I was honored to be honored early this month with a book signing in the San Francisco Bay Area. Thank you to Kristin Day, the perfect hostess who welcomed us all into her castle in Portola Valley. Hot cider, scrumptious cookies, cheeses and fruits were served around His Majesty’s humble manger, as forty dear friends and family members celebrated my impossible dream come true. I read Chapter 15, “Keeping Jesus In,” sold and signed many books, then gave everyone a glittering star, celebrating the BIG MOMENT in this wanna-be-a-published-writer’s life.
I still remember the BIG MOMENT on August 13 when we received the proof of His Majesty. Some books flow and some grind. My book required ten plus years of writing class after writing class, where feeble attempts were tweaked and tweaked and tweaked with finally one story then another making it to paper. Despite my waxing and waning discipline, God birthed His Majesty in Brokenness. As I behold the finished product, my goose bumps whisper: “I can’t believe I lived every one of these stories!” What’s your BIG MOMENT for this decade? Or are you praying for it to happen in 2011. A goal? A relationship? A healing? To fan the flame of your longing, I pass on my favorite quote from Ann Kiemel, the author of the book I Love the Word Impossible: “Life is filled with ordinary days, when there’s no one there to praise you and no one to pat you on the back. But throw your very best into today and one day all those ordinary days will make a BIG MOMENT in your life.” Here are a few photos. More can be found on my Judy Squier Facebook Page.
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Recouping from surgery, especially when recovery is a pain-free, buys lots of reading time. May I strongly recommend the following great reads:
All four books deal with more than one can stand pain – all four resonate with my testimony in His Majesty in Brokenness: Jesus, the Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, DOES meet us in our pain and when we admit we are hurting, walls of isolation fall down, community is born and the ripple effect of healing brings relief to the Body and glory to His name.
Each author has a website, even blogs, and each is brutally honest with no candy-coating of how bad life can hurt. HOWEVER, their books along with mine provide convincing evidence that we dare not quit before the happy ending, the beginnings of which will bless our socks off this side of heaven. I’m not wishing surgery on you but I am recommending you add these books to your Christmas list (If you can wait that long!). Also, it’s exciting to watch the readers of His Majesty stocking up with 5, 10, 15 more copies for Christmas gifts. I am happy to personalize and gift wrap your books as you designate your wishes on the Paypal memo. www.judysquier.com Every author welcomes a newspaper interview followed by an article about your book in the local paper. But your knees knock as you wait to see how you look in the photo and how your are portrayed by the reporter. I give this article 5 stars. Journalist Kathleen hit the nail on the head in capturing the real me.
Reach reporter Kathleen Alaks
at 541-474-3815 or kalaks@thedailycourier.com 1,000 thanks to Kara Ferris for getting this pix as she gave Nick Vujicic my book His Majesty in Brokenness. Can’t wait to read his book Life Without Limits, which will be released 10/26/10. And can’t wait to meet Nick myself.
Read more about Nick Vujicic and learn more about his upcoming book: Life Without Limits. Writing my book His Majesty in Brokenness was lots of work. Now for the fun part: hearing feedback from readers. I love this Facebook note from Bonnie Phillips:
Peering into our souls can be oh, so scary, but oh, so necessary. More and more I think to myself, I expected to be further along than I am! Why? I still find it unnatural to put others before myself, I’ve yet to be thankful when the freeway’s fast lane comes to a screaming halt and I have far to go with Jesus’ command:Be anxious for nothing. Peering into my soul makes me thankful I have a Savior. He grows bigger as I grow smaller. And to think He’s not disappointed in what He sees because He sees His finished work in me.
His unconditional love gives me courage to pray Psalm 139:23-24 (TLB) Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Traveling in a wheelchair has it’s moments and once in a blue moon years of frustrations are redeemed.
Restrooms can be a test with only one handicapped space to 10 others. And in airports, in particular, women with luggage, love the extra room. Departing from SFO, preparing to pre-board for a flight with no wheelchair access to the restroom, it was no surprise to find the airport ladies’ room wheelchair stall occupied. As I parked my chair outside, the door flung open and a woman burst out. “I saw your chair and came out. I’ll use another.” Two strangers hugged in the restroom knowing that though we both had been inconvenienced Love had won. I love the feedback from people reading “His Majesty in Brokenness.”
Here’s a few samples of how readers are using my book:
And I will be using it as a model in November for teaching others to write their own story. What a joy to share my story at two Christian Women’s Clubs on the Oregon coast this past week. My second speech was over and my traveling companion, Ginny, and I were about ready to get into the car and head home. Suddenly a honking car pulled over to the curb and the driver jumped out. We recognized her from the luncheon.
“I’m wondering if you want a stepping stone for your garden,” she looked me in the eye as I sat there in my wheelchair. Her words caught me off guard: A stepping stone? How would footless Judy ever need one? My honest response caught her off guard, “God does love paradox, yes, I’d love a stepping stone.” Her trunk contained five beautiful cement blocks she’d decorated. I chose the one with chips of broken blue and white English plates shaped in a star. Beauty out of brokenness. How perfectly her art fit the message I’d just given: Getting What’s Broken Fixed for a Lifetime. The stepping stone found a home in my garden and in my heart providing a daily reminder that one day I’ll be able to use it when my heavenly body can not only step but skip and dance. Not today but soon now very soon we are going to meet the King. He sees His finished work long before we do. What about You? A wedding dress, Lord, but the man of my dreams hasn’t proposed yet. A sobriety badge, but I just joined Alcoholics Anonymous. A frame for that coveted college diploma, but I’m only a freshman. A size 12 birthday dress when my closet is bursting with 4X. Lord, give us eyes to see what You see, but better yet give us eyes to see YOU! I believe in miracles. Even more so now that my first book is published.
This dream could have died a quiet death each time an editor rejected my book proposal. Yes, I’d crawl home after writing conferences in California, New Mexico and Oregon wondering why I paid for such torture. I remember early on waiting expectantly for certain praise as someone read my manuscript. Their response devastated me: “I suggest you take some writing classes.” UGH! But I followed their advice and 20 years later I’m a published author. Hugging my finished work proves to me that miracles happen. Husband David, daughter Elizabeth and I shouted for JOY when we unwrapped the proof from Amazon’s Createspace self-publishing. Then 18 month old GRANDbaby, Brianna, sensing something monumental had happened, threw up her little arms and gave her own Alleluia for her granny. Truly a glory-filled moment. My book proves to me there are no hopeless cases. And I have enough hope to pass on to you too. |
AuthorJUDY SQUIER has authored His Majesty in Brokenness, Living in the Names of God and the Living in the Names Bible Study. Husband David and she have three adult daughters, three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren. Never did Mr. and Mrs. Squier dream that their long-awaited golden wedding anniversary would coincide with David’s memorial service. Judy resides in southern Oregon, alone, yet not alone. Thanks to the Good Shepherd! Categories
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