Janice Olson

Janice is an author, speaker, musician, artist, and photographer, but above all a follower of Christ. She writes fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Revealing God through her writing is something she covets above all else. Her devotionals appear regularly in Journeys in Faith weekly e-devotionals and on Sharing the Word of Faith blog. Janice is currently working on "Inspiration and Faith for Daily Living," a devotional book that is a compilation of devotionals written by her husband Harry and herself. (Projected press date winter 2008)

In September 2007, Janice received the NTCW 2007 Best of Conference Award in Children’s Fiction, and her short story My First Tea was published in Chicken Soup for the Tea Lover’s Soul in October 2007. She is an active member of ACFW, SCBWI, TXLA, RWA, NC/NE Texas SCBWI, Historian for DFW Ready Writers, and belongs to several writer's critique groups.

What I love most in the world besides God, is my wonderful, supportive husband Harry, my grandson Collin, my children and their spouses, Harry Jr. and Christi, and Carolyn and Shaun.

Harry understands me most of the time, except when I confuse him. But I believe that's why I'm here, to make life interesting for my husband. An especially blessed day to me is hanging out with Harry or Collin, one or both of them together, and doing nothing in particular, just being together. I also enjoy those times when our son and daughter and their families come over for nothing more than to be together. The whole family gathering around the dinner table catching up on the latest news, laughing over old stories, and gorging ourselves on food, doesn't come often enough and is altogether too short a time for my liking. But in our busy world, I’ll take whatever time they can share and feel blessed.

What I love to do best besides writing is go out on a date with my husband or just sit and watch a movie at home in his company. Play with my grandson. Stroll on the beach picking up seashells and small treasures. Ski down a slope. Travel in our motor home. Drive in the country taking pictures along the highway. Watch the birds in my backyard. And, follow the clues in a good mystery/suspense book or movie and know the villain or the outcome before it is revealed by the author.

My ultimate aspiration is to inspire faith in others and hope and pray that they will see God in my writing and in my life.

Raised in a minister's home and always in church, I realized my need for Christ at an early age. My mother taught me an appreciation for God, music, and to lift my voice in song. In my teen years, I became the organist for our church. When it came time for me to marry I met a young man who was studying to become a minister. We were married a year later.

Although my husband Harry and I are native Californians, we consider ourselves transplanted Texans, calling the Dallas area home. My family and old acquaintances tell me I have an accent, but I don't believe them. However, if the need arises, I have been know to pour it on thick and syrupy like sorghum molasses.

Harry and I were young when we had our two children, Harry, Jr. and our daughter Carolyn, the true Texan. We figured having children early into our marriage would insure having a horde of grandchildren when we were still young enough to enjoy them. But as Robert Burns wrote--"The best laid plans of mice and men. . ."

With praise to God, I'm thankful that Harry and Carolyn are both married and they and their spouses serve God and work in the church where they attend. Harry, Jr., a CPA and owner of a brokerage firm, uses his musical talent with guitar, drums, keyboard, and a sound engineer advisor. Carolyn, a choral director in a public school district, also uses her talent on the piano and lifting her beautiful voice in song to God, blessing many and often bringing tears to her mama's eyes (whenever I get the chance to hear her sing).

I'm sure you remember the part about the grandchildren--the youngest member of our family, and the most precious of all, is our one and only grandchild Collin. He is a pure delight and joy. Seeing the world through his eyes has been a wonderful experience. I’m proud that he accepted Jesus into his heart at the age of eight. He is following in his father’s footsteps playing his guitar in The Fix (children’s church) on Sundays and his trumpet in the school band.

My many pursuits and hobbies give me great pleasure. Dabbling in art and in photography offers many opportunities to explore the unusual, the unique, and the splendor of God’s world. Capturing amazing images with the lens of my camera or the tip of my brush is an enjoyment and pure delight. However, writing is what I love best. Just watching the words speed, or sometimes limp, across my computer screen brings unadulterated satisfaction. As an author, I find writing an exhilarating adventure that most times takes me on a wild and exciting trip. But it has been a bold undertaking on my part.

Not realizing I had a form of dyslexia until I reached adulthood, hindered me in many ways. When I was young, my lack of comprehension in reading was discouraging. But it never dampened my spirit for reading a book and enjoying a good story or mystery. It often made me feel inferior, and yes, sometimes stupid. However, once I understood my problem of being phonetically challenged (inverting letters, numbers, and words, unable to hear or articulate a word, sometimes even dropping a word altogether, but still reading them into the text), I began working harder to overcome my disability.

As God tugged on my heart to write, I continued to disagree with Him. I told Him I wasn't qualified--someone else could do it better then I could. However, stories would pop into my head, dance around, and then camp out. My characters demanded to be set free, to take me on a journey of their own making. Words of devotion would come from my heart, to reveal my love for God and His goodness to me. But still I argued.

The day I broached the subject of writing with Harry, I felt uncertain how he would react. He had first-hand knowledge of my dyslexia. I knew he remembered the many letters I had written to him before we were married containing missing words and inverted letters. After we were married, he told me he had to read between the lines and supply the missing words.

After I finished explaining my desire to write, he immediately ordered a computer for me. I should have known better than to have any reservations where my husband was concerned. Even to this day, whenever I’m disheartened and not quite sure about my self-worth, Harry has confidence in me, prodding me on, telling me I can.

From the beginning, I made God an integral part of writing, both in my secular and Christian based stories. With my computer, I'm able to give wings to my characters, releasing them to fly. They're free to explore, get in trouble, find a way out, and learn to trust. In many ways, I am like my characters. I was set free to pursue my journey into the world of truth and make-believe. I place all of my trust in God to help me learn, to give me the words to express, and work around my disability.

I considered it a miracle and a privilege that God placed a desire of writing within me. He knows my makeup—my DNA. Often as I struggle to find the right words to convey a thought, or when the words get all turned upside-down and twisted around my tongue or in my mind, I sometimes question why God picked me.

Although I may work harder than most writers to achieve any measure of success, it’s worth it. As the words fill my mind, run over in abundance, and flow upon the page, I feel especially blessed and in awe of God's grace. I am always amazed by His mercy and the wonderful love he has deemed to bestow upon me and my family.

As a Christian, I earnestly covet that others will see Christ in me. And my constant prayer and ultimate aspiration is to inspire others to reach higher heights and greater faith in God through my writing and teaching.

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