The Birth of Gideon’s Book

Hello, faithful Penning Pansies subscribers and readers!

First, I want to tell you how blessed I am BY you and how very thankful I am FOR you!

Your support–reading my words, commenting, and participating in giveaways over the years–has meant the world. If I could, I’d give you all a great BIG (((HUG)))!

(Can you feel the love?)

As many of you know, I’ve been working on my debut novel, Gideon’s Book, for nearly two decades.

The idea first came in a gentle (let’s call “holy”) whisper in 2007 when I heard God say to my heart–

“The Bible by the Bed.”

The Bible by the Bed? What did He mean?

But I’d been pondering for some time the notion of writing more. Did this have something to do with that?

Truth is, I knew it was.

And this was affirmed soon after when I spoke at a women’s gathering in Eden, NC.

I was a regional speaker for Stonecroft Ministries Christian Women’s Clubs, and though I loved doing this, I felt I was to step down to homeschool our then two young boys and our soon-to-be (or so we thought) daughter.

As I closed my talk with the ladies in Eden, I explained that they were my last speaking engagement–

“… At least for the time being” I told them.

I hoped that, with a slower schedule, I’d have time to not only educate our kids but begin writing more, which was something I’d been wanting to pursue.

Still, I doubted a book was in my future–and certainly not a work of fiction.

“I’m a nonfiction writer,” I’d argued with God too many times to count.

After all, I was already writing occasionally for several Christian publications in the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia areas.

As I was gathering my things to prepare to leave this ladies’ luncheon, a sweet elderly woman approached me.

“I just wanted to thank you for your time and for sharing your story,” she said with a smile. “And I wanted to encourage you to be obedient to God’s call, no matter what that is, no matter where it takes you.” She held something out to me. “And I feel I’m to give you this.”

I looked down at her open hand. In it, she held a small blue pocket New Testament.

“My husband was a Gideon, and he always encouraged me, too, to pass these out when I felt led.” Again she smiled.

“And, well… I feel led.”

She had no idea what this Bible meant to me…

How it spoke a confirmation to my listening heart.

Because, with the holy whisper God spoke only weeks earlier, He’d shown me–

• The Bible by the Bed had to do with a Gideon Bible discovered in a hotel nightstand drawer.
• It held clues to someone in trouble.
• And it would guide the one who discovered those clues to a person in need of rescue.

Again, this idea was birthed in 2007.

From there, I attended Write to Publish in Wheaton, IL in June 2007 where I presented a one-page describing the idea to a representative of Tyndale Publishing. She loved it, exclaiming–

“It’s exactly the sort of story we’re looking for!”

The only thing–

She wanted a finished manuscript’s first chapter sent to her.

“Mark the envelope ‘Write to Publish 2007’ and it will come directly to me.”

What an open door! What an invitation!

The only problem?

I knew nothing of writing good fiction, not to mention, had very little time to actually learn the craft (or so I thought).

Still, I returned home from that conference with a desire to try, with the wise words of conference keynote Cecil Murphey ringing in my heart–

“Hone your craft.”

I just had no idea how long that might take, nor the obstacles that might try to get in the way.

Desire is one thing.

Reality is another.

And if I’ve learned anything from this journey, it’s to trust God’s timing rather than one’s own.

Here’s a timeline of much that happened:

• August 2007–lost the daughter (Kristie) we were trying to adopt due to a failed adoption
• 2008–Husband Bill faced a health crisis with surgeries in late 2008 and 2009
• 2009–Battled depression (though I don’t think I knew that’s what it was) due to the loss of Kristie and the many unknowns surrounding Bill’s health
• 2012–Daughter Allie surprised us by joining our family on a late March morning with a suitcase and a sideways smile
• 2013-2018–Life with homeschooling, ministries, up and downs with kids and spouse, while still trying to grow as a writer (but still really focusing–ahem!–on nonfiction)

In 2019, I attended Write to Publish again, and this time, I sat down with a woman named Athena Holtz from Redemption Press, a hybrid (rather than traditional or indie) publishing house.

At this conference, I had a better one-page as well as several thousand words written toward the completion of a manuscript I called… yep–

The Bible by the Bed.

Athena loved the idea, and I returned home from the conference passionate about finishing my book.

I signed a contract with RP, and wrote…

Wrote…

Wrote.

In June 2020, amidst Covid, I hit send on a 100,000+ words manuscript, hoping the journey to publication was almost over.

(Ahem…)

But little did I know about that of which…

I knew very little.

Apparently, there’s more to publishing a book than simply…

Writing the book.

Oh, and did you know that many writers published books during those confining days of Covid-19?

