I still remember the moment the email came through.
Where the Lion Roars had been selected as a finalist in the 2025 Love, Faith and Hope Readers’ Choice Awards. I stared at the screen in disbelief, tears welling up—not just because the book had made it that far, but because of the journey behind it. Because of what this book cost me… and what it gave back.
This story wasn’t just a project. It was a lifeline.
A Story Born in Transition
I began writing Where the Lion Roars during one of the most vulnerable, disorienting seasons of my life: our family’s immigration from South Africa to Ireland. We had packed up everything—our lives, our memories, our familiar rhythms—and stepped into a world that felt both exciting and foreign.
In that space of uncertainty, the idea for the story came. A woman grieving her husband, haunted by silence, returning to the wild South African bush to search for answers no one wanted her to find. Her faith shaken. Her hope threadbare. Her trust in God hanging by a whisper.
I didn’t know it then, but I was writing myself into that story.
The Silence That Almost Won
Writer’s block hit hard—heavier than ever before. I’d open my laptop and stare. I’d write a few lines and delete them. The blank page mocked me. The move, the change, the stress, the exhaustion of starting over in a new country—it all caught up with me.
And then came the imposter syndrome.
Who do you think you are, calling yourself a writer? No one cares. You’re not good enough. Your words won’t matter.
If you’ve ever wrestled with that voice, you know how loud it can get. But somehow, quietly, God’s voice kept whispering beneath it: Keep going. This matters.
So I did.
Some days, writing was worship. Other days, it was a war.
But line by line, Where the Lion Roars was born.
The Power of Support
I couldn’t have finished this story without the people who held space for me.
My husband. My family. The writer friends who reminded me that block is temporary and calling is eternal. The readers who’d supported my earlier books and gently asked, “Are you working on something new?”
And above all, the presence of the Holy Spirit—quiet, patient, faithful. Even when I wasn’t.
From the Wilderness to a Finalist
When I finally released the book in December 2024, I did it with trembling hands. I believed in the story—but I didn’t know if others would.
And now, to see it recognized—as a finalist in a faith-based award chosen by readers—is something I still can’t fully wrap my head around. Not because I think the book isn’t worthy. But because I remember how close I came to giving up.
This nomination isn’t just a nod to the story. It’s a testimony of God’s grace in my weakness.
What Comes Next
Right now, I’m preparing to submit Where the Lion Roars to traditional publishers. I believe its journey isn’t over. That maybe it still has places to go and people to reach.
I don’t know what will happen—but I’m walking forward in faith, trusting that God will open the right doors at the right time.
To everyone who’s supported me—thank you. To everyone who’s battling silence, doubt, or delay in your own calling—don’t give up. Your lion may be silent now, but trust me… it will roar again.
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