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| RWA 2015 Literacy Autographing, NYC |
Debby Giusti here!
Summer
isn’t summer without a trip to the beach. Usually we head to the Gulf Coast ,
but his year, we changed direction and ended up at Myrtle Beach , South Carolina
The first
morning I rose early, grabbed my camera and left the hotel, ready to snap some
photos. The day was picture perfect with clear skies, warm sunshine and blue
water that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Seagulls cawed
overhead, then swooped low and glided across the water in search of fish. Others
forged for mole crabs they swallowed whole, while still others watched the
waves, their heads turned into the wind, like tiny statues in the sand.
All around
me, sandpipers scurried on stick-like legs. Digging with their long, thin
beaks, they searched for tiny, butterfly-shaped clams, called coquinas, buried
in the wet sand.
In the
distance, I spotted a fisherman standing in the surf. He cast his line then
anchored his pole on the beach and repeated the process with a second rod and
reel. I raised my camera and snapped a few shots as I walked toward him.
Mid-sixties
with a ruddy complexion and weather-worn skin, the man nodded a greeting as I
approached, and we struck up a conversation. Originally from New York
“What have
you caught?” I asked, eager to know about the bounty of the Carolina
“Just about
everything over the years. Red snapper, pompano, whiting, flounder. Even a
shark.”
Scanning
the water, his brown eyes narrowed in the glare from the sun’s reflection. “There.”
He pointed. “See the ripples? A school of mullet is heading this way. They’re
good bait, and whenever you see the smaller fish, you know the big ones are
nearby.”
Scooping up
his net from where it lay on the sand, he wrapped the cast line around his
wrist and waded into the surf. Patiently, he waited as the churning
water, alive with fish, undulated closer.
With one swift
swoop, he tossed the net high into the air. It opened in a circle mid-flight
and landed atop the waves, visible for only a moment before it dropped below
the surface.
Quickly, he
pulled the line to trap the fish, but when lifted from the water, the net was
empty. Undeterred by his failed attempt, he repeated the process over and over
again. The mullet eluded capture, yet he continued on, seemingly unfazed by his
lack of success.
Eventually,
I walked on, but my thoughts remained on the fisherman with the empty net. In a
way, I could see how fishing paralleled the writing life.
I thought of my years of persistence before my first book sold. I wrote six completed manuscripts and many partials and sent them out to contest judges and publishing houses and literary agencies, hoping to garner interest from someone, from anyone.
Yes, I got
discouraged at times, but invariably when at my lowest ebb, something unexpected
– a request, a contest final, a rejection that included encouragement or a bit
of praise – buoyed me to continue on.
As time passed, my writing improved, but the goal to publish seemed even more elusive. I pushed on every door not knowing which one, if any, would open.
God reveals
himself through His Word, and one particular scripture passage – John 21:3-7 --
spoke to my heart, especially when I was so close, yet still unsuccessful in
fulfilling my writing dream.
You know
the story. Peter has fished all night and caught nothing. The Lord calls from
the shore and tells Peter to make a change and move his net to the other side
of the boat.
In that
passage, Christ was talking directly to me. I changed my secular intrigue into
a Christian suspense. Like Peter, my
nets had been empty so I tossed them on the other side of the boat, on the inspirational
genre side.
My story
sold. The Seekers formed. We started this blog, and now, six years later, I can
look back and see the Lord guiding me as I learned my craft and honed my skills
and eventually transitioned from secular to Christian stories. God’s timing is
perfect and, indeed, it was for me.
Retracing
my steps that morning at Myrtle Beach
Once in my
room, I settled into a comfy chair to spend quiet time with the Lord. Opening
to the day’s scripture, I had to smile.
Luke 5:1-11
Another story where the Lord
told Peter, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” As
usual, Peter groused. “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught
nothing,” but he followed the Lord’s promptings and the fish filled two boats
almost to sinking.
God had
brought me to the beach on this particular day -- in His perfect time -- so I
could watch a fisherman cast his net and reflect on Peter, who Christ called to
be a “fisher of men.”
Some years earlier, God had called me to write stories
that included his message of love and mercy. He had opened many doors along the
way, but that day at Myrtle Beach
Preparing
for this blog, I thought of the attributes fishermen possess that compliment
the writing life.
F…fortitude
I…ingenuity
S…strength
H…hard work
E…energy
R…resolve
M…management
skills
E…enthusiasm
N…never give
up
WordWeb, an
online dictionary, provided the following meanings that fit the writing life as
well:
Fortitude: Strength
of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage
Ingenuity: The
power of creative imagination
Strength: The
property of being physically or mentally strong
Hard Work:
(1) Hard: Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or
comprehend or endure; (2) Work: Activity directed toward making or doing
something; applying the
mind to learning and understanding a subject
Energetic: Enterprising or ambitious drive; an
imaginative, lively style (especially style of writing)
Resolute: Characterized by firmness and determination
Management Skills:
(1) Manage: To be successful; achieve a
goal (2) Skills: An ability that has been acquired by training
Enthusiasm:
A feeling of excitement; a lively interest
Never Give Up: Tenacity; persistent determination
Instead of leaving a comment, spend some time reflecting on the following questions. What attributes
do you find necessary for this writer’s life? Have you cast your net on the
right side of the boat? Are you listening to the Lord’s directions from the
shore? What do you see farther down the beach? Have you pushed on any doors
recently? Is there a scripture that encourages you to persevere?
Happy Writing!
Happy Writing!
Wishing you
abundant blessings,
Debby
Giusti
www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com
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PERSON OF INTEREST
By Debby Giusti
WOMAN ON THE RUN
While babysitting a young servicewoman’s
infant, Natalie Frazier hears a murder in the neighboring army duplex.
Convinced her former commander is behind the crime, the ex-soldier bolts with
the baby. But who will believe her story? Army investigator Everett Kohl deals
only with the facts, but this time his gut instincts can’t be denied. Is the
attractive Natalie a cunning killer, as his ranking officers believe, or an
innocent victim? Ordered to bring her in, Everett has a decision to make.
Helping her could cost him his job…but not protecting Natalie and the baby could get all of them
killed…
Order your copy in digital or print format:
Amazon.
