GOD ORDAINED DREAMS...

Milton, here for Kristy:

Thursday morning Kristy ate a small bowl of oatmill and perked up briefly. She held me close and weakly shared her love. Her Aunt Jo and Cousin Jan came to see her and they always get a stir fr0m Kristy. She had a better day overall.

Thursday Carrie T. wrote a comment on Kristy's blog concerning an interesting Internet promotion by CBD. They had sent out a promo that included a author/artist review by Kristy which was actually written in 2006. It was sent out just yesterday as I understand it.

When I saw the interview I printed it out and read it to Kristy. She had been sleeping, going in and out, but when I shared the interview she perked up, smiled, and raised her hand and praised the Lord! She kept a smile as I read the whole article.

Isn't it interesting to see this real and personal illustration of the power of writing. Kristy is so terribly sick in bed but her written words reach out beyond her and touch others around the world.

Wow!!!!

Here is the Internet connection to CBD and the novella that she coauthored.

(Double click on the link below, and then scroll down. Also when at the site, double click on her name at the top of the link for her other books. This was neat for me to see. )

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=93538&netp_id=435035&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=details

Here is the article as I copied it from the site. Read the last part. I have heard her share this many times and it always inspired me and those who listened.

Author/Artist Review
Author: Kristy Dykes

Located in: Florida
Submitted: February 21, 2006


Tell us a little about yourself.

I have nine titles of Christian fiction with Barbour, and I've written over 600 published articles and worked for two New York Times subsidiaries. I'm happy to say some of my works are award-winning, such as my novella in Church in the Wildwood won Third Place in the 2004 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Contest (novella category). In the 90s, I had a dream to write and publish Christian fiction. I studied the craft diligently (still do), took a weekly college fiction-writing class for four years, got a critique partner, and wrote till my eyes burned.

In 2000, my dream came true when my novella appeared in American Dream, and amazingly, it hit the Christian Bestsellers List. I'm touching hearts with love and laughter with my writing, according to the reader mail I get.

Got a reader letter the other day, and she said, "When you almost want to pray for the characters, that is a high compliment to the author." Another said, "I don't generally identify so strongly with stories, nor do they usually cause me to change the way I do things or think. Yours did. Your writing, and in turn, you, are a blessing to me, and I wanted you to know that your work did some good." I pray I will always lift up the Lord and bless people's hearts with my fiction.

What was your motivation behind this project?

I love to cook. As I said, I was bred on Nana's layer cakes. And I love to entertain. As a pastor's wife whose hobby has been cooking and entertaining, I've often felt like I've run a B&B with all the people I've hosted, such as missionaries, evangelists, singing groups, etc. When I worked for a New York Times subsidiary, the editor said one day they needed a story about cooking. I said, "I've cooked for 100 people in my home and love to cook. Last week, I had a dinner party for 22 people and had a ball." The editor said, "Write me a story. By tomorrow." So I did, and a weekly column entitled "Kristy's Kitchen" was born.

So when I dreamed up Kiss the Bride, I envisioned four young women in the food business. They all own restaurants, they meet at a restaurant convention, and they bemoan the lack of men in their lives. Then, each novella tells each of their love stories. During the entire book, they pass around an apron with the words Kiss the Cook written on the front. The last groom crosses out "Cook" and writes "Bride" because the girls have all become brides by the end of the book. Fun!

What do you hope folks will gain from this project?

I am one of four co-authors in Kiss the Bride. (Coauthors: Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, Carrie Turansky.) We all had a great time working on this project, and we hope readers will experience what I call The Three E's: entertained, encouraged, and enlightened. All of our novellas are based on scriptures, plus the book has a fun theme with a traveling apron among four cooks, so I think those expectations will be met.

Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?

I was bred on Jesus and Nana's layer cakes in the Deep South, in that order. :) So naturally, my stories have references to Bible verses and eating! When I was a teenager, my mother gave me a copy of Catherine Marshall's Christy, and I was enthralled. I also read Grace Livingston Hill, Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, Victoria Holt, and other great writers. I'm a big reader of all types of books, from novels to how-tos to biograhies, to you name it.

Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:

I believe a dream is a God-ordained desire that He's put down in your heart, IF you're walking in His will and asking Him to direct your paths. Whatever your dream is, it's attainable, if you'll pay your do's (misspelling intended).

1. DO rest in your call. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "He who calls is faithful, who also will do it." Be assured that the Lord will bring about His divine plan for you, even through the hard times (like rejections for writers!).

2. DO everything you know to do and do it diligently, according to Ecclesiastes 9:10. Apply yourself. Study in your field. Work hard. Don't slack. And then keep applying yourself. Keep studying in your field. Keep working hard. Keep determining not to slack.

3. DO not want "it" above the Lord. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Put the Savior at the top of your list. Worship Him. Work for Him. Seek Him.

And then remember Habakkuk 2:3: "For the vision is yet for an appointed time. But at the end, it will speak and will not die. Though it tarries, wait for it. Because it will surely come." My dream came true, and your dream can come true! I speak that blessing over your life, in Jesus' name!