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MIRALEE FERRELL |
I never cease to be amazed at the journey God has taken me on
since I started writing. My writing journey started in February of
2005, when I attended a special service at a neighboring church.
A speaker that I'd heard and trusted for a number of years was
holding a series of services.
I went forward with no expectations other than wanting to give
my all to the Lord. Pastor George Watkins began to pray, then
stopped and spoke to me, instead. His words would become what
I call "a defining moment" in my life, and changed the direction I
was headed.
"You're supposed to be writing. I don't know what, whether it
will be poetry, short stories, or something else. I have no clear
leading on that. But I feel the Lord is speaking to me that you are
to be writing. " He then prayed for me, that the Lord would do a
work in my life and bring His word to pass.
Over the next two weeks I earnestly prayed for the Lord's
leading, and sought counsel from my husband and pastor. They
urged me to begin writing. I dove into a book covering my journey
with the Lord and my husband, over our 34 years of marriage.
Along the way I met a wonderful woman by the name of
Elizabeth, a published author and professional editor living in
Canada. We developed a friendship online and she began to
encourage me in my writing, as well as helping with editing.
With Elizabeth's encouragement, I did publish a few articles.and
my confidence increased.
My journey progressed to fiction and Elizabeth continued to be a
source of encouragement. We were discussing possible plots
when the Lord dropped the seeds of a story line in my heart. I
began to write that evening, and five weeks later the rough draft
of The Other Daughter was complete. Several revisions and lots of
editing later, I submitted the book to potential markets and agents.
My first three chapters were requested by an acquisitions editor
at Harvest House, but due to some editing and plot weakness in
one of my main characters, she rejected it. However, again God
intervened. Two months and a lot of revising later, I attended a
writer's conference with a workshop taught by this same editor. I
had no expectation of being able to speak to her, and even less
that she would remember me, as it had been almost three months
since she'd reviewed my material. From what she shared during
the workshop, I knew that approximately 300 proposals or
manuscripts had passed over her desk since that time.
I walked toward the exit, planning on going home, but met her at
the table near the door. I thanked her for the class and for the
input she'd given me on my work those months ago. She of
course didn't remember my name. However, when I mentioned the
name of my book, and the subject, she grabbed me and gave me a
hug. "Of course I remember that book! When I told her I had a
prospective agent, she recognized his name and said she'd be
interested im seeing it again if I had representation.
I went home floating on air, and received still another blessing
on my arrival. The mail had come in earlier that day and a letter
was waiting from a large publishing house where I'd submitted a
proposal and three chapters two weeks earlier. An editor asked
that I send her my entire manuscript. God is SO good!
I did find an agent, but not the one I had met at the conference.
Through a series of phone calls and emails, I eventually signed a
contract with Tamela Murray, Hartline Literary. The Lord brought
exactly what I'd been prayiing for; an agent who believed in my
book and enthusiastic about representing it.
Tamela has been that, and so much more. She poured time and
energy into reading the entire manuscript, making small
suggestions and changes that she felt would strengthen it, before
submitting it to a number of houses. After the first round of
submission, I sent it to an editor & reworked the first twelve
chapters, coming away with a stronger book & deeper plot line,
then we began submitting again.
Then in December 2006 Kregel Publications offered me a
contract. In January, 2007 I signed with them for a fall 2007
release date on my book, The Other Daughter. I had the privilege
of taking the photo for the front cover and being actively involved
in many phases of the marketing over the 10 months until
publication. It released in October 2007 with excellent reviews.
The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four
and a half stars, with a very strong review.
Two different major motion picture studios are currently
considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second
book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being
reviewed for a possible contract offer now.
God has been so amazing...here I am, less than three years from
the date He spoke to me through the special speaker at church,
and I have a book in print and another one being considered.
About 2% of all books that are submitted to Christian Royalty
publishing houses make it to the shelf, so this is indeed nothing
short of a miracle. I'm a first time author, and mostly self
taught.... Where else and how else, but with God could this
happen!
~Miralee
Web Site http://www.miraleeferrell.com
Blog: http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com
GodTube.com---See a short video trailer
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b06e5749a83
e6bed239
since I started writing. My writing journey started in February of
2005, when I attended a special service at a neighboring church.
A speaker that I'd heard and trusted for a number of years was
holding a series of services.
I went forward with no expectations other than wanting to give
my all to the Lord. Pastor George Watkins began to pray, then
stopped and spoke to me, instead. His words would become what
I call "a defining moment" in my life, and changed the direction I
was headed.
"You're supposed to be writing. I don't know what, whether it
will be poetry, short stories, or something else. I have no clear
leading on that. But I feel the Lord is speaking to me that you are
to be writing. " He then prayed for me, that the Lord would do a
work in my life and bring His word to pass.
Over the next two weeks I earnestly prayed for the Lord's
leading, and sought counsel from my husband and pastor. They
urged me to begin writing. I dove into a book covering my journey
with the Lord and my husband, over our 34 years of marriage.
