Tag Archives: Challenges

Daring Clare

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I’ve got something really special for you today – insights into a new release from fellow Aussie author, Jenny Glazebrook. Each time Jenny releases a book, I’m so impressed by the growth I see in her writing. Her stories just keep getting better – and they started great! Jenny’s also got such a beautiful heart for people, which imbibes every aspect of her novels. So, it’s my pleasure to present this glimpse into “Daring Clare“, her latest release. Make sure you check this out and find Jenny on all the social media haunts so you can follow her and get your hands on ‘Daring Clare’ and her other stories! Thanks, Jenny.

Why did you write Daring Clare?

I began writing this novel back in senior High School. It’s not easy being a teenager and I wanted to write a story that was real and would bring hope. I also wanted to write the type of book I would want to read.

What was the hardest part about writing this novel?

Knowing what to leave in and what to take out. A lot of this novel is based on events that really happened and are close to my heart. I have changed names, circumstances and other details, but the heart of the story is true. It’s hard to let go of parts of the story that really happened but just don’t fit or add to the story enough to keep them in.

How did you choose the title?

It was very difficult! This novel was originally released as a completely different version/edition under the title, ‘Nobody Hugs Rod Green’. Some people loved this title, others hated it. We tried out several other titles before deciding on Daring Clare. It has a double meaning. Not only is Clare mischievous and daring in personality (she gets into major trouble for taking up her brother’s crazy dares), she also needs to decide whether she dares to follow God and commit her life to Him.

Finally, who is your target audience and what are the main themes in the book?

I think this question is best answered by an email I received from Margaret, a lady in her eighties:

“I have finished your book Jenny and just loved every chapter. What a gift you have been given. Loved the way you have so many characters, all with different issues and then the struggle discussing those issues and the learning curves and being able to bring in a loving way Jesus’ love, His saving grace for all even for the Rod Greens.
The story is so natural and so relevant for our worldly lifestyle today. It also points out even though you become a Christian life is not smooth running but the important part we have Jesus as our hope. I loved the beautiful romance which also points out God has to be first in our life and to set one another free. So opposite from the world’s way.
For any teenager, (also any adult who is struggling and seeking) your book is excellent.”

Bio: Jenny Glazebrook writes inspirational YA Christian fiction. She lives in the country town of Gundagai with her husband Rob, four children and many pets. Jenny is the author of the Aussie Sky series and Elephant House Press is now publishing her Bateman Family series. More details about Jenny’s books can be found on her website: www.jennyglazebrook.com

The Power of Some

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Conference_SpotDo you come away from conferences and retreats inspired, full of enthusiasm and ready to squeeze the very best out of your area of interest? Maybe it’s just me, but when people with a common focus gather, there’s something energising about it. And with a writers’ conference and creative retreat within a week of each other in October, and a writers festival and retreat in November, I’m feeling pretty excited.

So what is this power of ‘some’? From my perspective, I think it can be easy to feel isolated in certain aspects of a field of discipline, as if the challenges and frustrations faced in a given area of interest are ours alone. By sharing information, encouragement and the highs and lows of our everyday journeys, it can be refreshing to realise we’re not the only ones facing similar challenges.

Likewise, when we want to celebrate achievements, what better way to do it than with others who understand the steep, winding road it’s taken to reach our goal? There’s such a buzz around that kind of thing when shared with others who ‘get it’.

And then there’s the learning. I don’t know about you, but each time I find myself at an event focussing on a particular discipline, I also come away feeling resourced with new skills and insights. It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been in a particular field, there’s always more to learn, which certainly keeps things from getting mundane.

I’d love to hear the thoughts and experiences of others who’ve ‘gathered’ lately, and if you’ve not been on a power-of-some adventure recently, why not see if there’s an event of interest coming up. If it’s anything like the ones on my calendar, you’ll be pleased you made the effort to attend.

Rug Pull

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Has life taken you on all kinds of unexpected adventures? Sometimes you get time to plan ahead and do what you can to make the distance. Other times you can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under your feet!

Some years ago we had a ‘rug pull’ moment. It was actually a months-long struggle that finally ended with a wham! We were on our rears, reeling to work out a) what had happened, and b) how we could possibly get back up after such a fall.

