Happy Wednesday after Easter, and happy Writer Wednesday with my friend Joy!
I “met” Joy online several years ago via the ACFW loop and Facebook, and, fun fact, we share March 19 as our birthdays!! How fun is that?
To celebrate our belated birthdays, Joy has offered one of her print books, signed, to someone who comments below, answering the question at the end of the post – so stay with me!! (sorry, U.S. only!)
Joy was gracious enough to be my guest today, and here is a bit of an interview to let you get to know Joy Avery Melville a little bit better!
Welcome, Joy!
What inspired you to write, initially, and what encouraged you to continue
My 8th grade English/homeroom teacher assigned a short story for my final exam – I’d never written one and wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, I loved reading, so I chose to just write what I loved to read. Emilie Loring Romance novels and Grace Livingston Hill Romance novels – I set out to write a story about a girl who finds the love of her life – what I didn’t realize… you don’t write a 40-page short story starting with the birth of the heroine and ending with I LOVE YOU – Incidently – the 40 pages were written in longhand on notebook paper on both sides – my 8th grade was that long ago
My teacher had me stay after class to tell me she wanted me to think very hard about taking every creative writing class or every class that would further a writing career when I went into high school and college. Only a week later, our church hosted a missionary speaker, who emphasized the importance of finding one’s gift and pursuing every avenue to use it to glorify God.
My sister was a great source of encouragement from that point on, purchasing a correspondence writing course for me, before I even entered high school. My dad was my greatest inspiration, though. He worked so hard to see to it each of us kids (seven of us) not only had a personal relationship with the Lord, but that we seek direction in pursuing the talents and gifts God had instilled in us. I saw him sacrifice over and over without mentioning it to anyone, to see that we had the tools needed to succeed.
I would have to say that Emilie Loring and Grace Livingston Hill were my first reading influences, as well! I still re-read them over and over again when I need a “comfort read.” My favorites are The Substitute Guest, Brentwood, and The Enchanted Barn, as far as GLH goes. I love hearing about your writing beginnings. God is good, isn’t He? 🙂
Do you look at writing as a “calling”?
In my case – I most certainly do. In fact, I was sure I was going to write Christian Historical Romance. In fact, I had written a full-length novel and started another, when God stopped me. He impressed on my heart that I was to change genres and write Contemporary Christian Women’s Fiction. I didn’t like reading it, so why should I write it? He is such a patient God! I wrestled with that for months. Then, I asked Him if the stories would have to be dark and end dark like many I’d tried to read had. He said, “No.” I asked Him if I could write them with a STRONG thread of Romance. He said, “Yes.” In fact, He pretty much led me to ask those things. It took me very little time to know the story he had placed before me before I had surrendered my will for His. The research took me many months, in order to tell Candi’s story accurately. I wrote that story in LESS than six weeks.
Even after writing a series and starting another, I’m still looking for that book that God tells through me with such fluidity! What a blessing.
What is one story from real life that you’ve included in one of your books?
Meant For Her is based on part of a real story. A news story about a missing woman. Mine has a much more sigh-worthy ending than hers, though.
My upcoming book, Sown In Peace, to be released this year, Lord willing, has several ‘real-life’ instances in the story. They aren’t from my life, either. They are from the lives of two wounded warriors God brought into my life just after He told me to write the book These men, who very willingly, in spite of the difficulties they’ve faced, willingly shared of themselves as human resources to see that the novel is very realistic. Some very heavy things, and some that are more lighthearted.
That sounds wonderful! Don’t you just love when God puts the exact people in place to give you the information you need?
Salad or sandwich?
Depends what day you’re asking me. LOL. Most days it’s salad, but stressful days just call for the comfort I find in bread.
Me, too! I try to love salad, but I can only tolerate it for so long before I need bread. I went about a year without eating bread and lost 40 pounds – but once I started back, you know the rest of the story!
What is your favorite Bible verse?
Isaiah 46:10 – “Be still and know I am God.” – in the New American Standard Bible it reads, “Quit striving and know I am God.” It has become my life verse because it seems, I forget all too often, I have no need to strive IF I follow His directives.
