I love book signings!

I had a blast at my book signing at Books A Million in Sumter, SC, the town where I was born.  The feeling of sheer nostalgia filled my senses as I drove past Shaw Air Force Base where my Mom and Dad met and fell in love sixty-eight years ago.


As I shared my story of Lady and the Sea, I could see their eyes light up at the spoken word.  One woman is taking Lady on her cruise next week; another will read Lady while convalescing from her surgery she's having tomorrow ... I love their stories too.  And I met several young women, Shannon and Jessica, who's passion is writing.  I encouraged them: "Don't give up.  Write your heart and soul.  Your dream can come true!"


The Books A Million manager invited me back for more book signings, so I'll be returning to my home town in the near future to meet more friendly folks.


Writing is one of my passions, but encouraging readers and inspiring writers I meet along the way is the frosting on my cake.  


Now I must go and finish enjoying my Mother's Day with the man of my dreams.  Actually, ladies, he is the frosting on my cake, if you know what I mean.  *wink*


I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings for the coming week.  And I hope you're having a special Mother's Day.  Sharing my day with my daughter, Jacquie, after being apart for five years, is another dream come true for me.  Hang on to those dreams ... they DO come true!

Author Julie Carobini: Lady and the Sea

Author Julie Carobini: Lady and the Sea

What brings you joy?

Yesterday's guest speaker at our Literary Luncheon in Rock Hill was Merry Taylor of Taylor and Associates.  She is a motivational speaker so of course she asked us a few questions that got us to thinking.  What brings you joy?  What are your goals?  Why do you write?  or paint?  or cook ... fill in your blank.  I was forced to reflect.  Besides God and family, my thoughts brought me back to my recent debut novel, Lady and the Sea.  

I wrote Lady and the Sea because there was a story that took place in the 90's that needed to be told.  It was not my story to keep.  I was compelled to share it.  Lady is not a fantasy or a fairytale.  It is a true story of finding faith for forgotten dreams while sailing on the World War II vessel MS Restoration.  The ship's Swedish engineer finds an American wife.  A father-daughter relationship is restored.  A vision comes to pass for a captain and his wife.  A woman overcomes her fears to fulfill a dream to serve God in a foreign country.  An old World War II ship stored in moth balls gets a second chance to sail the seas when she is assigned to transport Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel.  The dream of over 1,500 Russian Jews coming to pass as they arrive safely in their Promise Land of Israel.  And much more.

My goal to write and publish Lady and the Sea is my legacy.  If I never publish another book, I am satisfied.  Now, my present dream and goal is to place Lady in the hands of those readers whose lives will be changed and challenged by the story.  I have no agent or publicist, but I have the Lord (II Chronicles 32:7-8).  I guard my heart against comparing myself with other authors.  I rejoice with them when they share their victories, knowing that they are celebrating with me when I share mine.  

No matter what brings you joy, may you continue to sail on to yet another personal goal and victory.

The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.

 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy.  

Psalm 19:7-8

publicist goals joy vision Lady and the Sea

Lady Traveler's Farewell to Pastor Jesse Mason

The loss of a great man of God is felt throughout the world today.  As we look back over the years, we all have our own stories of times spent with this humble man, Jesse Mason.  I'll briefly share mine, as he is worthy of my time to tell a short tale.  A few random thoughts cross my mind as I sit on my screened patio listening to the birds singing a song of victory ... and I'm sure I hear angels joining in as they are welcoming Jesse home.

Sunday School Teacher.  Worship Leader.  Associate Pastor.  Senior Pastor.  Boss.  And always a missionary at heart.  That is how I know Jesse Mason.  

The early 70's.  Around 9:15 am every Sunday morning, Jesse would lead the way as we walked next door from Christian Chapel to the condos that were still under construction.  As we trekked through mud puddles from a storm from the night before, I smiled.  I felt as if we were following Jesse on one of his missionary trips.  In the freshly painted clubhouse he taught an adult Sunday school class.  So much knowledge of the Bible, I thought.  He'll be a pastor one day I'm sure.  

Years later, I left Christian Chapel for a few years, but returned in 1987. And guess what? Jesse was now the Senior Pastor. I was delighted to see two familiar faces at the first singles meeting, to which my girlfriend had dragged me.  Jesse and Clare greeted me with open arms and I felt as if I had come home.  The following week I met my future husband, Rob, and a year later after we married, he became Singles Pastor.  During that time I was honored to be Jesse's secretary.  I spent many hours sitting in his office taking notes and listening to wonderful stories of how he and Clare met as missionaries in Japan and served the Lord.  When I grow up, I'm want to be like them and travel the world for Jesus.  

Finally, Jesse gave Clare permission to re-decorate his office, so Clare and I had fun choosing blue wallpaper to match the long, dark blue leather sofa that she chose for her husband. "I know Jesse will love this," she sighed. (I often wonder what happened to that sofa where so many men and women sat and listened to Jesse pray, prophesy, or just talk about topics-at-hand).

Rob and I have traveled the world for Jesus, and in all of our adventures for God, we can honestly say that Jesse and Clare Mason are one of the two most humble, sweet, giving, loving people on earth.  Whether hosting them in our home, or house-sitting in theirs while they traveled to Africa, their sincerity, gratitude and honesty always shined through. 

Dear Pastor Jesse, you will be deeply missed.  Our conversations shall be sprinkled with good memories of you so that your legacy can live on for generations to come.  My words are dimming through tears, so I must close.  See you in heaven, boss. 

Love,  Sharon

www.sharonleaf.com

Life's Journey

Istanbul 2008

He protected us on our entire journey and among all nations through which we traveled.

Joshua 24:17

Whether we are traveling around the world on a World War II ship or moving to another city, isn't it comforting to know that God's protection is with us? No matter where our journey takes us, we can have confidence that the Lord is guiding us, directing us, and protecting us every mile of the way.

After fourteen months at sea, Rob and I arrived home to the USA in 1995 from many ports-of-call around the world. Today we have arrived safely in our port-of-call here in Lexington. Through the years I have learned that no matter how near or far I travel, I want my heavenly Father leading me. When we trekked through Siberia on the former Communist Youth Propaganda train in 1992, I sometimes felt a million miles away from my familiar surroundings. However, when I read Joshua 24:17, I was once again assured of the presence of God traveling with me.

As you begin planning your next journey, I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will be the Captain of your ship. I wish you smooth sailing in the days ahead, and oceans of blessings!

To read more about Lady and the Sea, visit my website at www.sharonleaf.com