Today, I’m delighted to be part of a blog tour to celebrate the recent release of Glimpses of Light, a collection of poetry and short stories (fiction and creative non-fiction) by twenty-one authors who are part of Christian Writers Downunder. Glimpses of Light, which contains one of my own short stories, is available on Amazon in both paperback and e-book format. All profits from the sale of this anthology go to CBM Australia (formerly Christian Blind Mission), an organisation which seeks to help people living with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries. Currently too, there is a giveaway for Glimpses of Light running on Goodreads, so check it out!
Last week, our Glimpses of Light blog tour featured award-winning South Australian author Paula Vince, whose excellent contemporary inspirational fiction is set in her own beautiful Adelaide Hills. On ‘The Vince Review’, Paula discusses the concept of light and shares how comments from her family helped her create her story, ‘Moon People’, for the anthology.
And now it’s my turn! When the call went out for submissions for Glimpses of Light, I almost ignored it. While I have written some short stories in the past, these are not what I am most comfortable creating. However, as soon as I read how all submissions needed to include an aspect of ‘light’, I immediately thought of my friendship with a young woman who lost her sight as a mere toddler and some amazing moments we had together. I had already woven these experiences into my third novel, Laura, published in 2009. Perhaps I could change the order of things a little to suit the short story genre better and submit a piece of creative non-fiction, I decided. How delighted I was when I heard my story, ‘Revelation’, was to be included in Glimpses of Light! Here was another opportunity for God to bless and encourage others as they read about those real life events that had impacted me so deeply.
I was also happy to seize the opportunity to support CBM Australia through this publication. Since 2007, CBM has recorded each of my novels and made them available for those with print disabilities as audio books through their lending library, which has now merged with the Vision Australia library. As well, this seemed to me a good opportunity to join in on a venture with other Christian authors and support them in their efforts to produce what I consider is an excellent publication.
And now (drum roll please!), if you live in Australia and would like to win a print copy of my latest novel The Inheritance or my memoir Soul Friend, please leave a comment below, indicating which book you would prefer. While this offer is unavailable to any authors/editors associated with Glimpses of Light, as well as anyone based overseas, I would love to post someone out there a prize! The winner will be announced on my blog on Tuesday 12th January, as well as in the Christian Writers Downunder Facebook group.
And now another drum roll for the next author on our blog tour—Jeanette O’Hagan. Jeanette lives in Queensland and has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master’s in writing. She loves writing poetry and also young adult fantasy fiction and has also been the very committed, efficient and hard working co-editor of Glimpses of Light. Jeanette’s blog will appear this Friday 8th January on her website (see also ‘Jenny’s Thread’), so be sure to check it out.
Jo-Anne Berthelsen's Blog 
Hey from the U.S. And you are so glad you didn’t ignore it. I love what you said about this being an opportunity for God to bless you. YES. I can’t wait to read your story. Don’t add me to the draw. I’m in GOL. I’ll look up your books, though. Many blessings.
Hi Robyn, way over there in the U.S.! Thanks for your comments–and I hope you and many others enjoy and are blessed as they read my story in ‘Glimpses of Light’. Re my own books, the last two are available on Amazon as e-books, as well as in hard copy, so that might work for you, if you’re interested. God bless!
Thanks for sharing a bit more about the inspiration behind your story Jo-Anne. You did such a great job of creative nonfiction, Jenny and I had to have a chat after we’d first read it to decide if it was fiction or not. The reason we put it last in the book, is that we thought it was such a fitting end to a wonderful collection. It really finishes on a beautiful note of the hope we have. I pray many more people will be blessed through the story.
So do I, Nola! And I feel honoured to have been chosen to go last in the anthology–and I know my friend who inspired the story would too.
I’m not surprised you and Jeanette had trouble deciding if it was fiction or non-fiction, as the many and varied adventures my friend has had and the experiences I talk about in the story sound incredible. I can assure you they happened though!
Thanks for telling us more about your contribution and this anthology of light.
Good to hear from you, Dale–and yes, it’s an interesting and varied anthology, for sure. If you would like to be in the draw to win one of my books, perhaps if you could let me know which one, that would be great.
Great to hear how you came to write your entry. I already own copies of your books but if I were to win I’m sure I could find someone to give Soul Friend to.
That’s lovely, Susan, that you show such faith in my book ‘Soul Friend’ to give it away to someone, if you were to win. Let’s see what happens!
So fun to see where all the inspiration comes from 🙂 Thanks for sharing Jo-Anne!
Yes, I’m looking forward to reading everyone else’s posts about how they came to write their own contributions in the coming weeks, for sure. Thanks for your comment, Charis. God bless!
Hi Jo-Anne,
It’s been an interesting blog tour so far, and I loved your creative non-fiction piece, Revelation, in the anthology. It seemed like a very fitting way to end it.
Yes, as others have said, it’s interesting to read what lies behind what we all wrote. And I’m so glad you enjoyed my story ‘Revelation’, Paula. Even as I wrote it (or re-wrote it from my novel ‘Laura’), those experiences I had with my friend came back to mind so clearly, blessing me all over again, so I hope and pray the story now blesses many more via the anthology.
I loved your story Jo-Anne, especially on learning that the events in the story happened. It has been fascinating reading how different contributors found their inspiration.
So glad you loved my story ‘Revelation’, Jeanette–thank you. And yes, those events really did happen and my mind was blown by them all over again as I wrote my story–or at least recreated it from how I had written it in my novel ‘Laura’. And I agree it’s great to hear how and why the various contributors wrote what they did. Thanks again for all your work with the anthology.
[…] the last stop on the blog tour, Jo-Anne Berthelsen talks about how she came to write ‘Revelation’ for Glimpses of Light. It is a beautiful story, […]
Thanks, Jeanette–I look forward to reading your blog on our tour very soon.
Hi Jo-Anne, great to hear the story behind the story – it is special when people write from real life! Looking forward to reading it too.
Thanks for your comment, Pam. I hope you enjoy ‘Revelation’ when you get to it. I know my friend with whom I shared these events would be tickled pink to read all the comments that have been made on our story!
HI Jo-Anne, it is so interesting to hear the story behind the story. Looking forward to reading it!
Thanks Jo-Anne – my stop on the blog is up today.