Meet the Blogger with Marja Meijers

June's Meet the Blogger features Marja Meijers, a talented author who lives in southern California and Holland. This globe trotting writer has written six books, which of course, are in print in the US and Netherlands. (How cool is that? :) 
  

Her latest book, Spirit of Truth, released this spring, asks "What is truth?" You might recall the Biblical account where Pilate questioned Jesus about this topic. Marja shares the historical background as she examines the definition of and the power within truth. Her gifted style resonates with readers across the globe, encouraging hearts as she challenges us to seek eternal truth.

Welcome Marja! Congratulations on your latest book! Can you tell us why you started blogging? How long have you had your current blog?  

Thank you, Karen, for having me on your blog, it is an honor and privilege. You were one of the very first bloggers I began to follow. When my first book ‘Sacred Sabbath’ came out my publisher recommended blogging. Believe it or not, but my first blog post is from May 16, 2006, I'm celebrating 10 years of blogging! 

Congratulations! What a wonderful milestone. Thank you for your kind words. It is an honor to hear that my blog was one of the first you followed. :) We have known each other for some time, haven't we? It's been a pleasure to follow your blog; I come away informed and refreshed. Would you share a bit about what your blog is about?  

The title of my blog, Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths, says it all: I am always trying to give a fresh perspective on certain Biblical truths and principles. Sometimes we have read a certain Bible passage so many times that we miss the clue. I always ask the Holy Spirit to bring a fresh wind and to help me to write about complicated things in a simple manner. From time to time I post news about my books. 

You do offer fresh insight and an interesting perspective. It always makes me think. What benefits have you gained through blogging? 

Well, first of all I receive so much encouragement from reading other blogs. It is amazing how often someone else’s blog post is timely for me! English is not my first language, so I also learn a lot from reading other posts, from the different words and styles. Being part of the blogging community has definitely helped me to develop my writing. I do feel a sense of belonging when I see how determined many bloggers are in their writing efforts, especially when it comes to the next step: publishing books. 

I wouldn't have known that English is your second language had I not learned that through your blog. I admire that! What projects are you working on right now?  

This month my sixth book came out: Spirit of Truth. Right now I am trying to decide what I should be working on next; another English book or a Dutch translation of one of my previous books. 

Sounds like you have many possibilities. I am sure whatever you choose will be a success. What might people be surprised to learn about you? 

Hmm…. Well, maybe that I sometimes struggle to hear from the Lord, because my head is so full of all the things I am working on. I then must force myself to let everything for what it is, grab my Bible and journal , go into my garden and let Him speak to me. Oh, and that we have no television in our house! 

It can be a challenge to get quiet and attain that peace and wisdom we need, I agree. What advice would you share with a newbie blogger? 

Keep your posts SHORT please and make sure to leave some comments on other people’s blogs. 

Excellent advice. Thank you for joining us, Marja! Wishing you well with your books and ministry. :)

About Marja 

Marja Verschoor-Meijers was born and raised in The Netherlands. She is a freelance writer, speaker and award winning author of several books on Christian living. Her books have been translated in Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Russian. Together with her husband Jan she is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Traveling Light. They offer practical help, financial support and spiritual encouragement to ministries all over Europe and the Middle East.

Find Marja 

Her blog, Fresh Insights on Ancient Truths 

Her Website 

Her Books
  

Spirit of Truth 

My Review of Spirit of Truth

Spirit of Truth begins with the Biblical account where Jesus stood before the Roman governor Pilate. Pilate asks, “What is truth?” It is an eternal and valid question, and Ms. Meijers examines it from numerous angles. She offers insight and a panoramic view of the topic, from Pilate and the Pharisees to those who knew Jesus from birth. Her fresh perspective reveals the deeper meaning and purpose of pursuing genuine truth.

Prior to reading this book, I had not considered interpreting truth from so many angles. I appreciated the challenge to examine how I view truth, as well as the encouragement to live accordingly. Readers will enjoy Ms. Meijer’s friendly, conversational style as she guides them on an insightful journey to define and apply Biblical truth in their lives. I recommend this book to anyone who is seeking truth, as well as those desiring a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Last Week's Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Susan Reinhardt, winner of Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin!  

