Author Interview Archives - Page 2 of 2

Welcome back to week 2 of our author interview series. And…like last week, this one includes a giveaway! Stay tuned for more details at the end of the post.

Please welcome my sweet friend and fellow sojourner on the path of surviving the loss of a spouse to suicide…Natalie Flake Ford! Natalie lost her first love and husband, Michael, to suicide just over seven years ago. As Natalie shares, “Michael was my first love and there was a time when I thought I couldn’t live without him. He was a remarkable husband and a stellar dad! Unfortunately, bipolar disorder stole him from us. It is my hope and prayer that by sharing our story, others with mental illness will find the hope needed to pursue the help they need in order to live a fulfilling life. People often ask me if I had known then what I know now, would I have still married Michael. Absolutely! We have some amazing memories and a beautiful daughter, and I wouldn’t do anything to change this. Do I have regrets? You betcha! I share more about this in my book, Tears to Joy.”

Natalie is an author, a teacher, and a speaker who helps others to find hope in God’s sovereignty and in God’s Word. After Michael’s death, Natalie decided to continue her education by pursuing a PhD in Professional Counseling so that she can undergird her personal experience with the necessary tools to help others faced with difficult circumstances.

Throughout the years, Natalie’s message has inspired many to

· Dig into God’s Word for messages of hope during times of suffering

· Rest in the sovereignty of God (God sees and hears you, and He has a plan)

· Trust God even when life doesn’t make sense

· Take off the mask and risk vulnerability with someone trustworthy

Natalie has travelled all over the world telling people about Jesus, and sharing how God has turned her weeping to laughing and her mourning to dancing. Natalie leads a SOS (Survivor of Suicide) Support Group, where she seeks to use her past hurts to help others who have lost someone to suicide. And now…more about Tears to Joy!

ME: What inspired you to write Tears to Joy?

NATALIE: When I was a little girl, I always told people that I was going to write a book one day. When they would ask me what I was going to write about I’d shrug my shoulders and say, “I don’t know, but I’m gonna write a book.” Fast forward many moons later…the week after Michael died, I opened a devotional book that he had given to me and inside the front cover, he had penned these words: “I pray that one day our story will be written for the glory of God and inspiration of others.” In that moment, I knew I had to write our story.

ME: How would you summarize your book in two to three sentences?

NATALIE: Combining lessons learned from her studies and her personal experience with her husband’s bipolar suicide, the author examines mental illness and suicide from a Christian perspective, giving suggestions to friends and family for offering support. Tears to Joy is a compassionate and practical guide to finding help and hope in the turmoil associated with bipolar disorder and with suicide.

ME: Who would you say is the “target reader audience” for your book?

NATALIE: Adults whose lives have been touched by either mental illness or suicide.

ME: What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

NATALIE: There were so many heart wrenching memories that I would have preferred to stuff away, but writing this book forced me to go to those dark places. Reliving the day of his death was pretty gruesome, but probably the most difficult was writing about the day when he humiliated me at Walmart. Michael was such an incredible man, and this day was a stark reminder of how his illness had permeated his personality and caused him to behave in ways contrary to his character.

ME: What was your favorite part of writing this book or share something you learned in the process?

NATALIE: Writing this book was very therapeutic for me. In many ways, I feel like I put my heart and soul on a platter for the world to digest. I learned a lot about myself, about God’s goodness and grace and about the vast numbers of people who are hurting because of how either mental illness or suicide has touched their lives.

ME: What one thing, above all else, do you hope your readers take away from reading Tears to Joy?

NATALIE: Hope. As long as God is on the throne, we have hope.

ME: A little unrelated, tell us something fun or surprising about yourself that this blog community might not already know?

NATALIE: This year marks the seventh anniversary of Michael’s death. In the Old Testament, the seventh year was often known as the Year of Jubilee. Many indentured servants were granted their freedom in the seventh year. Many Israelites were forgiven of their debts in the Year of Jubilee, and landowners gave their land rest from farming in the seventh year. The seventh year was a time of rest, release, and celebration.

I began praying at the end of 2012, asking God to make 2013 a year of jubilee in my own life. I wanted to slow down and enjoy life in 2013 (which means letting go of my crazy schedule), and I wanted to release the past and live in the present. I am thrilled to share that I got married in April to my best friend – a true gift from God – creating a milestone of joy in my own life.

You can hear more of my story and get regular updates by visiting www.natalieflake.com. Natalie is also available for speaking opportunities. If you’d like to explore that possibility further with her, feel free to contact her directly through her website HERE.

In Tears to Joy, I also had the privilege to sharing a letter I wrote to my own late husband after his suicide. That exercise was one of the most difficult, and yet therapeutic, of my grief journey.

You can also enter to win a copy of Natalie’s book! In order to be entered to win a copy of Tears to Joy, you have up to two possible entries:

1. Comment on this post answering this question…have you ever been directly affected by suicide? Feel free to share your experience within the comment.

2. For a second entry, share about this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter by linking to this post and be sure to tag me in it! Then, come back here and leave a second comment saying you’ve done so. 🙂

The giveaway runs through 9:00 pm Tuesday (7/9) night. So, today and tomorrow ONLY! I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday morning!

To order Natalie’s book directly, simply click HERE! It’s an invaluable resource for those that have been affected by bipolar disorder and/or suicide!

