by Tari Faris, @FarisTari
Yesterday I released my fourth book into the world. Two Novels through Revell and two novellas that I self-published. Am I an author yet?
I know that sounds like a silly question. After all, I am published therefore I am an author. But let me let you in on a little secret. I am not sure I feel like an author.
The only thing that feels different from before I was published until now is that my calendar has more deadlines. But I don’t feel different.
But here is another truth. I was an author not when my first book hit the shelf at Barnes & Noble. I became an author when I accepted that calling. I accepted it as part of who God called me to be. What he called me to do. I am an author and if write you are too. You just might be a pre-published author.
In my Christmas Novella, While It Was Snowing, Danielle struggles with figuring out her identity. She has to learn to allow God to tell her who she is rather than the world. I resonated so much with Danielle as I wrote this book. Not because I am a secret mechanic (I wish.) But too often I have let the world define what I am supposed to look like as a mother, wife, author…
I am done with that. I will choose to find my identity in God.
As I approach the holiday season my calendar feels already so full of all the things I should do because I am an author. But I have to lay all those plans at God’s feet and let him help me decide where I need to focus my attention. I need to find my identity in Him.
That is why I LOVE the My Brilliant Writing Planner. Because it helps me make those decisions not on what is the loudest in my life but rather based on my values. So at the end of the day, I have spent my time on what matters.
Don’t let the world define who you are…
Return to Heritage with this heart warming Christmas novella.
Had Danielle known that delivering a message would land her holding a bouquet of red roses and wearing the first dress of her life, she would not have volunteered.
Danielle Fair has been working at her dad’s mechanic shop since she could talk, and she loves fixing cars. To everyone at the garage, she’s just Dan, one of the guys, and that’s fine by her…after all, without sisters or a mother, Danielle is lost when it comes to girly stuff. However, when she is forced to embrace her inner girly girl at Nate and Olivia’s winter wedding, her makeover wakes up not just the attention of the guys she works with, but also the one man she has secretly loved for some time—her best friend, Gideon Mathews—Danielle is suddenly beset with way too much attention and struggles to figure out who she is underneath it all.
There were always two things Gideon Mathews could count on: his beloved Detroit Lions not making it to the playoffs and Dan Fair being his best friend. But when Dan—no, Danielle—shows up to his sister’s wedding dressed as, of all things, a girl—no, a very beautiful, breathtaking, heart-stopping girl—he isn’t sure what to do with his sudden rush of emotions. Of course, he’s always known she was a girl, but suddenly he can’t keep his eyes, or mind…or heart away from her. Only now every guy in town seems to have the same problem. Did he lose his chance with Danielle by missing what had been in front of him for so long? Or can he convince her to be his by Christmas?
It’s Miss Congeniality goes to a winter wedding in a Christmas Cinderella tale. From snowed-in to snowball fights, Christmas trees to Christmas dances, this story has everything you need for a perfect holiday read.
Fuzzy socks and hot cocoa not included but encouraged while you read.
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for fifteen years but has been creating fiction in her head as long as she can remember. She is represented by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management and is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was the 2017 Genesis winner, 2016 Genesis finalist, and 2014 Genesis finalist. In addition to her writing, she also works for My Book Therapy as a special project manager and writes for LearnHowToWriteANovel.com . When she is not writing or working, she spends time with her amazing husband and kids. In her free time, she loves coffee, rockhounding with her husband and kids, and distracting herself from housework. You can connect with her at www.tarifaris.com