Introducing guest blogger and published author Betsy St. Amant

“I write for the same reason I breathe—because if I didn’t, I would die.” 

–Isaac Asimov. 

The quote on writing originated by American author Isaac Asimov is one with which I as a writer at heart ultimately identify because I often say and believe that “I write like I breathe”. So when I found out that it was a featured quote on published author and journalist Betsy St. Amant’s official website to describe her passion to write books, I knew that I had to ask her to write a guest post for my blog “God is Love” and to my pure delight, she agreed! 

As a writer who loves the art of words through and through, I feel blessed by God whenever I meet another writer who shares the same passion for the pen. So clearly I am happy to have connected with another writer who shares my passion for books! I highly recommend that you visit Betsy’s official website and blog, read and buy some (if not all) of her books because it will be worth your while. I know reading about how God made Betsy's writing dreams come true beyond her wildest imagination inspired me and I hope it will inspire you too!

So without further ado, here's a message from Betsy to you!

~*~

"Behind the Dream"

Written by Betsy St. Amant

Dreams are funny things sometimes. The way they sneak up on us, the way they linger. The way they pop up and plant root and burrow deep. The way they seemingly come out of nowhere yet refuse to leave. 

My dream of one day being a published author was like that. I vividly remember a young girl in elementary school, with hair to her waist, furiously pecking away at her family’s first home computer keyboard, writing short stories about a fictional girl and her dog and her swing set and her friends. 

It came, and it stayed. 

The dream turned more specific when I was about 12 years old, when one day, after cleaning my sister’s room (she paid me) I found a Christian fiction novel buried under a pile of her dirty laundry. At the time, I was devouring Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley Twins, and Saddle Club books—and was desperate for something more. New. Different. I flipped it open, and didn’t move from the floor for an hour. It was from Robin Jones Gunn’s “Glenbrooke” titles, the second in the series named Whispers. 

And nothing has ever been the same since. 

I knew in those preteen moments, surrounded by laundry, that I wanted to write a book one day that made my readers feel everything Robin (essentially, God through Robin) made me feel. Hope. Joy. Desire, for God, for good. For something more and better in all the miraculous ways that pointed the way to Jesus. 

So I did. 

Now, it didn’t happen overnight. It took a many more hours pecking away on that ancient keyboard, many more months of fighting back doubts, and many more years of work, embarrassment, risk, time, energy, tears, conferences, courses, craft classes, submissions, rejections, second chances, hopes raised, hopes dashed, and prayer before I received my first traditional fiction contract in 2008. 

My tenth novel releases October of this year (2013), and I just got a contract for a two-book deal! Dream come true? Yes. Yes. 

God worked a lot through literal dreams in the Bible. He used interpreters, used dreams as warnings and signs. He still does that today, but I believe He also speaks to us not in just literal dreams of sleep, but in dreams of the heart. You know those deep longings you feel that you can’t quite grasp, that seem just out of reach? He gave you those dreams. Those dreams that make something in your heart stir and awaken and feel. 

Make you come alive. 

Submit that dream to God, dedicate it to His plan, timing and purpose, and then watch what He does. 

Dare to dream—and then dare to give it up. What He’ll hand you back will be priceless. 

~*~

Author bio: 

Betsy St. Amant is one Good Girl who enjoys writing about redeemed Bad Boys in fiction novels. She lives in Louisiana with her fireman hubby and adorable preschooler, is often found consuming massive amounts of chocolate, and is an avid reader who is constantly wondering where Mr. Darcy went. A freelance journalist and fiction author, Betsy is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and is multi-published in Contemporary Romance. Her eighth Love Inspired novel will release this Fall, while her first YA novel, ADDISON BLAKELY, CONFESSIONS OF A PK, released 2012 through Barbour Books. When she’s not reading, writing, or singing along to the Tangled soundtrack with her young daughter, Betsy enjoys inspirational speaking and teaching on the craft of writing.

For more information about Betsy, visit her official website and read her blog (double-click the highlighted/underlined text to go directly to the site).