A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING by Joy Margetts

 

Let me begin by saying what an absolute privilege it is to be able to write this, my first blog for More Than Writers. I only joined ACW at the beginning of the year, but to be honest it already feels like I’ve been here years! I have loved reading the MTW blog from the moment I started receiving the links – thank you for the encouragement, creativity and laughs.

When I found the ACW it was as if I had found the ‘long lost family’, that I didn’t even know I had. I have always loved writing, and have written in many forms over the years. It was only when I unexpectedly became a published Christian fiction writer that I discovered the ACW. I didn’t know any other Christian writers, and it was heaven sent provision to find people who understood the language peculiar to writers. Who understood the frustrations of getting words onto the page, the ins and outs of editing, publishing and marketing.

From my first nervous attendance at WORDY CHAT, friendships have formed which have kept me motivated, encouraged and challenged. I am thankful too because whenever I have ‘bitten the bullet’ and reached out to people via the ACW Facebook page, never once have I been fobbed off. Every response has come with kindness, and a genuine desire to help me out. I have also made some lifelong friends, friends who I can share with, pray with and laugh with. Thanks to the ACW.

So I wanted this first blog to be really superb, to blow you away with my wittiness, use of language, or profundity. So much so that I have put off writing it so many times that it is now getting a little too near publication date for my comfort (I am not a ‘pantster’ by nature…) I have decided rather to be me! I think it will be ok.

God speaks to me in so many different ways, so I’ll share just one little thought.

I recently did my first real life in person book signing. It was a great experience, and you can read my light hearted account of it here…https://authorselectric.blogspot.com/2021/10/book-signings-dos-and-donts-by-joy.html

I was wondering why people like a signed book? I understand why you might want a first edition signed by a famous author – to maybe make millions from it in the future. But why do people want me, an unknown, to sign my debut book? I think it is because it makes it personal. By signing a book and putting a short message in it, I am making a connection, giving a bit of myself to the reader, and that is precious.

Then I thought about my favourite book, the one written by the breath of God Himself. How lovely would it be to be able to get Him to sign it, with a personal handwritten message just for me? I wonder what He would say, how He would sign His name? So I thought about it a bit more. Then I realised that His signature is already on every page, and His message to me is personal and precious…It says?... ‘I LOVE YOU’

Joy Margetts has loved writing for as long as she can remember. A retired nurse, mother of two, and a new grandparent, she also has a lifelong interest in history, and loves the Word of God. She makes her home on the beautiful North Wales coast.

Her debut novel 'The Healing', a work of historic fiction, was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021. Joy has also self published a short novella, 'The Beloved' as both a companion to 'The Healing', and as an easy to read standalone story, which is available on Amazon Kindle.

More information on Joy and her writing, and her personal blog, can be found here www.joymargetts.com