Joys of Writing

Writing has always been a part of my life. When I was just a child I loved to write poetry. The musical cadence to the rhymes were soothing to me and I used to hum along as I wrote each line. If I had been able to read and write music I may have written a song with all the poetry I created over the years.



Music is what started me wanting to write poetry. To me music is poetry in motion. I spent many hours listening to the radio and singing along and harmonizing with the singers. I had dreams of becoming a famous singer at one time but it was not to be. The only place I got to sing professionally for six months was with the Profile Chorus which is part of the Sweet Adeline’s International Chorus.

Though I still love to sing, writing became my passion. I write every day in some form, blogging, and letters to friends on social media, promoting my books, and last but most important is when I am working on a new story or editing an old one.

It is vital to incorporate some joy into one’s daily life. I am fortunate, thanks to God, to have found that joy in writing. When I was in school my teachers never had to force me to write a story, for there was always a story in my head waiting to come out. I remember all the moans and groans from the rest of the classes when an instructor mentioned an essay. I, on the other hand, felt excited to begin the task, or, should I say, the fun.

Writing opened doors to me that have never been opened before. Being an author has been my dream and to fulfill that dream is beyond my wildest imagination. I didn’t realize my dream until I retired from working as an administrative secretary in a school system. Now I take extreme pleasure in watching children enjoying my books. I write to share my words with children of all ages and adults, too. My talented husband, John, is my illustrator and cover creator and I feel blessed to have him by my side through all our books

When I write I pass from one idea to the next and each idea has a new door and a new place to explore. There is much to enjoy as each new door opens and reveals what is behind it. Sometimes there is fantasy; other times there is mystery or a young children’s animal story. It is a pure joy to discover what there is to learn and grow from each new writing experience. With each book that I create I feel that I am growing stronger and more resilient with my writing. I am sure there is much more to come and improvement along the way with God’s help. Multiple stories simultaneously run around in my head and I can’t keep them straight. I must write them down as soon as I possibly can or they will be lost to be replaced by others. 

Like my motto says: Reading Gives You Wings to Fly! When I write I soar! I wish for all readers to read and have fun discovering the joy inside the stories that I create.

 
On my blog I try to create interesting posts that share my joy in writing. On my website I showcase my books for all ages. It is of the utmost importance that parents spend some time every day reading to their children; thus encouraging them to become readers themselves. My goal is to inspire children to read and by doing so hope to enable children to learn to love reading. This love of reading will empower them to one day become more successful and grow into happy, healthy and contented adults

Below are the links to my books: 

All Jemsbooks via Amazon

AllJemsbooks via Barnes and Noble

Middle grade book- Davey & Derek Junior Detectives Series Book 1

Book 2 coming soon!

Novel 18+ - Hunting Mariah

Newest children’s book - Sebastian Meets Marvin the Monkey

Blessings and love to all! 

Janice Spina

Discovering a book-- again! Spiritual food in fascinating "fiction?"

I write, but I also read a lot just to relax. The other day, I finished enjoying a book earlier than I anticipated.  I must admit that once I get into a reading frame of mind, it is like an addict with his drug of choice. I must read until I cannot absorb another word.  This night, I realized that ceiling was not yet hitting my head. So, I began searching through my multiple book shelves for something I might enjoy reading again.  I don't usually read a book more than once, but my addiction was eating me alive, and I had to feed my hunger.

Five minutes later, I stumbled upon "The Shack," by Wm. Paul Young.  I vaguely remembered sitting down with the book a few years ago, but for some reason I did not read very far into the book.  Just returned it to the bookshelves.  This time, I read the back cover. The theme sounded solid: a man suffering immense loss and hurt is led back to his past, and directly into the scene of his greatest hurt.  There, he meets some familiar strangers.  Strangers, for sure; but, with a sweetness he remembered as once knowing, but sorrowfully long lost.

This time, as I settled into the book, I could hardly put it down to eat or sleep.  I believe everything happens for a reason, and if one looks objectively from a distance, the circumstances are always used by God for human benefit, whether evil or good,  happy or sad.  Young uses the question humans have asked for centuries as the basis for a fascinating voyage into the possibilities of God's nature.   Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?   For personal reasons, the questions and discussions found within the story had a more resounding affect on me today than they would have if I read the book three years ago.  So much in my life has changed over those, and the past 25 years.  Taking time to consider the knowledge of God's nature as displayed in the book gives me a little more insight into my own condition, and I even made sense of some of the questions in my own life that have haunted me for years.

Faith plays a tremendous part in my life, and The Shack covers each page with faith: faith in God, faith in his deity and being, and faith in giving our hurts over to God so that He can work a miracle in our hardened and scarred hearts. Above all, faith that we are here to pass along God's messages through our good and not-so-good days, and that our lives are not lived in vain. God has a purpose that we are assigned to fulfill.

The Shack is a book of fiction -- but at its core is a book bespeaking of faith, prayer and soul searching. It was a #1 New York Times Bestseller and millions of copies were sold when first published in 2007.  The rich and famous, such as Kathie Lee Gifford, David Gregory, Michael W. Smith (recording artist), and artists, publishers and people of faith across the country endorsed the book.

Why not read it yourself?  If you already read it, why not read it again?  It will bring to remembrance why we are on earth and allow us a glimpse of heaven's glory at the same time. 

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