It's Official!!

[LynnMcMo]

For those who may not know, I am now officially a published novelist!  My first novel, a Christian romance called Forsaking the Call, was published by CreateSpace this week.  It was officially released for sale on Tuesday, December 9, 2008.  And though some may not believe this, the fact that it was released on the same day as No Limits: The Will to Succeed by Michael Phelps was released.  Honest, I did not plan that!  Though I have a feeling I will forever be able to tell anyone the date that his book was published.  Wonder if that will ever be a question on Jeopardy?

                Anyway, this post is about my book.  I don't talk about myself real often.  My kids and my husband-yeah, I brag on them a lot.  But I am normally too shy to and self-conscious to brag about the good things I have done.  This, however, is an exception.  I am very pleased with this book release.  Not because I think it is the best book ever written or even that this is necessarily the best story that I have ever written.  No, I am proud of it for one simple reason-I did it!  After 20 years of dreaming and procrastinating and even doubting, I finally finished a book-length manuscript and published it.  This is proof to me that dreams can and do come true.  No more dreaming of being a novelist.  I AM a novelist.  Whether this book ever actually sells doesn't much matter (though I would never, ever turn down the royalty checks!).  Just the fact that I published a novel is enough for me.

                Not that I am giving up writing!  I actually have two more book-length drafts finished, The Ladies of Faith and Summertime.  I am also working on an outline for another novel, Off the Deep End, and a devotional book, God Vs. The Dirty Socks.  My plan at the moment is to enter one of the novels in an unpublished novel contest in the spring.  Not real sure which one yet, but I do plan on entering!  And I hope to have the devotional ready to shop around to publishers by next Christmas.

                Forsaking the Call is the story of Joel and Hannah Hawkins.  Joel has grown disillusioned with church and with God, while Hannah has never had any kind of a Christian background at all.  Their best friends, Nate and Connie, are both Christian who live out their faith rather than blatantly preaching at others.  When I difficult pregnancy threatens Hannah's life, she finds herself drawn more and more toward the God that Connie lives for.  Joel is forced to face his past or lose his family forever.

                If you are interested in purchasing Forsaking the Call, it is available at Amazon.com and at my CreateSpace estore.  Both links are at the end of this post.  For the first two months the book is for sale, I am donating 100% of my profits to my home church, Cascades Wesleyan Church in Jackson, MI.  The support and prayers of my church family have kept me writing and made publication possible.  This is just my way of thanking them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  I will keep you updated on my writing progress as I am able.

Lynn McMonigal

 http://www.amazon.com/Fosaking-Call-Lynn-McMonigal/dp/1440447489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229109990&sr=8-1  

https://www.createspace.com/3357811

 

[babys_mommy]

Dec. 12, 2008 at 3:51 PM

Conratulations! I t just goes to show that you should NEVER give up on your dreams. i hope that you are truly proud of yourself. Publishing a novel is a real feat. Good job again

[LynnMcMo]

Dec. 13, 2008 at 9:11 AM

Thank you!!  I am very excited.  I told my husband this is better than when the kids were born--I had c-sections and couldn't danc around with any of them to show my happiness!!!  LOL

(Original Poster)

[Herstory]

Dec. 14, 2008 at 6:33 PM

Very inspirational!

Congratulations & wishing your 1st novel much successful readership - Hooray!

Doing the happy dance with you (virtually - LOL)

[Piscean]

Dec. 15, 2008 at 7:06 AM

Congrats! You must feel amazing. :)