A Question of Interpretation: Introducing Stories of Life 2018

By May-Kuan Lim @ACWriters

Storytelling is essentially an act of interpretation, especially when we tell true stories of something that happened to someone.

A CCTV camera records pictures, and a court transcript records words, but neither tells a story in the artistic sense. A story needs something more. It needs interpretation. It needs to answer the question: what joins the plot points? Or, more importantly, who? And why?

In Steering the Craft, Ursula Le Guin writes:

Plot is merely one way of telling a story, by connecting the happenings tightly, usually through causal chains. Plot is a marvellous device. But it’s not superior to story, and not even necessary to it.

In the opening pages of the Bible, we have the plot points of creation, temptation, and the fall. The serpent questions Eve – ‘Did God really say?’ – thus introducing doubt. With naivety, Eve recounts the story, affirming God’s commandment, but the serpent then reinterprets the story to suit his purpose:

You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

The serpent’s version gets some facts right – God doesn’t want you to not eat – but some facts wrong – you will not surely die. Furthermore, the serpent adds a duplicitous explanation as to why God forbade Adam and Eve to eat the fruit – God doesn’t want you to become like him. Eve buys into the serpent’s version of the story, and eats the fruit.

It is only human to long to know if our lives are by design or by chance. If it is by design, we wonder about the identity and character of the designer: good or bad? Kind or cruel? Still invested in us or distant and disinterested? The way we interpret our lived experience affects the decisions we make and ultimately the life we live.

In the Bible, we hear heroes of the faith interpret key moments in their life. When Abraham saw the ram caught in the thicket, he didn’t thank his lucky stars. Instead, he named the place, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'

While running away from his brother who wanted to kill him, Jacob had a dream. He did not attribute this to stress, but said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.'

When Joseph’s brothers came begging for grain, he did not see this as a chance for revenge, but as evidence of God’s greater purpose, 'God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.'

These stories form the bedrock of our Christian faith. 

They tell us God joined the plot points. For our faith to be living and vibrant and active, we need to know that God still joins the plot points today.

In the 2017 Stories of Life anthology, The Gecko Renewal, I read exactly that. In one of the stories in the anthology, Three Miracles, Hazel Barker records what her Christian mother had said in war-time Burma. 'Last night, while the bombs rained down, Rose sang, Father, we thank Thee for the Night. Her eyes were shut when she thrilled out the hymn. I placed my hand on her forehead. Her temperature had dropped. I knew the crisis had passed.

In Freedom Calls, Shakira Davies recalls an abusive relationship, ‘Then you raised your fists. I knew what was coming, and yet I could feel an unusual strength inside that I drew on. I steeled myself and stared at you, almost daring you to act. You stared at me, drew back your hand, read to punch … but what happened? What did you see? Because you dropped your hands and walked out. I knew at that moment that God had been the one protecting me all my life. I knew at that moment God was protecting his child.’

In A Moving Experience, Jo-Anne Berthelsen poses the question, ‘Could God play a key role in such a practical matter as moving house? What do you think?’

We are Christians most probably because we have seen God’s hand in some aspect of our lives. I am writing today to ask a question:

Would you consider writing up one such story and enter it in the Stories of Life writing competition?

Our website states, ‘We are not looking for devotionals or reflections on bible passages.’ 

That is to say, don’t submit something like this blog post. Rather, tell us your story, with you, the viewpoint character. (You can also write someone else’s story, with his or her permission.) If a person of faith is the viewpoint character, the story will be a story of faith, whether or not bible verses are quoted.

Apart from the AUD4,500 worth of cash prizes, Stories of Life is also a chance to get your story published because all short listed entries will be published in an anthology at the end of the year. Some stories will also be broadcast on Life FM radio in Adelaide and may also be printed in the Eternity Matters column of various newspapers.

To date, over sixty stories of faith and testimony have been published. 2017 runner up, Lisa Birch, noted, ‘One interesting thing about being published in Stories of Life has meant that people in my life who don’t usually read have been really happy to read The Gecko Renewal – and not just my story either. The incidental collaboration with people from all walks of life is refreshing – there really is something for everyone in this anthology.’

At Stories of Life, we want to help Christians tell their stories well. We have numerous writing resources on our website and we are holding a free editing class tomorrow, Thursday, 21 June, at Tabor Adelaide. The first part of the workshop, from 7pm to 7:30pm Adelaide time, will be live streamed on Facebook. Those wishing to attend in person and participate in small group work, please register here.

The closing date for submissions is 31 July 2018. Winners will be announced at the official launch of the Stories of Life anthology in late October or early November.

About May-Kuan Lim

From 2007 to 2015, May-Kuan Lim wrote a monthly parenting column for The Borneo Post. She would interview experts for the column to answer her own parenting dilemmas. Interviewing people and writing became her way of trying to understand the world. In 2015, she won an Arts SA Emerging Mentorship grant for a narrative non-fiction work on asylum seekers. She is a member of Writers SA and Oral History Australia. May-Kuan blogs at maykuanlim.com.