Have you ever traveled out of the US (or your home country)? Do you have any questions for Marja?

If you have a moment, hop over to Marja's blog where she hosted me for her Blogoversary's Bloggers@Work celebration. Have a great week!

Happy writing, 

Karen



Lemonade photo credit: Free Images

Book & Author Spotlight With Marja Meijers

Marja Meijers joins us today to share about her writing journey and latest book, My Neighbor's House. This talented writer has five books to her credit with sales in the U.S. and overseas.  Please join me in welcoming her today. :)

Welcome Marja! Congratulations on My Neighbor's House. What do you hope that readers will take away from this book? 


First of all, thank you Karen, for inviting me here today. As most of us know all too well, there is a constant battle going on for our attention and devotion. The world tries to pull us away from God’s desire, God’s plan, for our lives. In this book I offer practical tools that will help the reader to pursue Godly goals instead of worldly goals. I hope readers will be inspired and encouraged in their walk with God while living on this earth.


It sounds like a helpful and inspiring book. I'm looking forward to reading it. Now that you have written five books, is there anything you wish you'd known when you started? 

It may sound strange or even funny now, but I am actually glad I was so innocent and inexperienced when I started writing. That childlike enthusiasm and zeal kept me going and still keeps me going, even now that I have learned how difficult it is to remain standing in the publishing world. I seriously think it is to a writer’s advantage not to know too much when starting on this journey, otherwise we would never do it!

I don't think that's strange at all. You make a good point, and I do nderstand. :) I love the cover of My Neighbor's House. How involved are you in the cover selection process of your books? 

For this series I have requested covers with colorful flowers, so the publisher lets me pick a cover from several examples. As far as the European translations of my books, I design the covers myself. This is a new area of artistic work I am taking my first steps in.

You made good choices. All of your covers are vivid and eye catching. I saw where your book Grace of Giving was published in Italian. Congratulations! You have books out in other languages as well, don't you? What is involved in having a book produced in another language? 

Yes, I have German translations as well and a Spanish one is being worked on as we speak. Normally you would need to find a foreign publisher first and then sign a contract. In my case, several translators offered to translate the books. That is when I started to look for publishers, which in some cases was successful (just recently I have had a meeting with a Portuguese publisher who is going to publish one of my books in 2015) and in some other cases I decided to self-publish the foreign books. The latter involves a lot of work such as editing, design, printing and distribution.

Self publishing is a lot of work, that's for sure. I admire your initiative. Congrats on the Portuguese contract too. That's exciting. What advice do you have for aspiring authors? 

Write as much as you can and ask for feedback. Learn to take criticism. Practice as many forms of writing as possible: poetry, fiction and non-fiction, short stories, drama, scripts, etc. Work on your skills and refuse to be discouraged.

That is wonderful advice. You are an inspiration! What's next on the horizon? Do you have more books planned? 

I have been working on a Dutch translation of Respectfully Yours which will be published later this year in Holland. I am in contact with several people about translations in other European languages. As far as the original series in the USA is concerned, I should be working on a sixth book, but I have been procrastinating. Yeah, I admit it. I find it hard to keep focus with so many different things going on. But I will definitely start working on the next one in this series.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been procrastinating lately too. Thank you for joining us today. May the Lord bless your work in the future!

Thank you, Karen. :) 

Here is the blurb for Marja's latest book:

What do we do with the old pages of Exodus 20 in this current age and time? How do we apply them in our daily life? It is one thing to say, Oh, I don’t envy my neighbor, his house, car, or wife. I don’t desire what someone else has. But come to think of it, what do you desire? What are the desires of your heart? Are you passionate for the right things? What does the Tenth Commandment offer to today’s society? How can you benefit from its wisdom?

