Put Your Heart in a Book

By Jodie Wolfe

These are the types of reviews we long for as authors:

I couldn’t put it down, and ended up starting and finishing the book in a few hours! 

… created characters that grabbed my attention and my heart right from the start. 

Never a dull moment in this story from beginning to end. 

… has a flair with words that accurately portray the challenges faced for the period, and her characters demonstrate the importance of trusting God, especially during trials and hardships.

I could not put it down and neither will you. 

Once more … has created a world you are quickly swept up in with characters to care about.

This book is my new favorite.

A fantastic read for everyone!

I’m a firm believer that it takes the combination of writing a good story and the author putting his/her heart into the work to create a piece that touches and changes readers. There are ups and downs when the author decides to do this. Putting your heart into a book may mean that you allow yourself to be open to harsh criticism and have what you hoped to achieve backfire. I’ve been on the receiving end of this and know the pain it causes. When that happens, because more than likely at least once in your career it will, we pick up the pieces and move forward, trusting God with the outcome since He sees what we can’t. I know that He is trustworthy and rely upon that fact even when I can’t see anything positive coming from what I’ve gone through.

For me though, the positive far outweighs the negative. When I choose to open myself up and put a part of me into each story I write, I believe it allows the reader to see the real emotions behind the writing. It allows them to relate. My goal is for the reader to see that they aren’t the only one who struggles with things. With each story I pen, I desire to point people to the One who gives us hope.

It takes a well-written novel and the heart of the author to transports readers into the story world and not let them go until the last page. I can’t help but think about that when I read this verse from the Bible.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23 (NIV-1984)

This verse provides the hope and direction I need when I sit down to write a new story. It’s why I write and put my heart in a story—so readers can see that they aren’t alone. There is Someone who loves them more than anyone else and understands what they are going through.  I trust God with the outcome of my writing and ask the Lord to use my stories for His glory.

God put His heart into the story He wrote for us. What better example do we have?

Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. Her newest release, To Claim Her Heart, takes place during the last great race for land in Oklahoma Territory in 1893. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Visit Jodie at www.jodiewolfe.com.