Yvonne Carson "How to Discover Your Life Purpose and Stop Just Existing: A Christian Woman's Guide to Living Life With Purpose, Passion, and Fulfillment."
What inspired you to write the book?
After completing 2 master (Divinity and Christian counseling) degrees from Oral Roberts University, I still felt totally lost as to what God’s specific next step was for me. I actually was depressed and cried almost every day to God out of my frustration of trying to figure what to do with my life.
I was reading something on goal setting and had decided I wanted to blog about this same topic. I sat down to type and it was like the heavens opened to me! I was literally getting a download of information from God. I ended up with 10 pages, which is definitely too long for a blog post.
The next day I sat down to revise what I had written and instead more words were flowing out of me onto the pages as I typed what I was hearing inside my head. Before I knew I had a complete manuscript over a course of 3-5 days! However, it took over a year before I actually published my book.
“How to Discover Your Life Purpose and Stop Just Existing” was not something I planned to write! The original title was “How to Discover Your God-Given Purpose From The Inside Out.”
Other than writing what else do you like to do?
I love to sing, songwriting, and reading. I love teaching the Bible, encouraging, coaching, and counseling women. I minister to hurting women and help them overcome past hurts so that they can live out the purpose God has ordained for them. I listen a lot and counsel women online and offline and pray with and for them.
Are you inspired by people you know for your stories? Others as well as my own struggles inspire me.
Whenever I’ve
Hollie Marie "31 Rays of Hope"
1. What inspired you to write the book? I have always loved to write, when I rededicated my life to Christ (about ten years ago), I begain writing all of the things God was teaching me, in a devotional format of sorts – in which I would email out to my friends. I dreamt of putting together a book, but after being turned down 5 years ago by several agencies I had given up hope. A few years later, a friend pointed me out to Tate, and that is when a dream became a reality. The book is all based or inspired on real life events and lessons that I have been taught in my own day to day journey. It is my hope that it encourages other in their walk with God or to even bring out a spark to have a relantionship with Jesus (to those who may read it and not be “saved”).
2. Other than writing what else do you like to do? Well at my “job” I work as an RFP coordinator for a leading education technology company, and I do love that. However, my passion is working the the homeless. I love to be able to get out in the world and share the love of Christ by living it out, in action and word.
3. Are you inspired by people you know for your stories? For sure, I believe so. One of the devotionals in the book was actually taken from a conversation I had with my mom – she was sharing with me how she felt on something, and I wrote my response down to here in a devotional format. She never read any of my writings (as she is not the internet type) until the book came out, but when she read that particular day, she knew that it was written about her.
4. What message were you trying to impart to the reader? Hope, simply stated. That regardless of what may come your way in this life, that there is Hope found in Jesus Christ.
5. Who is your favorite Author? Well, off the bat I’d say the Holy Spirit (because of the Bible), but I also like Anne Rice and Ted Dekker.
6. What is your favorite book? The Bible of course! It may sound cliché, but it is true. I did just finish reading The Hunger Games trilogy a while back, and I did quite enjoy that.
7. How old were you when you started writing? If we aren’t talking about specifically devotionals, I would say for as long as I can remember. I was for sure one of those little ladies who had a diary from a very early age. J
8. Are you planning on writing more books? God willing! Admittedly, I have began book #2, just no idea when it will be finished or be published.
9. When readers criticize your book does it give you pause about writing again or are you encouraged? Honestly, no one has really said anything to me yet personally in a negative manner. However, I know that one day, it may come and I can say 100% it won’t give me pause. This is something I thought about a lot while putting the book together, and I understand that not “everyone” is going to like it, and that is ok with me.
10. What advice would you give those trying to write a book? Be yourself! Allow yourself to be in every word that you pen down.
Thank you for the wonderful review on Amazon by the way!
SiC, Hollie
George McVey "The Complete Armor of God"
1. What inspired you to write the book?
Well I wrote The Complete Armor of God after teaching on the subject for years. Everytime I would teach on the Offensive Armor no one had ever heard of those pieces before. After using them in my own Spiritual Warfare experiences. I realized that others could be more effective at Spiritual Warfare by being fully equipped.
