A very large part of my life has been devoted to the study of God’s Word, increasingly so with time, and with time I have gotten better at it. I use and apply extensive language and research tools learned via seminary, bible school, university, preachers I follow, books and blogs. Mostly, though, it’s just me with God’s Word, with the Holy Spirit leading me into the truth. I do have a routine of starting my day with the Word and prayer, which in fact is never routine but usually mind-blowing, the most mind-blowing of all being that God, you know, the One who created heaven and earth, loves me. But even if there are days that start out with little motivation, I keep pushing until something lights my world. And for all who do the same, something will. Which reminds me of George Mueller’s assertion that his morning devotionals lasted as long as it took for him to become “happy in the inner man”. Though we may not always have the time for this, we can make the time at least one day a week. That’s what the Sabbath is, a day devoted to resting in God. I tend to do this more than one day a week, however. Retirement was never in my vocabulary, and though I have dabbled in it, I’m surer than ever it’s not for me. However, being able to schedule my time to do the many projects I feel led to do, that is good. Keeping a sabbath on a day that I can set aside for it has been my custom, because the day that I go to church may actually become to busy for it. Sharing this just now, it gives me a chance to contemplate and marvel at the blessedness of living this way, day after day, year after year.
Perhaps you are here to learn more about another person’s writing, and not just writing, but writing in His name. In my case, “just writing” started with family and grew as I grew, because of course, writing is an expression, a reflection of the heart. Having been raised by a reporter, I had stints as a columnist, an assignment reporter, as well as a special-interest scout for various newspapers and publications. Then God did this thing that He does, coming up with a personal plot twist for my life (ever experience one of those?). In this case, transitioning to fiction was the move He was calling me to, something that was always a desire of my heart. I never could seem to manage it, to finish a fictional piece. Yet when he called me to it, I was ready and the tools came. I was able not only to finish but to research how to publish. Anthologies picked up my work. Novels began to form. Yet learning to write fiction – the kind that I would want to read, anyway – was quite a difficult process. It’s ongoing.
Letting God lead you while writing is absolutely insanely cool. I could tell you story after story about the plot changes He has effected in my books, the words and phrases He’s pulled out of me, the nudges from the outside about a character arc or style and devices, you know, those kairos moments that are more than coincidence. Ah yes, writing is a deeply satisfying adventure. But be ye prepared, it’s a solo deal from a human standpoint. Nevertheless, with God, writing becomes an extension of one’s prayer closet.
Possibly as you read these books, you’ll get a sense of the joy and inspiration underlying their creation that only flowing with the Father provides. To Him be the glory. Let’s hope my heart and my fingers get better and better at being His “ready-writer”. Even more, I pray something I say or write will inspire others to surrender trying to be good or working under their own efforts, or even from preaching it, but to receive by faith the inheritance of righteousness through God and Christ’s amazing grace with all the attending benefits already prepared for you, especially living loved. (Jer 31:3, Romans 2:4, Eph 1:15-2:9)
My Amazon author page features what’s been published so far. There are also brief video trailers, blurbs and links accessible here from the menu above.
Along with writing, I have had a career in the human services and medical field which is now entering its fourth decade (which amazes me). I was a therapist and case manager for a few decades. For 12 years I owned inventory-based businesses, widening profit margins through supply chain tweaks and eventually selling out to good effect. This is how our Lord operates in the financial and career arenas, btw, He often mentions multiple streams, while storehouses and pots are always plural. I’ve never met a successful person who doesn’t have many talents. Though surely there are many more successful than I, I have watched as He leads according to these principles. Normally, though, you have to focus and hone each endeavor, often one at a time. Which is what makes mature successful people interesting, especially those of the household of faith. They have a rich history. They are multidimensional.
My books provide healthy entertainment which convey practical principles for living well, gathered and being gathered from a lifetime of listening to other people’s stories as well as my own. I write to show others how to get their breakthrough. This makes my fiction a realistic blueprint for resisting the enemy until you have gotten on top, whether ignorance, depression, abuse, shock, oppression, past trauma, current adversity or trials, poverty, or sickness. You can immerse yourself in a movie or a book that gives you excitement but leads to doubt and fear, or you can read and listen to books like mine which will build you up in faith and the knowledge of the Lord.
It is not a pipe dream, it’s the gospel that the Lord gives success, health, provision and peace, and He adds no sorrow to them. The world adds sorrow enough, but He gives good things and more than enough to make up for it if we will hold on. Prov 10:22, James 1:17. He surely answers prayer and brings blessings. Despite setbacks, despite the barrage of offenses coming at us in this earthly life, we can overcome and see our blessings add up in ever-widening circles over time. But we have to apply some basics, to learn some things about how to stand our ground, how to get back up after a fall, how to walk and talk as if you mean it. For Jesus is indeed Lord. He has overcome this world. He has given us back the means to do so as well. The main characters in my stories are living this out, revealing how you can use God’s strategies to experience this overcoming life. When you do, if you don’t quit, you win.
Danyelle Wolfe Read
Ps 116:10-12 In my discouragement I thought, “They are lying when they say I will recover.” But now what can I offer Jehovah for all he has done for me?
The Living Bible
Author Danyelle Wolfe Read 