November 2020 - Anna Christine Boulier

I’ve been quiet for a long time and I know my readers are wondering what is going on. When is my next Grace Series novel, Giving Grace coming out? Where I have been? What’s next?

For most of 2020, I have been asking similar questions. This year has been crazy, difficult for me and Covid-19 had NOTHING to do with it. I went on medical leave from my job in November of 2019. I started back at my job in APRIL of 2020, only to feel God was telling me to walk away from a career I had been at for over seven years. I did and it led me into a month of severe depression. I was lost and scared.

After reading a wonderful book by Max Lucado, Cure for the Common Life, I felt led to start a professional organizing business in the middle of a pandemic and while ramping up my writing career at the same time having joined a writing mastermind to focus on writing at the end of December 2019.

LET’S SUM UP MY YEAR SO FAR:

On Medical Leave from NOVEMBER 2019 Until APRIL

Left Job in APRIL

Severe Depression MAY

Started Researching and Planning Organization Business JUNE & JULY

Launched Simply Designed Organization AUGUST

Wrote a Cozy Mystery Novel and Book Proposal SEPTEMBER

Went to Michigan and Decided to Self-Publish Mystery Novel OCTOBER

Revamped my Writing Social Media and Blog NOVEMBER

DECEMBER? 2021?

Whew, I’m exhausted just typing this. I applaud you if you’ve stuck with me through this. You might be wondering what this means for you… the reader.

For my revamped blog, EMBRACING GRACE, you will get me, honest and real. Open with my struggles, and the interesting lessons God teaches me. Often, He uses unconventional methods where I at the end I finally see the humor in the situation after hopefully learning the lesson He was trying to teach me. Stick around and I’ll tell you how a broken toilet taught me about God’s faithfulness.

I’m still working on writing novels. I have more books I want to write for the Grace Series, God willing, Giving Grace will launch in the early summer of 2021.

I’ve written a fun mystery novel, the first in a series. I can’t wait to tell you more about it. The first novel should launch in March 2021. More on this in later posts.

My professional organizing business, Simply Designed Organization along with a graphic design branch, Owl Simply Design have their own individual website and blogging. You’ll hear about them as God teaches me through that journey as well since this blog will be about me, my writing, the influences on both, and the funny little stories which happen to me.

Part of Owl Simply Design (Graphic design branch of Simply Designed Organization) will offer book cover design, book formatting, logo design, branding, and much more in services available to fellow authors and readers.

I’m still working out the kinks and figuring what I’m doing to make both ventures productive and follow the plan God has for me and those journeys… My goal is to be consistent in blog posts, social media, and writing.

If you want to hear more, stick around… I’ve got lots to share. All with a mix of humor and humility. I decided to name my blog for my writing, Embrace Grace because that’s what I have to do every day. God is always there waiting; I just need to reach out and embrace Him. It’s a reminder that it’s not what I do but what He does, every day. I just need to embrace and trust.

Until next time, may God’s grace surround you,

Survivor & Bible Scholar

Last year, I joined Hope*Writers and a few months later, became a participant in a Mastermind for one year’s intense focus on writing goals. My goal was to focus on marketing my novels, but I gained so much more from the experience. I met a group of wonderful ladies and fellow writers. Each month, I am going to introduce you to one of these talented, amazing ladies.

The first lady I’m introducing you to is Pam DePuydt.

I first met Pam in Carlsbad, California at our first face-to-face cohort for the Hope*Writers Mastermind. Being at that conference was a big deal for me because I had only been sitting up for about a week.

I’m NOT exaggerating! SEVEN DAYS!

On October 24, 2019, I developed a debilitating migraine which would not go away. I went on medical leave from work on November 1 and spent four months

IN BED,

IN A DARK ROOM,

IN QUIET, SOLITUDE!

Doctors could not solve my problem, they had plans to start giving me shots in my skull.

In February of 2020, I began to attend our church’s prayer night and on Monday, February 24, God healed me of my migraine just in time for me to travel ACROSS THE COUNTRY to the first Hope*Writers Mastermind (more on this next week).

When Pam and I first met, we bonded over our love of Clive Cussler novels, murder mysteries, and especially our love of JB Fletcher. I was in a lot of pain from laying down for months and sweet Pam checked on me and gave me Tylenol because I didn’t have any with me.

The day I left Carlsbad; Pam gave me a little container with the last of her Tylenol for me to have on the plane ride. It was an unexpected, sweet gesture and it touched my heart. Pam asked me to return the container at our next meeting.

At home, I placed the little pink box on my dresser and every time I saw it, I prayed for her. We became friends, chatting back and forth. The next time we met for our next conference, we shared a room and spend many nights talking late.

Pam was born and raised in Western Montana. Married to Tim for 26+ years, he is a wildlife photographer and she travels with him in a motor home as admin help. Eight grandchildren keep her busy as well as being a writer. She loves to study the Bible and has been a leader in the Precept Ministries International Bible Study since 2007.

Six years ago, on February 15, 2014, she broke her neck which resulted in a spinal cord injury and mild traumatic brain injury. With prayer, surgery, and rehab, she is now a walking miracle instead of a quadriplegic.

She now writes to wives whose husbands have suffered from traumatic brain injuries about how to manage the stress and pain of their new normal. Her blog, Joy in the Moment helps spouses and survivors find joy after a brain injury. She even has beautiful daily devotions for you to enjoy.

I hope you enjoyed the introduction to Pam, a beautiful, talented woman I call a friend.

Until next time, may God’s grace surround you,