A Time to Wait
Good Golly Miss Molly, if there’s one thing I am NOT good at, it’s waiting. I want to be good at it. I try to be good at it, but waiting is never easy for me.
I had a close friend tell me once that I was “high energy.” She meant it in a good way. And that’s true. I do have a lot of energy. I feel fortunate that I wake up every day renewed and ready to go.
So, what does this have to do with writing? I’m waiting. That’s what it has to do with it. I’m in a “time of waiting.” Can’t say I love it.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not waiting to write. I wrote 100 pages of a women’s fiction novel, had some interest from a few publishers who wanted to see the entire thing, finished the full novel … and now I wait. It’s been over 60 days, and if you listen closely you can hear the drum of my fingertips against the desk.
Did I mention I’m not good at waiting? There are a few things I’ve found that help
- I’ve started a new cozy mystery, and it’s going well.
- I have a full time job teaching, so I throw a lot of energy into that.
- I read Ecclesiastes 3 and hum the tune by The Byrds’. (To every season, turn, turn turn…)
- Occasionally, I’ll send off an email to my agent saying, “Seriously? Nothing yet?”
And I try to keep my readers satisfied with book sales and giveaways and engaging social media posts. I’d rather give you a new book. So, know we’re working on it. We want to share these stories with you as much as you want to read them. And hopefully, hopefully it won’t be much longer.
How do you cope with waiting? I’d love to hear.
Comments 71
Love your books
It is hard to wait…. but remember you are in good company. Love your books. Hope you will hear something soon.
How exciting I cant wait to read more good books!
That is the hardest part. We spend half of our lives waiting. No news could me good news.
I usually take my Kindle with me and read. If I’m waiting for someone to pick me up, I sit outside and watch for them, weather permitting.
I love your books, but never have enough hours in the day to read all that I want to. I’m currently in a holding (waiting) period of my life. I had cervical spinal fusion surgery, and can’t bend or turn my neck. Which means I can’t read much because my arms tire of holding a device up high enough that I can see to read my e-book without bending my neck.
I have a real problem being patient. I hate waiting and I really have get my thoughts channeled in a different direction. I am anxiously awaiting all the things you are working on.
Take this time to stop and breathe. I am excited to hear you are working on a new cozy mystery. They are my favorite genre especially when they are Amish. Good luck with the cozy and pray you have peace waiting to hear from a publisher.
I read, play games or do puzzles. Love your Amish fiction.
As the saying goes, hurry up and wait. Sometimes, the best things in life are worth waiting for.
I really enjoy your cozy mysteries and I look forward to the next one!
Hi, I cope with waiting with my kindle. If I’m not reading I’m listening to a book. My favorite pastime for sure. Can’t wait to read a new book from you.
I did a Bible word study on the word wait. I learned that wait is a verb; it is an action. Waiting is active. You wait on the Lord and He will act. While you wait you pray, you read the Bible and you grow in the Lord.
Thank you for the fun giveaway and opportunity to win. That’s great prices on your box sets. I’ve read all but one. That one’s on my tbr pile. Looking forward to reading your future books. Love your books! Thank you!
Waiting isn’t my strong point either, but I’m working on it. I’ve always enjoyed your books. Keep it up! 📘📚📙
Waiting is so hard. Especially when it is about doctor results. I try to keep myself busy and tell myself until you know what is going on. Don’t assume it’s going to be bad.
I find waiting hard too. But as long as I have a book nearby, I can tolerate it!
Love your books!
Patience is NOT one of my virtues!! While I am waiting, though, I keep reading my Bible, praying, listening to uplifting music (especially Crowder), and doing what I know God wants me to do.
Right there with you! I can take being told no. I can get excited when told yes. But in all my years, 73 as of last month, I’ve never been one to be able to take being told to “wait”. While my years have taught me many lessons on patience, I don’t seem to get much better at it. Now my husband is the most patient man in the world – both in situations and with me. Guess that’s where they say opposites attract and many we balance each other out. In the end, I have learned that it’s all in God’s timing not mine. And they do say practice makes perfect. Since, we are all not perfect, maybe I’m not by myself in not be good at being patient while I wait.
Vannetta, it is very hard waiting, I had that happen to me, Prayer, reading my Bible briefing your heart out to God, my hot water heater went out, take a shower in cold water or a little warm, your washing machine stops up water on the floor it’s been a very hard week, hot water replaced
Waiting is hard! Your books have helped me during some of those difficult times. Whatever happens, God will make something good come out of it. I am looking forward to any new book you write.
