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Kristena Tunstall > The Journey > The Journey with Joanne Sher

Posted on March 7, 2014 By Kristena Tunstall

The Journey with Joanne Sher

Joanne_0684-smallPlease welcome this weeks guest Joanne Sher for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey?

How have I seen God work in my writing journey? For me, this question is huge, in so many ways. Because, you see, it is because of my writing journey that I became a Christian. And it is because I am a Christian, and associate with other Christian writers, that my writing journey is where it is today. So, here I go. 🙂

You see, I was raised Jewish in Southern California. I knew very little about Christianity – and what I did know was either secular or negative, for the most part. I studied to be an English teacher in California, then realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do. So I went to writing, married a native Michigander, and moved to the Mitten State, where eventually I got a job as freelance reporter for the Grand Rapids Press.

To be blunt, there aren’t many Jews in West Michigan. In fact, I was the only one who worked for the paper – so the religion editor asked me to cover an event at the local synagogue. I agreed, and he started sending me on religion assignments.

My “Jewish stories” ended quickly (as they were precious few), and, one day in September, he assigned me to cover a Christian woman’s conference. I went in skeptical, and came out questioning how thousands of women could seem so happy and connected – and why I suddenly felt a peace that left me when I walked out the venue door.

I had to know what they had – what I had had. And I wanted it back. I started by investigating my own religion, reading through the entire Old Testament in two weeks, and typing up two dozen single spaced pages of notes on my thoughts. My questions were many.

I moved into the New Testament, which I finished in another week, along with another ten pages of notes. (I’m a writer for sure – can’t you tell?) And my reading and note taking gave me many answers.

But it wasn’t until I started reading through the Bible again, and got to the 53rd chapter of Isaiah, that I realized that Jesus Christ, the Name some members of my family used as a curse word, was the Messiah my people had been looking for for years – that most were STILL looking for. That February day fifteen years ago, I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior – and several months later, one year to the day from that conference that “started it all,” I was baptized by immersion in my own backyard pond – and the religion editor came to watch.

Fast forward a decade or so. My kids are in school, and I’ve begun writing short Christian fiction, and experimented with writing a biblical fiction novel. I’m a member of both FaithWriters and ACFW, but I am struggling with my craft, audience, and the stuff most writers struggle with at some point. I feel like I may be on the wrong track – but I don’t know what the right one is.

Insert two dear friends – one from FaithWriters and one from ACFW – who offer to basically PAY MY WAY to a Christian writers conference, which there was no way I could have afforded to attend, save a miracle, otherwise.

After much searching and praying, I decide on the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference just this last May. It is a wonderful, inspiring, and God-filled experience, and it makes me realize EXACTLY where God wants me in my writing journey.

I am to write books for children – picture books, to be more specific. Which is what I have been focusing on, with great joy, since November of 2013. I’m still pre-published (for goodness sake – I’ve only been doing this for FOUR MONTHS – what do you expect? ;)), but I LOVE what I do. I’m learning SO much, and I’m getting opportunities to share the love of Christ with writers who don’t know Him. And even if I don’t ever get published, I know that I’m where God wants me.

God found ME through writing, and I found my writing direction from Him. How cool is that?

And, if I may, I’d like to share one of my new “most favoritest” quotes – from legendary children’s author Jane Yolen. I hope it inspires and encourages you.

“If you write FOR a particular market or FOR a particular editor you will often miss the mark. But if you write because your fingers have danced across the keyboard, because a character has tapped you on the shoulder, because a story has settled in your heart, then even if you never sell it you have done the work you were meant to do. And sometime, dear readers, real magic happens.”

BIO
Joanne Sher is a Jew by birth, a Christian by rebirth, and a children’s writer by gift. A native Southern Californian, she now lives happily in West Michigan with her husband and two school-aged children. In addition to writing, she is also a freelance editor, the blogger at the FaithWriters blog, and posts monthly at Jewels of Encouragement, The Barn Door, and Internet Cafe Devotions. Visit her at www.joannesher.com. You can also connect with her on twitter and her Facebook author page.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannesherwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joannesher

 

Day 83: Retyping the Best

March 8, 2014 Kristena Tunstall 2
This is an interesting concept. Have you ever thought about taking one of your very favorite books and retyping it out? That's right, the entire thing. Nope? Well, I hadn't either until I read about today's phrase. Here is a small excerpt from the book: "When Donald Ray Pollock turned…
 

Day 82: Finding a Genre

March 6, 2014 Kristena Tunstall 0
I'm a romance nut. I started off reading teen romances by the time I was 13 or 14 years old. I eventually graduated to adult romances. The ones I like the most are historical romances set in the UK somewhere, but mostly in London. I also like to read historical…

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Comments

  1. Patty Wysong says

    March 7, 2014 at 5:28 am

    Joanne, your story never fails to inspire me. I love hearing it. 🙂
    And I love that quote fron Jane Yolen.
    Hugs!!

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 7, 2014 at 4:04 pm

      Hugs back for sure 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Joanne Sher says

    March 7, 2014 at 5:45 am

    Thanks so much, Kristena, for letting me share my writing journey here!

    • Kristena Tunstall says

      March 7, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      Joanne, thank you for sharing your journey with us. I’ve been blessed to have read it.

  3. jheitman22 says

    March 7, 2014 at 5:57 am

    Thanks, Kristena, for hosting, and thanks Joanne, for sharing your heart & soul journey with us.

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 7, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      You are very welcome – it’s been a blessing!!

    • Kristena Tunstall says

      March 8, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      It’s been my pleasure to have Joanne sharing her journey with us all.

  4. kbailey374 says

    March 7, 2014 at 6:05 am

    thank you! how exciting for you!

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 7, 2014 at 4:06 pm

      It is VERY exciting -thanks for stopping by!

  5. Ada Brownell says

    March 7, 2014 at 9:15 am

    Marvelous testimony! I was blessed by it.God is with you.

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 7, 2014 at 9:36 am

      Thanks so much, Ada! Glad my testimony blessed you. God is good 🙂

  6. Ann says

    March 7, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    What a joy it’s been to see the skip back in your step and twinkle in your eyes! Blessings over your writing, my dear prayer sister.

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 9, 2014 at 4:16 am

      Thank you, sweet Ann. 🙂

  7. tinamcho says

    March 7, 2014 at 9:01 pm

    Thanks for sharing your testimony, Joanne! That’s awesome. Welcome to the 12×12 community! I also have written for the Christian children’s market.

    • Joanne Sher says

      March 9, 2014 at 4:17 am

      Very cool – and thanks for the welcome. Loving 12 x 12. Appreciate you stopping by!

      • Kristena Tunstall says

        March 9, 2014 at 8:24 pm

        Hi Joanne, I hope this doesn’t sound like a silly question, but what does 12 x 12 stand for?

        • Joanne Sher says

          March 10, 2014 at 3:02 am

          Not a silly question at all. It is a picture book writing challenge/community with all sorts of benefits and perks. The name of it comes from the main goal of it – to write a total of twelve picture book drafts in 2014 (I.e. 12 manuscripts in 12 months). A fabulous learning opportunity with fellowship and prizes and community and ALL that kind of stuff. http://Www.juliehudlund.com/12-x-12/ it’s too late to join this year, but id highly recommend it for next for anyone interested in picture book writing!

          • Kristena Tunstall says

            March 10, 2014 at 7:14 pm

            That’s sounds really kewl. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity.

  8. LauraLee says

    March 17, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Your testimony is so powerful, a testament to the sovereignty & goodness of God. Glad you could share it here!

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