Finally!

After my last blog post, it took approximately three additional weeks to go through and check for any needed edits one more time.  Since I was going through (again) and making edits, I made some changes that had been in my spirit after I 'thought' the book was finished.  Now it really is done!

Almost two years from the first drafts of The Omega Watchers my novel is finally published and being printed.  It has been a long journey filled with more twists and turns than I ever could have imagined.  It's very much like giving birth to your first child.  You love it but not sure exactly what to do with it.  I have learned so much and realize there is still so much to learn about creative writing.

The book's release is both exciting and scary at the same time.  I have no idea what to expect or what feedback to anticipate.  I try to rest in the fact this was a work born from the desire to open up the evil deceptions that are already upon the earth and will only grown stronger as we approach the day of our Lord's return!

Diagnostic Review

When I saw the diagnostic review was completed by my publisher, I took a deep breath before opening the attachment.  I had no idea what to expect!  I was ready for anything, including being told to just forget the whole idea of being a novelist.

I was very pleasantly surprised when I begin to read the editor's comments, part of which is shown below:

The Omega Watchers is a work of true fiction that is one hundred percent original and fictional  and is truly refreshing. The author has done an excellent job of taking her ideas and
forming them into a story with all of the elements that make up a great piece of
fiction.  She has a tremendous amount of dialogue, which is huge in a story like
this one, because it allows the reader to be “shown” instead of “told” by the
author. This book is well written and free of any major errors or problems.

There were some areas that did need editing and that is my current focus.  Plus, I decided to make a major change in the story which will add to the biblical timing of the events.  I had been considering this for some time and by one last editing, I can  make those changes that will add an additional prophetic teaching to the manuscript.  One I plan to build on in the sequel.

I hope to have all edits completed by the first of October.  The publisher is currently working on the book cover and when I submit the final changes The Omega Watchers will be typeset for print and there will be no changes...no turning back.

We are looking towards a December release and I am planning to begin the sequel in January.  I've already started notes and the outline.  I have in my mind the plot and ending for the sequel.  When I started my current novel I had no idea (at all!) what I would write about or what would happen in the next chapter.   I didn't know until the very end how it would end.

Hopefully, the sequel won't take two years.  Judging from what's prophetically going on in the world, we may not even be here in two years!

The First Step in Publishing

I am waiting now as a professional editor is doing a diagnostic analysis of my novel.  This will determine weak and strong areas, suggestions on rewrites, etc. After the review I will do work on any suggested changes and deletions.  Then move to the book layout and actual printing!

It's hard to explain the mixed emotions that are spinning in my mind.  I wake up in the middle of the night thinking "should I have written this different" or "should I have added that"...I guess you never reach a point you feel like it is exactly the way it should be.

The only thing I know for sure is that much prayer and research went into the overall effort and I know that I could not have written at all without divine guidance.  There were times I would write something that I thought would be fictional and then in research find out that it wasn't.  An example is "Summerland".  I was trying to describe a "fictional" place that the New Age Religion believes exists after death while waiting to be reincarnated and discovered there is such a place they "believe" exists.  Instances like this happened numerous times to the point it got eerie.

Then I realized a few chapters in!  The book was only to be fiction as far as the characters and plot. Everything else was to be based on fact...the facts of what is "believed" by paranormal teachings and the opposing biblical facts.   And my efforts became to expose the counterfeit paranormal beliefs from the Living Truth through fictional characters living out the deceptions that have come upon the earth.

When I started the novel I had no idea where it would lead, where the plot would go or what would happen...until the end.  At the beginning of each chapter I had no inkling as to what I would write until the words begin to flow onto the pages.  It was like I was both writing and reading a book at the same time, not knowing what would happen next.

I honestly did not have any idea how it would end until I wrote the last chapter struggling with Gabriella's destiny.  Will she accept the spiritual truth of God's Word or be caught in the great deception???  The ending surprised even me!

I Signed with a Publisher!

I can't believe it's been almost six months since I posted on this blog.  It took much longer than I expected to do the final edits and cuts from the book before submitting it to a publisher.  I discovered the book was too long and unless part of it was cut it would have sold for more than most people will pay for a novel.  So my personal editors read through it 'again' and we looked for places that "words" could be deleted without compromising the story or prophetic content.  Finally, we came to a final manuscript that will be about 350 pages.

