Beyond my understanding, God has blessed my life with love. Writing is my way of giving back to Him and to those He has placed in my life. I invite you to join me on my journey.
Psalm 16:5-6 says “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
I’ve always loved books, but only became actively involved in writing in 1989, when an author gave a presentation at our local library. That same year, a number of us chartered Carlton Trail Writers, which met until 2005.
My first short story was published in 1991, a Christmas story in the Mennonite Brethren Herald. The following year a friend and I compiled and co-edited a church history book—360 pages in four months. That was an adventure.
I began work on my historical fiction project in 1999. Calm Before the Storm came out in 2002, Eye of the Storm in 2003 and Out of the Storm in 2004.
I work on a MacBook Pro, the 15 inch model, and I love it. This wonderful machine, along with wifi, iPhone and iPod, Kindle, Social Media, learning about indie publishing, etc., makes me feel like I’m hanging onto the bumper of the speeding car of technology. I can’t let go or I’ll never catch up, and it’s a bumpy ride. Thanks to friends who come to my aid now and then, I’m able to navigate new twists and turns in this techno road when necessary.
Besides writing historical fiction, I’ve also crafted some devotionals, inspirational pieces and book reviews, and put in many hours of editing, mentoring, and speaking (workshops, presentations, readings). My first contemporary fiction manuscript awaits publication, and I’ve just completed the sequel to my fourth historical novel, Other Side of the River. The sequel is titled, In a Foreign Land.
Some of my other writing involvements:
- local writing group WritersInk
- InScribe Christian Writers Fellowship
- SWG (Saskatchewan Writers Guild)
- ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)
- The Word Guild—connecting, developing and promoting Canadian writers and editors who are Christian
- Carlton Trail Toastmasters (ACS-CL) from 2003 – 2011
My Background:
I grew up in southern Alberta, one of three siblings, in a caring, stable family. Some of my favorite pastimes were horseback riding, reading and playing the piano. My dad was my hero and my mom remains my greatest fan.
I was blessed to be taken to church and Sunday School, and to learn and observe the importance of Biblical values. At eight years of age, at the encouragement of my brother, I accepted Jesus into my life. He has always proved faithful.
I attended Bible College in Saskatchewan from 1972-75, where I met my future husband. We married in 1975, moved to the farm in east-central Saskatchewan, and raised our three children there. Our children are all married to wonderful spouses and have blessed us with eleven amazing grandchildren.
My husband and I enjoy our usually quiet life on the farm where we raise organic alfalfa. We also own a herd of beef cattle. We enjoy being involved in our local church and community in various capacities.
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Janice L. Dick 
My first comment is that I found your trilogy of the storm series filled many spaces in my understanding of the Mennonite immigration.
My grandfather was born in Waldheim, Molotschna Colony and his family left in 1876 to settle in Steinback, MB. He was only about 3-4 years old, thus did not live through the terrible times of the 1900-1930 period. My great grandfather, Heinrich Rempel, was credited with recording many details found in the book, Between Earth and Sky, Steinbach, The First 50 Years, written by Ralph Friesen. It was this book that launched my quest to know more about my Mennonite heritage. The fulfillment of the quest was the Mennonite Heritage Tour, 2010, organized by the Ungers for 16 tours and this was the final one.
So I will close by expressing my thanks for enlightening me about what happened to those who remained in South Russia. I ‘grew’ up in Reedley, California and attended the Mennonite Brethren high school there, but never heard one word about what you have written.
I look forward to reading more of your books on this subject.
Thanks for your response, Roland. One of the main reasons I set out to write these books was to preserve the stories of what happened during those years, specifically so my children and grandchildren would know, but also for anyone else who might be interested. I’m working on another series of historicals set in Siberia and China from 1926 to 1950. Lots of research to do and the formidable task of finding a publisher.
Janice
Jan, though we met only three short years ago, I thought, “What a lovely and ‘familiar’ (to me) life you’ve lived!” I loved to read of it. I will be trying your Mennonite recipes, even though I AM on a diet (and will be for a while longer, it appears), and will compare the tastes to those in my own recipe book. Your site is beautiful and I’ll be keeping my eye on it!
