Life’s been hectic lately and I’ve been too tired to blog the last couple of days. I hope to post a review for a book that I finished over the Christmas holiday – I just never got around to blogging about it.
Everybody, stay warm and happy! 🙂
Ms. Sylvia Van, one of my blog readers and one of my Facebook friends, informed me that she left the following anonymous comment about John’s Quest on this post:
I ordered your book John’s Quest from the website and was pleasantly surprised. Each word was like eating your favorite dessert without worrying about the calories. I found myself enjoying it more and more and never wanting it to end. I love it that you continued the book going in doing storylines of each the characters in each of your other books. If there is someone who doesn’t like to read but is willing to start I would highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.
Just reading those words warms my heart! What a great way to start my Saturday! 🙂
1. When did you first began writing?
My earliest memories of me writing were when I was a little boy around ten years old. I would write stories about my living in other places. My cousin Yvette, who gave me a love for reading, would write poetry and I wrote some poetry as well, following her example.
2. When did you first decide you wanted to see your book in print? That was my ultimate vision as I was writing Do You Wanna Be Made Whole? As I wrote it I wanted to see it published.
3. I Believe you’ve self published your novel? Could you share how you went about doing this?
I felt led to self publish for several reasons. First I had written a novel in 1992 and had a secured an agent in 1993 but he wasn’t able to secure a deal for me. After that I lost my interest in writing and some years later I lost that manuscript in between moves. After I had written Do You Wanna Be Made Whole? I was praying about trying to sell it to a publisher or to publish it myself when I attended a writer’s conference in Virginia Beach. The facilitator was a young woman named Renee Bobb and the thrust of the conference was on self publishing. After that conference I was inspired to self publish. Another person who has been inspiration to me in self publishing is Dr. Linda Beed, one of the moderators on the BWCHRISTIANLIT Yahoo group. Linda has shared a wealth of knowledge with the group and with me personally about the intricacies of self publishing.
4. Linda does share a wealth of knowledge with her Yahoo group members. Did you choose a certain company, did you incorporate yourself, or did you go through some other process to get your book in print? With Renee’s help I choose Lightning Source as my printer and she has given me many helpful recommendations in this process. Renee has also written and published a manual on self publishing.
5. I’ve heard Lightning Source recommended by others for self-publishing services. Could you tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming a pastor?
I started preaching when I was seventeen years old. I preached my first sermon on March 25, 1984. I knew early in the ministry that I would one day pastor a congregation and I was elected to my first church in September 1993. I have been a pastor to three congregations in the states of West
Virginia, Virginia and Texas. I have been at this church in
southern Virginia for eight years – which is a unique situation in itself. I was elected to this church in September 1994 and I served as pastor until April 2000 when I left to go to Texas. The church elected me a second time in November 2006 and I returned in February 2007. It is very rare in this denomination to pastor the same church twice.
6. What is your novel about?
This novel is about an older pastor, James Maxwell who is a father type to the following characters: Theo Dexter, Michael Cain and Adam Jones. Each of these men are experiencing life crises that are threatening to derail them. Each of them turns to Pastor Maxwell for help and he walks with them through the process of wholeness.
7. Where did you get the idea for your novel?
I’m not really sure where I got the idea because it was a long time ago when I first started writing my book. I started writing this story at the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004. My mother had died in June of 2003 and I was writing with a lot of pain so it’s very possible that this story was the result of me dealing with my own brokenness.
Thanks for stopping by today, Bernard!
If you want to know more about Pastor Bernard Boulton, visit his website. You can also read an excerpt of his book at his web address.
I’ll admit that although I read my Bible regularly, I’m not an expert about the subject of Bible prophecy. Let me tell you why I decided to blog about this topic today.
On Sunday night, I was watching the History Channel, and they had a special on about the Mayans and their calendar. Supposedly, the Mayans predicted that the year 2012 would be the end of time and that is when their calendar stopped? This is going from my sketchy memory, and I didn’t even watch the entire show because I got tired and went to bed.
Anyway, seeing that show made me think about the subject of Bible prophecy (Just wanted to point out that the Mayan prediction had nothing to do with the Bible). I do recall reading that the Apostle Paul told the early Christians that prophecy was an important spiritual gift.
Another reason I felt like blogging about this is because I wanted to tell about my limited experience with Biblical prophets/prophecy (or those claiming to be so). I was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness until I was twelve. At that age, my dad stopped me from going to the Kingdom Hall (that’s what JW’s call their church). Since the JW teaching was all that I really knew, I thought what they said was “The Truth.” (That’s what JWs call their teaching.)
Fast forward six years, I’m in college, and I decide to hook up with JWs again since I thought they told “The Truth.” While studying with them, my eyes started getting glassy and my head started spinning when they taught me that the generation of 1914 would not pass away before the real return of Christ (or the end of times), also, Christ came invisibly/spiritually to earth in 1914….
