Hot Apple Cider

Marcia Lee Laycock has short two pieces in Hot Apple Cider. The first,  "An Almost Silent Friendship," on page 41, relates an experience Marcia had shortly after she became a Christian, when she attended a retreat with a number of other women, all of whom were strangers. The second is a devotional called "Searching for Something That Fits" on page 155.

Marcia Lee Laycock began writing stories for her dolls in the attic of her parents’ home. The dolls didn’t complain, so she kept it up. God has blessed her with publication in magazines, newspapers, on radio and the web.

Her work has garnered praise from notable writers Mark Buchanan, Sigmund Brouwer, Phil Callaway and Janette Oke. Her first devotional book, The Spur of the Moment won an Award of Merit at Write Canada and her novel, One Smooth Stone, won the Best New Canadian Christian Author Award in 2006. Marcia writes a weekly devotional column that goes out to over 4,000 people. Her devotionals have been published by The Upper Room and The Quiet Hour, among others, as well as in anthologies compiled by Multnomah and Thomas Nelson.

Marcia is currently the Sunday devotional columnist for Novel Journey.com.

Hot Apple Cider came together in a rather unusual way. What made you want to have your work in it? It seemed like a ‘win/win’ situation to me. It was an opportunity to support a worthwhile cause and gain some exposure for my writing while helping to promote other Canadian authors.

This book is 100% Canadian. Canadian authors, publisher, printer – everything. Is that important to you? Absolutely. I believe it’s important for Canadians to support one another. It’s important that we hear the voices of indigenous writers. Though our culture is closely linked to the U. S. it is different and I believe we need to acknowledge, even celebrate that difference. I appreciate all the effort that has gone into promoting Hot Apple Cider for this reason. The Canadian publishing industry and Canadian authors need all the support they can get.

In her foreword for Hot Apple Cider, Janette Oke mentions that writers are often asked, "Why do you write?" How do you respond to that question? I do not remember a time when I didn’t write. I began “scribbling,” as my mother called it, at a very young age. I write because I cannot stop. I believe it’s a gift God has given me to use to His glory.

You lived in the far North. Has that influenced your writing? Yes, I believe it has. Living in the north gave me a strong connection to the land and an understanding of how people must work together to survive. It also gave me an understanding and compassion for those who are misfits in our society, those who are running from the uncomfortable realities in their lives. These themes are evident in my writing. Since I came to know Christ in the north, that has also greatly influenced my writing.

For many people, the Canadian North is a mysterious place, a spiritual place (TV programs like Due South, and Northern Exposure help perpetuate that notion in our minds). Is it really a more “spiritual” place than other locales? I think there are places that can seem more “spiritual” than others, but I don’t think they are limited to the north. I’ve certainly felt that way in the Yukon – notably while canoeing the Yukon River, standing in the middle of the Ogilvie Mountains and driving above treeline on the Dempster Highway – but I’ve also had a powerful sense of our creator while driving across the prairies or seeing the Sweetgrass area of Alberta for the first time. I think the amazing beauty of the land has a power that points us to its creator. We sense his presence when we are in the midst of that beauty. There are a lot of beautiful places in the world that can have this effect. I think perhaps it’s more a question of whether or not a person is willing to receive it.

One of your contributions to Hot Apple Cider talks about a woman who gave you support and confidence without saying a word. How have you been able to reach out to other women in recent years? I speak to hundreds of women each year and it has continually been a humbling and exhilarating experience. It’s amazing how God will use you when you make yourself available to him. I’ve also had the privilege of working with a number of women who are writers and that has been a special bonus as I’ve connected with them and helped them along that journey. Of course it’s always a two-way street. I often feel I’ve received much more than I’ve given.

In your second contribution, you talk about searching for stones on a pebble beach. And your novel is called One Smooth Stone. What it is about stones? I’ve had a fascination with stones since I was a child, as that story reveals. I’m not sure why, but I’m intrigued with the design and pattern in their colours and shapes. My brother was an amateur geologist, and I’m sure that influenced me. Over the years I’ve had to limit myself  to how many I can bring home when going on walks – I allow myself only one or two! Some day when I have some “spare time” I’d like to study gemology.

You’ve written a number of devotionals and you do a lot of speaking – a true testimony to the insight your almost silent friend gave you in your story. What do you enjoy most about sharing your thoughts with others? Watching what God does as I speak. For instance, there have been times when I’ve decided to cut something and add another element to a talk and afterwards met someone who was affected by just that detail. It’s thrilling to see someone moved and changed. Our journeys are all unique yet they have universal appeal in many ways. Sometimes sharing just the right story can change a person’s life or lift them up when they were feeling glum. My theme verse for many years has been Hebrews 10:24 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds.”

I'm assuming you get feedback from a lot of people because of the nature of your books, and feedback is great for the author – you know someone is actually reading your words! But I'm wondering if you've learned anything from your readers that you could share with us? I think one of the most valuable things my readers have taught me is that when you are willing to be vulnerable and honest with them, they will respond in kind. That’s when we can really connect and make a difference. I’ve often been stunned at the stories people have shared with me – stunned at their courage and the depth of their faith. Over and over again they’ve taught me it’s not all about selling thousands of books or speaking to huge crowds; it’s about individual lives, one affecting the other.

Aside from your own pieces, is there a particular piece or thought in the book that stood out for you? I appreciated many of the pieces in the book, but particularly Grace Fox’s “People Matter Most” – perhaps because I have to remind myself of that often. I also related strongly to Eleanor Shepherd’s “Living Outside Our Comfort Zone.” And I loved “The Stuckville Café” by Bonnie Grove.

A lot of people want to share their stories in order to help others. What advice do you have for someone who wants to write but isn't sure where to begin? Take small steps. Write something for a friend or family member. If it’s received well, look for opportunities to share it with a wider audience. The internet makes this easy these days. Find a group of like-minded people – a group you can share your writing with, a place where you feel safe. Pray for God’s guidance as you go, then be “bold and courageous.”

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