Although there were definitely some ‘angels’ along the way, beyond a few close family members offers of help were rare. It wasn’t that we didn’t try to explain at times, and I don’t think that people didn’t care, but they didn’t get it and we ran out of energy to try communicating. Survival was the goal.

I’d like to say that the ‘rug pull’ was followed by a swift regather and then we were back on our feet, jogging down the path of life as we knew it. Falling on our ends put a lot of things out of reach. We were in a different position. We couldn’t go back to how things had been – and I believe that this was no accident.

We were forced onto new things; to take a different direction in life.

Now, that new road, it was great, right? Actually, it was really hard and nearly fractured us from the inside out. Some days we wondered why we were doing what we were. We felt so far beyond our coping ability that often it was like we were existing, not living. But at least we were going somewhere, albeit slowly.

Although we tumbled down some crater-like potholes along the way, gradually (and I do mean gradually!) a new purpose was revealed, and it was exciting. What had seemed to be an end, proved to be a new beginning and eventually we were able to reflect back on the journey and see the good in it; even feel grateful for our unexpected diversion. Our vision for the future also grew so much larger than we’d ever thought it could be.

The fact is we all face rug pull days or seasons. Perhaps our story strikes a chord for you. Perhaps your world has been turned on its head and you don’t know what to do. Rug pull moments aren’t pretty. They bruise and shake us to the core. BUT if we do what we still can, have faith and hold on, gradually our world will find a new equilibrium. In time, doors will open and behind them we’ll find new purpose. Those doors might look like tiny mouse holes at first – maybe nothing like we expected them to look – but at the end of the long, dim, obstacle infested road, there will be an end. Actually, a new beginning.

No matter where you are in life, whether you’ve landed tail down or are soaring with eagles, pray, never give up, and never stop reaching forward. Even if it feels like you’ve completely lost your way, put one foot after the other until you see some light ahead – for every tunnel has an end. And that’s where the scary unknown gets exciting.

Post-rug pull we’ll never be the same again, but we’ll be facing a new landscape with untold possibilities. The future. Embrace it.

Tough Talk

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Recently I encountered a parenting challenge that I’d not negotiated before. With little idea how to tackle it, I put it ‘out there’ – and was surprised by the responses I gained. Not only were friends empathetic and supportive, but I discovered that many of them had previously negotiated similar circumstances.

And the advice?

Wise, well considered suggestions were offered with mind to achieving a positive outcome. Not ‘let’s wallow with you and eat worms’, but genuine advice that provided some effective strategies that could be directly applied to the situation. And the outcome was a significant step in the right direction!

Okay, so this wasn’t a deep dark secret, but it did get me thinking about human reactions, collectively, to personal challenges. How frequently do we feel like we’re the only ones grappling with a particular issue? How often has frustration, shame or embarrassment kept us from sharing our battles with a trusted confidant or even seeking professional help?

If we adults feel like this at times, how much more must our children struggle to find a communication medium through which they can articulate and make sense of complex social issues or personal struggles?

Such reflections brought to light some interesting points. I thought I’d share these with you:

Only Me: The misconception that ‘it’s just me’ only serves to isolate us and enable our personal battles power over us. Our world can become defined by these challenges, making them seemingly impossible to overcome.

Tough Talks: We need to communicate challenges in a safe, supportive and confidential environment, to trusted individuals who have enough love for us to offer honest but wise advice – not just what we want to hear!

Expose and Tackle: By exposing our battles in an appropriate, solutions seeking way, we often discover that the ‘big bark’ comes from a little dog! Remember what’s common to humankind includes what we’re going through.

Who’s Got Your Back? No matter how shameful or big a personal struggle seems, isn’t it better to have someone in our corner who believes for and promotes the best in us? This requires letting down our defences and yes, risking hurt, but if we a willing to take this chance we can realise that there really is power in numbers.

Kids Count: Children are even more vulnerable and they often don’t have the language to articulate challenging personal issues. This usually manifests through their behaviour. How important is it to keep our communication lines to these little ones open – and our ears! (And if you’re anything like me, your ears need frequent tune ups!)

In each of our personal challenges, I think it’s important to remember that a war is seldom won in a day and it often involves some losses and retreats. A failure doesn’t mean that we are one! And isn’t it worth believing for positive outcomes for ourselves, even if they seem a long way off? I think so.