That tricky balancing act

I believe all of us as writers can learn something from those highwire acrobats we see at the circus. If these performers lean too far one way, they will fall. And if they lean too far the other, the same thing will happen. Instead, they must stay perfectly balanced on that highwire, carefully edging their way along until they reach the other side.

How does all this apply to authors in particular? Since I started writing around thirteen years ago, I have found I often need to practise the fine art of balancing boldness and self-confidence with a good, strong dose of humility. As writers, we might consider ourselves to be amazing—but we might not be. Potential publishers might line up for our manuscripts—but they might not either. In fact, they might never even want to look at those words we have slaved over for hours, days, months, even years—particularly as first-time authors.

On one occasion not so long ago, I found myself chatting to a lady I had never met who proceeded to talk about herself at some length. Her story was interesting but, after a while, I somehow began to feel almost irrelevant or invisible. Finally, in response to a comment she made, I told her I am a writer—and it was at that point that her manner towards me suddenly changed.

‘Oh ... who’s your publisher?’ she asked eagerly.

I barely had time to answer before she rushed on.

‘I’ve written a book too. It’s taken me a couple of years, but it’s ready to be published now,’ she told me. ‘I know the exact publisher I’d like—and the exact literary agent I want too.’

At that point, I held my breath a little. Yes, it was good she had a clear goal in mind for her book—and that she was familiar enough with the publishing world to know whom to contact. But it worried me that she seemed to think the road ahead would be so easy and straightforward for her. And it also disturbed me that she seemed unwilling to listen to anything much I might say. So I simply stayed silent and let her talk.

Yes, we need to believe in ourselves and our writing—otherwise we would not stick at it. Yes, we need to be bold at times, as we approach potential publishers or agents and look for ways to promote our books after they are published. But we also need to balance this with an equal amount of humility. We all have more to learn, whatever stage we are at in our writing journeys. None of us knows it all. And that is why, this very weekend, many Christian Aussie and New Zealand authors are coming together at the Omega Writers’ Conference in Sydney—to listen, to learn, to teach others and also to encourage and support one another.

I’m still working on perfecting my literary highwire act of balancing boldness with humility. And as I do, I’m trying to apply the following:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 4:3

How about you? Have you too found this aspect of the writing and publishing journey a challenge?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

Who would have thought?

I almost decided not to talk to the young woman I noticed sitting there. I had turned up early to my speaking engagement to set up my book table and ensure everything was ready. I did not want to chat with anyone at that point—I like to be quiet before I speak. Yet in this instance, I felt particularly mean, sticking to my own agenda. You see, I had met this girl on a previous occasion—and I knew she was blind. So, leaving my books half-organised, I went over to her.

‘Hi! I’ve met you before—I’m Jo-Anne,’ I began.

‘Oh, you’re Jo-Anne Berthelsen—I remember meeting you,’ she replied, smiling. ‘I borrowed three of your novels from CBM Australia’s audio-book library— Heléna, All the Days of My Life, and Heléna’s Legacy! I really enjoyed them.’

I was gobsmacked. Between 2007 and 2013, Christian Blind Mission Australia had recorded my first five novels, one after the other, using their special DAISY mp3 format, so they would be accessible to visually impaired people in various ways. I had almost forgotten that fact until I found my own complimentary copies around three months ago when moving house. I have never listened to them because I can’t bear to hear my own books read out, even by the well-known actors CBM engages to do so! I always want to change too much—it’s way too excruciating for me. So, wondering why I was keeping them, I stuck them in a drawer in our new home, far out of sight, and forgot about them again. Now, however, I decided to tell this girl about these and offer to lend her the two she hadn’t listened to.

‘You might be particularly interested in my third novel, Laura. It’s about a girl who loses her sight,’ I mentioned.

‘Oh, I started reading Laura  using the text to speech reader on my computer, but it was too hard to keep going, so I’d love to listen to that one—and Jenna. CBM doesn’t record books anymore here in Australia—they need to use their funds in different ways now, although you can still borrow their old catalogue from the Vision Australia library, I think.’

Then I remembered I had sent her a pdf copy of Laura soon after we met, before it was even published. Now God had given me a second chance to provide her with a much more accessible version. What a humbling experience!

After finishing my input, I asked for questions. My young friend immediately wanted to know the name of my blog site. I spelled it out carefully—and knew she would not forget it. Again, how humbling to think she would bother to access my blog each week!

None of us knows what God will do with our words, written or spoken. None of us knows whether, years down the track, God will use them to touch someone’s heart. Who would have thought I would meet my young friend again? Who would have thought God would want to use those recordings I have never listened to? So please keep on persevering with putting those words of yours out there! We have a great God who can do the most amazing things with them—don’t you agree?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

When life intervenes

I am sure many of you have experienced times in your life when, for one reason or another, writing has had to take a back seat. We may want to lock ourselves away and get on with our work in progress, yet other responsibilities or life events intervene to make that impossible.

