Crossing The Deep

Guest blogger and Christian author Kelly Martin shares her writing journey and a word of encouragement this morning. Welcome, Kelly!

1 Thessalonians 5:11
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

(NLT)

I love the title of this blog, A Word of Encouragement. I have an ‘encouragement’ blog as well: Encourage 365. I firmly believe that encouragement is needed in this life to build people up and just plan keep them going.

There are times when people who give encouragement, need to get it. I can’t speak for Laura, but I know that I get down sometimes. Thankfully, God always sends me someone to help me, give a kind word, a smile, a scripture, a word of encouragement.

My sister, Kathy, is one of those people. A little over a year ago, I decided I was going to write a book—not just a book, a novel in 30 days (Nanowrimo—National Novel Writing Month). This was a crazy idea—not only because a WHOLE novel in just a month is a hard goal, but also because I have three small kids, a husband, teach full-time, and do so much other stuff. With her encouragement, I did it.

The first draft got finished before Thanksgiving last year… and I have to tell you, it was pretty rough! (as rough drafts tend to be). With her help, I read, revised, and edited until I got it ready to send to agents/publishers. In July, I signed a contract with Astraea Press for my Young Adult/Christian book CROSSING THE DEEP to be published on Oct. 9^th!

There were so many times I wanted to quit. So many crying texts to her… fussing texts… frustrated texts… worrywart texts… what if texts (actually she’s still getting those). But each time, she encouraged me to keep going.

Folks, we have no idea how far our encouragement goes.

If you see someone at the store and God tells you to tell them something, do it. It could make their day! I know it’s hard. My husband is much better at it than I am, but encouraging others is something we need to do.

The world is full of negative, violent, upsetting images/news stories; don’t you think it’s time to spread some positivity around?

Encourage each other. Say a kind word. Smile. Don’t knock anyone’s dreams. You never know what God has in store for them—and He just might have put you in their lives to get them there J

I want to thank Laura for allowing me to guest on her blog today. I truly appreciate it! If anyone reading this needs prayers or a word of encouragement, you can email me at ohthatmomagain@yahoo.com or go to my blogs: www.encourage365.com and www.kellymartinstories.com.

When religious Rachel Harker gets lost with Asher Jenkins, a skeptic, on a church sponsored hiking trip, she expects help to come quickly. Still lost five days later, she wonders if God is listening at all. As she slowly loses her faith, Asher is forced to find his.

~Kelly Martin is a writer, blogger, mommy, teacher, wife, sleep deprived lady (not necessarily in that order). She loves to write young adult/Christian fiction and thinks there needs to be more of it in the world. Her first book, CROSSING THE DEEP, is being released TODAY from Astraea Press. Her second book, SAINT SLOAN (also a YA/Christian novel) will be out in late winter 2013. When Kelly isn't writing, she's thinking about writing-- or watching youtube.

She can be bribed with chocolate and free ink pens.

 Follow me on twitter: @martieKay 

or on facebook: Kelly Martin, Author

OR on my blog: www.kellymartinstories.com

BUY LINKS:

Amazon.com

Barnesandnoble.com

Astraeapress.com