I met Janet online many moons ago when I was regularly blogging about writing and reading, and we quickly became fast friends.
When I heard Janet was publishing a book designed to help people, I reached out and asked her to tell me all about it. Here’s what she said.
About the book
I Need The Light! 26 Weekly Devotional to Help You Through Winter is a book designed to give spiritual support to people who find the colder months of the year to be a challenge, either due to a physical condition or a dislike for cold weather.
This book is specifically for people with physical illnesses or conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, arthritis, and seasonal affective disorder – anyone who has trouble coping with cold weather.
Cold weather makes many illnesses more painful, so it is a difficult time for many people.
Your inspiration
When I was diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder, my physician’s assistant recommended that I get out and walk in the early morning sunlight as many days of the week as possible.
I’m not a “morning person,” so that combined with my decades of having fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis made it a struggle to follow her instructions.
Nevertheless, I pushed myself to get out and walk, no matter how cold the temperature.
On one of my early days of adopting this new routine, I started repeating these words to myself: “I need the light. I need the light.”
On about the fifth repetition, I connected the dots. I need the light to ease my seasonal affective disorder, but I need The Light, Jesus Christ, to help me with all aspects of my life.
I immediately knew I needed to use that sudden insight to do something to try to help other people.
The inspiration for the 26-week format was the fact that my seasonal affective disorder kicks in just as the hot days of summer transition into the cool, crisp days of autumn and does not let up until spring.
I find myself missing the beauty of autumn because I’m dreading winter!
What was your biggest hurdle?
My biggest hurdle was getting over “imposter syndrome.”
Who am I to write a devotional book? I have no real religious training. I’ve been active in the Presbyterian Church my entire life, but I’m just a regular person.
I’m a quiet Christian. I’m not going to get in your face and preach to you, so writing this book took me way out of my comfort zone.
My writing has primarily been in the areas of local history and historical fiction, so writing a devotional book called for a different skill set and focus.
Favourite line?
The title of the devotional for Week 7 is “Y’all Are the Light of the World.” Here in the southern part of the United States, we have a distinct accent and many colloquialisms.
One of them is “y’all.” We use it when we are addressing two or more people.
The Scripture for Week 7 in I Need The Light! is Matthew 5:13-16.
In that passage, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” Most English speakers are at a disadvantage in the translation of that line because our language does not have a word for “you” that distinguishes between one person and a group of people.
American Southerners have an advantage, though, because we quite naturally say, “y’all” when addressing more than one person.
How do you plan to celebrate publishing the book?
I look forward to getting more sleep than I have for the last several months!
All my energy lately has gone into marketing, which is not in my comfort zone! There have been postcards to write, bookstores to call on, Advanced Review Copy readers to recruit and thank, and social media ads to create.
I think a nice dinner out with friends who have supported my journey as a writer would be a nice way to celebrate and thank them.
Final words?
With the release of I Need The Light! 26 Weekly Devotionals to Help You Through Winter, I look forward to getting back to the historical novel and short stories I’m working on; however, there is a little voice in my head telling me I should write a companion journal to go with the devotional book.
Time will tell.
Further info
Janet’s blog: https://www.janetswritingblog.com
The book will be available as an e-book and in paperback on Amazon and through bookstores that order books through IngramSpark.
Readers in the U.S. can go to Janet’s website, https://www.janetmorrisonbooks.com, and click on the BookShop.org button to order the book from any independent bookstore affiliated with BookShop.org. It is a great way to support independent bookstores.
Thank you, Chris, for casting a wonderful light on my new book! This is the best publicity I could have ever had for the book! Thank you for being such a gracious person!