Along the way I met a wonderful woman by the name of
Elizabeth, a published author and professional editor living in
Canada. We developed a friendship online and she began to
encourage me in my writing, as well as helping with editing.
With Elizabeth's encouragement, I did publish a few articles.and
my confidence increased.
My journey progressed to fiction and Elizabeth continued to be a
source of encouragement. We were discussing possible plots
when the Lord dropped the seeds of a story line in my heart. I
began to write that evening, and five weeks later the rough draft
of The Other Daughter was complete. Several revisions and lots of
editing later, I submitted the book to potential markets and agents.
My first three chapters were requested by an acquisitions editor
at Harvest House, but due to some editing and plot weakness in
one of my main characters, she rejected it. However, again God
intervened. Two months and a lot of revising later, I attended a
writer's conference with a workshop taught by this same editor. I
had no expectation of being able to speak to her, and even less
that she would remember me, as it had been almost three months
since she'd reviewed my material. From what she shared during
the workshop, I knew that approximately 300 proposals or
manuscripts had passed over her desk since that time.
I walked toward the exit, planning on going home, but met her at
the table near the door. I thanked her for the class and for the
input she'd given me on my work those months ago. She of
course didn't remember my name. However, when I mentioned the
name of my book, and the subject, she grabbed me and gave me a
hug. "Of course I remember that book! When I told her I had a
prospective agent, she recognized his name and said she'd be
interested im seeing it again if I had representation.
I went home floating on air, and received still another blessing
on my arrival. The mail had come in earlier that day and a letter
was waiting from a large publishing house where I'd submitted a
proposal and three chapters two weeks earlier. An editor asked
that I send her my entire manuscript. God is SO good!
I did find an agent, but not the one I had met at the conference.
Through a series of phone calls and emails, I eventually signed a
contract with Tamela Murray, Hartline Literary. The Lord brought
exactly what I'd been prayiing for; an agent who believed in my
book and enthusiastic about representing it.
Tamela has been that, and so much more. She poured time and
energy into reading the entire manuscript, making small
suggestions and changes that she felt would strengthen it, before
submitting it to a number of houses. After the first round of
submission, I sent it to an editor & reworked the first twelve
chapters, coming away with a stronger book & deeper plot line,
then we began submitting again.
Then in December 2006 Kregel Publications offered me a
contract. In January, 2007 I signed with them for a fall 2007
release date on my book, The Other Daughter. I had the privilege
of taking the photo for the front cover and being actively involved
in many phases of the marketing over the 10 months until
publication. It released in October 2007 with excellent reviews.
The Romantic Times Review magazine gave it Four out of Four
and a half stars, with a very strong review.
Two different major motion picture studios are currently
considering the book as a possible family movie, and my second
book in the series (Past Shadows) is on my publishers desk being
reviewed for a possible contract offer now.
God has been so amazing...here I am, less than three years from
the date He spoke to me through the special speaker at church,
and I have a book in print and another one being considered.
About 2% of all books that are submitted to Christian Royalty
publishing houses make it to the shelf, so this is indeed nothing
short of a miracle. I'm a first time author, and mostly self
taught.... Where else and how else, but with God could this
happen!
~Miralee
Web Site http://www.miraleeferrell.com
Blog: http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com
GodTube.com---See a short video trailer
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b06e5749a83
e6bed239
Summary of The Other
Daughter, Published by
Kregel, released October 2007
The girl standing at the door
took a deep breath, pulling
her suitcase a little closer to
her trembling legs. "My
mama's dead. He's my daddy."
Susanne Carson knew that
she could trust the love of her
life,her husband, David,until
she discovered a strange,
unkempt young girl on their
doorstep, claiming to be
David's daughter.
Not that their marriage had
ever been perfect.David's
decision to embrace the
Christian faith had strained
their relationship. Susanne
may not have agreed with his
beliefs, but at least she
trusted him. Had David been
hiding this not-so-little secret
from his past? He wanted
Susanne to believe in his God,
but believing hadn't done
much to keep David out of
another woman's arms.
As David confronts the truth
of his past, Susanne must face
her own moment of truth as
her marriage is taken to the
breaking point and the life of
one young girl is left in her
hands.
Daughter, Published by
Kregel, released October 2007
The girl standing at the door
took a deep breath, pulling
her suitcase a little closer to
her trembling legs. "My
mama's dead. He's my daddy."
Susanne Carson knew that
she could trust the love of her
life,her husband, David,until
she discovered a strange,
unkempt young girl on their
doorstep, claiming to be
David's daughter.
Not that their marriage had
ever been perfect.David's
decision to embrace the
Christian faith had strained
their relationship. Susanne
may not have agreed with his
beliefs, but at least she
trusted him. Had David been
hiding this not-so-little secret
from his past? He wanted
Susanne to believe in his God,
but believing hadn't done
much to keep David out of
another woman's arms.
As David confronts the truth
of his past, Susanne must face
her own moment of truth as
her marriage is taken to the
breaking point and the life of
one young girl is left in her
hands.