That’s around the time they started “losing” me, also, the fact that they used these years to predict things didn’t seem right to me. When a JW came to my door last winter, I asked about their prediction of the generation of 1914 not passing away before the end of times. He said they didn’t believe that anymore, and I thought to myself…”Hmmm, false prophets.”
I feel uneasy when someone predicts something in the name of God and then changes their mind or it turns out it’s not true.
My other experience with prophecy happened back in 2002, back when my first book, Promises To Keep, was released via Crossings and Black Expressions book clubs. I’d received an email from a Washington D.C. librarian, stating that she was having a
50th birthday party for her sister, and they wanted an author to attend this event. Eager to promote my novel, I agreed to come.
I went to the party located in an upscale neighborhood in Maryland. While I spoke, people asked me questions. Somebody asked me about sending my book to Oprah. I replied that I’d sent the novel to Oprah, but got no response. The birthday woman/guest of honor, touched her head quickly and looked at me and said, “You’re going to be on Oprah one day.” Then she turned and resumed her conversation with the person she’d been talking to.
Later, one of the guests said to me, “Did you hear what she said about your being on Oprah? She’s an ordained prophet, so you should listen to her.”
I thought. “Hmm. She’s an ordained prophet. What, exactly, makes someone an ordained prophet?”
What’s the point of this post? I’m not sure! I’d be interested in hearing if any of you have had any experience with Bible prophecy. Has a prophet ever told you something that became true later?
I’d think if a person is prophesying something in the name of Jesus, then, ultimately, it will come true. I don’t think they would change their mind later and say, “I didn’t prophecy that right. This is what God’s telling me now!”
I received a nice review of my novel, John’s Quest, book one in the Chesapeake Weddings collection. Here’s what Molly had to say about my novel:
Cecelia Dowdy’s writing abilities are outstanding! She knows how to make God’s light shine through the pages of John’s Quest, a book that will be in her upcoming release, Chesapeake Weddings. Cecelia brings Monica and John, two very different people, together in an unexpected way to help each other out and through these two very different people, she teaches us about the importance of completely relying on and surrendering ourselves to God and His will for us. And in doing that, we might just find out that our dreams will come true. In my opinion, Cecelia Dowdy is an author worthy of many praises for writing a wonderful, inspiring five star book. Highly recommended!
If you’re a member of Good Reads, you can also see and comment about Molly’s review here.
Stephanie, the covers of your books are fabulous! They look so colorful and fun – very appealing to YA readers. Can you tell me if most of your readers are teenagers, pre-teens or both? Have you had any adult readers to write to you and comment about your novels?
Thank you! Didn’t the covers turn out great? The team at Revell did a great job, especially at picking the model. She’s the PERFECT Skylar.
All of the readers who have written to me have been teenagers. High school, mostly. I’ve had one mom e-mail me, but it sounded like just her daughter had read my books. So far, the adult readers have mostly been people I know personally. Many of them then recommend the Skylar books to teenagers they know, so I assume they enjoy them!
What made you choose YA fiction? Is this your favorite genre to read?
I LOVE reading YA fiction. Even though I read a variety of genres, I find YA books are the ones I really gobble up.
In high school, I wrote books about high school students, but I assumed I would grown out of it. After I graduated and decided to pursue publication, I wanted to write “serious” novels, like you’d study in English class. But I couldn’t think of a single idea. The only ideas I ever had were for YA books. Finally, I gave in to what was clearly God’s calling. Now I love what I do so much that I can’t remember why I didn’t want to do it in the first place.
I read the first chapter of both of your novels on your website, and you have the gift for a distinctive YA voice, which I’d think would be hard for an adult to master. Do you have any advice for writers wanting to pursue a career writing YA fiction?
First, thank you!
Writing YA fiction has its own mix of challenges because you’re writing for teens, but you first have to sell it to adults (editors, agents, etc.) Also, parents are often the ones who buy the books.
This may sound stupid, but I’d recommend watching and observing a few TV shows geared toward teens. You’ll notice quickly that the teens on those shows don’t talk like teens in the real world. Instead, they talk like adults. Teens are drawn to snappy, intelligent dialogue, and I think that’s a key element of writing for them.
Another thing I would say is get ready to be vulnerable and genuine. I put a LOT of my middle and high school emotions/doubts/fears on the page, and boy does that get uncomfortable sometimes. But if anybody can sniff out a faker, it’s teens.
Who are your favorite YA authors?
In the general market, I’m a huge Sarah Dessen fan. She writes “quieter” books like I do, where descriptions sound like, “Well, it’s about this girl … and she’s not quite sure who she is … she meets this guy….” She writes fabulous stuff. I wish I knew about her when I was a teeanger.
In the Christian market, hands-down my favorite YA author is Jenny B. Jones. I laugh like crazy through her books.
***Okay, I couldn’t resist asking:
Have you read the Twilight series? If so, did you enjoy it?
