MARCIA GRUVER GUEST BLOGGER

~~~~~~~~~~MARCIA GRUVER~~~~~~~~~~
Marcia Gruver is a full time writer who hails from Southeast Texas. Inordinately enamored by the past, Marcia delights in writing historical fiction. Her deep south-central roots lend a Southern-comfortable style and a touch of humor to her writing.

Awarded a three book contract by Barbour Publishing for full-length historical fiction, Marcia is busy these days pounding on the keyboard and watching the deadline clock. Diamond Duo, the first installment in the trilogy entitled Texas Fortunes, is scheduled for release in October 2008.

Marcia won third place in the 2007 ACFW Genesis contest and third in the 2004 ACFW Noble Theme contest. Another entry in 2004 finished in the top ten. She placed second in the 2002 Colorado Christian Writer’s contest for new authors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FLYING, CARRYING SEED~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 2002 I hopped a plane and jetted over to Colorado, then took a jog to Estes Park to Marlene Bagnull’s Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference to rub shoulders with multi-published authors and hobnob with CBA elite.

Hmm?

Okay, fine!

In 2002 I hobbled to the airport with too much luggage, endured a white-knuckled flight, wandered the strange terminal, lost as a directionally challenged goose, and somehow wound up at the conference center with a dizzy head and shaky legs.

I roamed the YMCA Center for the next four days alternately teary-eyed with fear and wide-eyed with wonder. With no clue why I needed one, I made an editor appointment. A kindhearted soul explained what the appointments were for, so I jotted a few notes on the bottom of a legal pad, tore out the yellow slip of paper and carried it in my pocket to show the editor. As I remember, my WIP was a page-turner about a grossly overweight woman who falls into a coma and wakes up thin. Yeah, I know.

Two things happened at the conference that I’ll never forget:

First, the keynote speaker said the assembled writers were like dandelion seeds, flying high and spreading the Gospel message over the earth. The concept profoundly affected me and revealed why I’d left the comfort of my cozy little rut in the flatlands and flown off to the Rocky Mountains alone. I’d come by divine appointment—for flying lessons—so I could rise with the seeds of God’s message.

Second, I had crawled out on a very shaky limb and submitted an entry to the CCWC essay contest. When Marlene Bagnull revealed the winners, she laughingly said she couldn’t announce the second place winner in the new author category because there was no name on the entry. (The contest guidelines said not to put a name on the submission, so I carefully left it off the essay, the cover letter, even the return address. Oy vey!) Timid and red-faced, I approached Marlene. She read aloud the first line and confirmed that I’d won. I remember thinking how good God is to his children. This unexpected, but thrilling development drove the last nail in the coffin of self-doubt. Along with the dandelion seed epiphany, it was all the confirmation I needed that God had called me to write.

I had dabbled with writing for two years prior, but this conference and writers contest marked the beginning of my ministry. It was there I picked up my seed bag, took hold of God’s hand, then spread my wings and soared.

Come join me in the air, little dandelions. May our feet never touch the ground.

Find Marcia online at:
http://www.marciagruver.com/
and
http://www.yieldedquill.blogspot.com/