How Does A Story Grow? Behind the Scenes of Chip and the Book of Rose Leaves

Welcome to the next behind-the-scenes peek at the making of Chip and the Book of Rose Leaves!

Let’s pick up the adventure where we left off, shall we?

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Once I started jotting down story notes and ideas, I knew a very different story from the one I’d first imagined was taking shape.

Chip’s friends – Riley and Sara – disappeared as God helped me see that this was an adventure that Chip had to set out on alone (at least, at the start 😉)

But what was the point of the adventure?

I still didn’t know, until I read a beautiful devotion early one morning.

Prayers are instantly noticed in Heaven…. Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears…. He may only look up with misty eye; but ‘prayer is the falling of a tear.’ Tears are the diamonds of heaven…”

Charles Spurgeon

Oh, when I read that, I knew God was telling me something. But He wasn’t finished speaking just yet…

Our God not only hears prayer but also loves to hear it… wherever there is a heart big with sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony… He marks it down in the registry of His memory; He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious fragrance springing up therefrom.”

Charles Spurgeon

I was captivated. I now knew what the title of this unexpected story was meant to be, and, while I didn’t know what would happen to Chip along the way, I began to understand where the adventure was leading him.

God is spectacular, isn’t He?

He knew the shape and breadth of this story, and He patiently led me, revealing bits and pieces of it at the perfect times.

This is part of what I love most about being a writer. At the end of the day, I’m not the one creating these stories. God is the Author. He knows every word of these tales, and He’s given me the privilege of being the first reader, the one who gets to put pen to paper as the Creator of the universe takes the time to tell me a story.

I’m so thankful for this indescribable gift.

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Next week, we’ll explore the unexpected way God gave me character names and how the heart of this story kept taking shape!

If there’s anything you’d like to know about the making of Chip and the Book of Rose Leaves, please share in the comments!

And don’t forget to add Chip on Goodreads and please leave a review once you’ve finished reading!

Until next week, happy reading!

Alexandria