Then there was the time of much prayer and research as to how to publish and with whom.  On September 2 I signed with Xulon Press, a Christian Publishing Company.  Currently the manuscript is being read by a professional editor for content evaluation and to determine if there are weak areas and changes that need to be made before designing it for printing.  It's so hard to turn my first "book baby" over to someone to tell me all the things that could be improved,  but on the other hand I want to know how to make it the best it can be.  And to know how to proceed with the sequel which I plan to start this winter.

After the cover is designed I will start a FB page showing the progress of the book until it is released before Christmas in both printed and electronic form.  And I will continue the journey of updates on how "The Omega Watchers" is being marketed.

I have gone out on a prophetic limb with the writing of this book bringing in paranormal subjects that are not comfortable for some people (i.e. extraterrestrial life, spirit guides, ghosts, time travel, etc).  But I truly believe these are deceptions being used by demonic spirits led by Satan himself in these final days and are seducing, especially our young people, into believing a lie:

I Timothy 4:1  The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

Thank you to all of my friends and family that have supported and encouraged me through this new journey.  Please pray with me that lives will be changed and readers see clearly the trap that is being laid by the enemy of our soul in the final days of "time".  There will soon be a day when "time will be no more".  (Rev. 10:6)

Story is finished!!!

After a year,  two months and two days, I finished "The Omega Watchers" on the first day of spring.  (An appropriate time since it means new life and new beginnings.)  I pray that many will come to a new or deeper relationship with Yahweh God as they take this journey in novel form with my lead character Gabriella as she searches for spiritual truth.

I still have some small revisions to do and some editing but basically I am done...complete...through...and finished!

I battled with which direction to go with my ending.  Finish it with a happy ending?  Or be more true to life with the fact that "all will not come to knowledge of the Lord."  (And set up for a sequel.)

I will probably always think of things that I should have added or left out or changed, but I pray that the finished product is a tool of ministry.  I have attempted to give information in novel form to:

• People caught in the world of the paranormal
• Belief in extraterrestrial existence
• Those that are fascinated with ghosts and spirit beings
• Those that do not understand that the "end of days" REALLY IS close
• Open the mind of Christians to search the scriptures and the extra-biblical historical writings for a new depth of understanding of the end times
• And to make those that are not ready realize they will be left behind when the rapture takes place.

The next great challenge is publishing.  I pray for wisdom as I go forward and know God will meet every need.  I appreciate the prayers of all who read this blog.

Familiar Spirits

I'm continuing the re-writes and now well over half way through, pushing for a mid-March finish.  I just completed a chapter that I truly pray speaks to the hearts of so many that are or know someone being seduced by "familiar spirits".  It's happening all around us and most people don't understand the evil behind it.

Movies, books, video games...the list goes on and on...of entertainment that has been sucking a multitude of people into a fascination with ghosts.  There are even TV reality programs where they are hunting for spirits of the dead.  Is any of it real?  EMPHATICALLY, YES!!!  And extremely dangerous!  But these are not the spirits of the departed dead but instead demonic deceiving spirits; and 'conjuring spirits' is forbidden by God.  This is called 'an abomination'.  ( Leviticus 20:27, Deut. 18:11), 2 Kings 21:6, 2, 2 Chronicles 33:6).  And yet ghost hunting has turned into money making entertainment.

I endeavor in my book to reveal what "familiar spirits" are, where they came from and how easily it is to be deceived into believing the dead can show themselves again and know the most intimate details of our lives.  

I could literally write a book on just this subject.  But it is only a small portion of  "The Omega Watchers" as I am trying to reveal many of the paranormal activities in today's world that are deceiving people into "believing a lie".

A poll last year showed 45% of Americans believe ghosts are real.  Well, 100% needs to believe!  But they need to understand this is part of the end time deception and the Satanic powers upon which the Anti-Christ will rise.  It is our duty as Christians to know the truth and "the truth will set you free".  

Many will not listen to a sermon but will read a novel.  For over a year I have labored to prepare a sermon in novel form.

Steps toward publishing

Now that I see the end in sight as I am rewriting and editing "The Omega Watchers",  I knew it was time to talk to a publisher about what the next steps would be, which I did yesterday.  She was a wonderful lady that has worked many years for a Christian publishing company and she helped me to visualize what steps needed to be taken for a first time author.

She has worked with a multitude of writers and told me the concept for my novel was quite unique and had wonderful wisdom to share with me based on her knowledge of the industry.

Writing a book is only part of the process and there is still a long journey ahead but the road is unfolding and I am excited to see where it goes.