Markie Doczi, a former Lakeview resident, realized her literary dream with last year’s publication of her debut novel, Blue Heaven’s Tent.
In the devotional, Doczi addresses common daily struggles and questions, offering scriptural encouragement to readers at all stages of their spiritual journey.
She dives deeper into the topics of prayer and study, exploring the love of God, the joy of the Holy Spirit, and the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In a release, Doczi explained some of the unique inspiration behind her new book.
“A few years ago, I got rid of social media due to all of the negativity; and around that time, my husband and I got back to church. The timing was interesting, because during my ‘online absence,’ I was undergoing this major personal transformation,”
“Then, as a restored Christian, I decided to get back online; only, instead of letting the negativity get me down, I would share positive weekly thoughts to lift others up. This was the unwitting inception of Sunday Thoughts. Those positive thoughts soon turned into full-blown devotions, and now a book.”
Since the book was spurred through positive social media posts, the author said she didn’t set out with a particular audience in mind.
“However, I found myself structuring these devotions as invitations to those searching for God, and as a source of encouragement for young Christians. So, while I like to think that everyone from non-believers to lifelong Christians can glean something from this book, the target audience would be fledgling Christians and those searching for God.”
Doczi detailed some of her spiritual background and upbringing, noting that she she grew up in the church and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior when I was 19. She said her dad baptized her in a swimming pool.
“But as a young adult, I soon de-prioritized God, falling away from the church for many years. I’m so thankful though that I got saved when I did; because I know now that the spiritual tug I felt for all of those intervening years was the Holy Spirit convicting me.
“And while I wish I had listened to Him sooner, I’ve decided that instead of wasting time regretting my past decisions, I will use them as part of my testimony for God’s glory.”
The author presented her first book, Blue Heaven’s Tent, at a Bellefontaine Rotary Club meeting. It is a historical fiction novel that follows the struggles of a family separated by the Berlin Wall in Communist East Germany.
She said she plans to keep sharing inspiring personal weekly devotionals with friends and family, and she already has several chapters penned for her next novel.
“Like Blue Heaven’s Tent, it is historical fiction, this time set in America during the Great Depression and World War II era. I’m looking forward to this one.”
Aside from being a Christian and writer, Doczi wears many hats: wife, aunt, stepmother－and she said she loves her role of being “Mimi.”
