that it’s what they need. For realizing He had things in mind for my words I didn’t know.
That’s what writing has become for me. And while it might not be enough for Scrooge McDuck, I gotta say, it’s why I keep doing this. It’s why I get up at 5:30 every morning, though I don’t often get to bed until 11. It’s why I bake cookies to take to the Library with me, though my day is already full. It’s why I sacrifice that time when I could be outside or reading or otherwise at play, to squeeze a few more paragraphs onto the page.
I’ve said it before, I’m sure. I write because it’s who I am. It’s what I’m called to do. If no one ever read it, I’d still write. If I never earned a penny, I’d still write. Because God teaches me so much through each story.
Yesterday marked the T-one month date for the release of
A Soft Breath of Wind. And as the countdown to release begins, I’m covering this book with prayer. It goes places no other book of mine has ever gone. It digs to places I didn’t know it would plumb. It asks questions I’d never thought to wonder about until Zipporah and Benjamin and Samuel brought them up.
And that means it’s probably going to offend some people–those types of books always do. So I’m also praying that it doesn’t get into the hands of anyone to whom it would be a stumbling block. I’m fine with people not liking my book, with them taking issue with it, if it’s an issue God wants them to take. But I’m not okay with people asking questions that makes them waver in their faith or go places in their minds they don’t need to go (I’ve had a few of those reviews over the years too). So if you’ve a mind to say a prayer over this book and its releasing, please include that–that it make it into the hands of those who need it and stays out of the hands of those who don’t.
I’d also appreciate a prayer for my event tonight. I love doing Library signings–so much fun to chat with folks who love books! So here’s hoping it goes well and I meet some new people to chat with. =)
by Roseanna White | Oct 9, 2014 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
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| Autumn…always crazy around here |
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said or written the words, “Sorry, this month has been crazy.” I think I probably utter/type it at least once a month. Because, let’s face it, life is crazy. It’s always crazy. And though I always think, It’ll get better once I’m done this… the fact remains that once I’m done one thing, it just means another is on the horizon.
Traditionally, October is my crazy month, where I have something going on every weekend. Fall Festival, family reunion, daughter’s birthday, Halloween. This year, September way outdid October’s plans. This year, we were gone for vacation, then for homecoming at our college, then there was ACFW. I’m so, so glad to be home for a while, even if I still have all those normal October things to do.
My point? Well, that every day is crazy. Every week. Every month. And I can either use that as an excuse to put things off and let life overwhelm me…or I can not.
That’s a hard one for me. I admit it. All too often things get pushed to the backburner in my life (like cleaning…or sorting through that stack of mail that I hope doesn’t have any bills I’ve missed…or…) while I focus on the pressing things.
So how do I do better? Honestly, I’m not an expert on this. I don’t have the answers. But this past year, as we moved and settled, as I had to pitch a new series to new publishers, as I worked on my biblical at a snail’s pace, as I edited and designed a book every month for WhiteFire, as I homeschooled both kids for the first time…well, some things shifted for me. Some things that made me realize that I can still have time to cook a decent meal, if I just make myself be creative. I can keep my house from becoming hopeless, if I just force myself to spend one evening a week on it (it’s not great, mind you, but not hopeless). I can write, I can read, I can edit, if I’m willing to budget my time.
There are still days and weeks where I just can’t do any more. I can’t squeeze in one more activity, I can’t go one more place–not if I still want to finish my “have to”s. But at a certain point, I have to stop looking at it as crazy…and just start accepting it as everyday life. And cherish the fact that, though crazy-busy, my family is at least crazy-busy together. We’re not pulled a million different directions everyday. And I love that. I love that we spend so much time together.
It kinda makes me think that all the crazy is worth it. Because we can live in Crazytown together. And really, it’s a pretty fun place to be.
by Roseanna White | Oct 1, 2014 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
I had the pleasure of going to the ACFW conference in St. Louis last week as an editor for WhiteFire Publishing. That means that I spent my day sitting behind a table…
 |
My spot – I got rather comfy there. =) Kim, my editor from Harvest House,
was beside me, Jeane Wynn the PR queen behind me, and a couple agents
rounding out the room. |
…listening to stories. Not a bad way to spend a day. =) There are agents and editors out there who really don’t enjoy these appointments, and I understand that. They like to focus on the manuscript first. But I have to say, I had a blast meeting the authors and listening to them tell me about their stories.
I also have to confess that of all the pitches I heard, the ones that sounded like rehearsed pitches were the least engaging for me, even if they were interesting. What I, personally, enjoyed was just listening to people talk about their ideas!
I heard a lot of historical pitches and noted a few themes that kept coming up. Quite a few were based on family history, which is always fun.
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Me with one of my critique partners, the young and lovely
Amanda Barratt. Amanda just received 2 contracts for novellas
with Barbour!! Super proud of her–she’s only 18! |
Quite a few pitches, both historical and contemporary, began with “escaping an abusive relationship…” I found that interesting. WhiteFire has published a few stories that had a character doing just that. And frankly, my current work-in-process touches on it too. But I’m talking quite a percentage of the stories I heard that dealt with this, and I’m not sure what that says. Maybe that they were all pitching it to me because WhiteFire isn’t afraid to go there? Maybe that everyone wants characters who find their strength…and they do that to escape such a situation?
Maybe that the world has gone so far down hill that a devastatingly high percentage of people have had to face these issues at one time or another, and it’s what God keeps laying on writers’ hearts for their sakes?
I thought I would miss the genre dinner on Thursday night (had a meeting), but I did in fact manage to sneak in. I hadn’t brought my fabulous Edwardian garb to wear, thinking I wouldn’t make it to the dinner, but I enjoyed seeing the other costumes. Including this one that my young-and-talented critique partner donned. Keep an eye out for two novella series coming from Barbour in the next year–they’re going to have two of her stories in them! As I have details, I’ll share them. This young woman is only 18, but she’s already been working hard to get published for four or five years, attending conferences with her family when she was too young to be allowed to come alone. Anyway, dinner was almost over and saw this costume walking from the room. I thought, “That has to be Amanda!” so went darting out after her. And sure enough, it was. =)
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| In the bookstore |
I also had the amazing blessing of talking with some of the established historical writers that I so love reading. I got to hug Julie Klassen–whose books were right beside mine in the bookstore. (No, mine aren’t regency, they were just at the edge of the Historical Romance category.) I really loved that. Come for Julie, then look over at Roseanna. 😉 At dinner on Friday with the Baker Group crew, I sat between Mary Conneally and Jen Turano, so that was a hoot. And on the way back to the airport on Sunday, I got to sit beside Jody Hedlund, who’d just won the Carol the night before for A Noble Groom. She’s such a sweetheart!
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St. Louis courthouse–juxtaposed so funnily between a bunch
of modern architecture. This was the view from the room
I took appointments in. |
So, yeah. I was present at every meal, which is a bit unusual for editors. That means I answered a lot of questions of “What do you write?” with “Historical romance and biblical” and then the follow-up questions of “Do you have appointments?” with “Actually, I’m taking them. I’m here as an editor.” That was a lot of fun too.
More thoughtful thoughts on it all tomorrow!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.