(Yeah, me either.)

As I awaited the return of my manuscript so I could begin the edits I was certain would be easy fixes, I sometimes grew frustrated.

But then those wise words from Cec Murphey rang in my heart again–

“Hone your craft.”

Thus, I revisited what I’ll call my writing “trifecta,” (each of those three words holding power for writers with regard to finishing their race).

And I realized–

There was much I could do while I waited–things I could study and write in order to hone my craft.

And know what else I realized?

 I really didn’t know how to write good fiction.

So, while I found places to submit short stories, articles and devotions, I also began studying how to write quality fiction.

(You might be thinking, “Shouldn’t she have considered this prior to writing and sending those 100,000+ words the first time?” But have I told you there were lessons in all this about trusting God’s perfect timing?)

In 2022, I met with Athena Holtz again, this time at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, and I asked her–

“Can I start over with The Bible by the Bed?”

“Like, completely over?” she inquired.

“Yep, like a complete redo.”

And that’s what I did.

Using the first draft as a sort of outline, I began completely from the beginning.

I changed characters’ names, parts of the plot, and some of the sub themes.

In short, I wrote a better, tighter story.

Was it easy?

No.

Did I want to give up, asking myself, “Who will even care?”

Yes.

Did I ever stop battling feelings of insecurity, comparing my “voice” to others’ writing “voices,” saying to myself–

“Who are you to write fiction? Your book is nothing like so-and-so’s” or “Who will want to read your words?”

No.

And know what else?

I still battle this sometimes.

But, after much work and daily perseverance, I did it.

In early June 2024, I sent an almost 100,000+ word manuscript AGAIN to my editor.

But this time, I didn’t have to wait long.

Still, the process was far from over.

My book went through–

• Content editing (Thanks, Liz Tolsma!).
• Line editing (So grateful, Teresa Crumpton!).
• Copy editing (Thank you, Lesley McDaniel!).

In each of these edits, I was offered ideas for bringing clarity, tightening my story, or improving on a variety of storytelling elements (dialogue, show-don’t tell, etc.).

And this took work–work that only I could do to improve this story that was once The Bible by the Bed but is now titled…

(Drum roll, please!)

Gideon’s Book.

Here’s its back cover synopsis–

One Bible. Three lives. A journey of redemption spanning decades.

A writer named Cassie struggles with an unfavorable health diagnosis and feelings of inadequacy; Ava, a spirited 19-year-old seeking freedom and love in the summer of ‘69; Gideon, an architect haunted by his past and questioning his faith. As their paths intertwine through a mysterious Bible, each must confront their deepest fears and greatest hopes.

This powerful time-split contemporary novel explores race, faith, love, and self-discovery. Will Cassie find her worth amid the battle? Can Ava experience the freedom she longs for? And will Gideon come to terms with God’s call on his life? Join them on a journey that will change their lives forever.

 

And friends, I’m pleased to announce–

Gideon’s Book is due to release in May 2025!

I’m beyond excited and a bit in awe…

After all, there’s something holy about experiencing a whisper from the Lord, then seeing His promise come to fruition…

• Like hearing Him speak promises regarding our first son; then–after years of infertility and waiting–finally holding him in our arms.
• Like hearing Him speak peace regarding our second son after his birth mom changed her mind and took him back. God reminded me of Abraham and Isaac, how He would provide for the situation but I had to walk by faith and be obedient; then we received the call to come back and get him.
• Like losing the daughter of our hearts, Kristie, and being devastated; then receiving the surprise of our Allie Girl five years later.

And now, it’s Gideon’s Book’s turn–that story God whispered to my heart, told me to write in His strength…

And isn’t my Baby beautiful?

With the birth of my new book, I’m also birthing a new website–tentatively titled Windows and Wallflowers–Framing Scripture with Poetry and Prose.

I’m so excited!

I’ll still add content here at Penning Pansies, at least for awhile, but will likely be merging this site with my new one over time.

(So stay tuned.)

And dear friends…

• Be watching for an opportunity to subscribe to Windows and Wallflowers.
• And perhaps consider joining my email list (still in the works) where I’ll be sure to let you know about updates, offer freebies, and much more.

Thank you, everyone–

For journeying with me and for cheering me on over the years.

I am one abundantly blessed girl!

Thank you, kind Father, for whispering Your words to my heart so many years ago and for helping me see this through to near completion. All glory to You, and I pray Gideon’s Book is a blessing to those who read it. May it be so!

**If interested in learning more about Gideon’s Book or being added to an email list when I have that ready to go, please leave a “Yes” or “Count Me In!” below!**