MAPs Have Been Good

You may remember me mentioning MAPs, multiple-author projects, where several authors publish in the same themed series. I've been heavily involved in them for the last couple of years. My first one came in December 2021. Walnut Cake for Wylene was followed by five more in 2022: Sauerkraut by Sophie, Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern, A Christmas Snow for Sadie, Candace, and Aida. Beginning with Sauerkraut by Sophie, I published nineteen straight MAPs running through Andrea this month. I have three more coming in the first three months of 2025: Willa's Woes, The Writer's Rescue, and The Miner. That will make twenty-three MAPs in all.

But I'm not through yet. After publishing some non-MAP books in 2025, I have three more MAPs scheduled in the last half of the year, making twenty-six. Daphne's Determination, Heather, Hot Springs Bride, and Morrow's Mishaps. I already have eight books scheduled for 2026, but so far, none of them are MAPs because good opportunities haven't presented themselves. However, I'm hoping that might change, and I do have at least two slots open.

MAPs have been good to me. They've been inspiring, helped build my readership, and been good with marketing. I just got an email from an enthusiastic reader who discovered me through a MAP. I've also found collaborating with the other authors helpful. I need to slow down on the number of books I'm publishing each year, but I would still like to include two or three MAPs. Hopefully, this will work out.

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Wise Men

The second chapter of Matthew is the only biblical account of the wise men or magi, who came to visit Jesus. They had seen the strange star in the eastern sky and had come to investigate. The journey must have been a long one. Just who were these men who had come from the East? 

Although the Bible doesn't name the foreign visitors, legend and tradition give their names as Caspar, Balthasar, and Melchior. Neither does the Bible tell us how many came, but, because the plural is used, we know there was more than one. We get the idea there were three because they brought three gifts: frankincense, gold, and myrrh. These were gifts commonly given at the birth of a king.

These men were apparently of noble birth, well-educated, wealthy, and probably influential. Because of how they handled Herod, we can assume they were upright men of integrity. They had likely studied the Hebrew Scriptures and knew of the expected Messiah. 

I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel... (Numbers 24:17).

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).

From Daniel, they may have surmised that the time for the Messiah was near. (See Daniel 9:25-26.) For whatever reason, they decided to go and search for this Messiah, and the guiding star led them. People today would be wise to search for Him, too. The saying is so true. "Wise men still seek Him." If you don't know Him, look for Him today, and, if you do, share Him with someone else.

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 It Was a Good Year

2024 has been a good year for me as an author. I didn't publish sixteen books as I did in 2023, so it wasn't quite as rushed. However, I still published eleven, which is a lot for one year. The only month I didn't publish a book was May, but my April book came on the 20th, so it was later in the month. The one before it published on March 5th, and the ones following on the first of the month. Here is the schedule:

Jan 16, 2024 – Grandma’s Match for Garrett 

Feb 1, 2024 – A Match for Silas

Mar 5, 2024 – A Journey for Jillian 

Apr 20, 2024 – Zoe 

June 1, 2024 – Beckett’s Brides 

Jul 1, 2024 – A Match for Merle 

Aug 5, 2024 – Carmen’s Wedding Dilemma 

Sep 2, 2024 – A Match for Milton 

Oct 3, 2024 – Noah’s New Bride 

Nov 1, 2024 – A Match for Reece 

Dec 6, 2024 - Andrea

A Journey for Jillian was my best-selling book of the year. Beckett’s Brides was the one I went to Deadwood, South Dakota, to research in 2023. I've had it in the back of my mind to write about gypsies for a long time, and I finally got to do that in Carmen. Noah’s New Bride, about a lumberman, reminded me of my father who grew up working in his family's sawmill business and could name and describe almost any tree. A Match for Reece concluded my six books in this series set in Pinyon Falls, Texas. All of the books listed are special to me. It was a good year.

Right now, I have ten books planned for 2025, but that could certainly change. My writing schedule always fills up fast. I will talk more about those books in an upcoming blog. I hope the new year is as good for me as an author as the last three have been. Let me close by wishing each and every one of you a very merry Christmas and the happiest New Year.

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 Why Mary?

Read Luke 1: 26 - 38.

There were several reasons Mary didn't look to be the best choice for the mother of the Messiah. For one thing, she was young. Biblical scholars don't think she was more than sixteen years old. She doesn't seem to have a good support system. Elizabeth, a distant cousin, appears to be her closest relative. Yet, God chose her. Why?

One reason is that Mary had a heart for God. We can see that from her conversation with the Angel Gabriel. Even though she was stunned and confused by the news, when he told her that nothing was impossible with God she answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

Mary was surrendered to the Lord. Whatever He asked of her, she would do. She depended on Him. That's what made her fit to be the mother of the Savior of the world. What about you? Are you surrendered to God and willing to be led by the Holy Spirit? Do you depend on Him for everything? If not, you can change that now. This can be the season you let Christ fill your heart and take over your life.

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Trusting God’s Best: How Faith Shapes My Writing Journey

Guest Blogger & Author
Heidi Gray McGill

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight"  (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).

 As a Christian author, I share how prayer, faith, and trusting God’s direction led to my debut novel, Desire of My Heart, and how He continues to guide my writing.

The Role of Faith in Writing
As an independently published author, the journey to create a story that fuses faith and fiction is one of trust and growth. God has taught me invaluable lessons along the way, not only in writing but in life. Through prayer, seeking His guidance, and embracing His plan, I’ve learned to let go of my desires and follow His perfect will. Today, I’m excited to share a bit of my heart and how it connects with my debut novel, Desire of My Heart the first book in my Discerning God’s Best series.

A Heart for Christian Historical Fiction

As a Christian author, my passion lies in writing Christian Historical Fiction that reflects faith's challenges and triumphs. I strive to show how God works through our struggles and joys with every character I create. The historical backdrop is more than just a setting; it’s a way for me to explore God’s timeless truths within a specific historical moment. In Desire of My Heart, set against a pre-Civil War community backdrop, the characters wrestle with love, loss, and faith in the same way we do today.

The Birth of Desire of My Heart
Writing Desire of My Heart was a long journey. I didn’t set out to write a novel—it started with a calling, a story that had been quietly forming in my heart. I wanted to create a work of Christian Historical Fiction that entertained and encouraged readers to trust God’s plans, no matter how uncertain life may seem. The book explores themes of healing, redemption, and the beauty of God’s grace. While writing, I reflected on my life, the challenges I’ve faced, and how God has shown up. This book is deeply personal, especially since it marks the beginning of the Discerning God’s Best series. The lessons from my own experiences—trusting in God’s best, discerning His will, and having faith in His timing—are woven into the characters' lives while I fleshed them out in my faith walk. Throughout the writing, God taught me to surrender my timeline and trust Him with the story He had planned. It’s easy to get caught up in our ideas of success, but when we hand our work over to Him, He shapes it into something far greater than we could imagine. One key lesson that resonates through Desire of My Heart is that God’s timing is perfect. While the characters in the novel must wait for God’s provision and healing, I also learned the same lesson in my own life. Patience isn’t always easy, but it’s in the waiting that we learn to rely entirely on God.

Looking Ahead: 

The Discerning God’s Best Series

I’m thrilled to share that Desire of My Heart is the beginning of the Discerning God’s Best series. The next book, With All My Heart, continues the journey of discerning God’s will for our lives. It reminds us that God’s best is always worth waiting for and that He has a purpose for each one of us. Each book in the series features different characters, but the underlying message is always the same: God is in control, and when we trust in His plan, we discover true fulfillment and peace. I hope my story and the journey of Desire of My Heart resonate with you. Whether you’re a reader or a writer, the message is clear: Trust God’s timing, follow His direction, and allow His story to unfold in your life. Writing this book was an act of faith, and I believe it will encourage anyone seeking to discern God’s best for their life.

Also on Audible - 

About the Author 
Heidi Gray McGill writes impactful Christian fiction, blending faith, hope, and love with humor and depth. Despite blindness, she has authored twelve books, including the Discerning God’s Best series. Heidi lives near Charlotte, NC, with her husband of over 30 years. She enjoys family, cooking, games, and finding inspiration daily.

Connect with Heidi Gray McGill (links)

Heidi Gray McGill invites you to stay connected and explore the stories that inspire her heartfelt writing. As a special gift, she’s offering her free prequel, Deep in My Heart, available in both eBook and audiobook formats. This captivating journey from South Carolina to the Midwest sets the stage for Desire of My Heart. Visit https://heidigraymcgill.com/free_book/ to join her mailing list and embark on a path of faith, hope, and inspiration alongside Heidi.

You can also connect with Heidi on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill

https://www.youtube.com/@authorheidigraymcgill/?sub_confirmation=1

https://twitter.com/HeidiGrayMcGill

https://www.instagram.com/AuthorHeidiGrayMcGill/

 

 

 

Innkeepers

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:6-7).

Being in labor and not being able to find a room in the inns must have been an uncertain time for Mary. The first baby always brings more apprehension anyway. But she and Joseph had a strong faith in God. An angel had appeared to them both on separate occasions, and they knew this child was to be special. God would take care of them.

We all go through times of uncertainty and problems. They are a part of life in this fallen world. But like Mary and Joseph, we should trust God and look to Him for all our needs. He will see us through. If we follow His guidance, He will lead us to the place we need to be.

Innkeeper after innkeeper had no room for them. They never considered that this baby about to be born might be the Messiah they had been waiting and longing for. They didn't even have compassion for a young soon-to-be mother. Instead, they informed the couple there was no room.

What would you have done if you were in those innkeepers' places, not having the prior knowledge you have now? Well, we all have to make that decision. We are all innkeepers of our hearts. Will we let Jesus in? Will we let Him stay, or must He leave?

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 Some of My Newer Christmas Books

Many of my 77 books include Christmas somewhere in them, but I have quite a few where Christmas plays an important part, and I would like to share some of them with you for your holiday reading. 

My five books in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen, not only give a heart-warming story, but they also share the recipe for the title treat. Books in this series are:

Walnut Cake by Wylene
Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie

Forget-Me-Not Cookies by Fern

Upside-Down Cakes by Dana

Fruitcake by Fran

In A Christmas Snow for Sadie, Sadie Alexander needs to leave the household when her employer dies. Mrs. Ludlow's son is making improper advances, so she travels to California as a mail-order bride. When she gets there, Mr.Laird is out of town with his construction business, and his older friend meets her. What kind of groom will he be if he can't even find time to welcome her?

I also have two books in the Christmas Quilt Brides series: Lily and my latest publication, Andrea. In these two very different books, both Christmas and their quilts play an important part in them finding their happy ever afters. 

So, here are eight wonderful books for your holiday reading enjoyment. They are all on Kindle, KU, print, and Audible. Check them out. I'm sure you can find some that will bring you joy this Christmas season.

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Joy to the World!

Read Psalm 98

Issac Watts loved the Psalms and wanted people to be moved by them, so he paraphrased some of them into hymns. "Joy to the World!" (written in 1719) was one of them. It's based on Psalm 98, which calls for the earth to rejoice and sing praises of God's coming. It's a well-known Christmas hymn that we often sing during the holiday season.

However, Watts didn't write it as a Christmas song. It really addresses the second coming of Christ, and there are parallels. Just as the Israelites waited for the promised Messiah, the Savior of the World, Christians now wait for Jesus' return to take His people home. Either way, it's a joyous occasion and yes, joy to the world!

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare him room,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven and nature sing,

And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrow grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And the wonders of His love,

And the wonders of His love,

And the wonders, wonders of His love.

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A Christmas Novel

I have a new book publishing on December 6th -- Andrea: Christmas Quilt Brides. Andrea grew up in an orphanage and has loved teaching literature, sewing, and quilting classes for the last year. She doesn't know much about the world outside of there, so when the director sends her to live in a small town a state away, she's faced with obstacles not many people understand. She stays with a pastor and his wife, and they help her, but Mrs. Crawford seems to expect her to find a husband, and Andrea's not ready for that. Only Zane Wagner, the store owner, seems to understand her. He even gives her a part-time job, and she's still able to quilt, but the future looks more uncertain than ever.

The book is on preorder now and will publish on Friday. LB Neibaur produced the Audible, and it should release soon. It's with ACX now for their final approval. Laura also narrated Lily: Christmas Quilt Brides, published for Christmas last year, and she does excellent work. I love to listen to her narrations, and I've used her for several Audible projects. From the reviews, I think listeners love her too.

What could be better than quilts in a cozy romance for the holidays? Don't miss out on this sweet read. Reserve your copy today.

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