Hello — I’m Jana.
My life has been a life of stories, from my earliest childhood, when my grandmother would tell us stories at bedtime. She not only told the stories, but she also transported us to magical worlds full of wonder.
As I grew older, I began creating my own stories, not just at bedtime, but whenever I had the opportunity to be quiet and still.
I wrote my first book after our first daughter was born. That was over 40 years ago. Since then, I’ve written, or at least started several others, but they, along with my first one, languish in a closet, unpublished, until that is, I changed how I write.
Since 2017, I have written and published six books in the Children of Light series, and will launch the seventh book in the Disciples of Light series in Summer of 2026.
God Was Guiding Me & I Began To Listen
Several things led to my new style of writing.
We retired and moved from Calgary to Chatham, ON.
The move took me away from the crazy, busy life I led to a peaceful, quiet home.
The distance made me more dependent on God, for He now had to care for our daughters. It was a huge leap of faith, but we were confident God was the one who orchestrated this early retirement and move.
Writing Became My Focus
The move caused me to be more isolated, and it gave me the time I needed to focus and write.
Then came COVID, and the isolation grew larger… but it gave me more time not only to write, but to study the Word of God deeply.
It was then that I discovered that the Holy Spirit was guiding my writing.
And Then, The Holy Spirit Took Over
The Holy Spirit is the difference in my writing today from what it was all those years ago. He has made my stories stronger, with a Godly message, one that reflects the heart of God.
When I write with the Holy Spirit, there is an entirely different flow to my writing. There are no more writing blocks. No more agonizing over the message. God is the Author, and I am His Scribe, but God has a bigger plan for me.
Through the Sweetspot Mastermind Program and the Living and Learning Legacies, I have learned that God has a far greater plan for me than just writing books. I’ve always wanted to share what God has taught me, but I didn’t know how. I’ve always wanted to be part of a community of writers who can share their journeys, uplift one another, and learn from each other.
Which Birthed The USING WORDS to BRING LIGHT Community
Using Words to Bring Light is a Christ-centered community that encourages believers through faith-filled storytelling, biblical teaching, devotionals, and Spirit-led reflection.
It is a place where readers, writers, and seekers of God’s truth can grow in faith, deepen their understanding of Scripture, and keep their eyes fixed on Christ in an uncertain world.
Whether through Christian fiction, end-times insight, devotional encouragement, or writing mentorship, the heart of this community is simple: to use words to bring hope, truth, and light—drawing hearts closer to Jesus and helping others live with an eternal focus.
This community is found in my Substack: Using Words to Bring Light Community or you can find me here: https://jmasmith58.substack.com/