2. Other than writing what else do you like to do?
I am a big reader and also a full time pastor/evangelist so if I'm not at home writing or reading then I'm working on a sermon or teaching a class or preaching at a revival.
3. Are you inspired by people you know for your stories?
I am at times inspired by the stories people tell me when they have read one of my teaching books or one of my fiction books and learned something that helps them increase the kingdom of God.
4. What message were you trying to impart to the reader?
That there is more to this spiritual battle than we have ever been told or taught in the traditional church setting. The complete armor of God is the first in a series of spiritual warfare booklets to train a new generation for the frontline spiritual battle.
5. Who is your favorite Author?
Me of course! No seriously I have several authors that I consider favorites. I lean more now days towards indie authors and one that I have really enjoyed lately is Sophie Dawson who I have the pleasure of knowing personally. She has three books on a historical fiction series called the Cottonwood Series and she and I are coauthoring a crossover novel with her Cottonwood series and my Redemption Tales series. It should be available before the end of this year.
6. What is your favorite book? I have too many to list an absolute favorite. I can tell you that the most recent book I read is The Covering by Dana Pratola this is the second book by her that I've read and both are very good.
7. How old were you when you started writing?
Turthfully I haven't written much besides sermons until 2010. I love to tell stories and had been told often that I should be a writer but never got bitten by the writing bug. Then in 2010 I had a friend want to know more about something we were talking about and he asked me to send him more info on the topic. As I was writing it out for him I realized it was really a book and a year later my first book "Prayerwalking For Spiritual Breakthrough" was released. I haven't stopped since then.
8. Are you planning on writing more books?
I am at present I have two teaching books out and two more planned for this year I have One novel released and one in editing and I'm writing on three more novels. I also have a serial book being released an episode a month. You can find all my books on my Amazon Author's page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B007E39QUG
9. When readers criticize your book does it give you pause about writing again or are you encouraged?
So far I haven't really had to much criticism yet but to be honest with you I take the stand that any review is a good review. If people don't like what I write that means that I won't have to worry about them. Even when someone says bad things others want to know if they're right and they'll buy to see. So no I am not discouraged by criticism.
10. What advice would you give those trying to write a book?
Write what God put's in your heart. If you listen to His voice and follow it you will never go wrong. When you pick up pen or keyboard to write spend a minute in prayer asking God to give you the words to put on the page. Then expect HIM to do just that. Then find someone to look over what you have written and do it all again and again.
Dwayne Carr "Basilisk Plot"
What inspired you to write the book? – I’ve been intrigued for a long time with the idea that ‘we wrestle not against flesh and blood’ and I began to think about what life might be like if we could see the spiritual dimensions around us. That led to Michael Wayde, a character whose father was an angel and mother was human, giving Michael the ability to see angels and demons and the warfare they engage in.
How did you come up with the names of your characters? – I keep long lists of names that I cull through whenever I’m writing. The names I choose may reflect the nature or history of the character (Michael, for example, is the son of an angel and named for the Archangel Michael), may have particular meaning (Jedrek, the name of one of the angels, means Strong), or just be made up because I like the sound of the word (in TheBasilisk Plot the children of angels are called the Elshon, a word I made up to mean ‘Bright Circle.’)
Other than writing what else do you like to do? – I work many hours each week, so writing is my great relaxation. I love to read (and write) both fiction and non-fiction. At various times my wife and I have sung in church choirs, led home groups and Sunday School classes, and done other ministries at church. We like to travel to see mountains whenever we have the opportunity and the money.
Are you inspired by people you know for your stories? – Like all writers I incorporate traits from people I know into my characters. I don’t think I’ve ever based a character, though, on a single individual.
What message were you trying to impart to the reader? – I never start out with a message in mind. I’m not the type of writer who can outline the story in advance (unless I’m writing non-fiction—then I always outline), so I never know where the story is going when I start writing. I just let the story take me where it wants to go. Ultimately I think it’s impossible to send a specific message because the reader brings his/her own experience to the book, and that influences what they take away. To me, though, The Basilisk Plot is largely about the sovereignty of God, especially when it appears that He is absent.
Who is your favorite Author? – That, as you know, is impossible to answer because it depends on the type of work I’m reading. Of course I loved Lewis and Tolkien from the first time I read them as a child, and I still enjoy good fantasy stories. I read a lot of historical non-fiction (I have a couple of degrees in History), and I enjoy almost any book by David McCullough.