Amen, Sister!! We strive over so many things that are not important, and He point-blank tells us NOT to!
A lot of interviewers ask for your favorite book. That’s just not fair! What has been the most recent book you’ve read that excited you or moved you in some way? Why?
Regina, will you be offended if I choose to tell you my favorite book?
Of course not!! I can’t wait to hear about it!!
It was a book I read as a twelve-year-old and went back to read countless times afterward. The title of the book is LIGHT FROM HEAVEN by Christmas Carol Kauffman – That was probably the very first Christian Women’s Fiction I ever read, but I didn’t realize the genre until recently when I answered this question for someone (not a blogger, by the way).
That book was a hardcover edition, and for some reason, as tough as the story was, I was drawn to read it numerous times. The most I have ever reread a book other than the Bible. I’ve come to realize God was already instilling something within that led to the depth I give each of my characters all these decades (won’t say how many) later.
I need to find that book!
I want to thank you, Regina, for hosting me today. I also appreciate your patience in allowing me to go ‘off script’ with my answer to your last question.
I’m so glad you came by, Joy! It sounds like God’s been in your “writing corner” for many years, getting you ready for “a time such as this,” and I look forward to following your career for years to come!!
About Joy’s book, Meant for Her
Christian Contemporary Romantic Women’s Fiction
~ Had it all truly been ~
MEANT FOR HER?
Kidnapped, raped, brutally beaten, and left for dead, Candi Reynolds becomes a prisoner of fear. Faced also with the impact of the unexpected break-up with her fiancé, and an unwanted pregnancy resulting from the attacks, she believes God has forsaken her. Choosing to move back to the Michigan horse farm, owned by her older brother, Dr. Cam Reynolds, Candi essentially goes into seclusion.
Dr. Patrick (Mack) MacKevon, a long-time friend of Cam’s, watches from the sidelines at the farm, where his horses are stabled, while Candi struggles to regain a sense of normalcy. His own big-brother tendencies develop into a much deeper emotion over the months he prays for her.
Is it possible for Candi to put all the pain and trauma behind her and renew her former relationship with the Lord? Will she allow her heart to open enough to discover authentic love while making decisions of victory on her personal journey to joy?
Purchase Meant For Her HERE!
About Joy Avery Melville
Joy Avery Melville’s heart’s desire is to be the author God has called her to be by sharing Him with readers in such a way they long to have a deeply committed personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.
Fully intending to write Historical Romance—had in fact— she had no plans to deviate from that. God had something else in mind for that ‘call’ He’d made on her life back in 1967. A mere eighth-grader at the time, she had no clue about the topics she’d be drawn to write about.
Surrendering to the genre God placed on her heart has given Joy new insight into the hearts and lives of those who too often hurt in silence.
The settings of Joy’s books are near where she lives in Schoolcraft, Michigan with her husband of nearly 46 years and their one-yr-old Yorkie pup, Is-A-Bella Bindi, (Is-a-beautiful little girl) who thinks she’s a much larger breed with tomboy tendencies.
Joy loves to hear from readers and will respond!
Connect with Joy!
(See what I did there? )
Email: joyjournaling@gmail.com
Newsletter sign-up available at Blog, Website, and FB Author page.
It’s been such a pleasure having Joy on my blog today! Be sure and check out her points of contact, and buy her book!!
Now for the QUESTION!! What is your FAVORITE SPRING FLOWER?
Answer the question in the comments for your opportunity to win a signed copy of Meant For Her! (U.S. only!!)
Stay safe, stay well, and READ!!
Thanks again, Regina for this opportunity to share Meant For Her with your readers/subscribers. I can hardly wait to find out who the winner of the signed copy is.
May you be blessed with safety and wellness through the duration of this madness we call COVID19
Love you.
I am so glad you’re here, birthday buddy!! Love you, too, and stay safe!!
Hm…What is my FAVORITE SPRING FLOWER?
It’s hard to pick one…daffodils and tulips 🙂
Thank you for the interview!
Natalya,
I love both of those, but I think seeing the scent of lilacs, usually here in MI, evokes a lot of nostolgia for me – in a very good way.
I’m glad you stopped by and commented.