Changing for the better, by Myra Johnson

My last couple of blog posts have dealt with our recent move from North Carolina home to Texas. As anyone who has ever moved can understand, even after three months we’re still getting settled. It’s…a process. 

And though we love almost everything about our new home, there were a few changes we needed to make. First item on the list was fencing the backyard so our doggies would have a safe place to run and play. They’re taking full advantage, too, romping or sunning in “real” grass (plush and durable St. Augustine vs. the scraggly fescue that struggled to survive in our shady NC lawn).

Penny & Poppy enjoying the lawn.

Another no-go in our new home was a master bathroom with a lovely soaking tub…but a single sink and NO shower! Especially with our daughter’s family of six expected for a visit next month, no way could all eight of us take turns using the shower in the guest bath! So for the past several weeks, we’ve endured the come-and-go of plumbers, carpenters, painters, electricians, tilers, and granite installers as we change the master bath to a tub/shower combo and add a sink. The end result will be both functional and attractive, the bathroom redesigned exactly as we’d envisioned.

Stages of our remodeling project from start to almost finished!

Writing a book has a lot in common with a remodeling project. The first draft may tell a good story, but it usually needs a little help (or a LOT!) before it’s ready for publication. A scene that goes nowhere? It’s out. The character who chose a certain course of action when the plot really needed her somewhere else? Gotta fence her in. Once character and plot are working in concert, then we get down to the nitty-gritty of polishing sentences and paragraphs, checking spelling and punctuation, and ensuring the finished book reflects the vision we began with.

And just for fun, a photo of Denali getting some outdoor time since he's not allowed to roam free.

It’s also good to remember that since God is the Author of Life, He is constantly at work on a remodeling project in each one of us. Unhealthy habits, harmful choices, negative emotions—these are all things God can help us change so that, day by day, we are growing into the people He created us to be. It takes patience and persistence, along with an unshakable faith that even when progress seems slow and we feel frustrated or discouraged, God knows exactly what He’s doing.

Have you undergone a remodeling project recently? Learn any important lessons along the way?

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Native Texan Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, released last month. Book two, Their Christmas Prayer, will be out in October.


Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:

Autumn Rains

Romance by the Book

Where the Dogwoods Bloom 

The Horsemen of Cross Roads Farm (3-book collection)

And…mark your calendars for June 27-July 1, when Pearl of Great Price will be free for Kindle and other e-readers!

An abandoned Arkansas lake resort holds the key to a young woman’s past . . . and her future.

Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. After living five years in Oklahoma, then eight years in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband are thrilled to be back in the Lone Star State enjoying wildflowers, Tex-Mex, and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

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Many steps from idea to published book, by Myra Johnson

This week I’m finishing up the first round of editorial revisions on my next Love Inspired romance. The beautiful thing about working with an editor is the powerful synergy that comes from sharing ideas. My editor never pushes me to use her exact suggestions. Instead, she points out weak areas in the plot and characterization, then offers her thoughts about possible fixes. I use those ideas as jumping-off points to brainstorm changes that will address the problems while best preserving my vision for the story.

Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

There will be more back-and-forth as the manuscript is polished and the final text proofread, but all those extra eyes on every page help to ensure a book worthy of the Love Inspired imprint. Yes, the occasional typo, research error, or cover art discrepancy is bound to slip through, because we’re all just human beings, each of us doing our best to provide an enjoyable and inspiring reading experience.

And the Love Inspired readership is a voracious bunch! It still amazes me to realize Harlequin publishes SIX brand new Love Inspired romances and SIX Love Inspired Suspense novels every month! That’s a lot of hours logged by writers, editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders, plus the art and marketing departments and everyone else involved from the germ of an idea in the author’s mind until it becomes the published book you’re holding in your hands.

12 books a month = 144 books a year!

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

Readers, what questions have you always wanted to ask about the book publishing process?

Authors, which aspects of publishing have taken you most by surprise?

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Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series has been officially titled The Rancher’s Redemption and is currently slated for a May 2019 release.


Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. Originally from Texas but now residing in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband love the climate and scenery, but they may never get used to the pulled pork Carolinians call “barbecue”! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

Website

Facebook

Twitter: @MyraJohnson and @TheGrammarQueen 

Goodreads

Instagram

Pinterest

Sign up to receive Myra’s e-news updates here!

Ask Elnora--About Maneuvers? Lenora Worth

Hello my darlings. How I've missed you but I enjoyed my time off and I'm so glad we got to know some of those wonderful RITA nominated books! I must read all of them. Elnora is behind on her reading list. But I have very good excuses. I just finished a long Superromance that I so enjoyed writing. It's off to my clever editors for well .... more edits ... I'm sure. So of course I celebrated with new shoes and a few days away from my computer. But it's hard to stay away for any amount of time.

I had to maneuver things so I could enjoy my down time. I had big plans to finally get this office into shape, to finally go back through and "edit" my overflowing closet yet again, big plans to sit on the beach and read all the books I've been pining to read, big plans to climb mountains and scale walls and ... well, I haven't done much of anything but I've enjoyed my rest. Now it's off to Atlanta to the RWA Conference. I have a great and full schedule--and a workshop on Saturday with one of my favorite people--Marta Perry--and one of my favorite editors--Tina James. We maneuvered into getting this workshop and we're excited to talk about writing. I'll try to give conference highlights next week.

In my last home, a big train maneuvered its way along a track just past my yard. We laughed about the noise and how it shook the earth when we first moved in but we got used to the train and always waved when it passed near the trees. Here where I live by the bay, we hear a different kind of maneuver. We live surrounded by military bases--air force and navy and a couple of very secretive fields and reservations. So we often hear our military practicing maneuvers. When I first heard the boom, boom right outside my door, I did a jump, jump right out of  my recliner. Then I realized what was going on. Now when I hear the rat-ta-ta-tat of a big gun somewhere, instead of scaring me it makes me feel safe. There are heroes out there in the shadows, practicing to protect me. Sigh.

One night recently, Big D and I walked out on the dock to look at the stars. I saw some flickers in the distance. Like fireflies dancing on the clouds. My husband explained that was maneuver planes flying over one of those secretive fields. I have to say it was a lovely sight. Better than fireworks even.

So Happy Belated Fourth of July, my precious people. Let freedom ring or boom or rat-ta-tat. I'm thankful for new shoes and for the freedom to write these words and my books. I'm thankful for the military men and women who are out there protecting me. And I'm thankful for all of you, too!

Now what did I miss while I was away? Come sit by me and let's catch up!!!