Towards the end of March, my husband and I went away for a few days, to enable some much-needed renovations to be done to our old house. We arrived home to a new, almost completed kitchen—but also found a letter, telling us a three bedroom unit had become available in a nearby Village complex. We decided to take it—it was just what we wanted.

That same week, our house went on the market. Eleven days later, without our planned auction ever taking place, it sold.

On 26^th May, we moved into our lovely unit, after two hectic months of sorting, packing and cleaning. Then we busied ourselves unpacking everything, exploring our new environment and shopping for various household items. It was exhilarating to be able to create a pleasant, new living space and especially to see my new study take shape, just as I wanted it. I enjoyed it all.

But now at last, I am beginning to feel I can allow myself to remember I am a writer! Yes, speaking in various places and minding grandchildren continue apace, as they have throughout our move, but I know there will be those available hours ahead when I can again let the words flow and endeavour to shape them into a novel.

Yet, even in the midst of all our comings and goings these past months, I did not stop writing completely. At the outset, I made the decision to continue my weekly personal blog because, after all, it was not as if I had nothing to say. Everywhere around me, God seemed to have caused so many things to fall into place. And I wanted to share my joy in it all and the lessons I was learning, hopefully blessing others in the process. I also kept on writing in my journal about things that impacted me from God’s Word and from life in general. I knew I had to keep that God connection firm and sure, through all the changes in our lives, and allow God to unfold things at just the right pace.

All these recent experiences of mine have caused me to reflect more on this challenge to writers to keep on writing. Things happen. Life intervenes. And, in the midst of it all, we can get so frustrated, unless we remember that nothing takes God by surprise and that God has not forgotten us. It can be a struggle, can’t it, to find time to let those creative juices flow and not to give up the whole enterprise? But in these times, let’s take a step back and remember we belong to an amazing God who holds us close through it all and will direct our paths, watching over us all the way. And ... let’s keep on writing too!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   Proverbs 3:5-6

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

Imagine!

In February, I attended a one day course at the NSW Writers’ Centre entitled ‘Remembering Your Creativity’, run by Sue Woolfe. I had not had the luxury of being a writer for a whole day for quite a while and revelled in it all. Sue began by taking us back to our childhood and the creative things we did then. That set the tone for the various writing exercises that followed, when we were encouraged to write freely and let our imaginations run wild, just as we did as children.

What a gift our imaginations are to us as writers—and also as readers! Once we close off the more reasoning part of our brain and let ourselves step over the threshold into that wonderful world of our creative imagination, we can experience all sorts of other worlds and events firsthand, so to speak. And once we choose to let ourselves write that way, we can open the door for others to take their own journeys of discovering more about the world around them, about themselves—and perhaps even about God.

I have also found my God-given imagination so valuable in reading Scripture—in particular, the Gospel narratives. Recently, I have been reading through John’s Gospel again. Now we are in the middle of selling our home, so there are lots of extra jobs to do and big decisions to make. Yet I wanted to stay focussed on God, as Easter approached, even though the first of our ‘open house’ days was looming. And that’s when I became so thankful for my God-given imagination once again and for the many opportunities I have had, in writing my novels and non-fiction, to exercise it.

You see, as I read John 13, without much conscious effort, I found myself right in that upper room with Jesus as he washed the disciples’ feet. I almost felt the water pouring over my own and the rough fabric of the towel, as Jesus dried them. I heard Peter’s panic, as he objected to joining in. In verse 21, I felt Jesus’ pain and was moved by the sadness in his voice when he said, ‘I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.” In John 18, I sensed Peter’s deep shame, that moment those words of denial left his lips and the rooster crowed. In John 19, I imagined how Jesus’ mother must have felt when her dying Son spoke so tenderly to her from the cross, ‘Dear woman, here is your son’, and to the other disciple present, ‘Here is your mother.’ And in John 20, I revelled in Mary’s joy, as she heard the man she assumed was the gardener speak her name and realised it was the Lord. What an amazing moment! And what a privilege it was to be able to imagine myself there and to know God’s Spirit was somehow part of the whole process as well.

So today as you read, I wonder if you too can revel in that God-given imagination of yours again, just as you did as a child. And as you write, may you lose sight of yourself in the whole process and create with joy, aware that God’s own creative Spirit is working in and through you, bringing those words to life.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

‘Real’ books can roam

I love my ‘real’, paper and print, hard copy books. But for Christmas, I received a brand new Sony tablet—and now I have of course discovered the many pluses of e-books. I can download them easily. They are cheaper. My Tablet is quite easy to carry anywhere in my handbag. And, for those of us trying to cut down the number of books on our shelves, those e-books are a boon.

There are several reasons I still enjoy my ‘real’ books, however. For me, there is something pleasurable and comforting about holding them—no doubt a result of those many hours spent curled up reading as a child. Also, unlike my tablet, they don’t need recharging! Besides, I often lend out my books—and, while I understand Amazon has a couple of different e-book lending options now, not everyone has an e-reading device/app. Also, one option has a lending period of only fourteen days, which would not be long enough for some of my friends. Anyway, it is much easier for me just to reach over to my bookshelf and grab that ‘real’ book for them.

