Each January, or sometimes even late the previous year, I look
at my list of speaking engagements and/or book promotion events for the year ahead
and usually find I need more. So what to do? Should I wait and pray and leave
it to God to prompt people to contact me? Should I instead be more proactive and think
of places where I can offer myself as a speaker? Or is it a matter of combining
these two approaches?
Now I know from past experience that God has amazing ways of
bringing speaking engagements to me I would never have imagined could happen. For
example, a couple of years ago, I received an email from a friend, tentatively
asking if I would be available to speak at their church’s women’s retreat.
She had been idly chatting with her minister’s wife, as they sat watching their
respective sons play soccer, when this lady asked her out of the blue if she knew anyone who might
speak at their upcoming retreat. My friend suggested me, despite the fact we
had not seen each other for several years and were now in different church
denominations. The minister’s wife soon contacted me and, after a few emails
and phone calls and a meeting with the retreat committee, we were off and
running. It was a special weekend, and, as my friend and I drove home together, we
marvelled at the way God had brought it all together.
But I also know from past experience how people often need
speakers but don’t quite know whom to contact. So I decided some years back to
take the risk of emailing various groups to tell them a bit about myself and my
writing journey and let them know I am available to speak. In my email, I
always try not to be too pushy. I merely offer myself in what I hope is
humility and accept their response. Often I never hear back. Sometimes I
receive an email that says something along the lines of ‘Thanks for contacting us. We have organised our speakers for the year
but will keep you in mind for next year.’ But sometimes I receive a much
more positive response where some lovely person tells me more about their group
and asks when I would be available—or even a relieved phone call to organise a
date and to thank me for emailing!
So this year, I once again prayed hard, then plunged into
writing emails to all sorts of places. I was well aware of the danger of doing
things in my own strength. But as I prayed, I sensed God was encouraging me to be
proactive and put myself out there once again. Now the time has come to wait and to keep
praying—and writing my next book! So far, four groups have invited me to speak, but that
is only a small percentage of those I contacted. Will there be more? I don’t
know. But I know I have done my best, believing God was leading me as I did.
Is this the way you would go about such things yourself, as a published author? People are different, I am aware, but I would
be interested to hear your responses.
Jo-Anne Berthelsen lives
in Sydney but grew up in Brisbane. She holds degrees in Arts and
Theology and has worked as a high school teacher, editor and secretary, as well
as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne is passionate about touching hearts and
lives through both the written and spoken word. She is the author of six
published novels and one non-fiction work, Soul Friend: the story of a shared
spiritual journey. Jo-Anne is married to a retired minister and has three
grown-up children and four grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.