The message of God's last commandment is both bold and obvious: don’t be envious of others. But that is not always the easiest thing to do, especially with an American media that bombards us with images of size zero celebrities, lavish mansions, and Louis Vuitton. In Marja Meijers’s fifth book in the Ten Commandments series, you’ll learn how to desire meaningful things and apply God's word to everyday life. Join Marja as she discovers the spiritual principles behind the Tenth Commandment.

Click here for info on My Neighbor's House.

Find Marja on:

Her website
Her blog
Goodreads 
Twitter

Do you have any questions for Marja? What are you reading this week?

Happy reading and writing, 
Karen

It's All Good

The basket of goodies is overflowing! Thought it was time to share. :)

Do commas and quotations trip you up? C.S. Lakin offers advice in Get a Handle on Commas. If you need more help, check out another post, Commas That Are, Indeed, Useful.

When it comes to submissions, the basics really do count. Terry Whalin tells us why in this post at The Writing Life.

What makes a great metaphor? A fabulous simile? Sally Apokedak, associate agent at the Leslie H. Stobbe Agency shares her thoughts in A Metaphor Is the Fizz in the Soda Pop over at Novel Rocket.

Having a tough writing day? Check out YoungPrePro Bamidele Onibalusi's tips in this post, 18 Challenges Writers Face and How to Overcome Them.
 

Tyrean Martinson's ebook Champion in the Darkness makes its debut today. Congratulations, Tyrean! Check out the details on this YA Christian Fantasy here. Tyrean has agreed to stop by and share the details later this spring. Looking forward to it!

The Christian Fiction for Your Kindle blog offers regularly updated posts for free and great deals on ebooks. Offerings include fiction and non-fiction for all ages.

Sweet blogging friend Maria Morgan's new website is up! Stop by for a bit of encouragement. You'll be glad you did.

Sending a big congratulations to Marja Meijers for My Neighbor's House! It's the newest book in the Ten Commandments series. If it's anything like her previous books, it's sure to be a treasure. 

Have you visited the hippo? The Word Hippo, that is. You'll find synonyms, antonyms and a whole lot more. I know I've shared it before, but it is one handy site, so if you haven't been there, hop on over!

Don't forget that L. Diane Wolfe joins us next week to discuss her new book, How to Publish and Promote Your Book Now! Hope you can join us!

What are you writing this week? 

Happy writing,
Karen


Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Winner of Grace of Giving

Congratulations to Robyn Campbell, the winner of Grace of Giving by Marja Meijers!

Thanks to all who participated. :)

Don't forget, there are two more weeks of giveaways to celebrate Blogoversary month.

Stay tuned!

Blessings, 
Karen

Interview with Marja Meijers

Join me as I welcome Marja Meijers. author of Grace of Giving. Marja is a faithful blogging friend; I am so pleased to share this interview with you. Marja's also offered a copy of Grace of Giving for a giveaway. Details follow below; this giveaway is open to all our blogging friends, stateside or otherwise. :)

Karen: Welcome Marja! It’s great to have you here. Congrats on your newest book, Grace of Giving, part of the Ten Commandment Series. What prompted you to begin this series?

Marja: Well, I have to be honest, it wasn’t my idea to begin with, not at all! It was about the last thing I had on my mind when during my prayer time the Holy Spirit prompted me to write my first book, Sacred Sabbath, on Isaiah 58:13. I wasn’t too excited at first, I was willing to write on fun stuff but not so much on law and grace. But God changed my heart and attitude and I actually started to enjoy  studying this subject. Halfway through that first book it became clear that it was going to be the first one in a series about the Ten Commandments with emphasis on fulfilling the law in love.

Karen: Who is your target audience?

Marja: I am happy with whoever reads my books; I have received comments from new and old Christians alike, but also from atheists, scholars, pastors and teenagers. You’ll never know where your books will end up.

Basically I am looking for Christians who have a desire to learn more about God’s Word, but shy away from theological books or complicated Bible studies. I have noticed that most Christians (women in particular) would rather read romance than non-fiction study books, so I try to write my books as low key and inviting as possible. They are, however, thought-provoking and I hope they will inspire and motivate readers to dig deeper and study God’s Word.