I love to hear how my own books have roamed in this way. Recently, a friend from times past sent me such an encouraging message about my latest book, Becoming Me. I have not seen her for many years, although I was aware that another mutual friend always sends her a copy of any new book of mine, usually as a birthday or Christmas gift. Then, out of the blue, she contacted me via Facebook.

‘Hi Jo-Anne,’ she began. ‘Thank you for your new book. I couldn't put it down—loved it. I read portions of it to my fourteen-year-old granddaughter who needed your testimony at that time.’

Wow! It blew my mind to think of my friend reading some part of Becoming Me out to her granddaughter. But then she went on to explain that she has now lent the book to her daughter-in-law, the mother of this particular granddaughter, to read. After that, she told me, she plans to pass it onto a good friend. What a journey that little book of mine has had and will have in the future! How many more hands will it pass through in the next little while? Probably quite a few, knowing my old friend! Where will it roam next? Where will it end up?

I remember too a time when someone found my first novel Heléna in a second hand bookstore and bought it. This led her to read other novels of mine and also my first memoir Soul Friend. She then lent her copy of Soul Friend to a colleague going through a difficult time—and God used it in a special way to encourage this person to move forward in her life. Now I have no idea if the person who originally donated my novel Heléna to that Vinnies store even read it before doing so, but I’m so glad that book of mine kept roaming—until it found the right reader who, as it turned out, would then enable other books of mine to roam even further.

How about you? Do you too have an encouraging ‘book roaming’ story to share with us—or perhaps an opinion on ‘real books’ versus e-books? Please go ahead!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

Taking stock - Jo-Anne Berthelsen

At the end of every three months, it is my job to complete an interesting book task. I write down the names of all my published books, go to the spot where those cartons are stored and begin my quarterly stocktake.  Recently, this job has become easier, since I now have no remaining stocks of my first four novels, Heléna, All the Days of My Life, Laura and Jenna. I could get more from my then publisher, but have decided not to, in order to focus on my more recent novels, Heléna’s Legacy and The Inheritance, and my two non-fiction books, Soul Friend and Becoming Me.

Yet, even with fewer books, this can still be a rather daunting task—if I allow it to be. If I approach this job in a negative way, I can become rather discouraged. I might grumble at having to haul boxes around and check their contents. I might stare at these boxes and wonder if I will ever sell all those books. I might note that numbers of a certain title on hand have not decreased much in the past three months. I might worry about whether to buy more of this or that title at that point or simply wait and see what happens.

Alternately, I can remember God is with me, even as I perform this mundane book task. I can choose to listen to the Spirit’s encouraging words rather than any discouraging thoughts from the enemy, as I record those numbers. I can acknowledge how wonderful it is that I actually have all those published books on hand, ready to be sold via my website or wherever I am asked to speak. I can choose to realise how amazing it is that I have sold as many books as I have over the years, since first being published in 2007. I can choose to be thankful for those lives that have been touched by God through words I have written, both in my novels and in my non-fiction books. I can choose to recall that very first email I received via my website from a reader in some far-away part of Australia, telling me that, although she had not found God to be there for her in the hard times in her life, maybe she would ‘try God again’, as a result of reading my first novel, Heléna. And I can choose to be so thankful for those ones who, even this past week on Facebook, have commented how my latest book, Becoming Me, has moved and challenged them.

Recently, I enjoyed reading The Story of With, an interesting and unique book by former publisher, Allen Arnold. All over again, it challenged and encouraged me to approach my whole writing and speaking journey with God, not attempting things in my own strength, but rather allowing those God-given gifts and that God-given imagination of mine to flow freely, as I walk hand in hand with God. What a privilege and a blessing to be able to do this! What resources we have in God to persevere in our writing journeys and in life in general in 2017!

Are these your thoughts too? May each of us not only take stock of these greatest resources of all but draw on them constantly in the year ahead.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, ‘Soul Friend’ and ‘Becoming Me’. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.

So different!

Twice recently, I have been reminded in no uncertain terms about how different we all are as authors. In earlier years, this would have caused me to feel so inferior. Was I on the right track? Surely those other authors had found a better way of going about things? Now, however, I realise it’s okay and, in fact, quite natural that we should be such a diverse bunch!

A few weeks ago, I saw this diversity clearly displayed when I visited the NSW Writers’ Centre for their 25^th birthday celebrations. I had been selected as one of five winners of a writing competition and was there to collect my prize. We had been required to write about an experience of being at the Centre—an easy topic for me because, at once, a conversation I had years ago with a young writer during an emerging writers’ festival there came to mind. Here is a portion of what I wrote:

 ‘So ... have you enjoyed the sessions so far?’

‘Oh, yes!’ I lie. ‘How about you?’

‘Not really. They were mostly geared towards finding a publisher.’

‘That’s a shame ... are you already published then?’

At this point, he looks at me full on, horrified. What sort of blunder have I made? Was my question plain offensive to him? Perhaps he is some famous author I should have recognised.

‘No way!’ he blurts out at last. ‘Do you really want to be published?’

