My new devotional book Comfort Zone was published by Armour Books on 31 March 2025, and we officially launched it into the world a few weeks later. (Yes, I’m very late with this post!)
A Devotional? Aren't You Writing a Novel?
Some of you might be surprised that I’ve suddenly had a devotional published, when I had previously mentioned that I was working on a sequel to my historical novel Scattered. Well, rest-assured that I am still working on that novel, albeit slowly, but it’s always been a dream of mine to write a devotional book. I’ve had about 35 individual devotions published in various anthologies and magazines over the years, and have made a few attempts at starting a book. However, the theme never really came together.
Then through a series of fortunate events last year, I felt God gave me the theme, and the brilliant Anne Hamilton from Armour Books was willing to take it on. I really appreciate the effort she put it, and the beautiful cover and layout by Rebekah Robinson from Beckon Creative.
Why a Comfort Theme?
Thirty years ago, I did an Introduction to Biblical Counselling (IBC) course with Youth With a Mission. Our key theme for the course was based on the Apostle Paul’s words in his second letter to the Corinthians.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).
In the IBC, we spent the first few weeks working through some of our own issues and receiving ministry, followed by several weeks of lectures and skills practice in basic counselling techniques. Then we went on a two-month outreach to New Zealand where we had a chance to put what we had learned into practice. Even though most of us were still working through some issues, we were able to take the help we had already received from God and share it with others.
The book itself came together very quickly, with only about nine months between the time I felt God gave me the theme and the time it was published. However, the lessons I needed to learn in order to write the book took thirty years. I’m a fast learner! In the 40 devotions, I’ve shared some of those insights in the hope that you too can be helped by the God of All Comfort.
Skit-Ling the Audience
Back in 2013, when I told people I was leaving my university job of 25 years, not much was said about all the things I’d achieved in my work during that time. However, everyone wanted to know what would happen to the Christmas skits if I wasn’t around. I was rather pleased about that. So it won’t surprise you to know that we started the book launch with a skit.
In keeping with the theme of the book, we looked at various things that people might take solace in.
I began by taking comfort in my Mint Patties, potato chips, Coca Cola, Old Gold chocolate, cuddly toys and Archie comic book.
Catherine tried to take comfort in a bottle of wine and Adele took comfort in her role as a social media influencer in which she gets lots of ‘likes’ and goes viral. Though I hasten to add that Catherine and Adele were just acting. I was playing myself!
When I was a kid, we had a shop across the road that had a spinner rack of magazines and comics, a glass cabinet full of open boxes of lollies, and of course other delicacies like chocolates and chips. They may have also had groceries. I loved Mint Patties and Archie comics, though I am now much more grown-up and have progressed to Old Gold chocolate and Archie Comics! Anne asked me how long I’d had the Archie T-shirt I was wearing and seemed a tad surprised when I said I’d only bought it a couple of years ago! But I digress.
Back to the skit … Ultimately, we discovered that none of us were really getting comfort from those things. Fortunately, Sandy arrived just at that moment to tell us that she was off to a book launch where some woman was going to talk about God as our real source of comfort.
We got quite a few laughs for our Academy-Award winning performances, though I completely forgot one whole scene and the others had to follow my lead and carry on regardless. I didn’t realise until Adele told me afterwards. Our five minutes of rehearsal time really paid off.
What Else Happened?
What better way to follow a skit than with a Mint Pattie hunt, where people had to find the ten Mint Patties I’d hidden around the room. Then there was a brief talk by me and some encouraging words from Anne (pictured here).
I sang a song I wrote back in my YWAM days called Father of All Comfort–still surprisingly relevant 30 years later! There were also prizes, afternoon tea, mingling, book signings, and general frivolity.
A Vote of Thanks
A big thank you to Anne for editing and publishing the book, Bec for the cover design and layout, my skit buddies (Adele, Catherine and Sandy), Janelle for organising afternoon tea, those who brought goodies to share, Sandra Troedson for liaising with Rangeville Community Church and helping so much on the day, Tim and Pamela for taking care of the book table, Wayne and Donna for taking photos, and everyone else who attended and helped on the day. I couldn’t have done it without you. And thank you most of all to the God of compassion and Father of all comfort, who made it all possible in the first place. I am forever in awe.
What sort of things do you take comfort in? I’d love to hear your examples.
Credits and Buy Links
Comfort Zone can be purchased from Koorong or Amazon, or direct from me.
Book cover design by Rebekah Robinson from Beckon Creative. Guitar photo by Donna Albrecht. All other photos by Wayne Logan from Encouraging Photos.
2 Responses
Looks like you had a great day and lots of fun. Well done for getting your devotional book published and in the wild. And great that you finally have a blog post about the event!
Congratulations!
Thanks, Susan. It was indeed a fun day, and I’m glad I had some friends who were happy to be a little crazy with me. I’m so behind in my blogging, so I’m glad I can finally let people know more about it. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Take care.