What is your favorite book? – I’ve had many ‘favorite’ books over the years: as a child, I read and re-read Huckleberry Finn; I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo many times (the translation I have is well over a thousand pages, but it's still a fast read); and I’ve also read Andrew Murray’s Absolute Surrender many times.
How old were you when you started writing? – I wrote some horrid poetry when I was in early Elementary school, which I hope my parents destroyed quietly. I have always enjoyed writing and have done it since those early days. I didn’t start my first novel, though, until I was past forty.
Are you planning on writing more books? – I’ve drafted a sequel to The Basilisk Plot and I’ve written two other novels related to time travel (not yet available, but keep your eye on Amazon.com!).
When readers criticize your book does it give you pause about writing again or are you encouraged? – The only time I get discouraged about writing is when I finish reading a book by a really terrific author and realize I will never be able to write that well. But then I remind myself that successful authors don’t all write in the same way, and there are many definitions of success. I may never be a bestselling author, but if there are readers who get several hours of enjoyment from my work, or (even better) if the Lord is able to speak to someone through something I’ve written, that’s success.
What advice would you give those trying to write a book? – Just do it. And just keep doing it. I write dozens (and dozens) of drafts, and when I’m not sure where the story is going, I just keep writing. Eventually the story emerges and it’s a great feeling.
D. McCarragher
What inspired you to write the book?
I was involved with a local intercessory prayer group at the time, and was prompted by God during prayer to write down what He was conveying to me about my husband and his salvation. It was quite literally written while inspired, and without much effort on my part. I typed on the computer as He led me to bible verses and topics to talk about. I remember writing down the names of the (7) chapters during prayer time on a tablet – just looking at them afterwards in awe. It was quite a moving experience.
Other than writing what else do you like to do?
I love to be involved in various Bible studies in my church. Some of our favorite ones are Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Jennifer Rothschild (LifeWay). I also enjoy writing posts for my Blog. I want to bring hope and encouragement to as many women (and men) as I can through articles that incorporate God's Word and His principles into everyday situations.
Also, as "empty nesters" my husband and I like to travel when we have the chance.
Are you inspired by people you know for your stories?
That's a hard question to answer because I wrote a non-fiction book. However, I am inspired by others who have written on a similar subject like Linda Davis, who wrote "How to be the Happy Wife of an Unsaved Husband".
What message were you trying to impart to the reader?
I would love readers to discover that God has a plan for each marriage that is in spiritual disunity. It involves us, but it is always done HIS WAY! I want readers to know that it is a process that evolves over time, that we must not put God in a box, but give Him room to move in our spouse’s life. They need to know that because we are not perfect and continue to sin, that Satan will try to discourage and influence us (women) to believe that our “mission” is not possible – but with God, all things are possible!
Who is your favorite Author?
One of my favorite authors is Francine Rivers. I really enjoy her Christian fiction books. I also enjoy a variety of non-fiction works including biographies and historical books.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is the Bible - God's Holy Word. If I was marooned on an island - that is all I would want. It is the ultimate timeless classic.
How old were you when you started writing?
I began writing in Jr. High School - mainly poetry and short stories, but I didn't begin writing seriously until the early 1990's after I was born again.
Are you planning on writing more books?
Actually - I have begun on a book that I envision as a coffee table book with illustrations. It is titled "Trees of the Bible - A Spiritual Journey". It explores various trees in Scripture and their spiritual significance, along with their Hebrew name and scientific nomenclature and background. I have an excerpt on my website (Something New in the Wings) at http://www.Alabasterboxpublishing.com .
When readers criticize your book does it give you pause about writing again or are you encouraged?
I generally encourages me to discover what "pushed their buttons" regarding the subject matter and my presentation to them as readers. I have had so many favorable reviews and positive feedback that I don't let it deter me from further writing.
What advice would you give those trying to write a book?
My advice would be to“follow your heart” and write what you are passionate about. Share it with your friends and others who might benefit from its message. Since my book is non-fiction, I shared it first with other women in a spiritually mismatched marriage and got their feedback before I pursued it further.