Exactly a year ago today, I was trying to figure out what in the world I was going to
do for 2012. I was talking to a variety of people and publishers about
potential projects. I was in the usual boat of waiting to hear back from them.
I was still working on my big series idea, yet wasn’t sure when I could publish
it. I’d already said no to a publisher who wanted to put me in a cage and feed
me bananas while working on it.
do for 2012. I was talking to a variety of people and publishers about
potential projects. I was in the usual boat of waiting to hear back from them.
I was still working on my big series idea, yet wasn’t sure when I could publish
it. I’d already said no to a publisher who wanted to put me in a cage and feed
me bananas while working on it.
So
a year ago, I was pretty nervous.
a year ago, I was pretty nervous.
I
had sent Don Pape, the publisher at David C. Cook, an email asking about
something. His reply came quick.
had sent Don Pape, the publisher at David C. Cook, an email asking about
something. His reply came quick.
Were
your ears burning?
your ears burning?
He certainly had my attention. When I asked why, he
sent me a long email detailing some things related to The Solitary Tales, which
Cook publishes. But also in this email he wrote the following comment:
sent me a long email detailing some things related to The Solitary Tales, which
Cook publishes. But also in this email he wrote the following comment:
I
also can’t tell you more but we may be acquiring a project where we need a
writer and today we discussed your name several times over. It would be a
novelization project of a film screenplay.
also can’t tell you more but we may be acquiring a project where we need a
writer and today we discussed your name several times over. It would be a
novelization project of a film screenplay.
I emailed him to tell me more, but didn’t get a
reply. On my way home that night, Don called me on my cell and gave me the
scoop.
reply. On my way home that night, Don called me on my cell and gave me the
scoop.
It
turned out David C. Cook was one of several publishers bidding on a
project called Home Run. It was a movie
about a baseball player who goes back to his home town and goes into recovery
while coaching a little league baseball team. It was affiliated with something
called Celebrate Recovery, a ministry started by Saddleback Church (Rick
Warren’s church).
turned out David C. Cook was one of several publishers bidding on a
project called Home Run. It was a movie
about a baseball player who goes back to his home town and goes into recovery
while coaching a little league baseball team. It was affiliated with something
called Celebrate Recovery, a ministry started by Saddleback Church (Rick
Warren’s church).
Don
asked me how my schedule looked.
asked me how my schedule looked.
“Uh, pretty clear.”
And whether or not I was interested.
“Yeah, a little.”
He wasn’t sure Cook would acquire the book, but he felt
they might. There were other big publishers bidding for it, so they wouldn’t
know until the following week.
they might. There were other big publishers bidding for it, so they wouldn’t
know until the following week.
Well,
I started to pray. And I got my family praying too.
I started to pray. And I got my family praying too.
A
year later, I can’t imagine not getting that project. Of course, it was an
answer to prayer. It turns out a couple different publishers suggested my name
to the producers. I was fortunate they listened to them and eventually chose me
to put their movie into a novelization.
year later, I can’t imagine not getting that project. Of course, it was an
answer to prayer. It turns out a couple different publishers suggested my name
to the producers. I was fortunate they listened to them and eventually chose me
to put their movie into a novelization.
The
best part of all of this wasn’t getting that contract. Yes, I needed it, but
that wasn’t the best part. If the movie and book are both huge hits, that won’t
be the best part, either.
best part of all of this wasn’t getting that contract. Yes, I needed it, but
that wasn’t the best part. If the movie and book are both huge hits, that won’t
be the best part, either.
The
best part has been meeting the people involved with making Home Run. And seeing the impact Celebrate Recovery is having on
so many lives across this country. I feel like the team behind Home
Run and the leaders in Celebrate Recovery are
part of my family. They adopted a poor orphan child named Travis Thrasher who
likes to make up stories. It turns out I fit in well with all of them.
best part has been meeting the people involved with making Home Run. And seeing the impact Celebrate Recovery is having on
so many lives across this country. I feel like the team behind Home
Run and the leaders in Celebrate Recovery are
part of my family. They adopted a poor orphan child named Travis Thrasher who
likes to make up stories. It turns out I fit in well with all of them.
As
I look to 2013 with similar uncertainty, I know God has a plan. It’s never my
plan. Never. But usually His plan is far better than the one I’m thinking
about.
I look to 2013 with similar uncertainty, I know God has a plan. It’s never my
plan. Never. But usually His plan is far better than the one I’m thinking
about.
I’m
thankful David C. Cook thought of me, and Carol Mathews and Tom Newman chose me. I’m thankful for Home Run and
the heart behind it. I’m thankful that I know about Celebrate Recovery.
thankful David C. Cook thought of me, and Carol Mathews and Tom Newman chose me. I’m thankful for Home Run and
the heart behind it. I’m thankful that I know about Celebrate Recovery.
Most
of all, I’m thankful I’m still able to do the thing I dearly love. And as I do it, God continues
to remind me that it should never be about me.
of all, I’m thankful I’m still able to do the thing I dearly love. And as I do it, God continues
to remind me that it should never be about me.
The
novelization for Home Run releases March
1, giving you a taste of what’s to come when the movie releases April 19th.
Please go see it. It really is a special film.
novelization for Home Run releases March
1, giving you a taste of what’s to come when the movie releases April 19th.
Please go see it. It really is a special film.
My husband is participating in our church's CR program while serving as a parking attendant at our church (and more)… Every Monday night we pack up our two kids and go to meetings. I help with praise and worship and then I watch all the kids so the participants are able to focus on their journeys. CR has changed our marriage and our lives. God has used this program to take a truly hopeless situation to show His redemptive POWER through it all. He is teaching us to be wholly dependent on Him and His promises. CR has helped my husband teach our two young sons that you can never fall too far to be caught and renewed. Monday is their favorite day of the week now because we get to go spend the evening with our "family of choice"… Thank you for taking on this project. I think this one (for me personally) is gonna end up being right up there with "Every Breath"… Your books are often my therapy and my reminder that God's got this and it's not mine to carry. May His blessings continue to pour out on you and your family as you seek and follow His Will.
Thanks, Meggs! That's great to hear you guys are so involved in CR. Hope you enjoy this book and the movie–it was really such a privilege to be a part of this project. Appreciate your continued encouragement! All the best.