Monday, August 5, 2013

Dreams do come true but not always on our timetable

Sometimes, it doesn't seem real to me. 

Other times, I can't shut up about it and my loved ones are getting rather tired of my incessant snoopy dancing.

I remember my very first ACFW meeting. I'd heard about ACFW from someone in Oregon. I did an online search and discovered how to join, and somehow found that first meeting at Carpenter's Son Book Store in Lafayette. Lafayettte is almost 100 miles from my house. I was bound and determined to find that meeting!

It was there that I met Colleen Coble and I admit it, I gushed. I was in such awe of her. I still am. I also met Cara Putman, Diann Hunt, Denise Hunter and Brandt Dodson. I probably met other published authors there, but those are the ones that had me the most star struck.
L to R: Cara Putman, Diann Hunt, Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, Brandt Dodson
 A few encouraging words from Colleen Coble gave me the courage to imagine that I could one day be published. And so, glowing with inspiration from rubbing shoulders with such greatness, I went home to work on my novel. 

The following year I scraped my pennies together and went to conference. Armed with my novel, I was met with great disappointment. Every publisher I talked to was uninterested. But I learned a ton at the conference, took home the CDs and studied hard. I put the novel in a drawer and got to work on other projects.

A year later, I took the novel out of the drawer, slashed the first three chapters and made them into one.  When one of my crit partners became an agent and invited me to become a client, I was in awe of how God orders our steps. 

And now, on Thursday, I'll get to say I'm a published novelist. 


I had much to learn when I went to that first ACFW meeting. Thankfully, God sent me a critique group that was a perfect fit. And from there, He took my book into publication. Not because I'm a great author, no way. But because there is a message of love and acceptance that others needs to hear. 

Because our dreams aren't about us. They're about the people who need to read what we have to say. How grateful I am to be used as one of His storytellers!

This week to celebrate the launch of my book, I'm having a contest! Please put your name in the hat! 

My Facebook party is on my author page. "Like" my page and come to the party this Thursday, August 8 at 8 PM EST. I'm giving prizes away every 15 minutes! Click here: Facebook.com/KarlaKAkins

You're all invited to my book launch party
on Saturday, August 24
2 - 4 PM
 at
Chrisitan Fellowship Church
1002 State Road 114 East
North Manchester, IN 46962




Karla Akins is an award winning author who loves to ride a motorcycle. Her book, The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots is due out August 8, 2013. You can contact Karla via her website at KarlaAkins.com 

Karla is represented by Linda Glaz of Hartline Literary Agency.


7 comments:

  1. I'm so excited for you! Thanks for sharing your journey and encouraging those of us still dreaming about that day!

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  2. Thanks for reading, Beth, and for your encouraging words. Keep dreaming and writing!

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  3. Congratulations on publication! I also just recently attended my first ACFW meeting last weekend in Merrillville. Joined ACFW today. And I also had the pleasure of meeting Colleen Coble at Midwest Writers Workshop this summer. I share your enthusiasm and hope to be where you are soon. How true and beautiful it is when God uses us as His storytellers.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle! Just keep at it and you'll get there! Thanks for reading and commenting!

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    2. Michelle, so nice to meet you at the local chapter meeting in Merrillville. As writers, we are all learning and growing together as we seeks to glorify our Lord. We're glad you've decided to learn and grow with us!

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  4. Congratulations, Karla. And good blog.

    Jeff

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