Christian Author Laura Davis

After you read this blog, you might think I'm nuts too, but I welcome your opinion as I am about to make a rather crazy decision. Well ... my husband thinks it's crazy, but I'm not so sure.

Come to Me, is about to get a facelift. I have been mulling this over in my mind for about a year now. When Google books decided to upload my ENTIRE book to the internet (the ending included), I noticed a drop in sales. No surprise there. After finding out that my publisher, Lulu, had given them permission to reprint my book, I knew I needed to switch publishers. After realizing that Lulu did not own the rights to my book and dropping words like "lawyer" and "illegal", Google deleted all but 38 pages.

Since that time I have had huge problems getting my book "out there". After talking with a representative from Word Alive Press at the recent Write! Canada conference, I was assured that I could republish Come to Me with them. It would have a new cover, a better marketing campaign (something I failed to really establish early on) and proper distribution into actual "brick and mortar" stores. This has been the frustrating part of dealing with Lulu. To buy my book now, you have to either live in London, Ontario or buy it through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. 

So, the question I would like to put out there is this: do you think I'm crazy? Should I republish a revised edition of Come to Me with Word Alive? Or should I forget about it (as my husband wishes I would) and use Word Alive Press for my next novel instead?

Have you ever asked the question, "What does God want me to do with my life?" I know I have, especially when I thought I had it all figured out. But, life happens and things changed and I was once again asking, "What does God want me to do with my life?" Unfortunately, I was asking the wrong question. I should have been asking, "What is God doing?" You see the difference right away. You can't miss it. It is no longer a self-serving question.  It is now geared  to serving God wherever He is working.

When I looked closer at my life to see where God was working, I realized that the frustration of not being able to walk faster than a snail, or dealing with infections in a leg that is starting to look more and more like a watermelon, could be my clue as to where God wanted me. And like a big lightbulb over my head that blinked on with a sputter -  "I saw the light".

If I had never fallen down those stairs 10 years ago and if my situation had not deteriorated to the point where I needed a walker, I would never have been aware of the difficulties and frustrations those with physical challenges go through on a daily basis. To be honest, I had recognized the problem with debit machines at the Metro checkout. My height alone prevented me from using them, which made me wonder how a person in a wheelchair managed. But, when I started trying to get my walker over curbs when there were no accessible sidewalks I became more aware. Then the day that I went to my favourite mall and discovered that most of the handicapped parking had been given over to "Mother's With Children", I just about blew a gasket right there. Pregant and nursing mother's with children were getting the spots that used to belong to the disabled? Something was wrong with this picture and I was fuming. I'm pretty sure that most of the disabled people I know didn't choose to be disabled. Whereas, most pregnant women had some say in the matter. That is when the light went on for me.

God wanted me aware of the trials of those with disabilities, so that I could be a voice. Once I realized that, everything else fell into place. I contacted the Canadian With Disabilities - Ontario region and joined their group. Hoping to help in some way. They generously accepted my help and have asked me to write a quarterly article for "A Voice of Their Own" a publication for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. 

I am thrilled to be able to help in this way. So, if you start to hear more rants from me on the rights of the disabled, you'll know why.

Spring has sprung and with it comes the patter of little feet. Lots of little feet - and I'm not talking babies. To date, I have about five stray cats, possibly more, roaming my yard. One has been consistently living on my back deck, in a dog house I put out a while ago as a refuge from the rain and snow. She was the same cat who had a baby last summer. Unfortunately, her little one hasn't been around. I don't know what happened to him. I'm hoping some kind soul adopted him.

Tonight, I heard a meow that sounded like hello. So, I said hello back.That was at 10:00 pm. It is now 1:00 am and that cat is still sitting outside my window saying hello! At 11:30 I couldn't take it anymore and went outside to make sure this "hello" wasn't a cry for help. It wasn't. He did want to be picked up however, and if it hadn't happened to me I never would have believed it, but the cat started to suckle my shirt! Not only that, he started to knead my shoulder at the same time, purring all the while. I felt like a surrogate mother!

I'm on to him though. I know that is one of the many tricks the cats in this neighbourhood do, to get me to adopt them. This lucky kitty is well on its way to finding a new home. Unfortunately, it won't be mine, as my husband has vowed to leave if I bring another cat into the house. I asked him how long he would be gone, but he didn't take that very well. So, it looks like I will be catching another cat tomorrow and taking him to the pound. Unless someone out there is looking for a new pet. He's a tuxedo cat, with perfect markings, a little black nose and .... no? Oh, well...I wonder if I could sneak him into the house without my husband noticing.

I know I have a few writer friends that visit here from time to time and I was wondering - how are you doing? What have you got in the works right now? I have just spent an entire day writing (well almost - at one point I had to go out and buy cat food), but once I was at my computer again I was having a grand time.

For some time now, I have been working on a book called Finding Claire. Oh, the troubles Claire has caused me. She and her friends have refused to behave and they are just now starting to cooperate. I thought I would be done this book in October, but it is taking longer than I thought. But today I woke up with so many ideas in my head I couldn't contain them. I love it when that happens!

But it got me thinking - how many of you, use outlines? Do you find it helpful? I have tried countless times to outline my books before I start to write, but I get so antsy to get started that I always give up!

I am and always will be a write first ask questions later kind of gal. How about you?

I have been remiss in posting here, but I have good reasons! I've been busy working on a new novel, preparing for a new bible study in the fall that I will be leading and visiting friends, family and dinsosaurs. Yes, I said dinosaurs!

In 13 days my daughter will be moving out permanently. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but since we've been getting on each other's nerves lately, I'm fairly certain it's a good idea she's leaving. However, being her mother I will worry about her health and safety once more. I say once more, because last year she left to go to college and while she did live away from home, she did live with us over the summer months. So, that's one down - one more to go! Unfortunately, my son aspires to be a hobo so I'm not to sure how we're going to get him out of the house!

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We went to see Walking With the Dinosaurs at the John Labatt Centre this past Saturday. What a show! It was based on the BBC documentary of the same name and they did an excellent job. It was quite the experience to have a life-size T-Rex tower directly over your head and roar in your face. I sat beside a two year old, whom I thought was going to start screaming at any minute. Instead, he growled back at the massive beast and wasn't the least bit fooled by the animatronics. I admit, I was slightly disappointed. I didn't want him to be afraid of course, but he didn't even emit one squeal during the whole show. Don't children have a sense of 'wonder' anymore?

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I'm working on a new novel that is keeping me busy. Currently, I'm stuck in WWI and trying to decide if one of my characters will make it through the war. The book switches back and forth between the late '60's and 1915.  I'm tentatively calling it, "Finding Claire".  This is the manuscript that I "promised" Steve Barclift  of Kregel publishing, I would have ready in three months and now I'm wishing I hadn't! So, if I'm absent for awhile it is because I'm busy writing. That said - I'm off to write some more.

I hope everyone has had a safe and happy summer!