Challenges, both good and bad, of lockdown
I’m sure you all could list many examples of the challenges of lockdown. I think this is one of the first times in living memory where the world has been united!
Every country seems to also be facing other challenges, like race riots, demonstrations, acts of violence, looting, and crimes against women and children. Some countries have started to recover, only to be slammed by a second wave of COVID-19 as their level of precautions eases.
South African Lockdown
Here in South Africa, we had a very severe lockdown (Level 5) for three weeks, extended to five. W.H.O. described it as one of the strictest in the world. We then moved cautiously into Level 4. Just yesterday we listened to our president announce that as from midnight on Sunday 20th, we are moving to Level 1 but with a list of conditions that have to be adhered to.
We will be watching with some trepidation to see if we face a second wave. One thing we’re united on. Our economy cannot afford to face a second wave and a further lockdown.
At the start of lockdown, for the first time, I entered the world of cyber-shopping. From a microwave to a juice extractor (our originals having died near the beginning of lockdown!), from groceries to fruit and veggies, to biscuits and goodies, and even to buying shoes! (And yes, they fit!)
I must admit, I quite enjoy the luxury of not having to go out and spend ages in the shops. A quick click on the Internet or a sent message from my phone keeps us well-supplied. How blessed we are with the technology to see us through this difficult time.
Fresh Writing Challenge
As part of the need to have a clear writing goal in sight, I decided to challenge my Facebook group for Christian Writers of Southern Africa, CWOSA, with a lockdown project. I suggested we start working on a boxed set of short devotional books.
Ten authors took up my challenge, and for the last 16 weeks, we have been hard at work on our books. We are now in the final stages of editing, and hopefully next week I start the scary task of compiling them into one volume. It will still take some time, but hopefully, it won’t be too long.
In All Things – 13 Weeks of Devotions from Africa
13 short books for the princely sum of $0.99!!! Amazing value.
Click here if you’re interested in ordering. The boxed set is currently on preorder.
Although the link will tell you it will be available at the end of November, we’re hoping to release it to you way, way before then. That is just my cautious nature allowing for any mishaps or delays along the way.
Coming soon!
If you look closely at the image (zoom in!) you will see there is an amazing variety of different themes, and each book is presented in the author’s unique style.
If you don’t already follow my author page on Facebook, I would encourage you to link there now, and allow notifications. Every second day, one of the authors presents a short blurb on her book so you can see the vast variety of topics you will get. Each book consists of seven chapters – one a day for a week.
Why 13? Because that gives you a quarter-of-a-year of daily readings. If you’re on Facebook, or any other form of Social Media, please may I invite you to pass on the news? 9 of these authors live in South Africa. The other two are born-and-bred South Africans although now living abroad. And we’re all members of CWOSA.
Different themes, different authors, different styles, different covers . . .
Don’t they look stunning?
Each author was asked to come up with a “spine title” so we could show it on the spines of the box set. So here they are with their full titles:
7 Animals (7 African Animals) – Shirley Corder
7 Desires (What God Wants) – Ashley Winters
7 Musings (Musings from an African garden) – Anna Jensen
7 Gifts (Life is Good) – Yvonne Tippins
7 Journeys (Steps of Faith) – Val Waldeck
7 Landscapes (Sunrise to Sunset) – Deryn van der Tang
7 Lights (Seven Lights for Dark Times) – Dianne J. Wilson
7 Overcomers (Seven Saints in Lockdown) – Val Waldeck
7 Promises (Promises to Cherish) – Vida Li Sik
7 Psalms (Inspired to Worship) – Ann Goodfellow
7 Poems (Poems from an African Garden) – Anna Jensen
7 Seascapes (Seven Reflections from the Ocean) – Marion Ueckermann
7 Storms (Peace in Life’s Storms) – Shirley Corder.
[stextbox id=’alert’]Please leave a comment below. In five words or less, how do you feel about this boxed set?[/stextbox]
So – once again – available NOW on pre-order. Coming soon.
In All Things – 13 Weeks of Devotions from Africa.
I’m super excited to be involved with the box set. I’ve enjoyed getting to know some of the other authors a bit better, and watching an ‘I have an idea’ become an Amazon reality!
Yes, it’s been an exciting journey Anna, hey? I”m so grateful for all your encouragement along the way.
It’s been a great time hey? And you’ve been a great go-to help too! Thank you!
Sounds interesting though I am terrible at sticking to devotions though I am trying again. This looks like fun from the covers
Hi Erralee. We missed you yesterday.
It’s going to be a super set of books, and you don’t need to stick to a daily routine, although it is a good habit to form. Each devotion will only take a few minutes to read through and will help you in your walk with the Lord.
It was wonderful to be able to contribute to this project. Shirley has put together a group of writers who deliver good devotions. Thanks Shirley for your excellent talent of putting good writings together!
Thank you for your kind remarks, Ann, and for your participation in the project. It’s been (and still is!) great fun. A challenge – but with such a great team of authors it can’t fail!
What an amazing experience this has been, writing my first devotions on a subject I am passionate about, namely, gratitude. Shirley has led this project enthusiatically and professionally and has been so encouraging. I have ordered my own box set and can’t wait to read all the contributions.
This was an amazing opportunity to work with Shirley, she had led the project with love and grace for all the edits. I am really excited to read the end product with everyone’s contribution.
Thanks for your kind words, Deryn. It’s been fun working with such a committed team of enthusiastic authors.