Ruth writes:
It’s been an exciting and challenging year as I’ve been concentrating on the plot of the third book ‘David’ in the Hearts Desire Series. I thought it was finished, then I made a few changes to tighten the plot and suddenly it expanded beyond all recognition and didn’t so much stretch my imagination, but my knowledge. I’ll say no more because when you read the book you will understand! This too has meant tight editing because I’d written 190,000 words when the limit for a 400 page book is at most 170,00, and the print of ‘Jill’ was very small! I need to keep the books around the 400 pages because of it being a series of six I feel the covers and sizes need to be uniform so they look good on your bookshelves! This situation has meant year’s delay but I feel this is now a much better story. The first book was endorsed by Kingsway Publishing and that was very encouraging, but this year Dr Mark Stibbe of the Father’s House having read both ‘Jane’ and ‘Jill’ so loved the books he is at present reading ‘David’ with a view to endorsing it. It is our hope to publish it at the beginning of the year.
I’ve tried various publicity and marketing ventures which included an hour’s long local radio broadcast. A new experience, but very enjoyable and people often say I should do more radio work. I have hopes for more support from UCB in the coming year, but in all things it seems God is keeping me in the wings, or the waiting room! To my surprise in August I managed to get my books for sale at the New Wine bookstall and I found myself invited to do a radio interview with a view to two book signings during the conference. However, it appeared they thought I was a seminar speaker, and as I wasn’t the radio broadcast and arrangements were cancelled. A Facebook friend did a hysterical spot of advertising during those two weeks, and we did have a reasonable number of book sales considering it was lovely weather and people weren’t shopping in their Market Place. Unfortunately I am still awaiting the New Wine bookstall to pay me for those sales!!
There is a sense in these last months that the writing and publishing of these books are coming into line with the need of people to know the love of God, and although sales this year haven’t been vast I have great faith that God’s timing is perfect and 2012 we are going to see sales take off as more people begin to think ‘there must be more to life than this’. And it is interesting how often these days you hear people say ‘Oh my God’ who obviously have no faith, and text OMG. My belief is that homing beacon inside all those God has created is being switched on, and when they call in whatever manner, that like small drops of snow that melt, He nevertheless comes and touches their lives.
If you would like to be informed when ‘David’ does come out, and/or be kept up to date on what is happening in Emanuel Publishing and the Hearts Desire Series, do sign up by contacting us and just say ‘yes please’!
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