Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
As we tumble into the fall of 2016 and continue the 20th-anniversary celebration of our agency, please join me in taking an instructive look at the writing career of one of my first clients, Joanna Weaver.
An established author introduced me to Joanna, an unpublished writer. I recall our talking about her dream book ideas that ranged from gift books to children’s books to nonfiction books that dug deep into our relationship with God.
Not being sure where to focus her energies, Joanna sent me proposals for all of the above. Not long after I sent them out to publishing houses, I was serving on the faculty at Mount Hermon Writers Conference when I received one of those pink “You Received a Call” slips from the conference center’s switchboard (after all, this was 20 years ago). I was to call back an editor at WaterBrook Publishing House.
As a new agent, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pretty sure good news awaited me. I rushed over to the telephone booth and dialed in. A sale! For Joanna Weaver’s gift book on marriage, With This Ring.
Good news kept tumbling our way. Shortly after that, I received a call (with me back in my office) that a publisher wanted to produce a series of Joanna’s children’s books. That piece of news was followed by WaterBrook’s decision to publish Joanna’s first full-length nonfiction book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.
She and I, of course, had no idea that this book would flourish into a great oak tree, appearing regularly on best-seller lists and selling more than a million copies. It’s still going strong sixteen years later, selling tens of thousands of copies each year.
What a success story, right?
Let’s peek behind the scenes. Writing is agony for Joanna. She’s a perfectionist, and perfection is such a hard goal to attain. Having a Mary Heart wasn’t an easy birth. It was an act of sacrificial love for God and of obedience to finish the manuscript. Some days both she and I wondered if she could complete the task. We had many a phone call filled with prayer for strength and perseverance, and she and I both crying our fair share over how hard this task was.
She did, of course, finish the book, and it immediately was met with enthusiasm. I recall Dan Rich, who was the president of WaterBrook at the time, telling me that on its release, three authors were invited by WaterBrook to attend a book convention and sign their new releases for booksellers. Two of the authors were best-selling, well-established writers with several books to their credit. And Joanna, the newbie.
Dan watched as booksellers entered the room. As anticipated, most darted over to the two established authors to receive signed copies of their books. But then something unanticipated happened. As more booksellers came through the door, they looked at the posters of the three available books…and picked Joanna’s as the first one they wanted.
A seasoned publishing pro, Dan took note and sauntered over to the marketing staff who were overseeing the event. “Let’s put some more marketing into Joanna’s books,” he said.
Readers responded just as the booksellers did. They wanted Joanna’s book. They still do.
Joanna and I often marvel over this unforeseen reception to her labor of obedience. All we know is that God placed his hand of blessing on that book. It’s a humbling, inexplicable thought.
Lest you think that’s the end of the story, let me give you a glimpse into the years following the release of Mary Heart. Five years came and went, and Joanna’s life took her in many directions, none of which included writing another book. I would call Joanna and ask her if she had found the time and the wherewithal to start book #2. The answer was always a quiet no.
“Joanna,” I would say, “you do realize how incredible it is that sales have continued for Mary Heart at the pace they have.”
“I do.”
“You do realize you must be working on the next book to keep the momentum up.”
“I do.”
We ended the conversation with my saying, “Joanna, only write when God gives you something to say.”
I don’t actually recall saying that, but to Joanna it was the most important part of our exchange. She relaxed and let the tide of life pull her in other directions that included a new baby and her responsibilities working alongside her pastor husband.
She did eventually write two more nonfiction books, Having a Mary Spirit and Lazarus Awakening, to complete
what she calls her Bethany Trilogy. She also wrote a four-hundred-page devotional book and created a video series with study guides for the Bethany Trilogy. She’s been busy.
But each writing project has been one of obedience for Joanna, never an easy tapping out the words on a keyboard but more one that is agonizing as she writes from the deep soul lessons God presses her into.
You can learn more about Joanna at her website here.
What are you, also a writer, to make of Joanna’s journey?
- Obedience to the call is paramount. Even when the way forward is harder than you ever thought.
- God’s ways are mysterious. Joanna’s children’s book series never experienced sales of any note; yet, Mary Heart just keeps chugging on. Since we receive the royalty statements for these two books generally within days of each other, I look at the two and just shake my head. There’s no explaining God.
- Some doors will close, others will open. Your job is to try the doorknob. Gift books and children’s books haven’t composed the focus of Joanna’s writing career. The door that swung open was writing adult books about deepening one’s spiritual life.
- Don’t force yourself to write because others (or yourself) pressure you into it. Wait until God says, “Write.”
In what ways do you relate to Joanna’s writing journey?
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Oh, thank you, Janet, for telling us “the rest of the story.” Your words sang to my heart.
*How do I relate to Joanna’s journey? In obedience to the harder call. I’ve told this story before, and it sounds so simple: I wrote short devotionals. In the course of a morning commute, God dropped the outline for my WIP into my head. I assumed it was another devotional series. But I just couldn’t fit the idea into the format. I sensed God say, “It’s a book.” I responded, “I don’t do books.” And I felt him answer, “You do now.”
*The idea arrived neatly wrapped, in just 10 minutes. How hard could it be? Well, it’s been 10 years, and it’s not done yet. Mysterious ways, indeed!
You sure do do books, Shirlee. Trust me on that.
Thank you, Andrew, for the vote of confidence. You’re right. ‘Cause God is never wrong.
