So far, I’ve written numerous picture books, a novel based on a true story, and a memoir.

In my memoir, I revisit the collision of my Leave-it-to-Beaver, baby-boomer childhood, and my Woodstock adolescence with all its confusion about what gives a woman worth. The book concludes with discovering all I need in Christ.

The novel is based on my true story as a crusading teacher in an under-performing middle school. Failing in my role as savior, I see I’m no different than my failing students. I misplaced my core identity in my professional achievements rather than resting on what Jesus already achieved on my behalf.

All my children’s books hinge on being loved and accepted whether or not God is mentioned.  
If my writing is supposed to be united under one brand, what thread could possibly stitch this disparate work together?

The answer I think has nothing to do with genre, or plot, fiction or non, but the underlying need of every character I describe. No matter their various dilemmas, they’re all looking for someone who loves them truly, faithfully, forever. They yearn for a purity that results from being radically forgiven. They yearn for a worth based on an unbreakable bond that has nothing to do with success or failure. Every story I write is tied to the unconditional love of God.    

Does understanding this, help me sort out my potential readers? What am I offering, and who would want it? Mothers who want to illustrate the depth of their love for their child? Women insecure about their worth because of shame? Women co-dependent on their professional status for their value as human beings? Doesn’t everybody need God’s unconditional love? That question leaves me back where I started.   

Maybe the question isn’t who needs what I’m offering, but who is actively seeking it? More precisely who is ready to receive it?

This leads to my next question. Am I writing for a distinctly Christian market? Therefore, am I looking for a Christian agent and/or publisher?

Yesterday I viewed Marion Roach Smith’s lesson on memoir in which she emphasized the value of respecting the reader by showing not telling the lesson you’ve learned through your trials. None of my books contain overt takeaways or applications. I’ve written what I love to read, the intimate, unvarnished truth embedded in story.  

Like me, perhaps my readers are searching when they don’t even know they are doing so. And, perhaps some are surprised to find what they don’t even know they’re looking for. Does this place me back in the secular market?

Help me fellow Hope*writers as I think out loud. After finally finding where I belong as the bride of Christ, bathed in the lavish love of God, where does my work belong? And after finding what I didn’t even know I was looking for, how do I locate the readers who need to find me and my message?

BTW here’s another Hope*writer’s website that may encourage you. Nicole K. Twedt says, “I write about grief. And what happens when life doesn’t go as planned.”
https://nicolektwedt.com/meet-nicole/?fbclid=IwAR0vv4EJjsERrxiHLNGyw0WC3U0wpaRw0y8VewPFAkAuUpzzgcBS4ekP0i8