Writing--The Desire of Our Hearts

Guest Jamie Adams

Life doesn’t always go as planned. As I started to jot down notes about my writing journey the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to tell us our daughter’s surgery planned for May 2^nd had to be moved up to April 3^rd. This conversation took place on April 1^st, but it was not an April Fool’s joke. 

I had to drop everything and start juggling schedules. There were teachers to notify (my girls go to an online virtual academy) and my students in China (I teach ESL online) would need to have classes rescheduled. When I sat back down to write my thoughts were on my child and I was reminded of something that happened years ago. I want to share it here and then tie it in with my journey to becoming published. It took place in 2008. 

While listening to my six-year-old daughter praying before bed she asked God to make our roses bloom. Sweet, but it was February and our pretty rose bush was sleeping. I didn’t discourage her but thought to myself ‘she won’t remember in the morning.’

I know you expect me to share how a flower bloomed the next day, but what is truly amazing isn’t the flower so much as how and where. We have a circular driveway and I always pull forward to leave the house. On this particular morning my path was blocked. I don’t recall what it was, but I had to back up to leave. After everyone was buckled, I turned the key and looked in my side view mirror. The first thing I saw was the rose bush beside the mailbox. Centered in the reflection was one little bud that had bloomed. I would not have seen it had I pulled forward and it was not visible from the road. 

I was humbled, but my lesson in faith had just begun. That year was the year of the Super Tuesday tornado outbreak. After traveling 122 miles and wiping out our little town’s business district, the whirlwind lifted less than 300 yards from our house. What happened that evening is a story in itself. As you can imagine there was a lot of praising God going on at hour house that night. I was reminded of the rosebush and threw that into the mix of praises. 

Three nights later, energized by the power of answered prayer my dear daughter had an even bigger request. She asked God to fill the yard with flowers. I didn’t discourage her, but I was a bit concerned because this time she would surely remember her request in the morning. The next day was Saturday. There were still broken limbs from the tornado to clean up. We live on two acres in the woods. Most of our outdoor time is spent on the front deck where we can enjoy the view and listen to the birds sing. The back yard is that area that must be mowed in the summer but otherwise doesn’t get a lot of attention. Our clean up led us to the back and some interesting debris. Somewhere along the tornado’s path it must have lifted a florist supply store. Scattered all over the back yard were tiny plastic flowers of every color imaginable. To this day I can still see the looks of joy on the faces of my little girls as they filled my arms with flower after flower. 

God is amazing. He knew what my daughter was going to ask for that night before she was even born. It reminds me of Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

I love books. As a child, I made up stories before I could read. As an adult, I rarely get a good night’s sleep because I lay awake acting out stories in my mind. In my heart there is a strong desire to write. I believe God put it there. 

The best advice I could give to anyone who wants to become a writer is to read, read, read and then write what you like. One thing that surprised me when I first sought publication was the support that came from other writers. Seekerville is a testimony to that truth. So many of us have found a treasure trove of information and support from this wonderful group of authors. 

My first traditionally published book, Cold Creek Mountain is a Western Romance set in Colorado. 

Lilly Fletcher’s last duty to her recently deceased employer is to deliver his orphaned grandchildren to their uncle on Cold Creek Mountain. The final step of the journey requires securing a guide, which is not an easy task for a governess who prides herself on being independent.

Ex-scout Hayden Dawson has been grieving the tragic loss of his family for several years. When he’s asked to take a fancy governess from the city along with her wards up the mountain, he refuses at first. He has a ranch to run. However, outnumbered, by his foreman and his meddling childhood teacher, he’s coerced out of retirement for one last trip. When the ride up Cold Creek Mountain doesn’t go as planned, can these two wounded hearts work together to protect the children?

*****Jamie will be giving away two e-book copies of her debut, Cold Creek Mountain, from Anaiah Press today! Please let us know in the comments if you'd like to be entered.

Jamie Adams fell in love with books at an early age. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott opened her imagination and sparked a dream to be a writer. She wrote her first book as a school project in 6th grade. A graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature as well as member of American Christian Fiction Writers, The Writing Desk and several critique groups she spends most of her time writing, reading or learning more about the craft near to her heart. She and her family live in the Ozarks surrounded by forest and wild life. Visit Jamie at her Facebook author page and her Amazon Author Page.