I am stunned. Of course I do!  Why would I not? Why go to all that trouble of spending months, even years, writing something others will never read? Yet this young man seems deeply disturbed by the whole idea.

As I chatted with a young woman at the birthday celebrations and told her what I had written, however, I heard a vastly different response.

‘I was at a writers’ festival like that too and, at one session, this publisher told us that, out of the fifty of us there, only one would find a publisher. Straight up, I decided, ‘That person is going to be me!!’

Her confidence and joyful expectancy was so refreshing to hear that I laughed out loud.

My second experience of such diversity occurred at the recent Omega Writers’ Conference. Three other authors and I had finished taking our turns on a panel and it was time for questions. Someone asked about book promotion and a spirited discussion ensued.

‘I remember how freeing it was to discover not every author has to blog,’ one panel member declared, ‘because I hate blogging! I keep thinking I could be writing more books, rather than wasting time adding to the mountain of words already out there in blogs everywhere!’

A few moments later, I had to add my bit.

‘Er ... um ... I really love blogging! I write a personal blog each week and link it to Facebook. I find it a great way to connect with people.’

In the end, we all laughed.

Yes, we are diverse bunch—and that’s wonderful! Let’s not be put off by others or jealous of them. Let’s celebrate our differences. Let’s learn from one another but also be true to ourselves and to God. God has gifted each one of us differently and we can each impact our readers in a way no one else can. 

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.  

The Genre Interview with Jo-Anne Berthelsen

Welcome to the Genre Interview. Jo-Anne Berthelsen has kindly agreed to answer our questions related to writing genres.

What genres do you write?
Jo-Anne:  I write ‘faith-based’ novels and Christian non-fiction works (memoir), plus the occasional short story.

What market do you write for (Christian or general, clean reads etc)?

Jo-Anne:  Primarily the Christian market.

In which genres do you have books available for sale?
Jo-Anne:  General ‘faith-based’ fiction and Christian non-fiction, plus short stories in various anthologies (Glimpses of Light, several ‘Aussie Stories’ publications).

How many books have you published in each genre?

Jo-Anne:  Six novels (one general ‘faith-based’ historical fiction and five general ‘faith
based’ contemporary fiction) and two Christian non-fiction works, the first one a memoir and the
second (due for release on 1^st October) a mix of memoir, teaching and reflection questions.

Are you published traditionally, indie or hybrid?

Jo-Anne:  As of 1^st October, when my indie non-fiction book, Becoming Me: Finding my true self in
God, is released, I will be able to say I am a hybrid author (seven books published traditionally, one
indie).

Did genre influence your decision to choose a particular publishing model?

Jo-Anne:  Not with my first seven traditionally published books, but genre did influence my choice with my eighth book, Becoming Me. Because it is not quite the type of non-fiction the publisher of my previous two books is producing at the moment, I decided to publish it myself rather than look elsewhere. It is still a memoir, but also contains some reflection questions, so could also be classified under ‘Christian Growth’.

Are your published works available in print, e-book or both?

Jo-Anne:  My first four novels are/were available only in print, but my last four books are available in both print and e-book format.

Why do you want to write? Do you feel called to write?

Jo-Anne:  I want to write for a variety of reasons. Firstly, I find it so fulfilling and satisfying—even the
hardest parts! Secondly, I feel God has gifted me and also equipped me through my studies and life
experiences to communicate via the written word—and it is important I use the gifts and knowledge
God has given me. Thirdly, I believe I have things to say that can make a difference in the lives of
others and hopefully draw them closer to God, via both my fiction and non-fiction books, as well as
my short stories.
And yes, I also believe God clearly called me to begin writing back in June 2003, while I was sitting

on a rock in Turkey, reading Isaiah 42 (see my website for more details)! It had always

been a dream of mine to write, but from that point on, I knew writing (and speaking) were to be my

main focus.

Many thanks to Jo-Anne Berthelsen for sharing her thoughts on genre.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and two non-fiction works, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey and Becoming Me: Finding my true self in God (to be released 1^st Oct). Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com. 

Staying the course - Jo-Anne Berthelsen

I almost gave up on my latest book, Becoming Me. I began exploring the idea behind it in 2013, then wrote most of my original version during 2014. I sensed God was in the project and sent it off to my potential publisher in January 2015. Yet one key, nagging question remained. Should it really be published? It is a very personal book, after all—it contains many honest reflections on my own journey of discovering who God created me to be and of removing the layers covering my true self. Besides, I had already written six published novels and a memoir, Soul Friend. Should I call it a day?

I was also very tired, so decided to give myself a semi-sabbatical during 2015. At times, I tried to polish up Becoming Me, while waiting to hear from the publisher, but those nagging doubts remained. Had I heard God wrongly? Did I have the energy to see this project through?

Then, in January this year, my publisher suggested I remove the reflection questions from the end of each chapter, which necessitated other changes as well. I resubmitted, but to no avail. My book was simply not the type of non-fiction my publisher now produced—and I respected that.

