When Reads the Heart with Amanda Cabot
Today I am honored to welcome Amanda Cabot to our When Reads the Heart series as she shares a heartwarming letter from one of her readers.
What made me I think I should write this story? What made me think I could write it? Those
questions bounced through my head countless times as I was working on Scattered Petals, the second of my Texas
Dreams trilogy. Yes, it’s true that I
write stories of healing. Yes, it’s true
that I begin each day by praying that my words will touch readers’ hearts and
deepen their faith, but why did I feel compelled to create a heroine who’s
raped on her way to a wedding?
The research was painful.
So, too, was the actual writing.
I wept as I wrote the scene where Priscilla’s parents are murdered and
she’s attacked. I wept as I wrote the
scenes where she tries to deal with the trauma.
And all the while, I kept asking why? Why was I writing this story?
The answers began to come soon after the book was published
in early 2010, and they still continue in the form of letters from
readers.
“Scattered Petals
was very special to me,” wrote one woman.
“You see, I have a horrendous past which I have not been able to get
over. So I can very much relate to both
Priscilla and Zach. And I especially
needed to read again and again that God has plans for each of us and see the
possibilities for my life by seeing what He did to make good out of the bad in
the lives of those two. Even more than
that, as I read all the things Zach did and said to love and help Priscilla, I
thought about the many things God has done to help me get over my past and to show
how much He loves me. What makes your
book special is that you’ve touched my heart so deeply that these thoughts are
finally becoming real in my heart. I’m
finally beginning to really believe God loves me.
“And so, when I finished the book, I had a new
experience. My focus was not on my lack
of a mature, wonderful Christian husband.
It was on the realization that I already have the most wonderful husband
in the world, God.
“Thank you for working in partnership with God to touch and
change me as never before!”
My questions were answered, and so were my prayers. Why did I write Scattered Petals? Because it
was the story God intended me to tell.
*****
Amanda Cabot is the bestselling
author of more than thirty novels including the Texas Dreams trilogy, the
Westward Winds series, the Texas Crossroads trilogy, Christmas Roses, and A Stolen
Heart, the first of the Cimarron Creek trilogy. A former director of
Information Technology, she has written everything from technical books and
articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all
ages. Amanda is delighted to now be a
fulltime writer of Christian romances, living happily ever after with her
husband in Wyoming.
What an amazing story! Thank you so much for being my guest today, Amanda!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amber, for hosting me!
DeleteAmanda, thank you for sharing this wonderful story of how your book has impacted the real-life stories of others. I think it's what most Christian writers hope for as they write the stories God has laid on their hearts to help change and bring beauty for ashes out of people's lives. Blessings to you and continued success in bringing God's heart to others.
ReplyDeleteHello Donna! Thanks for stopping by today. I'm so glad you enjoyed Amanda's post.
DeleteDonna -- Letters like the one I shared are truly the answer to prayer and, as I told my editor when I shared it with her, worth infinitely more than a royalty check.
DeleteSo glad you're using your gift of writing for God's glory and to speak healing into the hearts of readers. Blessings on your writing!
ReplyDeleteHey Cynthia! I appreciate all of the Christian authors, such as Amanda and yourself, who have that desire to use their gift for God's glory. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteCynthia -- This is why we write, isn't it?
DeleteAmanda, thank you for sharing your story with us. I know you sold lots of copies of your book, but if only that one person had read it, God's purposes would be accomplished. In faith you wrote. Cheers
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, Marilyn! Thank you for sharing with us today.
DeleteYou're absolutely right, Marilyn. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteAmanda, thank you for listening to God's direction as you wrote your book, and as you continue to reach deep into your soul with each additional book you write. Your stories are meant to touch hearts, and God knows exactly which heart needs them the most. They've touched mine, and for that, I'm thankful.
ReplyDeleteAudra! Thank you for stopping by the blog today. I appreciate you sharing with us, not only in your comments, but also in your stories as well. God bless all you wonderful writers!!
DeleteAnd I give thanks for you, Audra, and all that you do to touch my heart.
DeleteAmanda, thank you for your labor of love and prayer that you pour into each book, making your characters real and each story special. You inspire me.
ReplyDeleteGretchen -- I continue to be amazed by the power of prayer to change lives and point us in the right direction.
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