When my first novel was published, I expected my world to change and it did. However, I also had a vague, airy-fairy notion that selling books would somehow bring in lots of money which would mean that I didn’t have to worry so much about my finances. Soon, I learned I would have to diversify if I was going to make any kind of a living. I’m so glad I did as I started critiquing people’s manuscripts and one of them was Rachel Yarworth’s. It was a pure, untrammelled pleasure to read and I made very few suggestions. I’m absolutely delighted to have the privilege of being on her blog tour. I know you will love her book as much as I did.
Ruth: For those who don’t know, can you tell us a little bit about how your book came to be? Did you always want to be a writer?
Rachel: Books have been a lifelong passion of mine – I was one of those children who would go to the library on a Saturday morning, take out the maximum three books that was our limit in those days, have them stamped for two weeks, then read them all by tea-time. I think my love of writing naturally flowed out of my love of books, but although I did a lot of private scribbling – and in later years, blogging – the thought of actually becoming a published author felt like a lovely but unattainable dream. When my children were young I did start writing a book that I thought they would enjoy, but I could never quite muster the courage to submit it to publishers, so I abandoned the idea.
Then a couple of years ago I felt what I can only describe as a prompt from God to write my story. Initially I convinced myself it was just about getting it down on paper – or rather, a hard-drive – to maybe share with a few friends. But as I continued, I felt I was being continually nudged towards actually publishing it. As you know, that is not a straightforward thing, but at every obstacle I became simultaneously more daunted and more determined – a kind of “I’ve come this far, I can’t quit now” through gritted teeth… but now I’m the other side of publication I’m really glad I did it. It's a bit like the afterglow of having a baby: somehow you forget all the pain and mess and sheer hard work it took, and just think, “oh how lovely, I’ll do it again!” Madness!
I love your subtitle – the Miraculous Life of an Ordinary Person. I found reading your book so easy. It was relatable and authentic and so reassuring. As a self-described ordinary person, how easy did you find it to write?
Thank you! Those are lovely words – just what I hoped for my book to be! In some ways I found it very easy to write. It’s my life, so I have over 50 years of experience to draw from – no shortage of source material there! I was intimidated by not having a more sensational story though, and frequently questioned why on earth anyone would want to read about me. I knew my ordinariness was vital to the over-all message though: I didn’t want people to read it and feel like I had somehow arrived as some kind of ‘successful Christian’ that they couldn’t match up to. I wanted to show how God was in all the everyday messes that most people can relate to, so that they might see He’s there with them too. So my main difficulties were overcoming my own inner critic who kept rejecting parts as ‘not interesting enough’, and getting a healthy balance of my utter ordinariness and God’s amazingness.
Rachel Yarworth
Reading your account of your difficult teenage years really spoke to me. Mine were equally awful but I didn’t have that loving family support you did. Did it affect you, going back and examining those traumatic years?
I’m so sorry to hear that! Yes it did affect me, but not in the way you might expect. Even with a loving family behind me, I was a real mess as a teenager and young adult. So in my twenties I received counselling: some in group sessions that I touch on in the book, and some one-to-one. I worked through much of my mess and pain at that time, as well as learning strategies for dealing with the unknown trials that were yet to come. When I began to write about it all, I found the memories were still there but the sting wasn’t – I could and can remember how damaged and hurt I was, but I don’t feel like I carry the pain of it all any more – and for me in the writing process that was a beautiful realisation. I could revisit all the many struggles knowing how genuinely insurmountable they felt at the time, and freshly appreciate how much I have been set free from.
How did it feel when you got your first review? I’ll never forget mine. Some people say that they’re not important, but to know that your words have touched someone is intoxicating, I think. I’d love to know what your view on this is.
Ah, my lovely, lovely, first review! The push at the end to get my book published was so intense, I just kept my head down, ploughing through every fresh task or obstacle that appeared… until finally I realised I had actually done it! I was published! But the high was short-lived. The day after the excitement of publication day it felt like I crashed, utterly spent. I suddenly felt very exposed, realising ‘that’s it: I’m out there now – my life and my heart are in a book, laid bare for anyone to see’. There was some trolling to get through on Social Media, and that exposed feeling that many new authors have when their first book is published was doubled for me, because it wasn’t fiction or theory – it was all about my life! I had nowhere to hide anymore, and I felt very vulnerable. It was a difficult week.
But then five days after publication somebody posted a lovely review on Amazon, with five beautiful stars attached. Their positive words made me feel seen, understood, and most importantly like I had made a difference. It is no exaggeration to say that review helped to rescue me from sliding into regret over my book. All the exhausting slog to get it published, and all the ‘what have I done?’ fear of vulnerability were suddenly worth it. My words had helped someone, moved and inspired them. You can’t beat that feeling!
I’ve made an effort to leave more reviews since then – it’s like giving an author a ‘thank you’ hug and encouraging them to keep going – who wouldn’t want to do that?!
What do you hope that your book will achieve?
Ooh, now you’ve made me think! I always felt like God had a plan for it and my job was just to do the best I could to write and publish it, then release it into His hands, for Him to get it wherever He wants it to go. I’d like to think that will include it falling into the laps of ordinary people who might be confused, hurting or struggling, in need of hope and in need of a friend, and that in reading it they will discover or remember the God Who loves them deeply right where they are, the God Who delights to do miracles and turn lives around, the God Who is closer and more faithful than a brother. If course it would be gratifying to sell millions of copies and all that, but if it helps even one person to know God more, I’m genuinely happy with that.
Apart from writing, what are your three favourite things?
Walks in the countryside; catching up with friends over a cuppa; hugs from my boys.
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You can get hold of Rachel’s book in all good bookshops and on Amazon.
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