STILL STANDING BY GOD'S GRACE
My name is Janice Jones. I was born
My initial dreams and goals had absolutely nothing to do with a career in writing or ministry. As a young girl, my ambitions were to be an attorney, specifically District Attorney, and later Mayor of the city of
My passion for writing came sometime later in life. While my favorite subjects in school were English, Composition and Literature, I never considered writing as something I enjoyed doing. It was just something I did well with little effort. At the time I did not realize that what I just described is the true definition of the special gift or talent that God gives us to glorify Him. I started out writing poetry just for fun or release and I always received such high praise from those who I let view my work. The letters I would write to friends and relatives always seemed to take on the life of a short story versus just simple notes to communicate.
I grew up in church and always enjoyed attending, but I never truly understood what it meant to have a real relationship with God. I fully accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior in May of 1999. Approximately one year later, I heard the voice of God instructing me to write my first novel, His Woman, His Wife, His Widow. Obediently, but slowly, I wrote the book.
In December 2005, I met Sabrina Adams, Publisher and CEO of Zoe Life Publishing, at a writer’s conference. Sabrina and I chatted for a little while and I told her about some spiritual essays and poems I wrote that I wanted to put together as a collection and have them published. We set an appointment so she could view my work. At our initial appointment Sabrina read one chapter of an essay and told me that she would be doing me and my potential reading public a great disservice if she were to publish what I had in the format that I submitted. She told me that the first paragraph alone could be turned into a true testimonial that would fit into a complete book. I took her advice ad went back to work on it. Two months later, Still Standing, my first non fiction book, was accepted for publication.
Still Standing is a spiritual testimonial of how God has brought me through every harrowing, hurtful, and horrific experience of my life. The book gives detail to some of my trials, tribulations and the victorious outcome to every situation. I have also just completed my second non-fiction story entitled Beyond the Drama, which is a follow-up to Still Standing.
I am also a novelist, published under the Kensington Publishing imprint, Urban Christian Books. My first title with UC is His Woman; His Wife; His Widow, which hit store shelves June 30, 2009. My second novel, entitled From Sinner to Saint, debuted March 30, 2010. I am currently working on my third novel, which is a much requested sequel to His Woman His Wife His Widow.
Since moving to Phoenix, I have become an associate minister at First Institutional Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. As a member of F.I.B.C., I work with the Women’s Ministry and Ms. Jessie’s Place, our church campus bookstore and coffee house. Back in
It is my goal, and I believe God’s true calling on my life, to be a successful author, novelist and minister. I truly love to write and I enjoy telling and creating stories that will prayerfully edify, uplift and educate others on the benefits of living life as a Christian, a true follower and servant of Jesus Christ. Everything that I pen is done to show the redeeming power of Christ’s love and sacrifice which is available to all who are willing to accept.