Progress!

Hello? Is there anyone out there?

My days have been full of edits, holidays and a son getting engaged. I am so excited about everything.

I do have one detail that I can hardly wait to share. It looks like my book will be released at the end of February!!! (Bar any major changes/problems)

The wedding will be August 30, 2014.

Which means that I am going to be busy. Gotta line up book signings, appearances, speaking engagements and lose a ton of weight before the wedding. That means...ugh I hate to even write the word, let alone do it....EXERCISE.

Since my last posting way back in October, I have had blood work done, and I am happy to say that since changing to gluten free eating it has made a HUGE difference! My thyroid is great, my blood sugars are right on, my cholesterol is great...I still feel lousy, but Dr. thinks it is from the fibro.

So, there you have it my friends.

I trust you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, a blessed Christmas, and soon a prosperous and healthy New Year.

I will post the information about book availability and where you can purchase it. It will not be available for presale, but you will be able to get it through Amazon. Wahoo.

Keep checking back for updates. I tend to put most updates on my facebook pages, so if you are on fb, send me a friend request or like my author page "Becki Reiser Through My Tears"

Be sure to take just a couple of minutes to watch the trailer for Julie's new book! Just click on the link below.


http://juliegorman.com/order-today-receive-12-free-complimentary-videos/

A brand new book from my friend Julie Gorman!

My good friend Julie Gorman just released an exceptional new book providing solutions to the disappointments, frustrations, and longings women experience in their relationships. In What I Wish My Mother Had Told Me about Men, Julie shares transparently about the faulty paradigms she inscribed on her heart about men that perpetuated a multitude of mistakes, misunderstandings and misconceptions. Her practical “next step” actions inspire women to envision their man through God’s lens and move them toward greater intimacy.

In the pages of her book you’ll uncover an inspiring story that reveals the central liberating truth you must know in order to experience complete intimacy in your life.

Every Christian woman, single or married, will benefit from reading this book. And if you order your book before October 31st, 2013 you’ll also receive 12 FREE On-line Mentoring Videos. Click Here to reserve your copy, today!

Highly recommended by over 20 Best Selling Authors and Christian leaders – including Shannon Ethridge, Shaunti Feldhahn, Steven Arterburn, James Randall Robison, Tammy Maltby, Pam Farrel, Karol Ladd and many others, Julie’s book offers a fresh perspective on obtaining and maintaining greater intimacy in your relationship.

Filled with raw, real, and relevant insight and Biblical teaching, What I Wish My Mother Had Told Me about Men will equip you to:
·       Unmask common deceptions that destroy relationships
·       Discover life-giving truths to obtain greater intimacy
·       Identify misconceptions that may hinder your connection
·       Extend and receive unconditional love more fully
·       Gain a greater revelation of WHO YOU ARE and the love God has for you
·       Let go of unrealistic expectations and embrace the freedom God intended for your life
·       View the man in your life through God’s lens.

It's going to happen!

Just in case you are wondering, I am targeting the holidays for Through My Tears to be published.
If you are interested please leave a comment here.

Up for a challenge? I am drawing my circles!

The past three weeks I have been hearing messages from my pastor, Dwight Mason at NewPointe Community Church. He has been sharing from the book "Circle Makers" by Mark Batterson. I have listened intently, and on purpose am taking the challenge!

I am being intentional with God and praying.

(You must read the story about Honi and the children of Israel to know what drawing the circle means.)

Three circles: 

First one is Dream Big.

Yep, I can dream, I can even dream BIG...

But...do I believe that God can do what I am asking Him to? I am not trying to tell God what to do,  or how to do it although I do have a tendency to do that. I am trying to fulfill what I believe God put in my heart and believe that what He called me to do He will make it happen. Perhaps not how I want it done, or when I want it done, I am currently in the process of praying it through.

I am deciding what my Jericho is. I must define the promises God wants me to stake claim to, the miracles God wants me to believe for, and the dreams God wants me to pursue. 

No, I am not a name it and claim it kind of believer. I detest that kind of thinking! This is different, believe me. Get the book and read it and you yourself will see what it is speaking about.

The second one is Pray Hard.

This means, you keep circling 

I remember the story about Jesus sweating blood as he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. I don't know if that will actually happen to me, but I know I am serious about God answering my prayers about some particular things. I can pray and then forget it, or I can pray hard. That means I continue praying until I get an answer. That means that maybe this is one of those kinds of praying that requires fasting of some sort.

Am I up for that? Yes. Yes I believe I am. Am I fasting? Perhaps. Am I believing? I am really trying.

The third circle is Think Long.

I am not there yet, I am still reading and Dwight has not preached on this one yet. So, that means I will have to stop here and do some more reading. Just know that while I am putting the first two into practice, it is laying the foundation for the last one.