Thanks, Deb, and I’m continuing work on the site. A steep learning curve, but I’m determined to keep trying.
Jan
Hi Janice,
I don’t know if you remember me, but we met at the Saskatoon Christian Writers’ group some years ago. Still too busy to attend the group, but one of my jobs is as web-master for the Mennonite Historical Society of Saskatchewan website, http://mhss.sk.ca One of my jobs is to find Saskatchewan Mennonite authors and prepare a profile page on each one.
I’ve already linked to this “About” you page, but wonder if you’d like to provide a specific profile listing your books, and providing links to them?
Rather than leaving an email here, I suggest you use the contact form. I screen and forward whatever comes through there.
Blessings & Thanks,
Ruth Marlene Friesen
Hi there,
I loved the Storm books you wrote. I’ve read them so many times now!
Just wondering if you have anyother novels out?
Thanks!
Jo
Hi Jo,
Thanks for your comment and glad you liked the Storm books. I have a couple more novels written, but haven’t had them published yet. Waiting for the “gentle Amish fiction” to back off and then will try again with selling mine.
Janice
Janice, I remember meeting you at Glen Eyrie. I just wanted to tell you how encouraging it is for me, a not-yet-published author, to see how this journey unfolds for you. Merry Christmas…may you be blessed.
Oh, I remember too, Crystal. I think we met through Susan. Thanks for the encouraging words. Merry Christmas to you and all the best in your writing.
Hi Janice,
In our conversation you mentioned writing and I wasn’t being swift enough to return to that comment.
Now I want to purchase your books and return for your signature….
Kevin was raised in Christian home and was instrumental in my decision to follow Jesus before we were married.
Today I woke up smiling and truly felt that today was going to be special.
My mother in law’s scan results were good and then I met you albeit briefly!
Anyway
Enjoy your renovation adventures and I truly hope our paths cross again.
Kathy
Dear Janice, I just want to thank U so much for the STORM series that I found in my church library. The series takes place in the v. Area my dad grew up in. He passed away when I was 22. I never asked him about his life in Russia and immigrating 2 Canada in 1928. All I knew was the difficulties they endured. Your books put my dads experience right there & at least partly answer questions I’ve wondered these last 50 yrs. dad passed away in 1961. By the way, he was Baptist and came thro the same experiences as the Mennonites . Looking forward to more of your books, excellent fiction based on facts. Thank U again for this blessing………Emily
Thank you, Emily. Your words are so encouraging, because “filling in the details” was one of my main reasons for writing this series. (Another reason was to show God’s faithfulness through trials.) I’m so glad these books were able to add to your understanding of what your dad most likely experienced. I once heard from a man in Alberta, from a Lutheran family, who said his family also went through similar experiences.
These first three books are officially out of print, but my plan is to do a quick edit, acquire new covers and re-release them under my own imprint.
I have also written two more books in a new series: Other Side of the River and In a Foreign Land, which are available on amazon. You can take a look in the Books section of this website.
Thanks for your interest, and God bless.
Jan
Janice Dick, we picked up two of your books in Saskatchewan. They were books two and three in the series. Book one was sold out and we haven’t been able to get any help from your ‘distributor’, Jan Keen. How can we buy an autographed copy of Calm Before the Storm to complete our set and start reading from the beginning?
Hi Brian. The reason you can’t find the first book is that all three are now officially out-of-print at Herald Press. The only place you may be able to get a copy of Calm Before the Storm is as a used copy on the internet (Amazon). I have ordered used books there, and they are often in great shape.
I have plans to re-release the set in the future, with new covers, but I must complete my second series before I get into that. I hope to have my current book finished this year, so will begin on the edits of the first series in 2019.
If you’d like to contact me to keep up-to-date on book releases, please go to my website at http://www.janicedick.com and click on the Tansy & Thistle icon on the top of the right column to sign up for my newsletter. I’d love to be able to keep in touch.
[…] Janice Dick is a Saskatchewan writer who blogs at Tansy and Thistle Press. She has written, among other things, two historical fiction series about Mennonite families from Russia, based on their history. Book 2 of the “In Search of Freedom” series is loosely based on the memoirs of a man who survived Soviet persecution of his family in China after fleeing from Siberia. Book 3 will be out soon. […]