|
Dear Friends,
I can't believe summer is nearly over. It went by fast. Chasing a two-year-old, traveling on a mission trip to the Czech Republic, and preparing for the release of my next novel, The Memory Jar, has something to do with that. I didn't have an "immediate" deadline, so I had a chance to really enjoy travel. Walking inside castles and across bridges paved in cobblestone is a treat, indeed. Also, before the trip, my mom came to visit Arkansas for a week. Since I only get to see her once a year, I enjoyed every moment.
Also, when we went to the Czech Republic we were able to reunite with my daughter Leslie, who was there all summer. It was wonderful to see her and to meet the fantastic people she'd been working with all summer! Leslie did an outstanding job connecting with teens and adults, sharing about Jesus, and building relationships! I have to share one cool story that she related to me.
In the Czech church, there is an "English" section where the message is translated. A new family was visiting, and Leslie discovered they were Dutch (but they spoke English, too). While they were talking, it somehow came up that I was an author. When the mother of the family asked Leslie our surname, she said, "Goyer." "Oh, is your mother Tricia Goyer?" the teen daughter asked.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Well, I've heard about her novels!" the young woman answered.
 The daughter was familiar with my novels because most of them are published in Dutch. How wonderful that my daughter could meet a family from Holland in the Czech Republic and discover they knew of my work! God amazes me!
I'm so thankful for moments like that where God can give me a glimpse of the word-of-mouth getting out about my books. I love to write and share these stories and messages God gives me. The bonus is when there are many, many others who are blessed with the messages as they read my books and tell others about them.
Writing careers are built one book at a time, one reader at a time. I smile when I think that some of you newsletter readers "knew me when" . . . before I had one word published. And if you're one of those who just discovered me, "Welcome!" I hope you will be blessed through our connection during all of life's seasons.
Autumn will be here before we know it. I'm going to be traveling to Montana to see my grandson (and my son and daughter-in-law) and to research for my new novel, The Kissing Bridge. I'll also be speaking at the ACFW Conference and the Allume Conference, but most of my time will be spent with my family still at home, my wonderful husband, John, and our three kids ages twenty, eighteen, and two. In the same moment it is possible to be talking about college schedules while also rolling out play dough. It's a blessed, charmed life!
May the last rays of summer touch your heart, and remember that as the evenings grow cooler it's a perfect time to curl up with a good book!
Tricia
P.S. Don't forget to connect with me Monday through Saturday on my blog. There I talk about books, writing, mommying, homeschooling, and other great topics!
Also, be sure to check out the Amish Life Facebook page, where those who write and read Amish fiction connect. And for the inside scoop of my day-to-day life, check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter. Thank you, friends! I know in my heart that readers like you have made my career so successful! | 
