The Story Behind the Story with Joanne Daggett of Quispamsis, NB, Canada.

 

Let’s welcome Joanne to the Scribbler.

It’s her first visit and I know you will enjoy reading about her and her book.

She will be participating in the GMRD Book Fair and looks forward to meeting you.

She will be there signing her books.

Read on my friends.

 

Joanne is a Christian author who lives in Quispamsis, NB with her husband of thirty-seven years, Alex. She calls herself a hesitant writer and an accidental author. Sing, Dance, Pray, which was published in 2022, is her first book. She enjoys reading, writing poetry and prose, walking in nature, creating art out of string, beachcombing, and spending time with her loving family.

  

Title: Sing, Dance, Pray

Synopsis: Sing, Dance, Pray is a collection of prose and poetry written in simple faith, even in the midst of the complexities of life. Joanne’s faith in God is reflected in her poems and prose, despite a personal story of tragedy and loss many years ago. She pens poems of hope and defiant joy in present seasons of grief, trauma, and crisis. Her writings reflect a personal relationship with her Kind Shepherd, Jesus, with elements of coastal beauty sprinkled with a love of nature.

The Story Behind the Story:

Many years ago, when I faced an unimaginable tragedy that changed the course of my life, people often told me that I should write my story. But I never considered it, as I was too busy raising a family and enjoying coastal life on Grand Manan Island. Living in a small village on a tiny island, everyone knew my story, so I didn’t feel the need or desire to write it down. My faith in God, which was planted as a tiny seed when I was very young, grew and strengthened over the next years of my life. A tragedy that could have made me bitter instead solidified my faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

 In more recent years, as I (and our family) walked through a season of grief, fear and trauma, I felt the gentle nudging to write. My counselor, family, and God urged me to get things out that were “bubbling up” inside me.

Walking with our son through the heartbreak and chaos of addiction, homelessness, and even incarceration left us limping and struggling. As I began to surrender to God and let go of circumstances I couldn’t control or even comprehend, I started to vulnerably share my heart through poetry. No one was more surprised than me! Over the course of a year I bravely wrote, shared my writings, and in that process saw hope and joy renewed in my life. What’s amazing is that every writing always finds a pathway back to a place of hope and peace. Only God can do that for me. It was a healing journey for me, my family, and others who resonated with my vulnerability, defiant joy and stubborn faith. I felt the calling from both God and others around me to publish my poetry and prose. It was never something I imagined, but God had other plans.

Sing, Dance, Pray is my story, which is really God’s story told through mine. It is a love story of grace, peace, hope, joy and light.

Website: Please go HERE.

A question before you go, Joanne:

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?

Joanne: I enjoy writing either sitting outside on my deck in the sunshine or in my living room, where there is plenty of natural light.

I am neat, both in writing and in general.

I do not have a favorite beverage so I would choose a couple of pieces of chocolate to savor as I write.

An Excerpt from Sing, Dance, Pray:

BE BRAVE

“So do not fear for I am with you, do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 

A pretty journal adorns my nightstand.

I love the way it looks sitting there, all peaceful, with swirly gold lettering. And I love the message on the cover—be brave.

Yes. Brave!

I want to be brave—I truly do.

 

I see bravery in the people in my life: my daughters, husband, family, and friends.

In my Bible, friends like Queen Esther, Father Abraham, and bold Elijah meet me, too. But it seems almost impossible to walk in their shoes. 

It’s so easy to see bravery in them, in others, am I right? 

Putting on a brave face has been mine to do a few times in my life, like when I became a widow and a new mom, (on the same day), at nineteen-years-old. 

When I said yes to my new husband and turned the corner into a new life, I was also practicing bravery. When I moved away from my island community to the mainland with my little family—brave. Oh, and when I put on my “big girl clothes” and flew out west, alone, to visit my daughter and her family—very brave. 

Sometimes you just do the brave thing without even thinking about it too much, perhaps it’s easier if your bravery will benefit another? 

Other times being brave feels just too hard. Too much.

Overwhelming.

Bravery can look like speaking hope and beauty from the trenches of grief and trauma. Like writing letters of hope to aloved one in prison. Praying for healing, restoration and “new life.” 

Recently I’ve felt God nudging me to write. To write my story—share the beauty in the broken, the message in the mess.

His story told through mine. 

Singing has always been easier for me, but writing, it feels awkward at times and a bit stilted.

But God, He pushes my pen. 

Because He wouldn’t give up on the message…or the girl. The Messenger has a beautiful story of grace, peace, hope and faithfulness—even in the trenches. Especially in the trenches.

So, I write my story which is really His story. 

His story of mercy and grace, peace, healing, and hope.

The Beautiful Healer, He walks with me and holds my hand, the tiny, calloused hand of the common island girl. 

Leaning on Him, I rest and walk on in the light of His beauty.

I can be brave, leaning on His strong arms of HOPE.

Thank you for being our guest this week, Joanne.

 We wish you continued success with your writing.

 See you at the Book Fair.

And another BIG thank you to all our visitors and

 readers. Please leave a comment below and tell us

 what's on your mind.