Most writers trying to sell their works in today’s market place face many challenges. The ability to write a good book that reaches and appeals to a large audience takes time, money and effort.
Each day, Telia Galloway faces the challenge of trying to communicate her Christian faith through her work.
“I believe in Jesus, and I write. I would hope that this means that my work is clean and uplifting, and not offensive,” she said. “If I can encourage people to think about something in a way they have not thought about it before, or just encourage them to stand firm in the face of adversity, that would be good,” said Galloway when asked what being a Christian author means to her.
“As an author, the challenges are universal. With several billion people in the world, how to get them all to recognize my name and buy my book is a challenge,” she said. “Book publishing is very competitive, and without the hand of God on this process, I do not believe I would have ever gotten published.”
Galloway will sign copies of her book, “Servant of the King,” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at I Can’t Believe It’s a Book Store in downtown Washington. The book was published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises.
“This is a story about a young man named Jody who sees an ad. The king is looking for humble, dedicated servants to work for him,” Galloway said of the book. “Jody wants ‘a better job,’ but doesn’t feel that he is good enough for the king to hire him. He finally decides to apply anyway, and what he discovers is not at all what he was expecting. I believe the Lord gave me this story, as I was working on another historical fiction novel when this story came to me. I had to stop the other story and sit down and write this one. The words flowed so easily, and very little editing was needed.”
“Servant of the King” is described by as a “children’s Christian book.” Although Galloway wrote the short story with adults in mind, the book is “easily understandable for children ages 8 to 98. It is an allegory, with a message for young and old,” she said.
Writing has long been a part-time interest of hers, as far back as high school. Galloway said she is arranging her schedule so she can spend more time writing.
Galloway has written another book, “The Inheritance,” which is historical fiction and set in the 1850s.
Galloway offers this advice for Christian authors hoping to write for a larger audience: “Pray and wait for God’s direction.”
Galloway lives with her husband, Gary, between Simpson and Grimesland. The Galloways have three children, Kristen, Kathryn and Kevin.
Galloway is the second child of seven in her family. She said her older sister writes, too,
but she has never pursued having her work published. Galloway said she encourages her sister to do so. Each of her three brothers has written songs — lyrics and music.
I Can’t Believe It’s a Book Store is located at 216 W. Main St.