So what to do? Should I consider self-publishing? For various reasons, I had always resisted this idea. Then, one Sunday morning in early May, three things happened in quick succession.

The first was a simple, mundane event—I picked up a nail file on my desk and, for the first time in months, noticed the image of a Russian babushka doll, so intrinsic to my story, on the end of it. A friend had given it to me, after she heard about the concept behind Becoming Me, as an encouragement and a reminder to complete the book.

We headed to church, where a young minister preached on knowing our identity in Christ. To my astonishment, he proceeded to elaborate on many key themes contained in my book. I sat bolt upright—it was as if an electric current was flowing through me. ‘All these themes are still so important’, I sensed God saying. ‘Put your book out there!’

I came home and discovered an email from a dear friend. She had felt prompted to share John 1:12 from ‘The Message’ with me. It read: 

Whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, HE MADE TO BE THEIR TRUE SELVES, their child-of-God selves ... 

She had capitalised the words ‘He made to be their true selves’—without knowing this was the main theme of my new book!

That week, I began to set in motion the whole self-publishing process, asking others to design the cover and complete the layout for me. And now, on 1^st October, Becoming Me: Finding my true self in God will be released at last! Please check out my website for the special deal available until that date.

I am sharing this publication journey to encourage you all to stay the course and do your best to carry through with whatever project God has challenged you to undertake in your own life. Yes, sometimes we might have to put things aside. But maybe, just maybe, God wants us to persevere. God is so faithful—so it is up to us to be faithful too, don’t you think? 

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.  

The question everyone seems to want to ask

Jo-Anne Berthelsen

I had been invited to speak to a community group about becoming a published author and had reached the end of my input. Now it was time for questions. What would I be asked today? Perhaps someone might want to know how long it takes me to write a novel. Perhaps someone else might wonder which I enjoy writing most—fiction or non-fiction.  Perhaps others might have questions about the book industry as a whole, such as how e-books have affected authors and publishers and bookstores. I waited, hoping I could respond well to whatever queries might surface.

Then I saw him. He was seated towards the back and smiled as he raised his hand. And, before he even opened his mouth, I knew what he was going to ask.

‘So ... have you made much money from your books?

Why is it that it is often a well-dressed, important-looking gentleman up the back who dares to ask such a question? Perhaps it is because he has had a career in business, where the bottom line counts. Perhaps he is simply curious. Or perhaps he hears his wife or others around him whispering this very question and decides to ask it for them! Nowadays, I simply join in the ensuing slightly embarrassed laughter and respond as calmly as I can. But the first time I was confronted with this question, I was a little shocked. After all, I doubt I would ask this gentleman how much he made in his own job—especially in public!

This time, I decided to explain first off how most Australian authors know it is not a good idea to give up one’s day job! Next, I mentioned how even quite well-known authors here in Australia usually need to supplement their income via presenting writing workshops or lecturing in creative writing or such like. I then talked about how smaller publishers in Australia do not have the resources to pay large advances or to fund extensive promotional campaigns and how, in my circles at least, we battle for sales with many books written by well-known overseas authors. Finally, I let this gentleman know that, while I might not have made my millions, I am at least in the ‘black’ and not in the ‘red’! And I am grateful I have always earned enough to buy my next lot of stock, so that I can continue my writing and speaking without any drain on our day-to-day finances.

If I am ever asked this question at a Christian event, I usually add that I regard my speaking and writing as a ministry, which changes the focus for me. I might mention too the many hours that artists of all kinds put into their creative endeavours and how difficult it is to put any monetary value on this. Yet we have the joy of knowing that our loving God sees all the effort that goes into our work and is delighted that we are using our gifts to bless others in this way.

On the other hand ... um ... well ... the worker deserves his (or her) wages, don’t you think (1 Tim 5:18)? Hmm.

So ... over to you. How would you answer my ‘favourite’ question?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com. 

The things writers do—Jo-Anne Berthelsen

I have had some interesting experiences during my writing journey, as I have spoken at many and varied places, promoted my books in stores or simply taken them somewhere to sell. In fact, from time to time, I threaten I will write a book about it all ... one day. Yet I doubt I will because, while most of my experiences have been so rewarding, I might well be too unkind about those that were not!

Take, for instance, the occasion I drove almost two hundred kilometres to speak in a church service. By the time I arrived, it had begun to rain, so I carried my books inside as quickly as I could—all the while watched by various church folk. I was shown a table I could use, but later discovered I had indeed sinned, since it was the morning tea table! I poured myself into speaking, had one good conversation, sold one book, then drove back home in the pouring rain, having been given nothing towards travelling costs—and certainly nothing for speaking.

Or take the time I sat at a church fete all day in the boiling sun, with even my book covers sweating in the process, only to sell not one book. Or the time I drove right across Sydney to speak on a busy Saturday evening, to have only four women turn up, since the meeting had not been advertised well. Or the time I was invited to speak at an RSL club nearby. Again, I was shown a table I could use—only to be told, minutes after setting up my books, that it was needed for the food. Instead, I was given a tiny, low, round table to use, still with the wet rings of cold beer glasses on it!

