Illumination Author Feature: Nancy Howie

For Nancy Howie, writing wasn’t just a creative outlet—it was a lifeline during one of the most challenging times in her life. Her award-winning book, JOY IN THE JOURNEY: Walking with Grit and Grace Through Alzheimer’s, captures the raw, heartfelt story of walking alongside her mother through Alzheimer’s disease.

Winning the 2019 Illumination Silver Enduring Light Medal for Inspirational Writing wasn’t just recognition; it was a testament to the love and purpose poured into her words. We sat down with Howie to discuss her inspiration, tips for aspiring authors, and what winning this award has meant to her.

What Winning an Illumination Award Meant to Howie

Howie describes winning the Illumination Award as deeply affirming, both personally and professionally. “Personally, it totally validated Joy in the Journey as a literary work that would be both an inspiration and a guide to all those who were walking with a loved one through Alzheimer’s,” she shares. “Professionally, it gave a spark to Joy in the Journey that ignited its worth to all of my readers! It truly was a huge gift given to my mother’s story, my story, our story.”

This acknowledgment wasn’t just about sales or accolades—it was confirmation that her mother’s legacy was making a difference in countless lives.

A Story Born From Need

The inspiration for Joy in the Journey came from Howie’s own caregiving experience. She searched for a book that could guide her through the “moment-to-moment, day-to-day devastation” of Alzheimer’s but couldn’t find one that spoke to her.

“I needed to know how I could continue to give care, love, dignity, and peace to my mother,” she explains. Her writing became a way to process her emotions and offer others the support she longed for. She wanted caregivers to know that it was okay to feel hopeless, frustrated, or even question God’s presence.

“When my mother looked into my eyes and did not know my name, I needed to understand that though she had forgotten my name, she still loved me,” Nancy shares. “For love is not a memory—it is a feeling that resides deep within our hearts.”

Writing Through the Pain

Howie’s path to writing Joy in the Journey was deeply personal and often emotionally challenging. “I kept a journal day to day through my walk with my mother throughout our journey,” she explains. “From my journal, I wrote my manuscript during the course of several years. So many times I had to stop writing because it became too painful to re-live that experience.”

The process was slow, but eventually, she reached a turning point. “The years passed quickly and one fine day, I completed my manuscript,” she recalls. With the finished draft in hand, she turned to two trusted friends for feedback. Their response was clear and encouraging: “Their comments as they finished reading my manuscript were for me to find a publisher and get your story out there!”

Navigating the Publishing World

Howie’s path to publishing wasn’t without challenges. She admits she didn’t know where to start. A fan of author Richard Paul Evans, she attended one of his writing workshops during a cruise and brought copies of her manuscript.

There, she met Karen Christoffersen, CEO of BookWise Publishing, who later accepted her as an author. “We worked closely together for months on editing, rewriting, adding to, and designing the cover,” Howie says. The process was collaborative and rewarding, as Howie insisted the story remain true to her and her mother’s experiences.

Messages of Hope

Howie hopes her book offers caregivers the strength, courage, and peace they need to navigate their own journeys. “My greatest hope was that it would be a blessing in the lives of those who were caregivers,” she explains. “I wanted it to be an inspiration and a guide for their journey that ultimately would allow them to find joy in their journey.”

Advice for Aspiring Authors

Howie’s advice for aspiring authors is simple yet profound: “Write your stories from your heart and soul, for everyone has a story inside of them that needs to be told!” She emphasizes perseverance, urging writers to “never give up on your dream… for dreams really can come true!”

Reflecting on her journey, Howie highlights the unexpected joys of publishing, from meeting lifelong friends to leaving a legacy through her work. Her message is clear: embrace the process, write with authenticity, and trust that your story can make a difference.

What’s Next for Nancy Howie

Howie’s passion for storytelling continues to thrive. She’s currently working on a nonfiction book about adoption, exploring the lives of birth mothers, adopted children, and adoptive mothers. “It draws the life of a Birth Mother, the child they give up for adoption, and the mother who adopts the child together in a greater understanding of all the emotions experienced by each,” she shares.