Interview with author, Miralee Ferrell

April 15, 2008 | interviews, reviews, writing

 I just finished the fiction novel, The Other Daughter. I invited the author, Miralee Ferrell, to talk about her new book and the issues behind the story.

Suzie: Miralee, this is your first published book. Tell us a little bit about your writing journey.

Miralee: Hi Suzie, it’s great to have a chance to chat with you. I started writing seriously with the thought of publication three years ago. The Lord spoke to me through a special speaker at church when he prayed for me. He felt the Lord was saying that I needed to be writing, and whatever I chose to write should be published. I prayed about it for over two weeks, and decided the Lord was nudging me that direction.

I started by writing my memories since my husband and I met 33 years earlier, with the things we’ve encountered and the spiritual applications. From that, I moved to short stories (non-fiction) and had three of them published in magazines. Then a friend and fellow author suggested I try Christian fiction. I didn’t think I could do it, but came up with a story line who’s inception was an incident in our past, then embroidered and changed it fiction. (more…)

Interview w/author of Broken Heart on Hold

April 8, 2008 | family, interviews

Linda W. Rooks is the author of Broken Heart on Hold, a book for women separated from their husbands. I interviewed Linda and this is what she had to say. . . 

 Suzie: I haven’t seen many Christian books dealing with the issue of separation. What prompted you to write this book?

Linda: This book came from my own experience. My husband and I were separated for three years back in the nineties. It was a heart-wrenching, lonely time. I needed emotional and spiritual support, but didn’t know where to find it. I went to Christian bookstores looking for a devotional book that was gutsy and real enough to help me through this devastating time, but I found nothing that would help. (more…)

Interview: Pastor Rudy, Touch! II

March 5, 2008 | interviews, stories

Today we continue the interview with Pastor Rudy, author of Touch, pastor of St. Johns, and advocate for faith that intersects with a real world.

Suzie: Your father later came to your church and his life was changed. What would you say to teens or adults who live out their faith, but whose parents don’t agree with their new life?

Pastor Rudy: My dad taught me to “never trust preachers and church people.” He would go to say that they were all full of S_ _ _.

He was a graphic communicator with a very well placed esteem and courage to speak his own truth as if the world bowed to it. When I first began my dad told his friends that he had “lost me to God” as if he was in competition to keep me from getting to God, but what he really meant was in the cryptic code. (more…)

Interview: Pastor Rudy, Touch!

March 4, 2008 | interviews, stories

The Pastor Rudy Experience 
Pastor Rudy’s blog

Today & tomorrow’s interview is with a pastor making a difference in the toughest streets of Houston, TX. He is the author of Touch: Pressing Against the Wounds of a Broken World . He has joined with Beyonce in a global anti-hunger initiative. He found God while working with his father in what he calls a borderline bordello. I hope you enjoy the interview with Pastor Rudy.

Suzie: I want to thank you for joining us on Dare to Believe. I read your book, Touch. When you became a believer, you were running a different type of business with your father. What did God show you in the midst of that environment?

Pastor Rudy: There were many lessons learned in our little “Borderline Bordello.” (more…)

Tiffany’s story, part 2

January 25, 2008 | interviews

Suzie: Let’ s pick up where we left off yesterday. You said that called several abortion clinics, but you didn’t want to go through with it. What made you decide to make the appointment?

Tiffany: Fear. Fear of losing John’s love. Fear of being a single mom. Fear of never being love by another man because I had someone else’s child. Fear of being judged by others. Fear of all the “what-if’s.” (more…)

Conversant Life

January 23, 2008 | interviews

I found a great site called Conversant Life (connecting faith to news and culture). It was started by authors, Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz (Christianity 101 series and I’m Fine with God. . . It’s Christians I Can’t Stand).

Conversant Life is an interesting concept. They have a large number of bloggers who are creating daily content in the form of blogs, podcasts and videos. Their blog roll features communicators who are actively engaging their faith and writing about their experiences in key areas the world. They have writers in missions across the world, professors who are experts in their field of education, pastors, as well as industry professionals in the Film industry, the Arts community, the Music world, Apologetics and more. 

Harvest House shared an insightful interview with Bruce Bickel.

Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Day 2

January 15, 2008 | interviews, stories

Today is part 2 of my interview with Yvonne Ortega and her faith journey through cancer.
 

Suzie: Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. The word cancer has so many negative connotations. Maybe someone’s asking, “Is it possible that there was anything good that came about through your illness?

(more…)

Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Yvonne Ortega

January 14, 2008 | interviews

Today’s Topic: What happens to the story of your life when news of a serious illness disrupts your life?

If you have experienced this, or know someone who is facing it today, I hope you’ll take the time to hear Yvonne’s story. It’s powerful.

Suzie: Hi Yvonne, I’m  excited to hear your story. I’m also a cancer survivor. When I found out that I had cancer, I was only 32 and it changed the direction of my life immediately. Can you share with our readers your story? How did you find out that you had cancer?

Yvonne: In December of 2000, I stood in front of the same bathroom mirror I always did. However, that time my left breast was contorted and turned to the right. A lump protruded from my breast. It felt hard as a rock, and I knew it was cancer.

I raced to the telephone and called the doctor. I insisted I be seen the following morning. After all, two of my cousins had died of breast cancer. The next day when the doctor examined me, she seemed quieter than usual. She ordered an immediate mammogram and ultrasound and scheduled an appointment with the surgeon. As is sometimes the case, the mammogram showed nothing, but the ultrasound did. (more…)

I’m back

December 7, 2007 | interviews

My site has been down for a few days, and I’m grateful to be back with you.

Harvest House Publishers just put up an interview with me on their site. We talked about how I became a believer, what I believe about destiny, and how hula-hooping is a great way to exercise! Check it out.

ICRS Atlanta

July 19, 2007 | calendar, interviews

ICRS is a national trade show, but it’s more than that for me. Each year I am reminded of why I love writing, and ministry.

This year was a hectic year. Two of my books were released. A discipleship book for teens, Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway? through Kregel Publishers, and The Woman I Am Becoming: Embracing the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny through Harvest House.

My days were crazy, running from the convention center to the CNN Omni to Westin and back. On Monday, the 9th, I signed books twice, interviewed with FamilyLife (Campus Crusade) radio, met with the Intercontinental News Service, and taped a broadcast with Atlanta TV station, WATC Channel 57. (more…)