Fear, Insecurity, and Crossing Over to the Other Side

So, what’s it like for authors releasing a book? Do you think we’re always excited about a new novel? Would you be surprised to learn that sometimes, nausea, fear, tears, and a lot of sleepless nights may be involved?

I’ve asked several authors if they knew which of their books would succeed and which ones wouldn’t be as popular. The overwhelming response was…no. I’ve had some novels I thought were pretty good, but overall, they weren’t as successful as I would have liked. And then, there were a few that I liked but didn’t feel were as good as some others. One of them is DEAD END. No one was more shocked than I was when it won the Daphne Du Maurier award and the Carol Award. It truly took me by surprise.

I just finished a book that sounded like a good idea, but once I got into it, I realized my concept was pretty complicated. Thankfully, my awesome editors helped me get it into shape. However, I don’t intend to ever have a plot again where a cold case podcaster disappears with seven open cases left behind. Did someone connected to one of the cases kidnap her? Sounds interesting, right? However, it didn’t occur to me at the time that my investigators had to look into seven cases!!! Yikes! Hopefully, my readers will enjoy it. But am I certain? No. Like I said, we’re never sure. The truth is, we’re just like you. We fight fear. We all need to trust God for our next steps. With our future. Whatever you’re facing, I hope these scriptures will help you as you “cross over to the other side.”

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” Mark 4: 35-40

We all have to trust that God will get us where we need to be, no matter how severe the storms that try to hinder us. Jesus isn’t worried, so we shouldn’t worry either. I pray that whatever journey you’re on, you’ll release your future to the Lord and trust Him to “get you to the other side.”

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God bless you!