You will need to stay tuned!

And the answer is...?

I know that all two of you that read my blog are waiting with excitement to hear the answer to my publishing woes.

Barbour Publishing has been incredibly kind and complimentary, but is not ready to make me an offer at this time. However, they are NOT ruling it out all together. More on that later in the summer.

I have however decided to self publish Through My Tears (provided my co-author agrees).

I will keep all of you posted (both of you) as I know more.

Thanks for sticking around...and waiting.

He is not here...

He is risen!

Grateful that because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, we all have the hope of forgiveness and salvation.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life. 
For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world may have life.
John 3:16-17

A bit of news

Uh yeah, I am encouraged. Here is the email response I received this week from Paul. No, I am not counting on this (desperately hoping yes) but I wanted to share the encouragement! 

 

Hi, Becki—

Please accept my apologies for being so long in responding to your proposal…2013 has started just like 2012 ended, and that’s busily!

At this point, I don’t have a definitive word on your proposal, but wanted to pass along some observations and ideas:

1)      The two sample chapters are well written and compelling…I did find tears coming to my eyes as I read parts. My reaction might be stronger because I’ve met you and know some of the other players in the drama…but you’ve certainly done a good job of committing a very difficult story to paper.
2)      The forgiveness angle is a good one for a story like this…I think that, no matter how compelling the crime story is, what will make the book speak to readers is the redemptive takeaway. And I truly appreciate all that I know of your family’s reaction, both immediately and long term, to your loss.
3)      From the first time you and I first spoke here at Barbour, I’ve struggled to see this as a traditional “Barbour book”—since so much of what we do is not author-driven, and often on the lighter devotional/inspirational side, it’s been hard to see our publishing house doing your story justice. Often, when we’ve tried to break away from our lighter, mass-appeal approach, we just haven’t succeeded. However…
4)      …having said that, I wonder if there might be a way to tie your manuscript into some other projects that we have high hopes for. I hesitate to go into detail at this point, and possibly create hopes that  could be disappointed later…but I will say I see a little more chance for success at this time than when we talked a few years back.

All that to say, Becki, I’d like to talk more with our publishing team, to see what, if anything, we might be able to do with your story. It’s certainly a powerful story, both in the event itself and your reaction to that.

We should be meeting with our team in the next week or so, and I’ll try to follow up soon afterwards. But please feel free to check in with any questions or comments until then.

Thank you, and God bless!

Paul

Progress...sort of

I sent out the query letter and proposal on Monday of this week. At about 11:30 a.m.

Yesterday (Tuesday) at about 4:15 p.m. I received a response. Not a no, but not a yes either. However, I am encouraged nonetheless.

Here is the response:

Hi, Becki—

Just a quick note to acknowledge your message…thanks for sending this my way. We’re in a bit of a scramble right now, catching up on some overdue planning for the next list, so please allow me a little time to digest this new proposal.

This is a tough genre for Barbour—the personal story that teaches a life lesson in long form—but I want to give your material a careful and fair consideration.

I’ll be in touch, but please feel free to check in if you have any questions or comments along the way.

Thank you!

Paul

 So, I will plan my next WIP and update and add to the devotional that I wrote to go along with Through My Tears.

Then above all else I must trust that God has it all under control. He knows best. And I must desire His will above everything else.

That is hard.

All prayers are STILL appreciated!

Gearing up

Today I began the arduous duty of updating my book proposal. Since the school shootings in Connecticut, my heart has been wrenched. I so wish I had something that could comfort those parents. I understand their pain (to a point) and wish I could share my experience with them to help them have hope.

So, I begin sending queries and proposals...and pray.



We have settled into our new home very nicely. We love it. Below you can see the server/windowseat in my kitchen.
 

 We certainly downsized and I am still getting rid of things. I made yet another trip to Goodwill to drop off more "stuff" like blankets, table runners, pictures and so on. Hopefully this week and part of next I will get back down to the basement and do some more organizing. Jeff is going to build more shelves, and remodel a counter/cupboard for my scrapbook stuff. It will be splendid to have a place to actually work on stuff and not have to clean it up so we can eat supper there. I usually work on the dining room table. (See photo below of dining room)



 Here is a photo of the kitchen, I have done a lot more to it since this was taken.



Jeff spent much of the weekend in the garage organizing it to his liking. He enjoyed the warmer temperatures we experienced and that spurred him on.

So, I will post more photos soon, but for now you'll just have to be satisfied with these.

I had opportunity to go out with my bestie and a couple of other girlfriends last week. Had so much fun laughing and shopping. I love it when I get to do that. Girl time is great.

So, I am just spending time playing here on my blog when I need to finish my proposal...See you soon.

2013

Wishing all of you a Happy and healthy 2013!