The Story Behind Gideon's Book with Maureen Miller

What did you think of this episode?What story idea has God whispered, only to leave out the details? Maureen Miller shares her story behind Gideon’s Book with added tips to strengthen your writing. Welcome to Your Best Writing Life, an extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference held in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of NC. I’m your host, Linda Goldfarb. Each week, I bring tips and strategies from writing and publishing industry experts to help you excel in your craft. It’s great to have you listening in. During this episode, we continue a new addition to Your Best Writing Life with The Story Behind the Stories series.Today’s guest, Maureen Miller, is an author and speaker who loves encouraging others in their journey with Jesus. Married to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she lives on Selah Farm in the mountains of North Carolina. She blogs at Windows and Wallflowers (maureenmillerauthor.com), and her debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is now available. We all want to know the story behind Gideon’s Book – give us some background1)    God can whisper a story idea but leave the details for another time, allowing the writer to learn to listen, lean in, and let go.2)    As an adoptive mother, with three amazing birth moms who chose life for their unborn babies despite difficult circumstances, I believe these women are heroes, and there are many among us.3)    God’s Word—those placed by Gideons International and otherwise—is not just a figurative guide but a literal one as well, truly a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; I found this to be true in my life, and I wanted to weave such into this story.4)    As a mother of a child of color and having experienced a literal moment when God called me to have a difficult conversation with two women at a restaurant, I wanted to weave the truth that “all it takes if pullin’ up a chair”—that being, an opportunity to share healthy, honest conversations about challenging topics.5)    My prolife views are rooted in a decision I made long ago after facing what I feared was an unplanned pregnancy when I was seventeen and unmarried.Writer’s Tips. 1)    Stay the course, trusting God for His perfect timing to birth your words (Esther 4:14); 2)    “Hone your craft!”—Said by the wonderful Cecil Murphey, who keynoted at Write To Publish 2007, which echoed throughout the almost two decades it took to write Gideon’s Book; 3)    Be courageous enough to write the messages God gives, believing His will to be accomplished even when it’s hard. What Listeners Will Gain - I believe they’ll gain truth steeped in God’s Word from my Gideon’s Book backstory, and thus be encouraged to seek Him more specifically to discover for themselves how God might be calling them to a task that they know is beyond their ability—only God! (Like Gideon in Judges 6 and in my story!) Listener giveaway - One copy of Gideon’s Book in the format of your choice! Join us on Facebook -  Your Best Writing Life and leave a comment prior to 7 PM ET August 3, 2026.LINKSFacebook -- https://www.facebook.com/maureen.miller.393/Website – “Windows and Wallflowers” at https://maureenmillerauthor.comEmail – [email protected]’s Book Amazon Link -- https://a.co/d/0332c4T7 Visit Your Best Writing Life website.Join our Facebook group, Your Best Writing LifeYour host - Linda Goldfarb#4 Podcast 2026 "Million Podcasts Top 30 Christian Writers Podcasts"#1 Podcast 2024 "Top 50+ Must-Have Tools and Resources for Christian Writers.Awarded the Spark Media 2023 Fan Favorites Best Solo PodcastAwarded the Spark Media 2022 Most Binge-Worthy Podcast