Finding the Margins in Life by Guest Carrie Fancett Pagels #Giveaway

I have been blessed by an abundance of book releases in the past two years. During this same time, however, I’ve also gone through foot surgery and two outpatient foot procedures and a major surgery (with a long scar to prove it!) Not only that but my daughter had emergency surgery, my son struggled through health problems, and my father-in- law had triple bypass surgery. Not to mention the multiple deaths in the family and the ongoing struggle with Rheumatoid Autoimmune Disease. Whew! But God is good! I couldn’t have written the books without God’s help. No way!

At Christmastime this year, I got convicted that I had to find some margins or space in my life. My husband and son were up in Chicago visiting my inlaws while I was supposed to be working on a contracted novella. I ended up writing only one day and spent the rest of the time in a flare up. I’d had another foot procedure that left me limited in walking. I was struggling with my attitude but praying that this PRP would work (it took several months but finally did.)

Over a period of two years I had written a long novella, two short novels, a standard novella, another two longish novellas, and edited/rewrote a long novel and wrote numerous proposals and blog posts. But recently, I had that nagging to make more room in my life or expand my margins. Writing a book is only part of the job, marketing also takes up a chunk of time and I’d run out of time to do much of that. And when life feels like it is crowding in, that’s the time to turn to God and ask what to do with that time He’s given us. The answer I got was – make more margins in your life.

So I’m on Phase 2, with some margins. I recently was awarded a contract for a full length novel, praise God, but it’s already been written and needs to have content cut. I’m also under contract for another novella and am expecting edits back on a third with Barbour, already submitted. I have a handful of proposals out. But, when given an opportunity to submit to another, I prayed about it and didn’t go forward. I needed margins. Then we had a family member unexpectedly pass away right after we’d had a family out of state trip to visit another family member in the hospital. And then upon return we had family in town for two and a half weeks. Had there not been some space, some margins in my life, I’d have panicked.

While God has called me to write, He’s also given me a wonderful husband, a teenage son, and an adult daughter and many friends. Those relationships require nurturing. When I start feeling overwhelmed, that’s when God whispers to my heart, “Did I call you to that?” He gives us rest if we ask Him. When we obey, He blesses us.

Click to Buy THE STEEPLECHASE Now!

Have you painted yourself into a corner with too many obligations and deadlines? Have you ever deliberately added more time into your calendar so that you could do what God called you to do in relationships?

Giveaway: A copy of Carrie’s latest release, The Steeplechase, in Kindle or paperback will go to one of this post's commenters. The winner will be announced in Monday's Weekly Wind-up post so be sure to check back to see if you won.

Carrie Fancett Pagels is a multi-published award-winning author of Christian historical romance. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! She resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which is perfect for her love of history. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time!
Visit her at her website: www.CarrieFancettPagels.com or 
Amazon Author page