Today on Writer Wednesday we welcome Rachel Hauck, author of The Memory House.
Enter below for a chance to win a copy of The Memory House! Winner announced right here next week. Congratulations to, Merry, the winner of Lauren K. Denton’s Glory Road! Please e-mail my assistant Christen with your mailing address! Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Writer’s Wednesday with Rachel Hauck: Writing in the midst of a busy life.
Early on in my writing life, I had to give up the notion that writing would be easy, in ideal settings and full of inspiration.
Writing a book is hard work!
When I signed my first book contract, I was working full time for a software company as a department manager. I also worked with my husband in youth ministry and recently picked up the job of leading worship for “big” church.
My husband and I also gathered with other area pastors to start a weekly multi-church prayer meeting and I’d become the Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers thus putting me in charge of the second annual conference.
Write a novel? Yeah, like when? Where? I felt pushed, pulled, torn, frazzled and on the edge. And I didn’t even have children to raise.
I’d never written a book for publication before. I’d not coordinated a conference and my committee was “out there” across America. If I failed, I’d let so many people down, including myself.
One night I laid in bed praying, trying to work up my courage to resign and admit I couldn’t do it all.
But in my final grasp for God’s grace, I whispered in the darkness, “Lord, you have a conference to coordinate, let me know what you need me to do.”
Peace washed over me and I slept. Even had a dream encouraging me to stay with it.
The Lord sent a co-coordinator, another writer in my town, and together, we, okay, she, pulled off a successful conference.
I met my deadline too!
Seventeen years later, a lot has changed. I have twenty-six published books under my belt.
One story was made into a Hallmark movie and another sat on the New York Times bestseller list for nine weeks.
I’m a more relaxed these days because I’ve seen all the ways the Lord has come to my rescue.
When deciding to quit the corporate world to write full time and cut our household income in two-thirds, the Lord met our needs.
When dealing with a physical issue that robbed my sleep one season, the Lord aided me in writing five thousand words a day to finish How To Catch A Prince.
When I didn’t have “my next great idea” and He dropped The Wedding Dress into my heart.
When I wrote four things on my “Impossible List” seven years ago without hope of any of them happening, God answered. I have two of the four!
After seventeen years I know this is true—God loves me and this whole writing-novels-for-a-living is about the journey into His heart.
God’s main goal for me is not commercial or literary success—though He’s blessed me so much—it’s about knowing Him more, seeing and even feeling His heart for me.
Life is about Us. God and me.
This verse has become so real to me.
“Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” Song of Solomon 8:5
So wherever you are in life, be confident of this one thing: God loves you, He’s good, just and faithful.
Peace,
Rachel
Rachel Hauck is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.
Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.
At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.
A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.
She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.
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More about The Memory House
When Beck Holiday lost her father in the North Tower on 9/11, she also lost her memories of him. Eighteen years later, she’s a tough New York City cop burdened with a damaging secret, suspended for misconduct, and struggling to get her life in order. Meanwhile, a mysterious letter arrives informing her she’s inherited a house along Florida’s northern coast, and what she discovers there will change her life forever. Matters of the heart only become more complicated when she runs into handsome Bruno Endicott, a driven sports agent who fondly recalls the connection they shared as teenagers. But Beck doesn’t remember that, either.
Decades earlier, widow Everleigh Applegate lives a steady, uneventful life with her widowed mother after a tornado ripped through Waco, Texas, and destroyed her new, young married life. When she runs into old high school friend Don Callahan, she begins to yearn for change. Yet no matter how much she longs to love again, she is hindered by a secret she can never share.
Fifty years separate the women but through the power of love and miracle of faith, they each find healing in a beautiful Victorian known affectionately as The Memory House.
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