Welcome to author Carol Nemeth with her Faith in the Parks series, where you’ll find suspense and romance. Carol tells us about her writing, and is giving away an e-book copy of Yorkshire Lass to one commenter.
His Perfect Timing
As an author who began writing as a teen, I was confident I would get published early too. After all, my love of writing was as heartfelt and important as any other author’s. Right? No doubt true, my love of writing certainly didn’t guarantee publication. Far from it. Not until our second child’s birth did I finish a novel and attempt publication.
That journey was fraught with disappointment, rejection and self-reflection. My first novel, Yorkshire Lass, was rejected time and again, leaving me to wonder if writing was God’s will for my life. Or had I pushed my plans ahead of His?
I prayed, If it’s not Your will for me to continue writing and pursue publication, then, Lord, please take away this love and desire to write. It never went away as I continued praying and submitting my manuscript. More rejections followed. One publisher gave me hope as they made manuscript suggestions with the idea they might take it. They didn’t.
Disappointment again filled me. I kept praying, but God was silent. Even in His silence, my desire to write and to publish my novel showed me He hadn’t said no. He was telling me to wait. Like most of God’s children, I struggled with waiting for His perfect timing.
Our daughter was born in 1990, and I began Yorkshire Lasssoon after that. It was finally published March of 2016, nearly twenty-six years after it was finished. I may never know all the reasons my Abba Father led me on that disappointment-fraught journey to publication, but He taught me some things.
His timing is always perfect, and I must trust His timing. The details of my life are better left in His hands to work out the proper time for them to happen. Psalm 27:14 says “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”
I discovered God has our best interests at heart. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” He didn’t withhold publication from me because He was angry or being mean. Whatever His reasons, He chose 2016 to publish my first novel. Since then we’ve published eight more books. He’s blessed me in ways I never expected.
American Jessica Montgomery arrives in WW I England to be greeted with the horrible news that local vagrants and homeless folk are being found murdered. With a killer skulking through the North Yorkshire Dales, she and Grandmother Morag McDonald fear for the safety of the orphans living at Hope Orphanage. With the help of local Dr. Garth Samuels, they do all they can to protect them. Is it a deranged individual who is the harbinger of death or could it be something far more sinister? As they search for answers to end the horror, Jess learns who she can and cannot trust, but it may be too late when she finds her own life in danger.
A native North Carolinian, I always loved reading since childhood and making up stories since junior high school. I worked in the National Park Service and served in the US Army where I was stationed in Italy. There I met the love of my Life, Mark Nemeth, also an Army veteran. After we married, we lived in various locations including North Yorkshire, England. We now live in West Virginia, where in our spare time, Mark and I enjoy camping and sightseeing. We’re active in our church and enjoy our two grown children, son-in-law and three grandchildren. I’m a member of ACFW and have written and published nine books.
You may connect with Carol here:
Amazon Author Central – https://amzn.to/2AbdKRa
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https://www.pinterest.com/carolnemeth1/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnUhQR2avhaC3Pb-2nbozZg/videos
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-carol-nemeth
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I love the Yorkshire Dales. It’s my favourite place to visit. I would love to live there. It always feels like I am coming home when we go up there. Our daughter lives in Bradford near the Dales. I love to visit the Bronte Parsonage at Haworth. I would love to read Carol’s book Yorkshire Lass 🙂
Hi Julia,
Yorkshire is one of the places I loved living the most. Even though I’m from America, there’s just something about the Dales that’s, as you say, like coming home. We visited the Bronte Parsonage while there. I’m so glad we did. I would love to return to Yorkshire and take my daughter who was born there. She was two when we left, so she has no memories from there. She missed it all. She’s 30 now. Best wishes on the giveaway and God bless! Jl Carol Nemeth
Wonderful to learn more about you ma’am. And yes, waiting on God can be difficult, but it is oh so rewarding. Congratulations on your numerous publications; and God’s continued blessings in your writing and life ma’am.
Hi J. D.,
It’s nice to see you again. Yes, waiting is difficult, but the rewards are amazing when they come. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. To God be the glory! He has blessed me mightily! Ps. 113:2&3
J. Carol Nemeth
Sounds like a very interesting book, the type I would read! I’m so glad you didn’t give up, Carol (Hmmm, why do I love that name? 🙂 ) But kept persevering. Your cover is beautiful and I wish you much success in your writing career!
Hmmm, I do like that name as well, Carol. I was named after a family friend. Two actually. Janet is my first name. No, there was always something in me that wouldn’t let me give up. The Holy Spirit, perhaps? 🙂 I must give my publisher, Cynthia Hickey, at Winged Publications credit for the book cover. She does great work, doesn’t she? Best wishes in the giveaway!
J. Carol Nemeth
HEre’s a comment from Irene Kain, Carol–sent to my e-mail.
I’ve always been fascinated with historical fiction that features villages in England. I’ll add this book to my must read list!
Hi Irene,
There’s just something fascinating about historical English villages, isn’t there? Perhaps the fact that so many of our ancestors came from there. When we lived in England (in the Yorkshire Dales near where Yorkshire Lass is set) we visited many villages and they were old but still active today. I loved it over there. A fascinating country. Best wishes in the giveaway!
J. Carol Nemeth
Carol, your beautiful love of story and life shines God’s Love into this world. Yes, we must wait and accept God’s timing. not ours. I look forward to enjoyable hours of reading your stories.
Hi Bonnie,
I’m so glad you stopped by to visit with us and to read my post. It was a rocky road to publication, but one that God has blessed me greatly in the end. It’s a hard lesson to learn for all Christians, not just authors, but the rewards are amazing when we learn to wait and lean on Him.
Best wishes on the giveaway! I hope you’ll enjoy reading my books as much as I’ve loved writing them. I’ve trusted God to give me the stories He’s wanted me to write, and I believe He has.
God bless!
J. Carol Nemeth
Carol, it’s so nice to be introduced to an author who loves “God’s own country”. Yes I’m a Yorkshire lass myself and I’m excited to read your book! I am sure to recognize many of the places your story takes place in. I love Yorkshire and I wish more authors would use it as a backdrop to their stories, as it’s such a beautiful and diverse area. I hope your book reaches many people who have never been and introduces them to the placeI still refer to as home.
Hi Gwyn,
It’s wonderful to meet a fellow “Yorkshire Lass.” I’m not one, of course, but I’m referring to my book. I would love to be one, because I fell in love with the Yorkshire Dales. We loved our time the 4 years we were there. I’ve often struggled with possibly writing a sequel, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps one day. I have a couple other books I’m contracted to write first. I have several British folks who buy my books and seem to like them. I appreciate that. Thank you for your kind comment. I wish the best in the giveaway, but I hope that either way you’ll still read Yorkshire Lass. I hope you’ll enjoy it. God bless!
J Carol Nemeth
My Father’s family came from Yorkshire, many many years ago. I enjoyed James Herriot’s descriptions of the area. Thank you for the chance to win your book.
Hi Xena Anne,
Yorkshire is just like James Herriot described it. It’s an amazing place of beauty. I tried to describe it like it is in my book as well. It’ll remain in my heart forever. Best wishes in the giveaway! God bless!
J. Carol Nemeth