Lena Nelson Dooley's Writing Life

I love being a writer. It’s what God created me to do at this season in my life. I’ve written for a number of years, and I’ve been a fulltime writer for a decade.

After both of our girls got married and moved out, we turned one of the bedrooms into my office. Over the years, it has changed and morphed into whatever I need at that time in my life.

When I first get up, I go to the computer and work, in my pajamas, until my husband gets up. He’s retired, so he sleeps later. Since he retired, he has volunteered at a lot of the ministries in our church. I love to see him do this. He’s wanted to for years. And he loves helping me fulfill God’s destiny for me as I write. That’s the kind of marriage every couple should have. Understanding what God’s plan is for their mate and helping that mate achieve it.

I love connecting with readers. I’ll be having a Book Launch party at Mardel’s Christian store in Hurst, Texas, on February 16 from 1-3 pm. I’m really looking forward to that. I also do events for libraries, I meet with book clubs, and I love speaking for author groups or at women’s meetings.

I’ll be meeting with a book club in East Texas later in the year. And I’m speaking at a writing group near Austin, Texas, in March. You can check out my schedule on my blog and my website.

Readers are the reason I write. God gives me the stories, but if readers didn’t read them, they wouldn’t have the shelf life they do. Often readers will contact me to let me know how a book touched them or helped them face a difficulty or even changed their lives. I really thank the Lord for those contacts.

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my book Catherine’s Pursuit, which released this week. Answer these questions:

Has a Christian novel really touched you and changed your life?

If so, did you let the author know?

And I even like to hear from readers who really don’t like my books... if they are kind in the way they tell me. Using hurtful language doesn’t help anyone. But I do listen to the things those readers tell me and consider them when writing the next books.

Remember, you can still download Maggie’s Journey free through February 12.