I doubt a book about such things would be either kind or uplifting, don’t you? But I have had many other experiences worth writing about. Like the time I spoke at a very well attended women’s breakfast. It was beautifully organised, with someone else even volunteering to sell my books afterwards, while I focussed on praying for various women instead. Later, I received a cheque for what to me was such a mind-boggling amount that I thought they must have added an extra zero by mistake!

Or take the conference I spoke at in a country town one weekend where several women bought all four of my novels published at the time in one big swoop, much to my amazement. Or take the many smaller meetings where I have spoken, including one only last week. I had just talked about how thankful I am for those who encouraged me on my writing journey and challenged those present to encourage others in their lives, when a lady I knew from years ago spoke up. She shared how I had given her a little encouraging note way back in 1992 that she has carried in her Bible ever since. A wonderful, ‘God moment’ indeed, well outweighing any negative experiences I have had.

So I encourage you all in your writing journeys, wherever you are at. Let’s take the good experiences as moments of great grace and be thankful. And let’s take the less than good as opportunities for growth, when God can comfort and strengthen us to keep on persevering.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.  

On being a published author

I can still remember the day in 2006 when I saw the proposed cover of my first novel for the first time. I can even remember the time of day and what I was doing. I was part-way through cooking our dinner, but also checking my emails on my laptop, which sat on the end of our kitchen table.  And just as those veggies were almost cooked, I found an email from the publisher that said simply, ‘What do you think of this?’

With shaking fingers, I clicked on the attached photo—and the front and back covers of my first novel filled my entire screen. I loved the photo the graphic designer had chosen—it typified the story so well and seemed to draw me in. But it was my name, printed in capital letters across the top of the front cover, that shocked me into asking myself a question I should have thought about much earlier: ‘What have I done?'

In an instant, it dawned on me that, by agreeing to be published, I had put myself in a vulnerable position. People could see what I had written. They could love it—or hate it. They might think I was a talented author—or they might laugh at my efforts. Or perhaps they might be kind and decide my writing showed potential, but that I still had much to learn. I stood there for some time, cringing at the thought of the various unpleasant scenarios that might unfold. But my heart sang with joy too. That dream I had had for years had at last eventuated. I would be a published author.

Since then, I have had six more books come into being and each time, I have felt a jolt in the pit of my stomach when I have seen my name on the cover again. It is something I often mention when sharing with groups about my writing journey because it is something many people seem to be curious about. What inspired you to start writing, they often ask. Where do your ideas come from? Do you write under your real name? How does it feel to see it on the cover of a new book?

I often respond to this last question by explaining that, while seeing my name there gives me a great sense of achievement, it still fills me with considerable dismay that, once again, I have laid myself open to the judgement of others. But it also causes me to think about what I have written and ask myself the following questions. Is it the best book I could create at this point? Do I believe my book honours God? Do I stand by all I have written in it?

I want to write books that are enjoyable to read but that also make a difference in this world, that share God’s light and love in some way. And I want to do this with integrity, so that what I write reflects my true heart. So I will continue to seek to have my books published because, while it might be a risk, it is also an honour and privilege to share what God has given me.

How about you? What are your thoughts on being a published author, whether you are one as yet or not?

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.  

Different people, different books - Jo-Anne Berthelsen

Okay, it’s not very original, but one of my favourite gifts to receive at Christmas is a book—a hard copy one, that is. There is nothing quite like seeing that tantalising, oblong-shaped gift sitting there, begging to be opened. Which one could it be? Is it the one I’ve been dying to read for so long?

Now I usually have a fair idea which books I might receive, because I keep a list on my computer entitled ‘Mum’s List of Desired Books’! Many times over the years, our son has phoned me at the last minute before Christmas or my birthday or Mothers’ Day, looking for gift ideas. Our conversation usually goes something like this:

‘Mum—I’ve got last year’s list of books but I’ve given you some of those. Could you email me an updated list?’

‘Well, I could—but haven’t you left it a bit late?’

‘Nah—I’ll just go into a bookstore and see what they have from the list.’

‘Yes, but ... well, the books I like aren’t always readily available.’

‘Don’t worry—I’ll find something.’

And he always does. Once emailed, I delete that list from my mind—although not from my computer! After all, I still want to enjoy that delicious moment of surprise when I open my tantalising, oblong package.

This year, I scored two books from our son—Kate Morton’s The Lake House and Anna Funder’s All That I Am, a story based on true events about a group of friends who resist the Nazi regime. Also, my husband gave me The Girl From the Train (Note—not The Girl On the Train, which I’d also like to read!) by South African author Irma Joubert. But I was already re-reading At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, while attempting to recover from trying to enjoy P D James’s Death Comes to Pemberley! Yes, all these make up an eclectic mix—but that’s how I like it. It enables me to learn new things and appreciate the creativity of others, as well as glean what I can for my own writing.