Karen: Tell us a little about how you connected with your publisher. Did you have an agent?

Marja: When I finished my first manuscript I considered my options: self publishing, agency, or publisher. I passed on self publishing for starters and found both an agency and a publisher seeking new authors. I submitted my manuscript and received a contract from the agency and the publisher! So, I had a choice and I decided to go with Tate Publishing in Oklahoma.

Karen: I like what you said in Grace of Giving on page 109,

“There is no seven steps plan to become a cheerful giver; it requires a change from the inside out, a change in our whole being.”

How do you feel this change from “the inside out” happens in our lives?

Marja: In various ways. I believe it is God, through the work of the Holy Spirit, who changes our heart. The reading and understanding of the Word changes our attitude and the practice of what we've learned changes our life!

Karen: You divide your time between California and Holland. When you are in the states, what do you miss about Holland? And vice versa?

Marja: When I am in California I miss the social life in Holland. In Holland, friends, family and neighbors visit each other all the time for coffee, tea and conversation; it is part of everyday life. I find society here on the West Coast very lonely. When I am in Holland I miss the beautiful weather in California and the incredible landscapes of the South West…and brownies of course.

Karen: I love tossing out random questions, so here are a few:

Do you prefer coffee or tea? Tea

Writing in longhand or on the computer? Laptop

Favorite writing snack? None

Dream vacation? With a stack of good books on the beach.

What author, living or deceased, would you like to meet? Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Life). That book really made an impact on my life and it has sold very well for a Christian book. Rick has withdrawn and is busy with other projects. I wonder how he looks back on the success.

Karen: What advice do you have for someone who wants to write a book but doesn’t know where to start?

Marja: Hmm, that’s probably different for everyone, depending whether you desire to write fiction or non-fiction. Looking at my own situation, I had no clue what I was going to write. All I had was a scripture and a very clear word from the Lord: “This is your book.” I made a folder in my computer which I simply called ‘my book’ and I added 10 sub folders which I simply called ‘chapter one, two, three, etc.’ Then I started praying and waiting for revelation.

Still, it might help to answer two questions before starting: What do I want write and why do I want to write it? Answering these questions will guide you in a certain direction. Then make sure your desk is empty because clutter distracts. Next, start a rough draft. Write whatever comes to mind first and work from there. The hardest thing about writing is the beginning…Sometimes all I need is an opening phrase for my columns for example, once I have one, it flows from there. Be alert, listen, read and learn from others.

Karen: How can readers find out more about your books and blog?

Marja: My blog can be found here. It consists of news and updates on my books as well as meditations and short articles. My profile can be viewed at Goodreads by following this link.

Karen: Thanks so much for joining us. It’s been a great pleasure!

Marja: Thank you Karen, I truly appreciate your hospitality, I feel welcome and at home and always enjoy your writing.

Karen: You are most welcome, and thank you. :)

Giveaway Details

To enter to win a copy of Marja's book, Grace of Giving, note these important details:

• Leave a comment with your email address. Entries without email address are ineligible.

• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.

• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please be sure and comment telling me so.

• This is open to United States and International readers.

• Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Friday March 18, 2011. Winner will be announced Saturday, March 19, notified via email, and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

What are your answers to Marja's writing advice questions? Above, she asks, "What do I want write and why do I want to write it?"


Happy writing,

Karen

Blogoversary Preview

It's my Blogoversary! Two years ago this month, I began my amazing blogging adventure. To mark this special occasion, I'll be featuring interviews with authors Ann Gabhart, Patti Lacy, and Marja Meijers.

What else? I'm glad you asked! Each week's interview includes a book giveaway. There just might be an additional giveaway that happens to have some chocolate in it too. You just never know...

Won't you celebrate with me?

How long have you been blogging?

Happy Weekend!

Karen

Photo credit: Davidlat http://www.sxc.hu/photo/928963