Inspirational novelist Vanessa Davis Griggs: 'We plan, but God directs our paths'
Vanessa will be one of the speakers at the upcoming Southern Christian Writers Conference in Birmingham, Alabama
Vanessa Davis Griggs’ road to published author is one filled with twists, turns, and divine direction.
Her journey is one that many aspiring writers can identify with, and she’ll share her knowledge and inspiration at the upcoming Southern Christian Writers Conference in Birmingham, Alabama. (She’ll present a workshop on “Writing Romance for Christian Readers.”)
In 1996, just as she was about to be promoted at BellSouth in Birmingham (after 18 years of service), Griggs instead chose to answer the call of the Lord she felt in her life and step out in faith to write full-time. Describing this time in her life, she says:
“I left BellSouth because I loved writing and would stay up into the early morning before getting about four hours of sleep before getting up to go to work. I would be at work and some of my characters I'd met in my stories would start talking while I was at work. I would say, "Not now! Not now!" I would have to wait until I was at lunch or back at home to work on what the characters were bringing to me. I was talking to God and told Him that if He would do a particular thing I would leave. Honestly, the thing was something I didn't really think God would do. Well, a few weeks later, the scenario presented itself, and I had to keep my word. Upper management didn't want me to leave and informed me they were in the process of promoting me, so I was messing up their plans. Co-workers even told me I was foolish to leave such a great paying job. I told them, ‘God knows where I live. Just like He got me my money here, He would still be able to do it once I left the company.’
I stepped out on faith because God told me to step out. It may have looked as if I was stepping out of a window of a skyscraper on nothing, but in reality, when I stepped out, God's hand was there for me to step onto. I left BellSouth at the end of 1996. I self-published my first book in 1999 after meeting an ‘angel’ who encouraged me to take control and to go forward with my dreams.”
Learn more about Vanessa’s books at her website.
As she placed her craft in God’s hand, her writing career has grown exponentially. Of her work, in both fiction and non-fiction (self-published as well as for traditional publishers), she says:
“I don't consider my writing [to be] Christian romance. There is some romance in them, but that's because I write about real life. In real life, Christians deal with hopes, dreams, ups, downs, life challenges, death, romance, and desires to be loved. I have a nine-book series called The Blessed Trinity series published by Kensington Books. I tell people I never cared about penning sequels and definitely never planned on writing a series. We plan, but God directs our paths. My goal is always to write stories that are fresh without repeating plots and storylines and able to stand on their own. If you choose to start reading one of my books in the middle of the series, it would be like meeting a person in the middle of their life. In real life, we don't always know people's beginnings, but we are still able to be in their lives and learn as their story develops.
There are also three books that came before (prequels) to The Blessed Trinity series that have some of the characters in them: The Rose of Jericho, Promises Beyond Jordan, and Wings of Grace. Promises Beyond Jordan and Wings of Grace were published by BET Books (I originally self-published Promises Beyond Jordan). Kensington published three stand-alone contemporary books inspired by the biblical stories of Rahaab (Ray of Hope), David and Bathsheba (Redeeming Waters), and the woman caught in the act of adultery (Forever Soul Ties). My other books are: Destiny Unlimited, Countless Blessings, Steely Gray, May I Have A Word With You?, Money Cometh, and Conversations Across Generations (a DIY biographical/autobiographical book). I have been a contributor to several anthologies and wrote 10 devotionals to a KJV Bible). I'm also thankful for those I have assisted in getting their books published and out into the world whether self-published or signing with traditional publishers.”
Griggs hopes that her experiences will encourage other writers, and she says it’s most important that we remain aware of the ministry we are undertaking as we write; she is passionate about encouraging others in their writing through her speaking, and she speaks often to writing groups, church groups, and other ministries.
Vanessa and her husband, Jeffery, have been married for 47 years and have three sons and five grandchildren. She is the president of the Birmingham chapter of Rho Alpha Tau, a Christian fraternity and sorority whose members - writers, speakers, singers, filmmakers, and other creatives - are devoted to offering their gifts in service to the Lord.
She says, “As an author and speaker, I absolutely love words and the power of words! As Psalm 45:1 declares, ‘My tongue is the pen of a ready writer!’”
Her talents, experience, and encouraging spirit will be something to look forward to at the Southern Christian Writers Conference in June and we look forward to learning from her during the event.
See all of Vanessa’s books here.
Learn more about the SCWC in its Facebook group.
Meet other SCWC speakers: keynoter and Southern novelist T.I. Lowe, keynoter and devotional author Caris Snider, workshop leader Tommy Ford, workshop leader Tammie Polk, workshop leader Elise Burke-Brown.
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Miranda Herring is a wife and stay at home mom to grown humans and adorable dogs, as well as a passionate reader and writer. After working as a nurse for many years, the onset of severe chronic illness in 2016 changed the course of her life – and she began blogging her journey living with autoimmune disease as a way both to express what she was experiencing and to connect with others who were walking a similar path. Since then, she has written a devotional for those living with chronic illness and is now at work on her second book. Check out her book on Kindle. Read her blog.