Category Archives: writing

Table 26

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Today I really feel like a writer.

I normally work from home, but today I needed a change of scenery and I am sitting in a coffee shop. I’m hiding in the corner, in running pants and a headband hoping that I don’t see anyone I know. I have my earbuds in, typing the beginning of my 2nd book (did I just say that out loud?)

I’ve been here for almost three hours and am sweating slightly due to being over caffeinated. I wonder if this is considered loitering…..I need to go home and switch the laundry and workout, but now it’s almost lunchtime and I’m getting hungry.

If I order a salad they can’t ask me to leave, right?

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#winner!

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I am so excited and humbled this morning. I just found out that my book, “Out of the Darkroom, Into the Light” has won the Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award for Non-Fiction!

When I first published this book, I was full of fear, but trusted God in every step of the journey. I share my story to provide hope and healing to others and have had the opportunity to meet many incredible people and hear other women’s stories of abuse. Thank you to everyone who has supported my journey.

God is so good!

 

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What does it mean to “Rise Up with Our Words”? {Linkup}

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As a Christian writer, I feel a sense of responsibility to use my written words to encourage others. It all started when I decided to share my personal story of overcoming abuse. I didn’t want to do it at first, and thought of at least 100 excuses why I shouldn’t, but realized how much it would’ve helped me over the years to know that I was not the only one. I had suffered in silence for many years and felt scared, ashamed and very vulnerable. The more I thought and prayed about it, I knew that God had called me to break my silence and encourage others who may feel alone, lost or unsure of what the future holds. So I followed a new path with His word as my compass.

I wrote a book and began speaking to different groups. As I began sharing my story, more and more women approached me and told me how much they could relate. After years of being silent about my past, I was shocked to learn that there are many who share my story.

I believe that the more we rise up with our words, written or spoken, and share what is on our heart, the more we can help each other. Whether it is our testimony, struggles or just the honest truth, we can all benefit and help someone else feel less alone. We can see God working in us and through us as we share from our heart. As we do this, we are glorifying our wonderful God.

Who doesn’t love a free gift?!

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I’m excited to share that the nice people over at Cherished Magazine just told me that my article, A Journey to Faith and Forgiveness is in the January edition AND they’ve created a coupon for my friends to get a month for free!

I hope you’ll take advantage of this great offer and enjoy this encouraging magazine.

order link: Free month of Cherished Magazine

use coupon code “TRACEYGIFT”

 

Fear of rejection

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We all fear rejection, it’s human nature. Fear that we won’t fit in (remember middle school?), fear that we won’t get the job, fear that we won’t make a good impression. Being rejected makes us feel unworthy.

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When writing a book, every author worries about rejection. Will anyone read it? What will critics say? After all the time spent on edits, re-writes, and drafts, it is difficult to take rejection lightly.

I was full of fear when I asked for a professional review of my book. It took several weeks, so I waited. During the waiting, I realized that there was nothing else that I could do. I prayed (a lot!) and found comfort in this verse (Isaiah 41:10):

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

The moment finally came and I received my first real review for my book. God was right, I didn’t need to be worried. My faith in my writing and in God’s love for me was stronger than my fear of rejection.

What is your fear holding you back from? 

To read the review of my book, Out of the Darkroom, Into the Light: A Story of Faith and Forgiveness After Child Abuse, click here. The book launches on Monday!

Every Little Thing

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Have you ever felt too small to make a real difference? Do you wonder if your life matters?

This book that will give you a new perspective!

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Every Little Thing by Deidra Riggs is encouraging and empowering. In this book, Deira draws the reader in with her personal stories and reminds us that we don’t need to fix the world, but to accept God’s invitation to make a difference, right where we are. She reminds us that “small things matter for bigness too” and provides many examples from the Bible.

One of my favorite parts of the book is Deidra’s description of her first skydiving trip. She uses humor to describe her exchange with the tandem jumper and how she insisted that she would pull the cord for the parachute. Deira describes the thrill and rush of the experience of the tandem jump and a smooth landing…and then she she admits that she forgot to pull the cord. As she realizes that the other jumper pulled it and never said anything to her about it, she reminds us of God’s grace:

“God, who is going to do something incredible despite us. God, who invites us to join him in the journey and the adventure of a lifetime. He doesn’t point his finger at us and count all the ways we mess up. Not even when we think we’ve got it all under control and we tell him so.

Sometimes our dreams are like that. They are big, and we approach them with bravado and tell God we’ll take it from here. Thank God for grace. It covers us in situations such as these, like a brightly colored canopy unfurled over us before we realize just how badly we need it and how out of control we really are.”

Would you like a copy of Deidra’s book Every Little Thing: Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are?

Write a comment, like or share this post and you will automatically be entered into a contest to win a gift set of this book and an Everlasting Light Shine necklace from DaySpring!