Adultery,
forgiveness, mercy….quite a combination of areas to tackle in a first novel!
Can you give readers insight to the inspiration behind your story?
It sounds corny, but this entire story—the characters, the settings,
the dilemma they face, it all came to me and played out in my mind like a movie
while on a summer road trip through the mountains. I thought about it often,
and more than two years later, I challenged myself to the task of transforming
it into a novel. I’ve always felt called to encourage women, and am passionate
about sharing the hope that Christ offers us. During the very long writing
process (seven years) I went through some difficult health and family hardships
that then translated into the struggles my characters faced. It was as if my
journey (though not similar to the story line at all) became woven into the
fabric of the novel.
Where do
you think believers stumble the most when it comes to forgiveness and mercy?
I think our American Christian culture tends to compartmentalize sin
into categories of our choosing. Some sin is tolerated as being a “struggle,” an
“issue I’m working on,” or excused as being “part of the times we are living in.”
While other sins represent lines in the sand that some Christians see as
intolerable, and,more detestable than others. I wonder, though, on the day we
all stand before the Lord, what it will be like when we realize that every
single one of us are in the same boat, and need the same cleansing blood of
Jesus. I wonder what we will think of our fellow sinners then. I hope we will
all be elated that Jesus paid the price for us all, and He didn’t discriminate
based on the labels we place on each other. Especially in the light of a grievous betrayal? Certainly, we all struggle with forgiveness. But, if we place
our focus on Christ—on His love for us, and His good plans to turn a dark
situation into something that glorifies Him, I know forgiveness is possible—and
it is powerful. I’m not saying it’s easy. But aren’t the rewards of living free
from bitterness worth it? How do we get
there, you ask? Only through a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute surrender to
His will, and by renewing our mind continually with the Word of God. Do
you think, as a whole, that sometimes the church isn’t clear on the difference
between contractual and covenant relationships? I don’t
know that I’m qualified to have an opinion on that, but I think that if the
members of the body of Christ could redirect their thoughts from their problems
and the source of their problems and instead focus solely on the person of
Christ and what He means to them individually, then relationships in general
would thrive.
Do you
think this is a novel that will have any appeal at all to someone whose life
has been impacted by adultery and betrayal? Why or why not?
I’ve heard from women whose marriages ended after an adulterous
situation, and they have found hope and comfort as they read about the main
character and her struggle to forgive. That being said, I did hear from one
woman who was finding it hard to read some of those deeply painful emotions, as
they brought old wounds to the surface. I tried to be sensitive to readers’
real life scenarios as I wrote the book. I believe if someone is open to allowing
God to minister to her broken heart, then she can receive hope and a lifting of
her spirit by the end of this story. That’s my prayer—that by the end of the
book, no matter what your journey has been, that you will feel hopeful and
encouraged that with God all things are possible, and that He brings beauty out
of ashes.
You made
a statement recently; “We must work with God rather than running from Him in
our hardships. We must never lose our hope. Storms will come. We shouldn’t fear
them. With God, we can persevere with dignity and joy.” Can you expound on this
a bit for your readers?
In my personal experience, I tend to handle difficulties much like a
toddler pitching a fit. I immediately react with clenched fists, frustration,
overwhelming fear—and in those moments of insanity, in the rush of emotions
that flood my mind, I take my eyes off of the Lord. Thankfully, God is not put
off by my outbursts. He understands my agony, and my humanness. He does not
say, “Well, now you’ve pushed me too far. We’re done.” I’m so thankful He is a forgiving
and merciful Father! So, when my runaway train of emotions finally comes to a
halt, I unclench my fists, and I push the reset button. In an instant, Jesus is
there, with outstretched arm, whispering, “Take my hand. Let’s walk this
difficult road together. I’ll not leave you, I promise. We’ll get through it
together.” I’ve learned that it is possible to experience peace and serenity
even in the midst of intense pain and hardship. The hardship doesn’t disappear,
but hand in hand with the Lord, I find strength.
Ultimately, we cannot place our hope solely in our desired outcome
of a situation. We must place our hope in the person of Jesus Christ—He alone
is the hope of glory in us and through us.
That it is much, much more than just writing a good story. There are
revisions. And then revisions of the revisions. Editing, marketing, developing
relationships with people in the industry and with readers—writing is not for the faint of heart!
Are you
able to give us a sneak peek into your writing schedule and tell us if there
are any more stories that are waiting in the wings?
Sure! I am almost finished with a novel study guide that will be a
companion to ‘Precious in His Sight.’ It’s a compilation of personal stories
that relate to the deep themes in the novel, along with biblical insights,
questions for group or individual reflection, and journal prompts. I think it
will be great for bible studies and women’s groups as a short term workshop.
And for book clubs who want to dig a little deeper as a follow up to the novel.
I’m also working on a sequel to “Precious in His Sight,’ and am looking forward
to offering it to fans of the first book early in 2017.
How has
the journey to publication impacted your faith journey?
During the course of this seven year writing journey, I went through
some pretty intense storms of my own. I battled a debilitating and violent
illness that was very tough. My family and I were blindsided by the
heartbreaking discovery that one of our children was battling an opiate
addiction. Some days, it was hard just to get out of bed and keep going, and
yet, when I sat at my computer and thought about the characters in this book,
the tough circumstances in my own journey, and my struggle to see God’s goodness
in any of it, my experience became part of the characters’ journey. Putting
myself into each of the characters’ shoes led me to a deeper understanding of
God’s faithfulness and His daily outpouring of love for me.
What
words of encouragement would you like to share with others who are working
toward
publication?
First, there a many viable options to get your work published. Don’t
be shy! Seek out other writers and published authors and ask questions. Writers
are the most generous people I’ve ever known when it comes to sharing their
knowledge, experience and time. And resolve to be patient! You’ll go through
ups and downs, you’ll blow your writing goals from time to time, and you’ll
feel like quitting once in a while. Stick with it. The reward of completing
something that is uniquely you is worth all the late nights, cramped fingers,
and re-writes. Persevere, trust God, and have fun.
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