*Special Offer: Comment below with your favorite article of the year (from this site) and/or your favorite book genre for a chance to win a book from one of the top author interviews.
_ _ _
There’s no doubt about it. This has been a crazy year. I wouldn’t call it the worst year of my life, but it has definitely been challenging.
From a physical standpoint, other than getting a few colds here and there and a nasty bug in May that sure seemed a lot like Covid though we all tested negative for it, we have been fine.
From a financial standpoint, we have been one of the lucky ones.
From a mental/psychological/spiritual standpoint, it has been rough.
John has been working from home since March and misses seeing his co-workers in person. It was a part of the job he loved the most for he thrives on in-person communication.
I miss getting together with the ladies from my MOPS group and miss seeing and being a part of the in-person Bible Study I had attended. Those two gatherings were among the highlights of my week, since I was able to entrust my kids to someone else for a couple of hours and enjoy the fellowship of other women.
My 7-year-old breaks down in tears occasionally because she misses her friends. While we try to schedule play-dates when we can, it’s challenging to work around various school schedules, nap times, and a 2-year-old who gets so car sick that she throws up nearly any time we try to drive somewhere.
My 4-year-old seems to be handling the lockdowns OK, but I can tell that after 10 months, she’s restless and ready to be out of the house more. We all are.
In the midst of the craziness and uncertainty, God has been good. He has shown that while circumstances change, while the science changes, while government policies and procedures seem to constantly change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We know that whatever happens, we can trust Him to be with us.
_ _ _
Writing and Publishing News
In spite of the craziness, this has actually been a great year for writing.
May: I began writing a Bible Study on 1 Corinthians and shared what I wrote on Bloom.com. I’ve now completed the study and am passing the chapters off to a critique partner while I wait to see what God wants me to do with this book. It currently stands at 19 chapters/sections (including 3 parts on background and pre-reading work); 159 pages; 37,580 words.
June: I replied to a publisher who was looking for a certain type of story – the kind that seemed to fit my life’s story. I wrote a couple of chapters, submitted them, and received some really positive feedback. It was settled. I was going to write a memoir. While there isn’t a contract, there is great interest from this publisher to read and consider my book once I’m finished. So far, I’ve written 12 chapters; 211 pages; 59,907 words. Yes, it will be very long in its first draft, but fortunately, there’s editing and revising to work it to a more manageable and market-acceptable length. There’s also the possibility of fictionalizing/novelizing it.
October: I attended a writer’s conference with this publisher where I was able to meet several of the other authors, along with the managing partner with whom I’d been communicating.
Late October: While I was working on my memoir, I decided to submit some picture books to this same publisher for consideration.
November: I signed a book contract with the publisher, Capture Me Books, for my first picture book, Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Good-bye. This book was inspired by my grandpa’s Homecoming a year ago and is dedicated to both sets of my grandparents.
Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Good-bye Book Blurb How do you explain death and heaven to a child? Princess Lillian’s parents utilize the language of her pretend princess world to help her understand that Grandpa is getting ready to go to heaven. Through it all, an angel stays close by to give comfort and communicate God’s peace and wisdom to the family.
Projected Release Date: April 15, 2021
Landing Page (where you can sign up for my newsletter and receive a preview of Princess Lillian): https://myfreebookgift.com/558/princess_lillian_landing_page/index.html
Amazon Pre-Order Page: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08Q7HCJRN
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Jenny-Fulton/e/B08R6LNQMR
And now, for the list of the most read posts on this site.
_ _ _
Most Read Posts on Heart-Soul-Mind.org
Don’t forget: comment below with your favorite article of the year (from this site) and/or your favorite book genre for a chance to win a book from one of the top author interviews.
2020 Top 10 Most Read Posts on Heart-Soul-Mind.org
- What is Life? What is Death? Are Zombies Real? By John Fulton
- Calming the Soul in a Culture of Fear, By Jenny Fulton
- Made for Conversation – Why God Made Women, By John Fulton
- Maybe It’s Ok to Not Be Ok, By Jenny Fulton
- Welcome Wednesday – From Vulnerability to Strength with Lucy Goncalves
- Welcome Wednesday – Discovering Historic Sisters in the Bible with Barbara M. Britton
- The Essential Workings of the Body Part 1: The Value of the Intellect, By Jenny Fulton
- Calming the Soul with Deep Breathing, By Jenny Fulton
- Approaching Matters of Race with Grace, By Jenny Fulton
- Striving for Unity – 1 Corinthians Chapter 11: Headship, Coverings, and the Lord’s Supper, By Jenny Fulton
_ _ _
Most Read Posts by John Fulton
- What is Life? What is Death? Are Zombies Real?
- Made for Conversation – Why God Made Women
- Outpourings of the Heart #9 – Pour Out Your Heart
- Outpourings of the Heart #10 – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
- Outpourings of the Heart #8 – God Says, I Say
_ _ _
Most Read Posts by Jenny Fulton
- Calming the Soul in a Culture of Fear
- Maybe It’s Ok to Not Be Ok
- The Essential Workings of the Body Part 1: The Value of the Intellect
- Calming the Soul with Deep Breathing
- Approaching Matters of Race with Grace
_ _ _
Most Read Author Interviews and Guest Posts
- Lucy Goncalves – From Vulnerability to Strength
- Barbara M. Britton – Discovering Historic Sisters in the Bible
- Andrew Sternke – The Living Word
- Marilyn Borga – Learning from the Past
- Angie Grigaliunas – The Gritty Business of Redemption
_ _ _
*Last Reminder: comment below with your favorite article of the year (from this site) and/or your favorite book genre for a chance to win a book from one of the top author interviews listed above.
_ _ _
* Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay
Heart Soul Mind 
Great recap of the year. I love how you have continued to dig into your journey even with the shifting sands around us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey Kathryn, thank you for reading an commenting. I’d love to follow through on my offer to send you a book from one of the authors I’ve interviewed. Email me at jennyannlitfin@gmail.com to let me know which book you’d like and what your mailing address is. To choose, you can look under the Welcome Wednesday menu tab, select which genre you’re interested in, and choose a book you’d like from those listed.
LikeLike
I love how you point to the positive, even in the midst of a difficult time. And congrats on your writing success! That’s something to celebrate!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Rachel, thank you for reading and for your congrats. 🙂 There has definitely been plenty of the cruddy in this last year, but it is nice to look back and remember the beauty and good as well. Congrats on your books! 🙂 They look really great. 🙂
LikeLike