Happy Monday blog friends! I’ve been so excited about today’s post! Beginning today, and over the next several Mondays, this is your go-to place to meet some amazing author friends of mine. Each of these ladies are not only gifted writers, but they are also passionately in love with the Lord, and they radiate His amazing grace! AND…in addition, they will each be giving away a copy of their book to one of you!

So, without further ado…allow me to introduce you to our first featured author in this series, my precious friend…Lorie Newman!

Lorie is a wife, national speaker, author, and busy homeschooling mother of seven children. Her professional background and degree is in education, but Lorie also enjoys freelance writing and speaking at Christian retreats and ministry events.

Lorie has been published in various magazines & e-zines and has been a frequent guest of many bloggers. A Cup of Cold Water in His Name is her first book.

Lorie has taught Bible studies and led prayer groups for more than fifteen years. She is the founder of an orphan ministry that enables over 250 impoverished African orphans to receive food, clothing, and education through a partnership with Children’s HopeChest. Lorie has also been a featured guest on many radio programs including Moody Broadcasting Network’s Midday Live Connection & Scotland’s Northsound Radio.

Lorie, her husband, Duane, and their seven children—including twins and two children who were internationally adopted from Haiti and Liberia—make their home in Georgia.

I recently had an opportunity to ask my friend some questions about her first book, A Cup of Cold Water in His Name.

ME: What inspired you to write A Cup of Cold Water in His Name?

LORIE: There are so many overwhelming statistics concerning poverty. We live in a world where there are over 145 million orphans, where a child dies of hunger every 5 seconds, where 925 million people are chronically malnourished, and where 1.1 billion people lack access to potable water. Even here in the US, 19 million people are considered the “working poor.” I wanted to write a book that would empower and equip Christians to help the needy in real-life, practical ways and remind them of the truth of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40, “What you did to even one of the least of these, you did it to me.” In a world with overwhelming poverty, the importance of helping just one person in need is what my book emphasizes.

ME: How would you summarize your book in two to three sentences?

LORIE: Ranging from easy to high-level commitment, my book gives 60 creative, everyday projects and ideas that will equip Christians to make a difference in the world, one need at a time. Regardless of your age, your season of life, your financial situation, your status, or your experience, my book will help you, your family, or your small group with step-by-step instructions, websites, and ministry contacts, to be the hands and feet of Christ to the needs around you. The book is broken down into easy-to-use sections utilizing the five human needs that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25:40: feeding the hungry, being hospitable, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and ministering to the prisoner.

ME: Who would you say is the “target reader audience” for your book?

LORIE: Anyone who desires to make a real difference in the world and leave a lasting imprint of Christ’s love in the lives around them will find my book a valuable resource where they can bookmark creative ideas to utilize in their everyday life.

ME: What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

LORIE: When I got a contract with a publisher to write the book, I had just birthed my seventh child! I literally wrote the manuscript between feedings and between homeschooling my other six children! Only God could have stretched my time as I wrote and researched each chapter! God’s heart is so close to the downtrodden, the heartbroken, the poor, the widow, and the orphan. When He put it on my heart to write this book, every door was opened and I still stand amazed at how the Lord carried me through to the completion of this project. This book is a living testimony to the true fact that when you step out to help the poor, God will honor it and empower you in a supernatural way that can only be attributed to Him and Him alone!

ME: What was your favorite part of writing this book or share something you learned in the process?

LORIE: In the book I wrote 60 stories about everyday Christians who found ways to help the poor and needy in their everyday lives. I love to tell stories and to have the opportunity to include these inspiring stories in the book was a great joy!

ME: What one thing, above all else, do you hope your readers take away from reading A Cup of Cold Water in His Name?

LORIE: I pray God meets people in the pages of this book and many lives are empowered to step outside of their own little world and help the needy- whether that’s across the street, across the pew at church, or across the world.

ME: A little unrelated, tell us something fun or surprising about yourself that this blog community might not already know?

LORIE: Before I wrote this book, the Lord called me to do something that I found to be one of the sweetest worship experiences of my life thus far. For two years, I had pitched the idea of writing A Cup of Cold Water in His Name twice and no publishers were interested. As I took my ideas back to the Lord in my quiet time with Him, he sweetly asked me to write a book for Him. It sounds crazy, but that’s exactly what I did! I bought a journal, and I reserved my most precious, most sincere, most beautiful words for my Savior. I wrote each day in that journal. I gave him my very first book, one filled with how much I love him! Essentially I gave the Lord my “first fruits” of my writing each day. Before I even finished two months of writing this “first book journal of worship” to the Lord, I had a book contract from a publisher to write A Cup of Cold Water in His Name.

Just a side little tidbit…I was also honored to be featured in Lorie’s book in a couple of her “sixty ways” (some with an alias name…ha!).

In order to be entered to win an autographed copy of Lorie’s book, A Cup of Cold Water in His Name, you have up to two possible entries:

1. Comment on this post answering this question…what have you or someone in your family done in the past to care for one of the “least of these”? Or – if you’re simply short on time, just post “I wanna hear more!”

The giveaway runs through 9:00 pm Tuesday (7/2) night. So, today and tomorrow ONLY! I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday morning!

To order Lorie’s book directly, simply click HERE! Trust me…after reading this book, you’ll think of several other family and friends to get copies for, and you’ll want to order more!

Author Interview 2 with a Giveaway!

Author Interview 1 with a Giveaway!