Mother's Day Book Give Away

Happy Tenth Anniversary to my first book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms!

Little did I know when I attended my first writer's conference without a clue how to write a book, that God had great plans.

 "Write what you are passionate about," said the writing teacher.

Hmmm. What am I passionate about? My bath! I'm passionate about my bath. And. I'm passionate about being a mom. 

And so was birthed my first book Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms.

A timeless treasure, this first book has withstood the test of ten years. In its third printing and  still ordered regularly by repeat customers.  Churches continue to buy in bulk to give to first-time moms. Still hearing from moms how Splashes of Serenity gives them just that — a splash of serenity.

With praise to God for putting His call to write into my heart, His writing conferences and writer friends to teach me to write, His blessing in 4,000 copies sold in it's first few months, and then there were these:

— The sweet moms who allowed their stories be written within the pages of S.O.S.

— The mom who buried two children and lived in fear her third would be taken. She opened S.O.S. and read Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still." She thanked me for her first nights sleep in months.

— The mom of a brain-damaged boy who opened this book and cried tears of joy as God assured her "God Never  Says 'Oops!'"

— The grandma who learned her grandbaby would never walk. She opened S.O.S.  and realized God's love and care for her and for her granddaughter.

Are you a drained mom? Do you know a drained mom? My answer to both of those questions is "Duh! What mom is not drained on any particular day."

Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms is a book filled with true stories of hope from moms facing the most difficult challenges of parenting and moms drained by every day frustrations.

To celebrate this tenth Anniversary and Mother's Day:

I am giving away one free copy. To enter, please leave a comment on this blog and I'll put your name in a hat.  If you share this blog post, I will put your name in the hat twice. Please let me know if you shared. Thank you. Contest begins immediately and ends May 3 so I can send the book in time for Mother's Day. 

Congrats to Judy Pencek, the winner of a free copy of Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms

Thank you, readers, for blessing me for ten years. If you haven't read Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms recently, please read it again. This is a book that grows as your children grow.

I'd love to hear how Splashes of Serenity blessed you.

All of my books are available at the bookstore on this website. I'd enjoy sending you an autographed copy.

Happy Tenth Anniversary! Wow! Thank You, God, and thank you, readers,

Who Influenced My Life? Book Give Away!!!

Hi friends,

I'd like to splash you with serenity this week. You could win your choice of my three books by checking out Kathy Maher's blog. http://Kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com

Kathy Maher, award winning author of historical fiction, asked me some fun and several serious questions on her author interview. Learn who influenced my life and win a free book at

http://kathleenlmaher.blogspot.com/

 

 

We All Married Idiots:

Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can

 

Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms

 

 

Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Wives

May your week be splashed with serenity!

Elaine and G Chat About Writing, Parenting, and Ministering in Bosnia

Enjoyed a wonderful chat with Giovani Gelati on Gelatiscoop. We discussed my writing, writer's conferences, parenting, my books, and my trips to Bosnia. Listen up!

Elaine W. Miller returns to The G-ZONE! 05/14 by GelatisScoop | Blog Talk Radio

Thanks for another great interview G! May our words splash serenity on listeners.

Why I LOVE Book Signings

I LOVE book signings. Being a people person, I crave meeting readers face to face. Screen time can frustrate an extrovert like me. Get me out into the public — now!

Plus, the God appointments at each signing leave me amazed at how God works.

I remember my first book signing of my first book, Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms. I stood at the store's entrance and handed a book to every person who walked in. Inviting them to take a look, I assured them they didn't have to buy and explained Splashes of Serenity: Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms were short devotional stories of real moms whose lives have known pain and experienced victory.   

One customer listened to my "sales pitch" and started to cry. She shared with me:

 "I'm visiting my daughter. She just learned her 18 month old daughter will never walk. She and her husband are at their home devastated. I decided to give them some time alone and I went for a walk. I've never even seen this book store. I'm not from this city. But as I walked down the street it was as though God told me to go into this store. Then, the first person I meet is you who hands me this book for drained moms. I know I'm to buy it for my daughter."

 I prayed with her and stood in awe at God's divine intervention at a book signing. I will share similar stories in the future as my book signings often bring a stranger in need.

If you are in the Syracuse area, I'll be signing all three of my books this Saturday, September 8 at Sacred Melody bookstore (the same store where the above happened), 3501 James Street in Syracuse from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. I'd love to meet you.

Please pray for me as I am a guest on Bridge Street, News Channel 9 WSYR TV this Friday, September 7 live at 10:00 a.m. and recorded at 8:00 p.m.

