By Lisa Phillips, @LisaPhillipsbks
The other day I posted on Instagram that I’m learning Pro-Presenter in our new church building so that I can help out running slides for worship and presentation slides for the teaching part of service. Bonus? I get to sit behind a computer in the sound booth and not in the rows of seats when we get to that part of the service with the suggestion to, “Say hi to someone around you.”
In my writing life right now, I’ve found myself in the opposite situation—surrounded by a tight-knit community.
This summer I’m spearheading a Summer Heat series, essentially an anthology. Box set (with no box). Collection. Whatever I’m supposed to call it, per whoever I’m referencing it to. Twelve authors got together, and instead of publishing one mega box set, we decided to split it into three volumes to keep the heat burning all summer long.
Collaboration is always fun. I do it in several avenues of my work right now, including with Sunrise Publishing, and my amazing draft authors—Megan Besing, Emilie Haney, and Laura Conaway.
Community is something that can be seasonal. It can be a huge blessing, or a major growth point in our lives as authors and believers. I enjoy a core group of close friends, because that’s how I’m wired. Something I know since I took that Clifton Strengths test. I got to know how I operate, and what I need. That I tend to keep my circle small and hold those people close.
But in the wider community I’ve found huge blessings waiting for me. Just because I reached out and took a step.
This is from a couple of weeks ago, at Writer’s Police Academy, where I got to hang out with Summer Heat book 1 authors Jennifer Pierce and Liz Bradford! I love always having someone to connect with, even if I travel on my own to a conference.
There are so many fantastic writer groups. ACFW. Faith, Hope and Love. Realm Makers Consortium. 540 Writers. Novel Academy. Blue Ridge. Groups on Facebook for readers, like the huge Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group, or Christian Suspense Intrigue: Readers. I’m part of several author groups, and the reader groups Cold Case Confidential and The BOLO Squad.
A small step outside our circle can often yield huge blessings in connection. I’ve seen this in our church Young Adults group that my husband pastors. There are a lot of lonely people out there, and reaching out can bless you in ways you never expected as well as give someone else the gift of a connection.
Are you attending a conference this year?
Are you going to a reader event?
God puts others in our lives to encourage us and help us grow. Without the people in my life I would only have inertia, and I’d rather grow than wake up one day and realize I’ve slipped so far backward I don’t know where I am.
We’re often told to find our “tribe” and my readers are wonderful people. The core group I have on Discord have become dear friends, another nod back toward the simple way I’m wired. I’ll never be able to cater to everyone, but I am called to connect with the people God puts in front of me.
Who is in front of you? How can you bless, encourage, or challenge them today?
Do you need to look for a new circle? God has something in store for you!
Don’t forget to check out the Summer Heat collaboration! 12 Christian Romantic Suspense stories from new and established authors that will blow you away and leave you wanting more.
Through Every Danger (Summer Heat)
Undertow – Lisa Phillips
Selena is ready to retire from her career as a social media stunt star. After a disastrous breakup, one last job—on a cruise—will give her the cash to take charge of her future. Peter wants to make full operative at Vanguard Security. After breaking the law in his teens he needs to succeed at the straight and narrow, and that means keeping his personal feelings for Selena under wraps. When a dangerous foreign general and more than one spy prove they have other plans for both Selena and Peter, they have to band together to stay alive. Or they’ll be sucked beneath the undertow.
Swept Away – Michelle Aleckson
California science teacher and ocean lover, Malani Davis, is only stepping in for another surf instructor. However, she’s not sure this Minnesota deputy, Lukas Berglund, has what it takes to catch waves. Who shows up to the beach in cowboy boots?
But when Luke saves her life, she realizes he’s more than capable and accepts his help in her search for her foster sister. Besides, he won’t be sticking around, so maybe she can keep guard over her heart, and they’ll find the missing teen quickly.
Instead, it will take the help of their friends and a whole lot of grit to face their worst fears and survive as they’re swept away in a wave of danger.
Fractured Memories – Lynn Shannon
As a teen, Texas Ranger Felicity Capshaw witnessed a murder. The traumatic incident—and the accompanying amnesia—has affected her entire life. She reopens the cold case, but the investigation is cut short when she’s assaulted and nearly killed.
Detective Noah Hodge is no stranger to loss. He’s buried his parents and his wife. All he wants is to raise his daughter and keep his hometown safe. When the killer targets Felicity, Noah commits to protecting her, even though each second in her presence makes him question why he’s locked away his battered heart.
As Felicity’s memories return, the threats escalate. Can Noah help her uncover the truth? Or will the killer silence her forever?
Lethal Inheritance – Rebecca Hemlock
K-9 Officer Kelly Blithe is on the job when she discovers her brother Scott has been murdered. With her other brother Chris named as the chief suspect, Kelly is forced to trust a man she barely knows to solve the case.
Detective Harry Miller’s life was changed forever when a suspect attack left him scarred. After another murder case lands on his desk, he’ll have to convince Kelly that her living brother really did commit this murder.
Neither wants the attraction that quickly overrides their growing friendship. When they discover a massive inheritance is involved, they’ll have to finish the work of a dead man to find out who killed Scott.
USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author Lisa Phillips is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London. Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com