As Tom Petty would sing, “The waiting is the hardest part” ! When waiting, I listen to music, listen to a podcast, or watch a movie or show.
I pray you hear something soon! I’m eager to read this book because you are excited about it. Community is important.
Waiting can get crazy. I try to find JOY in each day. I am in scripture every day. I like to pray 🙏 scriptures. I have several journals that I am writing scriptures, prayers, and thoughts in. This all makes a difference for me to wait more patiently. Enjoy each day to its fullest, John 10:10b.
Waiting is very hard to do. As one of your commenters said, I can wait as long as I have something to read. Thanks for the chance to win a prize. I have read several of your books and enjoyed them very much.
I am not good at waiting, either. Depending on what’s going on in my life, either get busy with work, snuggle down to read, or spend time with my grandchildren. All of this is to say I try to distract myself. Like I said I’m not very good at it!
“Knowing God is never late…
makes it easier to wait”
The fruit of the spirit I fail on repeatedly is patience. Which I think is a close cousin to waiting.
I constantly change lines at the bank, grocery store, etc. thinking I’m moving to a faster line, only to find the one I was in finally moving faster.
It’s so hard to wait,but it will be in God’s time. Your season is coming soon.
Can you make a set for the Pebble Creek series and the Amish Bishop series?
I have to pray…and then immerse myself in a book. Many blessings.
I like to keep busy while I wait. I take my kindle with me and I also enjoy hand embroidery and hand quilting. It really helps when my hands are busy. I really enjoy your books.
Some things are easy to wait on while others can be very grueling to wait on. Thanks for writing so many of us can enjoy your stories.
My mom loves your books on the Amish….love inspired.
I don’t like to wait either so lots of prayers for patience are said
I hate waiting in lines, and like another reader, I try to have my Kindle with me to make the time go faster. But recently been aware that sometimes it may be the opportunity for a God appointed encounter if I just quiet myself and wait with open eyes. We are never to o!d to learn, but it is hard!
I’m not a good waiter. Distractions like reading or playing with my dog help.
Hi , waiting is a hard thing to do, but we just have to remember that things can not be rushed and we just have to be patient. I try to busy myself just doing different things. I also read which makes the waiting time seem shorter, especially if it is a book that is hard to put down. I love gardening also which makes the time go by fast. Have a great rest of the week. Thank you for the chance.
I know waiting is hard, but remember it’s in God’s time not ours. Have a blessed day!
It seems like that is all we do is wait all the time. I’m sure you will hear something soon. Love your books.
Sometimes the wait is sweet, like anticipation, and waiting sometimes makes the arrival more exciting! I like when that happens, like with books I’m looking forward to! When the wait is uncertainty of something important, that’s hard, and I try to put it in the Lord’s hands as much as I can, even if I sometimes fail, I just try again!
Thank so much for this chance!
Enjoy reading your books. Noted in another author’s Amish Romance that one of the characters had curled up for the night with one your AMISH Romance books to Read! Now that is cross-pollination!
cheers!
You are my favorite author. I praise God for your talent. May you continue to be blessed with new ideas to write about.
I love reading your books. I know a lot about waiting. I am currently waiting for my appointment with a neurologist. I have been having attacks of intense pain in my left eye, with strong photophobia. They come about once a month and something that takes hope and endurance. The weird thing is that when I am not having them, there are no symptoms. So if I see him and there is nothing wrong at that moment, what then?
Oh my! It seems like half of life can be described as hurry up and wait! It sounds like a great book so I do hope you hear back soon.
I’m rather seasoned and great at waiting! I’ve always been super patient. I know that ‘things will happen when they happen.’ I don’t think this was something I learned. I think I was born this way.
Sometimes waiting is very hard. I deal with waiting by praying through it, reading and crocheting. I love your books. I have been reading your books for many years. Thanks for writing great books.
Patience is a virtue. I have a lot of patience but waiting on something or someone I do get stressed. I love your books! Don’t ever stop.
Terrible at waiting – although as I age, I think I am getting a bit better at it. Absolutely love your books – can’t wait to hear more about the new series!
As I’m getting older, I feel that I wait a little more patiently than I used to, so there’s that! 😉 I usually talk to the Lord while I’m waiting, or look at my phone.