 

 

May we never miss the opportunity to be a splash of serenity in someone's life.

Thanks for your splash of serenity to me!

From File Drawer to Book Store—My Writing Journey Continues

So, how did my first book go from a file drawer to a bookstore?

In earlier blogposts I share how God called me to write Cleanse My Heart: Bathtime Meditations for Moms. Rejected by four publishers, I placed that manuscript back into my file drawer. Content that I had obeyed God, I laid it to rest. But, God is in the resurrection business and He had other plans.

My friend Kelly Molinet visited one day. Kelly and I cried, prayed, and shared life together when her son, Liam, was born with Cystic Fibrosis. I wrote this dear victorious mother's story in Cleanse My Heart.

"Would you like to read what I wrote about Liam?" I asked her. She did. She liked it. A published author herself, she asked, "Why haven't you sent this to my publisher?"

So, I did. I sent Cleanse My Heart to Green Key Books. Within a few months, a contract arrived in my mailbox.

When a contract is signed, the author gives the publisher rights to your words. Which means, they can do with them whatever they please. Cleanse My Heart could have become a comic book.

Green Key didn't give me a comic book, but a beautiful hard cover gift book. Other authors tell me a first-time unknown author would never get a hard-cover book. That never happens. Well, with God all things are possible. And God was in this book from its conception.

But wait! What happened to Cleanse My Heart? The publisher also has the right to rename your book. Green Key renamed mine Sink or Swim (S.O.S.): Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms. I'm glad they asked my opinion and that I stated, "I think Sink or Swim sounds too severe. Can we change it?" Pete and Krissi Castor at Green Key Books were willing, but wanted to keep the S.O.S.

I put my thinking cap and prayer hat on and within seconds, God whispered, Splashes of Serenity. I've been splashes of serenity ever since. I love it. A breath of fresh air! A ray of sunshine! A splash of serenity!

What joy to have my first reflection be "No Room in the Tub for Me!" A story written in my bathtub the night before my baby left for college. How appropriate for this drained mom.

Within months Splashes of Serenity (S.O.S.): Bathtime Reflections for Drained Moms  sold thousands and a second printing was ordered. It is now in a third printing. Mothers around the world have been blessed and encouraged by this book. If you'd like an autographed copy, you can order it at my bookstore (see tab above) or contact me at SplashesofSerenity@yahoo.com.

So, what did you learn from this post?

Well, that God's plan for your book won't be thwarted even when you put it where no man can find it.

A publisher can make a comic book from your words if he wants to, but a publisher desires to give you the best-selling product they can afford.

A publisher has the final say on the title, but most publishers will listen to your heart and consider your thoughts.

One day your wildest dreams could come true and people will line up at your Barnes & Noble book signing. Who knew? Not me. Only God had this plan. My job was to obey. I'm so glad I did.

Hoping this was a splash of serenity and an encouragement to you,

Elaine

Why Do I Write?

My head is spinning, my heart is soaring, my spirit is thankful. Here are some of the splashes of serenity God gave me at last week's Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference.

1. A conferee said, "My child has Downs Syndrome. You wouldn't believe the discouraging things people have said to me. I read your book and thought, This author gets it. She understands. Your 'Drained Moms' book gave me hope and I just want to thank you." We both cried and hugged and I prayed for her child and for her.

2. Another conferee caught up with me in the cafeteria saying, "I gave your book for 'Drained Wives' to my niece who was leaving her husband. She read your book and decided to stay with her husband. Hallelujah and thank you!" I couldn't even eat my lunch after that splash!

3. Four publishers are interested in publishing my next book. If you are led, please pray for me and the publishers to know God's will. Thank you.

Why do I write? I write to change lives and lead people to their only hope--Jesus Christ. Last week God confirmed my call to write His Answer. Perhaps God is calling you? Is he? Let me know. I'll pray for you.

Thanking God for my readers--the sweetest splashes of serenity of all.

Elaine

With Praise to God for the Work He Allows Me to Do

Is this a dream? Wake me up, somebody!

This morning I did wake up to an interview posted by my wonderful agent, Diana Flegal. You can read it at http://hartlineliteraryagency.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Diana, for your partnership in the gospel. Thanks God for allowing me to write and speak for You. Thanks readers and friends for all of your encouragement to me. Thanks Dan and our children for allowing me to tell our stories. My heart is full of love for all of you.

Splashes of Serenity,
Elaine