But all this reading has also confirmed something else in my mind. I believe we need to write the books inside us that are burning to be written, irrespective of whether we think they will fit in the current market or whether they are too unlike what anyone else is writing or whether they stick to those writing rules we have learnt. After all, no one else can write that unique story that is bubbling up inside us. True, some people may not like what and how we write—and that’s okay. No one book will appeal to everyone. It’s a big world out there, with many different sorts of readers and many different tastes in reading. And, somewhere in amongst them, we need to trust that God has our readers who will relate to how we write and enjoy our stories.

So in 2016, let’s be prepared to write with passion and flair and excellence, but to be true to God and to ourselves as we do. Let’s read widely too, honouring the gifts and abilities God has given others. And if you have any thoughts on these issues, please share them with us all!

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com. 

Reflections from my ‘semi-sabbatical’

I wonder how 2015 has unfolded for you, either as a writer or in general. Has everything turned out as you expected? Has it been a fulfilling year or has it contained some disappointments? Has the writing project you have been putting your heart and soul into taken shape well? Or do you feel you have barely done anything and here it is, almost Christmas again?

I gave myself a ‘semi-sabbatical’ this year because I knew that was what I had to do. I have taken on fewer speaking engagements and book events than normal. And, having completed my second non-fiction book in January, I decided to hold off on any serious work on my planned seventh novel for a while. I have kept up my own weekly blog and have also helped several other authors by editing or reviewing or endorsing their books. But it has been a vastly different year for me during which God taught me many valuable lessons.

I have seen again, for example, that I need to approach my writing and speaking—or anything else I do—with a thankful heart, remembering that any gifts and abilities I have are from God. My role is to receive them with an open heart, develop them as best I can and use them to bless others as God leads and empowers. It is a privilege to be able to enjoy doing this and I need to guard against becoming too proud of anything I achieve or too self-reliant in it all. Yes, I must work hard in my writing and at speaking and promotion. But I need to steer clear of any sense of entitlement—it is all gift.

I have also become even more convinced I need to write what God has gifted and equipped and inspired me to write, irrespective of what others might produce. Yes, I need to do my marketing homework, as does any potential publisher of my work. But in the end, if I cannot believe with all my heart in what I have written and if I have not sensed the hand of God in it all, then it may count for very little in the long run. Likewise with my speaking. If I cannot speak with integrity and conviction on a topic, whether overtly Christian or more general, then I think I need to close my mouth.

This year too, God has impressed on me how important it is to help and encourage others, not only with their writing projects, but in life in general. Yes, this takes time, but what a privilege to see God at work in and through someone else’s life and to be part of enabling them to achieve their God-given dreams! Others have done this for me and I need to pass that on, as I am able.

It might not be the right time for you in your writing journey or in general for a sabbatical in any shape or form. But I hope you can find those quiet moments at least somewhere in your busy life to be refreshed in your spirit and to reflect with God on your future direction. Perhaps some of you would like to share how you manage to do this, so all of us can benefit.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com. 

To know or not to know?

I remember writing in a different blog a few years ago how much I would like to attach a tracking device to my published books. It fascinated me how they would manage to skip across the world somewhere or find their way into a library in some distant part of Australia or get into someone’s hands in a really roundabout way. Yet here we are in 2015—and my tracking device has still not materialised!

I was reminded of this desire again recently when I heard another interesting story about one of my books. At the risk of boring any who read about this last week on my own blog, I will give the ‘potted version’ here.

Recently, a lady came to my home to buy twenty-five copies of my first novel Heléna, published back in 2007. She had found her own copy in a Vinnies store and now wanted to review it at her church’s women’s retreat and have some available on their bookstall!  Also, I discovered she had read several of my other books, including my memoir Soul Friend, which she subsequently lent to a friend who was in a stuck place in her life. As a result, God gave this friend the strength to make some wise decisions and move forward.

How amazing that all this happened because someone found my book in a Vinnies store! Here is an instance where I would have loved that mythical tracker device to show me where that copy of Heléna had got to and how its new owner had gone on to buy more of my books. Then again ... would I really want to know when a book is put aside or thrown out, perhaps without ever having been read?

We may never discover where our books get to or who will be impacted by the words we write. Once we put them out there for all to see, we are no longer in control of the end result. Our task, it seems to me, is to write the things God has put on our hearts and gifted us to write—then let them go. I love author Joyce Kornblatt’s comments on this:

May you all find the true heart of your work and send it out into the world, which might mean to one other person or a wider audience. Doesn't matter. Once you have released it, it is like a bird that will find its own way, branch to branch, tree to tree, land to land. You won't necessarily know how it has travelled, who has been reached and touched, but you have done your part: creating the work and releasing it.  Bearing witness to the life you have lived, and sharing something of what you have understood. Such a good gift to offer.

Yet, just sometimes at least, it is wonderful to hear where those books have ended up, don’t you think? It’s not just a matter of receiving those ‘warm fuzzies’ either. To me, it is God giving us a little glimpse of the difference our words can make in someone’s life and a gentle little ‘well done’ that fills our hearts with a deep and satisfying joy and makes all our efforts worthwhile.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.