Reflections on a Thing Well Done – Operation Encourage An Author

Casey Herringshaw is a blessing. Not just to me, but take a look at this great blog to see all the people she’s touched. Operation Encourage An Author is truly a thing well done. Casey shares with us the story behind OEA.

The Inspiration Behind Operation Encourage an Author (OEA)

In the spring of 2010, I was cruising around the ACFW loop, (an email that goes out to all members desiring to receive and it is a sounding board for many needs). Author Christina Berry was asking the authors of the group if any of them had ever received a bad review of a particularly malicious comment about their fiction. I sat back and watched the conversations unfold,  authors chiming in at one point or another talking about how they had received negative comments on their hard work.

I jumped over to Amazon and read a few of the reviews, particularly on The Familiar Stranger  by Berry. I couldn’t believe my eyes, some of the comments were downright mean, low blows aimed at the author’s intelligence.  It broke my heart to see such criticism and after reading the book myself, saw that it was completely unfounded. Constructive criticism should always be welcome, poison darts should not.

The idea for Operation Encourage an Author (OEA) was thus born. I asked several authors and friends if such a plan would be useful and I didn’t get a very enthusiastic response. But I prayed about it. I prayed often and asked God just what He wanted me to do. I didn’t want to put something like this together if He wasn’t going to be at the center of it.

Finally I couldn’t not do it and decided to gain the blog address. Within minutes of putting it on the internet and letting just a few people know, I had three followers.  I couldn’t believe my eyes. God was already working.

My first guest in February was Julie Lessman and there was a record setting 120+ comments! All by people eager to encourage and Julie eager to reply. I felt like God had truly put me here to start that blog. She wrote me later and told me that the week on OEA came at the perfect time, that there had been doubt about her place in the fiction world and God had confirmed it that week on OEA. I couldn’t have been more wowed. And all I could say, is thank you God.

Since that first week, I have featured a total of 18 authors, all writing in different genres. After that first stunning week, the comments have averaged between 20 and 30 comments from readers and the author. Giveaway are often featured, drawing more readers, but I have made several strong stipulations to keep people from just trolling the web looking for a free book opportunity.

I have been told several different times how much the authors enjoy connecting with the readers, whether they have read their work or not and I have been told their week on the blog came just at the right time.

I can take no credit for this and never hope to. It is purely God. He planted the seed for the idea and I merely listened. Someday I hope for the blog to grow and each week to be as encouraging as that first, but until then, I leave it in God’s hands. I am always continually blown away by the generosity and kindness of Christian readers. Their comments are sincere and encouraging, letting the author know just how much they are appreciated. These readers are some of the best.

For every negative review or comment, an author receives, it takes two positive to make up for it. I hope to do a lot of negative reversing on my blog!

Every week contains an opening post, about the author and a few of my own thoughts on support,  a sneak peek in the middle, a written prayer on the weekend and on Sunday the end of the spotlight with a few closing announcements.

If you are a Christian author and wish to be spotlighted, I would love to talk to you via email. I take fiction and nonfiction authors, but ONLY Christian writers. You can email me at: caseymh18@gmail.com  for more information.

Thank you so much to Lisa for letting me visit and share my story. I hope each of you will come and visit OEA and spend a few minutes giving encouragement, because in the long run, a small dose of encouragement will last for a long time, longer than it takes for you to give it.  You will never truly know the impact you have made.

My pleaure, Casey. We’re all about the positives here at Reflections in Hindsight.

Readers, don’t forget to leave a comment anytime this month to be entered into the July drawing for a copy of the books listed on the left. The winner will be drawn from names of commenters and new subscribers who’ve left a message during the month of July on any post. We’ll announce winners August 1.