Always love reading your books.
Oh waiting… There are different kinds of waiting. Sometimes we find ourselves playing the long game like with pregnancy or a serious illness. And of course there’s the short game like waiting in line.
I prefer the short game because I learn so much more about myself. I was at the post office last week in a long line. I wanted the one person working to treat that counter like she’s working fast food, but instead we all received flashbacks of waiting at the DMV. At 48 years old, the thoughts that ran through my head were completely ridiculous. Suddenly I found myself realizing I’m not far off from a toddler who throws themselves on the floor.
My daughter graduated this last May so most of my waiting on her is over. However, when I spent hours waiting on her at swim practice, swim meets, and in the school pick-up line, I did a lot of knitting, crocheting, movie watching and audiobook listening. I do the same things on planes or in long car rides.
You are currently in the long game of waiting. Perhaps it’s time to consider knitting blankets for Project Linus or knitting hats for the homeless. I know Texas doesn’t always get really cold, but some winters really like showing off.
Enjoy all your Amish story based books ~ takes me back to a simpler way of life. Your emails are always appreciated ~ keeps me current on new releases.
I don’t mind waiting if I have a book with me to read. If I’m waiting on something of importance, I also pray. If the wait is over a longer period of time, I try to stay busy doing other things in order to distract myself. Waiting for the next book in a series to be published is hard, but I just stay busy reading other books in that case.
Dear Vannetta,
To pass the time when I go somewhere, like the doctor’s office,
I always have a book or two to make the waiting go faster.
To quote an old saying,
“All good things come to those who wait” and wait, and wait, and wait.
God’s Blessings to You Each and Every Day.
Yes, one can tell you are a ‘high energy’ person but since you teach high schoolers that is a plus for you – probably why they love you so much. I carry a book and my reading glasses with me if I know I’m going to be waiting somewhere on someone – waiting for something exciting to happen is a little harder but just try to look forward to it while waiting. Enjoy your books and always love seeing the pictures of your kitty and doggie on Facebook.
Thank you for sharing that the life of an author can include seasons of waiting, too. Often times looking at other occupations, we glamorize what that life may look like. As a teacher myself who dreams of someday writing my own books – thank you for being vulnerable and sharing a little bit of your life with us!
Blessings to you!
Sarah
My husband is always reminding me that patience is a virtue and I have little of it! I’m not going to pray for patience for you, but I will pray for the publisher God chooses to say a big “YES”. I can’t wait…oops, that’s impatient!!
I love your books. My favorite is The Allison Quinn series but I love the Amish books, too. And I was singing “Turn, Turn, Turn…” along with you.) 😉
I am like you in that waiting is not my forte. At Christmas I can’t buy gifts real early because I can’t wait to give them. Amish fiction is my very favorite and yours are the best. Thank you for all your Amish books. Never enough for me.
U r my favorite Amish writer I absolutely love your books
It must be really hard to be creative & then have to wait. If I have a craft project I’m interested in doing & have to wait I tend to forget about it. I admire your perseverance!
Hi, Vannetta–
Oh, the waiting game! Writers have to compete for Olympic gold medals when it comes to patience, right?!? 😉
Sounds like you are doing everything right, so just keep at it, even though it is definitely hard to wait.
Hugs!
What a great giveaway! Thank you for doing this. Love your books!
Dee
Thank You for the giveaway.
Marion
Waiting is so hard to do at times Love your Books and Thank you so much for your amazing newsletter giveaway! Have a Blessed Day!
I don’t mind waiting, sometimes it’s part of life, but if I anticipate having to wait at a doctor’s office or carpool line to pick up grandkids, I always take a book with me to read while waiting. Love your books!
I pray for patience because waiting is hard!
I am waiting to read any new books you write, waiting for all the leaves to quit falling so I can rake, and waiting for Christmas. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and just wait until Christmas is here!
I’m much better at waiting as I get older. I still find myself needing to remind myself patience is attainable.
God is always with us in the waiting stage whether we feel it or not. Blessings!
I am not good at waiting either. I am a very impatient person. I am trying to work on it, but it is rough (it is hard to change a habit after fifty plus years). Some times it is easier to wait than others. Such as waiting in a doctor’s office. I can read a book while I wait. I always have a book or my ereader with me because you never know when you will get a chance to read (long line at the grocery store for example). I am looking forward to your next book! I hope that you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas!