JANICE L. DICK
Janice L. Dick began writing in 1989 after attending a workshop at the local library. Attendees formed a writing group that met for over sixteen years. Janice continued to learn through courses and conferences, and wrote a couple short stories and inspirational articles that were published in the local paper and in her denominational magazine. In 2001, she plunged into writing her first novel, completing the story with two sequels. The first two won first place in The Word Guild's Canadian Christian Writing Awards, and the third was shortlisted for the same award.
Besides a second historical trilogy, Janice also writes contemporary fiction, book reviews and blogs. She has written articles and short stories, devotionals and stories for children, and even a smattering of poetry.
Janice currently edits a daily devotional for Jesus.com, and has edited a church history book, two chap books, a devotional volume, a women's event book, several children's books and an annual women's conference magazine, and has mentored other writers, formally and informally. She is a member of WritersInk, InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship, and the Saskatchewan Writers Guild.
Janice lives with her husband on a farm in east-central Saskatchewan. They have three grown, married children and eleven amazing grandchildren.
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A Message from Jan
As you read my stories, my hope is that you will see God through the eyes of my characters, and see him acting in their fictional lives. In the process, my prayer is that you will become aware of him also working in your life. I’d like you to understand that faith can develop gradually, as we realize who God is. You may not know this, but as I write my stories, I am often thinking out loud, developing my own beliefs, exploring my own faith, based the truth of God's Word.
This world can be a lovely place, but when we listen to the news, we see the dark side, and we know it is very real. I allow some of my characters to go through tough situations, and they don’t always come out victorious, but there is always the hope that they will, eventually. The story always goes beyond the covers of the book.
What I hope you will learn along with the characters, and with me, the author, is that God is present and faithful through all the hills and valleys of our lives.
There is always hope, and it is in him.
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God is present and faithful through all the hills and valleys of our lives. There is always hope, and it is in him.
When I set out to write a secular cozy mystery, I was surprised to find I couldn’t do it. My characters were either running from a relationship with God, didn’t know they could have one, or giving wisdom as to how a person could find peace with God. While I don’t avoid secular reading, I can’t seem to write my own works apart from my faith.
There are times in life when hard things happen, and I don't always respond as a person of faith should. Times when death strikes the young and innocent, or tears apart a marriage. Times when financial loss is overwhelming. It is as a result of those experiences and observations that I moved from railing at God to realizing that he will not be manipulated, that he does not owe me or anyone else an explanation for what he does. He is God.
And then there’s hope. God is a God of hope, and every one of my stories includes this essential element of faith. God’s mercy reaches us in our situation, no matter who we are, no matter if we are asking for it or denying it. It’s offered. This is the hope I cling to as I move through life, and the one that pops up in the hearts of my characters, and which I hope translates to your heart.
