Write2Ignite

The crisp winter air tweaks my nose as I admire the glow of my town’s twinkling lights. Everywhere I look, I see Christmas trees, bright-eyed children, and outdoor Nativity scenes. The Christmas season fills me with warmth, like a long-forgotten promise of joy being kept, and my heart races with anticipation. This time of year feels like magic!

But something decidedly unmagical has tried to dim my joy this season. One year ago, Write2Ignite announced that I had received a publishing contract for a Christmas picture book that was to be released in the fall of 2024. I’ve been published on other platforms, but this is my first hold-in-my-hands book! However, circumstances were such that the illustrations were delayed, which led to the decision in the fall of 2024 to delay the release of Meanwhile Back at the Manger until fall 2025.

To deal with the disappointment, I remembered that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Trusting that this delay is part of God’s plan, I focused on the gifts of waiting, and this is what I came up with.

3 Gifts from Waiting

First, I can take this as a gift from God to tweak my manuscript. Since the illustrations aren’t completely done, I have more time to consider changes that may or may not affect those that have already been done. I’ll admit that I like to think I’ve written something perfect, but an editor that can’t find something to change is as rare as a unicorn. And yes, my editor recommended several changes last spring, which I implemented. But later my critique group gave me ideas to sift through, and I could see that some ideas would improve the story. I can continue to make tweaks while keeping the text under 500 words.

This delay also allows me time to start writing a new picture book before I get swept up in marketing and promotions of a book launch for this one.

The next gift from my disappointment is that it has given me more time to build a following on several social media platforms. Part of that involves drawing in more followers and growing relationships with them by way of interactions on their posts. Hopefully I’ll end up with a community eager to celebrate the book once it’s finally released!

The third gift is the chance to be more prepared for setting up a table at local Christmas markets. I was so looking forward to joining other local authors at Christmas markets. I imagine the group being like an elite social club, and I’ve been on the outside looking in the window, dreaming of the day I could join them, and I thought 2024 was my time! But then a hurricane blew through the upstate, flooding my basement, breaking my garage door, and leaving me with shingles pointing to the sky! The money I would have spent on banners, signs, promotional items, and a professional tablecloth went instead toward replacing the flooring in my basement living space. The sad truth is that while I wanted to be a part of those markets to show my book to shoppers, I didn’t have the funds available to make a good showing. God knew how stressed and distressed I would be to lack the ability to showcase my book the way I dreamed it would be. Therefore, He blessed me with another year so I could take care of the storm damage (some of which still needs to be dealt with) and still have time to get ready for all things related to launching a book into the world.

Though delays can be frustrating and even bring us to tears, they often spark unexpected creativity and joy. They offer us the time to refine our work, forge new connections, and prepare more thoroughly for what’s to come. For these three gifts, I’m truly grateful. But next year, I’m hopeful that God’s gifts to me will include holding my book in my hands!

Brenda Covert is the author of hundreds of short stories used in educational resources for young students as well as short stories used in Union Gospel Press Sunday school materials; she is also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. She claims to be an introvert but earned a degree in theatre, which seems contradictory but isn’t. Born in the Midwest but residing in the South, this Christmas and Christ-loving woman lives with 3 beloved cats to whom she is allergic and two adult children to whom she is not.