• Blog
  • Meet Stephanie
  • Writings
  • Blind Dating
  • Speaking
  • Book Club
  • Archives
  • Get in Touch

Stephanie Rische

Blogger and Writer: Capturing Stories of God's Grace

August 26, 2014

Announcement Part 2 (Everything You Wanted to Know, Plus Some!)

writingAs promised, here is part 2 of my announcement! (See here for part 1.) Thanks to all of you for being so supportive and encouraging—I am so thankful for each one of you.

So, I’m writing a book. (I need to keep saying that in the hope that I’ll start believing it. . . .)

Ready?

It’s a memoir called Was Blind Dating, but Now I See.

Here’s the premise: Eight setups. Eight awkward dates. Eight things God tried to teach me along the way. (A few of which I learned in a messy, roundabout sort of way, and some of which I’m still trying to figure out.)

***

As my twenties slipped by, with the formidable 3-0 lurking around the corner, life didn’t look quite the way I’d imagined. I had a career, my own home, a queen-size bed, and bridesmaid dresses of every hue jammed into my closet. But notably absent was a wedding ring on my left hand . . . and the man to accompany it.

Although I’d never been one with visions of frothy wedding gowns and sparkly tiaras, I did figure I’d get married and have a family one day. But “one day” was starting to breathe down my neck, with no suitable suitors in sight.

In the decade after college, as my friends jumped into relationships, got married, and moved on with their lives, I couldn’t help but wonder if God had missed me somehow when he was dishing out the marriage and family blessings. Why would he be so quiet about something that was so close to my heart? And so I started praying in earnest for God to bring the right man into my life.

Instead, he brought me matchmakers. Eight of them, to be precise.

Thus began a five-year journey of blind dating mishaps, misadventures, and heartaches, in which I encountered the likes of the Professor, the Linebacker, Uber-Fundamentalist Boy, and Mr. Paper-Perfect. But along the way, a funny thing happened. While I was looking so hard for one thing, God snuck up on me and showed me things I hadn’t even been looking for—things like hope and community and gratitude and joy.

And perhaps most surprising of all, he revealed to me his grace. Grace so amazing that it left me lovestruck.

***

And there you have it—the short version! The book is scheduled to come out in February 2016 (think Valentine’s Day). Thanks for coming along with me on this adventure!

Your turn: Have you ever experienced God’s grace in a totally unexpected way or in a unique way during a certain season of your life? I’d love to hear about it.

18 Comments Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: blind dating, book, book contract, Grace, publishing, Writing
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on email
Email
Share on twitter
Twitter

About Stephanie

I think that glimmers of grace are all around us, and I'd love to share those stories with you. I hope you'll grab a cup of coffee and join me at StephanieRische.com.

Quote of the Week

“Some things have to be believed to be seen.”
—Madeleine L’Engle

Discussion

  1. amy says

    August 26, 2014 at 8:18 am

    sounds fabulous! will look forward to it 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 27, 2014 at 8:13 am

      Thanks, Amy!

      Reply
  2. Diane Johnson says

    August 26, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Oh I will so look forward to reading your book. Having been down a similar path.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 27, 2014 at 8:14 am

      Diane, I’d love to hear your stories too!

      Reply
  3. metidee welsh says

    August 26, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Sounds interesting. I LOVE memoirs and biographies.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 27, 2014 at 8:13 am

      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Reply
  4. Brittany says

    August 26, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Wow, awesome news! I am so excited to read your book! You have great talent as a writer, and I’m so happy the world will get to know your author’s voice soon. 🙂 Congrats!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 26, 2014 at 5:06 pm

      Thanks, Brittany!

      Reply
  5. Sarah Parisi says

    August 26, 2014 at 12:34 pm

    To say that I’m SO proud is a HUGE understatement. I’m get so giddy inside thinking about this and how excited I am for you!!! Thanks so much for allowing me the honor of being a part of this journey!

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 26, 2014 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks for creating a pretty space for my words, Sarah! You were a huge part of all this coming together.

      Reply
  6. Eric says

    August 26, 2014 at 12:57 pm

    I cannot wait to read this book. I’m not even going to ask about any of the dates because I don’t want to spoil it.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 26, 2014 at 5:06 pm

      There’s a great story about that last blind date… 🙂

      Reply
  7. Nadia Ianakieva says

    August 26, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    Knowing your husband, Daniel, I would say that you have learned your lessons and received an amazing blessing- Prince Charming materialized.

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 27, 2014 at 10:17 am

      Absolutely, Nadia! He was so worth the wait.

      Reply
  8. Christie Hughes says

    August 27, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Aw Stephanie, I LOVE how you wrote this–and can’t wait to read the longer version!
    So to answer your gracious question above, I sure have. And am standing (and kneeling) in the middle of it right now. Was so blessed by Declare–met you AND snagged an agent. ; ) Gonna hold you to that coffee one day! 🙂

    Reply
    • Stephanie says

      August 29, 2014 at 4:09 pm

      Hi Christie! It was great to meet you at Declare too! So thankful to hear that you are in the middle of a grace season yourself.

      Reply
  9. Trina says

    September 14, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    That sounds like a great read, and perfect launch time for a book with that content. 😉 Although I wasn’t single as long as you, I still felt there was mountains in the way of me meeting and marrying a guy (I was a shy, ultra-conservative who lived in the boondocks lol). But God moved every one of them. It’s always good for the soul to hear stories of God’s provision and His perfect timing.

    Reply
  10. Stephanie says

    September 17, 2014 at 3:42 pm

    Thanks for stopping by, Trina! I’d love to hear more of your stories too. Amen to God’s perfect timing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

welcome_stephanie_rische

Welcome!

I’m so glad you stopped by. I hope you will find this to be a place where the coffee’s always hot, there’s always a listening ear, and there’s grace enough to share.
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Personal Delivery

Sign up here to have every new post, special newsletters, and book club news delivered straight to your inbox. (No carrier pigeons will be harmed in this delivery.)

Free eBook

20 Days of Prayers...just for you!
Submit your email to receive a FREE copy!

    Recently

    • To My Son on His 2nd Birthday
    • Everlasting Arms
    • A Letter to My Son on His First Birthday
    • A Letter to My Son on His First Day of Preschool
    • Buy the Land

    Book Club

    • August 2018
    • July 2017
    • April 2017
    • November 2016
    • August 2016
    • March 2016
    • March 2016
    • December 2015
    • September 2015
    • July 2015
    • May 2015
    • January 2015

    Favorite Categories

    • Friday Favorites
    • Grace
    • Literature
    • Scripture Reflections
    • Writing

    Other Places to Find Me

    • Faith Happenings
    • CT Women
    • Boundless
    • Single Matters

    Connect With Me

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest

    All Content © 2010-2014 by Stephanie Rische • Blog Design & Development by Sarah Parisi of Parisi Images • Additional Site Credits