Author-To-Be

I didn't know when I worked at this school library in Jacksonville, Fl that by 2016 I would be the author of twelve published books. That's right twelve - three Bible Studies, three novels, three children's books, and three coloring books.I didn't write many words in the coloring books since they are beautifully illustrated by my artist friend, Bernice Talent.

Currently I am working on a fourth novel in the Kidd Family Series titled - Kidd's Daughter the Preacher's Wife. This book portrays mine and my husband's early ministry. Below is an excerpt from Chapter nine when I saw for the first time the house the church elders said we would call home.

 On our first Wednesday night Mike said, “Come with me and I’ll show you where we’re going to live.”

I sprang off the piano bench and followed him outside. We walked a few yards past the church in weeds and grass. Mike stopped and pointed across the highway to the middle of a plowed field where a small three-room house sat a few feet off of the road. The weathered boards had never seen a drop of paint and the dilapidated front porch roof was drooping. Weeds had grown up past the tops of the windows. It looked like a shabby little haunted house - uninhabitable.

I gave Mike a playful slap on the arm and said, “Quit teasing me. Show me where we’re going to live.”

His face was drawn and pale when he said, “I’m not teasing, Jonnie. This is it.”

When I saw that he meant it, I said, “Oh. Okay. It’ll be fine.”

With a pained look, he shook his head.

A lump formed in my throat as we walked back to the little white church beside the country road. I swallowed the disappointment, put on a happy face, went back to the piano and struck a chord. People gathered in the choir to sing about God's amazing grace.

As soon as the music began and God’s presence filled the building I knew it didn’t matter where I lived as long as it was with the man I loved and we were doing the will of our Father in heaven.

Our ministry had begun.