For many years, after reading the beloved book CHRISTY and learning about the award bearing its name, I pored over the titles in the Christy lists picking my next great read. Today, my book RAIN is listed among these books by stellar authors and it seems impossible.
Not that I didn’t work hard. Not that it wasn’t a long road. But many fine authors have also worked hard and traveled far. Maybe you have given all you have to give. Maybe you don’t want to try anymore.
I was where you are. In July 2019, I considered this manuscript I’d worked on for years, rewritten several times, entered in contests, and shopped to agents and publishers. I’d been given some encouragement, received some success, but ultimately, no sale.
“I’m going to put RAIN in a drawer,” I thought. “Maybe I’ll self-publish someday. Or maybe I’ll just quit writing.”
I don’t think it was the same day, but very shortly thereafter I received a text message from a stranger. “Hello. Are you the Dana McNeely who wrote RAIN, and if so, have you sold it yet?” This mysterious stranger, Angela Ruth Strong, turned out to be my Fairy Bookmother. Angela is a multi-published author who judged RAIN in a 2016 contest and remembered it when her publisher mentioned she was looking for biblical fiction. You can read more about how God said “Not quite yet” to my quitting and worked to bring RAIN to publication here.
I want to emphasize that statement – God worked to bring RAIN to publication. He certainly did. Yes, my hands wrote the book. I did the best I could to promote and sell it. God worked. He sent a Fairy Bookmother. But if He did not send Angela or Mountain Brook Ink, if I put RAIN in a drawer and never wrote another word, would that mean God did not work His plan? Or that my time was wasted? More importantly, does it mean you are wasting your time if you heard “no” when you longed to hear “yes?”
Not at all. Be encouraged. God is working behind the scenes. You are not too old, and no, your computer camera is not sending me spy pictures. If you are still breathing, the Lord is not finished with you.
But what if his plan for me, or for you, was not publication? I can affirm, that even if RAIN was never published, the journey was worth it. One woman came to know the Lord after discussing the story’s main character with me. Friends were encouraged to read the Bible for themselves. One writer wrote he decided to finish his Old Testament book. My father read an early draft and said he was proud of me.
Since publication in March of this year, some readers have written that RAIN touched their hearts. Their words are balm to my writer’s soul.
This morning, hours before the Christy announcement I thought I heard a whisper. You’re not going to be a finalist. The book was nominated. That’s enough.
“Yes, Lord,” I prayed. “You are enough.” I felt peaceful.
“That wasn’t the Lord,” my publisher said, when I shared this in my after-announcement gushing.
I’m sure she’s right. God never lies. But I do think He was teasing me. 🙂
Be encouraged, dear one. Your words have meaning. The Lord has a purpose for your work. Lean into Him, ask Him to direct your steps, do the work, and trust His plan. Let this verse strengthen and energize you, as it does me.
Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. Hosea 6:3 ESV
Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy. She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.
In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.
WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.
Sign up for Dana’s newsletter HERE to get book updates, garden exploits, butterfly effusions, and writerly fiascos.
I am not sure if this is the right place, but I am leaving a comment as per the newsletter. Most recent book I have finished was Dust, another book on the finalists lists. I liked the continuation of the Peter Pan story and thought it was well done. now I want to read Shadow which follows it.
I am also very interested in read Rain. Congrats on the finalists award. That is wonderful.
This is fine, Jennifer. Although I meant a reply to the newslettter, I confused a lot of folks, so I will accept a blog post. Dust sounds so interesting! 🙂
Congratulations on your Christy Award! God is good!🙏
Thanks, Leslie. Yes, He is so kind. 🙂
If this is the right place to leave a comment for Dana McNeely’s newsletter, I just recently completed reading, “God Does His Best Work With Empty” by Nancy Guthrie. This was a book recommendation at the 2020 IRBC Women’s Renew Conference in Clear Lake, IA. I was challenged spiritually each and every day I worked through this book. It’s actually the very first book I’ve ever read via Hoopla, and although they haven’t figured out how to adjust the pages when someone with poor vision, like me, needs the larger font, I did enjoy being able to read it in a bold style as well.
When I was a teen, I too, read, Christy, and I assigned it as a book report to my 11th grade daughter last year. I loved reading Julie as well. I’m working towards passing along these books to my 3 daughters as they grow older and can handle the more challenging wording in these “meatier” books!
Thanks for the opportunity to be apart of the giveaway for RAIN. It sounds like a wonderful, “meaty” book! 😉
May the Lord bless you in all your writing endeavors.
Heidi, yes, this is great. I’ve not read that book, but I know the feeling. So many times I’ve seen God do great work with “empty” or “weak.” Thanks for your interest in reading Rain. I’ve entered you in the contest.
Dana, Congratulations So happy for you. The only things I read is my enlarged computer and my Bible on my Kindle. My eyes are getting very bad with ARMD.(age related macular degeneration)
You look so cute in the picture and I love your doggies. Jana
Jana, I understand. I’m sorry about your ARMD, but glad you can still read with enlarged print. It’s so great to hear from you. I love my doggies, too! They are the best dogs we’ve ever had. Warmly, Dana
Congratulations on being a finalist for a Christy award. I am commenting here for the giveaway, as I was unable to find a way to comment on the newsletter. I just finished reading The Petticoat Spy by Elva Cobb Martin. I think what struck me the most is that resistance is not wrong. We need to stand up for what is right!
Thanks for the opportunity to win Rain. I have been wanting to read it.
lOL, Betti. I sure confused a lot of folks. I meant to reply to the email but since my instructions were unclear, I quickly decided I’d accept either as an entry! The Petticoat Spy sounds interesting. It has been great to hear about so many different books and a few new authors, also. Thanks for your interest in reading Rain. Warmly, Dana
Dana Dana Dana! What can I say? I’m so over the top happy for you. And proud. This blog post is so encouraging and inspiring. Thank you for that.
Thank you, Leola. You’re such an encouragement to me. 🥰
Congrats on the nomination, and yes it is a BIG deal! I have not read Rain, but I think I have read 3-4 of the nominated books. They were very good, so you are in excellent company. (I hope this is where I’m supposed to comment).
Yes, Perrianne, this is fine and I’ve entered you in the contest. You would think a writer could pen understandable instructions, but it appears I have more to learn. Of course, I already knew that! I am accepting all comments as entries – from either my blog or my newsletter – if someone writes something in the New York subway, I’m afraid that will be ineligible. 🙂