So, I finally caved and bought the first two Twilight books because I’m a YA author, and it’s kinda expected. I started the first one when I was sick … and 24 hours later I closed it and started New Moon … and 24 hours later I dragged my toddler along to the bookstore to buy Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, which I finished a few days later. I couldn’t believe how gripping they were.
If you’re aspiring to be a YA author (or if you already are one), the Twilight Saga is mandatory. At school visits, girls ALWAYS ask if I’ve read Twilight. And if I’m Team Edward or Team Jacob. (Jacob.)
Thanks for being on my blog today, Stephanie! We’re doing a book giveaway: A copy of Out With The In Crowd!
Leave a comment with your email address if you’d like to be entered into the drawing!
~Cecelia Dowdy~
***This giveaway is now closed. A winner has been chosen. See this blog post for more details.
I’m kicking off the New Year by announcing my next book giveaway. These romance (and one women’s fiction)titles will be given to one winner.
Leave a comment with your email address to enter the contest! If you don’t leave your email address then you will not be entered! Also, by entering this contest, you’re agreeing to become a part of my mailing list – I don’t send mass emails often, so don’t worry about getting too many emails from me!
Some of these novels are brand new, never read, and some are slightly used. Here is the list of books that I’m giving away:
1. In Search Of A Hero by Cheryl Wolverton
2. 
The Long Road Home by Rachel Druten
Will Becca find her true love at home? After the death of her mother, Rebecca Hostettler is determined to become a doctor – no easy task for a woman in the late 1890s. Peter Chaloupek, taken in and raised by the Hostettlers since age ten, wants nothing more than to continue farming with Becca’s father and marry the woman he loves-the future Dr. Rebecca Hostettler But when Becca writes home, singing the praises of a wealthy, handsome young man she met her first day at medical school, Peter fears that Becca will never see him as anything but a brother. Is it too late for Peter to fulfill his dreams? Will Becca become the wife of a future lawyer and politician, or will she take the long road home and find her true love?
3. 
Kind-Hearted Woman by Janet Spaeth
Colin Hammett is drifting, searching for meaning in life. Maybe 1935 wasn’t the best year to do this – deep in the Great Depression. But this is his life now, and he’s not sure where to turn next. Lolly Prescott is feeling every moment of a hot, penniless summer. When her brothers carry a half-dead man in the front door and onto the couch, she doesn’t know whether to run or just give in and give up. As Colin struggles to regain memory, the Prescotts’ finances reach the breaking point. Can the attraction between Colin and Lolly grow amid such uncertainty?
4. 
God Gave The Song by Kathleen E. Kovach
Skye has spent his entire life dealing with abandonment issues. But as an adult, he’s finally happy…until the day he gets a call from a lawyer saying his hippie mother, Hannie, is in a coma. When Skye shows up on Hannie’s alpaca ranch as the surprised and hostile heir apparent, Ruthanne struggles to believe that her wonderful employer could be the same woman who caused the pain in Skye’s eyes. Will Skye and Ruthanne allow their unforgiveness to keep them bound and unfulfilled, or will God use a strange situation to heal their past hurts and anger?
5. 
Noah’s Ark by Debby Mayne
Now that she has a bachelor’s degree in art history, Emily is unable to find work in her field. So she heads to West Virginia, the only place she’s ever felt at home, to see if she can figure out what to do with her life. Noah may be in over his head. His veterinary practice is taking off, but he has little help and too many clients in arrears. When Emily comes to work for him part-time, her skills and pleasant nature quickly pull things into order. At least in the office. His heart, however, is another matter!
6. 
Finding Home by Jennifer Johnson
Five years ago, as an unwed pregnant college student, Sadie placed her baby girl with adoptive parents. Since that heart-wrenching decision, not a day has passed that Sadie doesn’t think of her daughter. Yet, she knows the Lord orchestrated Ellie’s adoption into a loving Christian home. But a letter written by Ellie’s adoptive father, Cam, delivers sad news that Ellie’s adoptive mother has died. Is Cam’s invitation to visit Ellie an answer to Sadie’s prayers? Will Sadie’s empty arms finally be filled by her longed-for child? Or will she find another kind of love altogether?
7. 
Sweet Harmony by Janice Hanna
Tangie Carini had her sights set on landing a lead in a Broadway play. But when her career flounders, she ends up in Harmony, New Jersey, as a church drama director. Will Tangie find the role of a lifetime where she least expects it? Stodgy music director Gregg Burke realizes he needs help. But how is he ever going to work with the outrageously eccentric Tangie Carini? Or will he discover that opposites attract?
8. Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber (this book was autographed by the author)
10. A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman
If you’ve read my novels, John’s Quest, Milk Money, or Bittersweet Memories, feel free to leave reviews on Christianbook.com on the Chesapeake Weddings (the re-release of all 3 of those titles) link. Even if you’ve only read one of those titles, you can still leave a review if you wish! 🙂