 |
| The Wounded Trilogy by Lynn Dove |
I have always loved the children’s
book, “The Little Engine That Could”. I
loved the pluck and spunk of that little engine with the “I think I can, I
think I can” attitude. I love underdog stories! I love the idea that despite
all odds and being the smallest and definitely not the strongest, this little
engine succeeded when all the other bigger engines failed because he believed
in his heart he could do it!
What’s that got to do with me, you
say? Well, in 2009, I published my first
book, "Shoot the Wounded", a young adult contemporary Christian fiction that has
spawned two other books, "Heal the Wounded" and "Love the Wounded" (The Wounded
Trilogy). The books delve deep into the
real world of teenagers trying to live out their faith in the midst of upset
and struggle. The books have garnered
much praise and attention for their sensitivity towards social issues such as
teen pregnancy, gossip, bullying and cancer and the books continue to fair well on some of Amazon's best-selling lists. They have won awards and 5 star reviews, and
teenagers and parents alike are buying and reading the books in numbers I never
imagined.
But the books were almost never
written…
I wrote Shoot the Wounded over twenty years ago. It started out as a
short story, something I just plucked away at for a weekend writing, but one hundred pages later I realized it was not a
“short” story any more. I would add a bit
more to the manuscript every now and then, but I really had no real intention of going any further with it.
Then life happened...
I was diagnosed with breast cancer
in 2001 and it was a two year battle where everything I was doing before
my diagnosis basically went “on hold” until I was healthy again. I was just starting to grow back all my hair
that I had lost after chemo, when God called me to seminary and also to be
the Minister to Children at my home church in Cochrane. My oldest daughter got married. Life was full and busy. I graduated from the Canadian Southern
Baptist Seminary with my Master of Religious Education degree in 2007 and one
day as I was cleaning out all the “old” files on my computer I came across the
untitled Shoot the Wounded
manuscript. It was just collecting computer “dust” and I almost hit the
delete button…
My husband, Charles stopped
me. “Why don’t you finish that story and
do something with it?” he said.
That led me on the writing and publishing
journey that culminated in Love the Wounded, the third book in the young adult series.
There were many ups and downs,
with seemingly endless hills to climb on that particular writing journey. There were many times I felt just like
the Little Engine that Could…but with the help of God and MANY mentors, and supporters, I puffed my way up those hills with
an “I think I can” attitude. On those days when my thoughts were: “I DON’T
think I can anymore”, and I felt weak and worn out from the effort, all those encouragers God had placed in my path helped push
me up and over those mountains!
I am so grateful that God continues to use the message in my
books to encourage students who are victims of bullying. My books, written from a Christian world-view
perspective, are reaching out to teens and adults who need to know that they are
not alone; God is always there for them.
My writing has become a ministry and I am humbled God would use me and my
books to spread His message of Hope to so many.
While promoting my books, I began writing my blog, "Journey Thoughts" which has gone on to win a Canadian Christian Writing Award in 2011 and has to date over 11 million hits! I would never have even thought to
write that blog had it not been for publishing my first book.
I don’t know where this “track” I’m
on will continue to take me but with God and all my encouragers helping me along, I’m
pretty sure it will be a great ride!
*(adapted from a previous article entitled "The Little Engine That Could" I wrote in 2013).
Such a wonderful series - and your blog is an inspiration too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joy to hear! Your story will surely encourage other Christian writers, Lynn. Thanks. You're blessed and a blessing!
ReplyDeleteJust catching up on some of the posts ... thanks Lynn for sharing your story, I am grateful to hear of the ways God works, and the inspiration that comes in various forms along the way. Blessings as you continue the journey.
ReplyDeleteI also love the book, The Little Engine That Could, and I've read it to probably hundreds of students during my years of teaching. I read it to three of my children, and right now I'm thinking--with a gasp--have I read this to each of my grandchildren? I'll soon find out.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the success and awards for your blog and your Wounded Trilogy, Lynn. Above and beyond the awards, I am moved by your humility in acknowledging the way God has called you and led you through all of this--attaining your Master of Education Degree, your blog with its great readership, your novels for youth that show the Christian world-view in action. . . May God continue to bless you in your life and in your service for him. Thanks for sharing your story.