This is a beautiful testimony … for Joanna and for you, Janet. Just lovely. Trusting God. Waiting on God. His timing. Putting life first. The title, Mary Heart, couldn’t be more perfect for this testimony. Where the heart overrides the hurry. I love how you both waited. “Only write when God gives you something to say” … Janet, that’s just lovely.
Thanks, Shelli.I hadn’t thought about how the Mary Heart title was the epitome of what Joanna was living out. But it sure was.
Love this, Janet. One of the mot inspiring stories I have read anywhere.
* I’m learning that not writing can be a harder discipline than grinding out a set word count per day. I have a message that I want to write; it’s about hope and love and the meaning that ;lies behind everything that seems so darkly chaotic, but the vehicle isn’t yet ready. It will be, in God’s time. And I will gird my loins and wait. The patience I need will, I suspect, grow into the message.
* There are times that this feels like an absurd conceit. It’s not, “poor little ol’ me, I’m not WORTHY!”…more of a how on earth will I put these truths in words…and how on earth do you market something like this without sounding like you want to be a New Age Guru?
* Sigh. Guru it is. Growing a beard. It itches. And do turbans come in Tye-Dye?
Yes, waiting and being patient come much harder than meeting a daily word count. But we seldom talk about the behind-the-scenes hard, subtle stuff.
Now we know… rest of the story. My book dinner ladies loved that book. It is wonderful that you got to be a part of the hand of God at work. It’s fascinating how God uses authors to tell His story.
I have unpublished books and writings where I knew God was helping me. There are a couple of my blogs that went deep beyond my understanding. God used my pen/keyboard to extend His message. When I was done editing the writings, I stepped back and said, wow. I knew it was a God thing. I’ve experienced it more in speaking, though. There are times when the holy hush comes and the room stills. Everyone is listening, even the children, and you, as the speaker, know that God is doing something with your words. It’s awesome and humbling.
Glad God is the lead person in the writing relationship.
Yes, public speaking is another venue in which we can sense God at work. It’s a wonder, isn’t it?
Janet, it seems to me that the continued success of “Mary Heart” is a subtle reminder from the Almighty that winsome content (and a great title) that readers hold to their hearts is still what matters most, and that word-of-mouth is the long-time Reigning Heavyweight Champion of publicity.
You are so right. And Joanna learned early on that God was going to bless in His unique way. Marketing and publicity come and go, but God is the one who pushes a book forward.
Thank you for this. It’s reassuring to hear of other writers who labor long over words and who have seasons with no words to be written at all. But I really I needed to hear the part about obedience, leaning in and continuing through the challenges.
I’m glad those words were encouraging to you.
Janet, what an interesting story. We truly never do know what one thing we write that may tap into a deep reservoir.
*It’s inspiring to read Joanna’s story. Though she’s sold so many books, seeing the behind-the-scenes aspect of her story, and seeing how challenging it is for her is encouraging.
*I guess one similarity I see between her journey and mine is how life pulls me in a lot of directions sometimes. Being sensitive to God’s promptings and knowing His priorities is paramount.
*I so enjoyed reading this post!
“Being sensitive to God’s promptings” … yes. That can be so hard. But it seems like the longer we walk with Him, and especially after we’ve seen Him work in a sweet way on our behalf, it gets exciting, and we start watching out for His favor and blessing. Or guidance. Gentle whispers. 🙂
“Some doors will close, others will open. Your job is to try the doorknob.” Such great advice. Thanks for sharing Joanna’s journey.
*fist bump to a fellow door knocker*
It’s actually encouraging to me to know other authors find the act of writing a book to be agony on some level. That’s been the past two years for me in a way I never expected to experience. Writing has never been easy, but it has grown more laborious and time consuming with each book, so that I now take intentional steps to maintain a life outside of writing. Saying no a couple years ago to certain writing-related things I once enjoyed (like having crit partners) went against my heart in so many ways. Saying yes to things like nurturing offline friendships and volunteering at my church one day a week went against that ingrained compulsion to work, work, work (I am a perfectionist too when it comes to the writing). It’s still a struggle after a couple of years of practice. I often get the balance wrong. This post is centering, Janet. Thank you.
Lori, I’m so glad that the recounting of Joanna’s journey is an encouragement to you. Finding that life-work balance is a struggle for most of us who don’t have a job that requires set hours to be at our desks. That can translate to always being at the desk–even if it’s just mentally.
A) Obedience to the call is paramount: yes. Because although you may hear a definite call, you still have to listen when you pick up the phone. Sometimes the instructions are so slow coming, you wonder if this is really God talking. But God doesn’t wear a watch, or carry a timer.
B) God’s ways are mysterious: uhhh huh.
C) Some doors will close, others will open. Your job is to try the doorknob: people forget this. Or ignore it, thinking God’s directions will flash across the sky like some divine sky writer. Nope, step by step. Day by day.
D) Don’t force yourself to write because others (or yourself) pressure you into it: you still have to study and learn!! But the joy is in the journey, not in spite of it. If our measure of rewards is only in the accolades of others, we’re all doomed.
Yes, joy in the journey. 🙂
This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I am in a deep birthing and healing process, and to me the journey feels very long, but I also know that to Him the timing is perfect and His strength is sufficient. Thank you for this very meaningful post.
You’re very welcome, Paula.
From the outside looking into someone else’s “successful” life, I so often forget that there is more to that story than what I see. This post was a timely reminder of that truth. Thanks, Janet.
Stephanie, yes, it’s like we see the black-and-white version while the real version is in full color. We forget that much detail isn’t visible to us.
Janet, this really encouraged me today! Thank you!