Welcome Theresa. So glad you have stopped by.

Please introduce yourself, then tell us how you got started writing. My name is Theresa Franklin. My husband and I live in Beaumont, TX where we raised our three children. I taught school for 12 years and then went into administration for 12 years. I retired last year. I have always loved writing and reading. I taught both in my classes. Even my first graders were taught to write stories. Every Wednesday was Creative Writing Day and the students looked forward to it. I had always dreamed of writing books, but didn’t have the time while the children were growing up and I was teaching school. The last year I worked in the school, I decided that it was time to write. I began writing children’s books.
Most of which I consulted the school psychologist about the subject matter. Children with disabilities have my heart, so a lot of my stories are about living with a disability. I also write about such things as death, divorce, and remarriage for children. The reality is that our children must deal with these adult issues and few books give them the necessary tools. I try to do that in my stories. I also write stories just for fun. Some stories were taken from my children’s adventures when they were growing up.

What have you published and what is your current project?

I have published the children’s books A Sunny Tomorrow, an e-format book which is a collection of 19 Christian-based stories. Don’t Forget Daddy is a children’s book about a little girl who must learn to accept a step-father. Journey to Fulfillment is the testimony of my emotional struggle to come to grips with some painful events in my life. In the book, I also help the adult reader to understand or turn the stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

As a writer of faith, what is your philosophy on marketing? I have mixed feelings about marketing. I do understand that the story is mine and no one can sell it like me, but I do believe that publishers should help market it. It is frustrating for an author, especially a new one, to receive an email from the publisher with a list of ‘contacts you might want to connect with’. If I were the publisher, I would make the contacts and then have the author follow up. A contact from a publisher gives the author much more status than a personal contact. Imagine yourself as the owner of a bookstore. You receive two calls in one day. First call, “Hi, I wrote a book and I wanted to know if you will let me come to your bookstore and sell it.” Second call, “Hi, I am from ABC Publisher and I have an author that I think you would be interested in hosting for a book signing.” Which author would you want in your store?

Tell us about a "God incident" related to your writing. My adult book Journey to Fulfillment was precipitated by an emotional crisis that I experienced. After the initial shock, God impressed upon me that these painful events in my life had helped to shape my principles and convictions. In essence, they helped make me who I am today. Then He gave me the title Journey to Fulfillment.

What are your hopes/dreams for the future? I hope to continue writing and helping children and adults navigate this rough terrain we call life. My husband hopes for grandchildren, but we will see.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning to write and wanting to publish? I write what I know and from my heart. So that is what I would say to anyone beginning to write. On getting published? After I had written Journey to Fulfillment, let others read and edit it, edited it myself, and rewrote it for what seemed like the 14^th time, I was ready to submit it. I opened the website of my preferred publisher, but fear gripped me and I could not click ‘submit’. I called my husband into the room and asked him to pray with me. He got down on his knees, held my hand and prayed for God to bless this book and use it for His honor and glory. So I would say: pray, pray, pray.

Any last words? Thanks for hosting me. I enjoyed spending the time with you. I would love to have you and your readers join me on my blog and website. I write on a variety of subjects. I have started writing and posting short stories occasionally. I am anxious to see how my readers like them. Readers can find me at:

http://www.theresa-lifesjourney.blogspot.com

http://www.storiesforchrist.com

Author Anita Estes

Hi Anita, welcome to Empowered to Prosper. Please introduce yourself, then tell us how you got started writing.

My name is Anita Estes, and I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. I started writing poetry and kept a journal. When I became a Christian I began writing articles and devotions, then I started writing children’s stories when I became a teacher and a mother. As I grew in the Lord, I progressed to writing inspirational stories and had my work published. I wrote my first book of stories and devotionals six years ago when I was invited to be a speaker at a women’s conference (WIN). They wanted me to have a book available of my work.

What have you published and what is your current project?

I have written a number of devotions and short stories that have been published in “Upper Room”, Penned form the Heart, Adam’s Media Books, God Allows U-Turns: for Women, Cup of Comfort Book of Prayer, and Deliver Me! I have three books published, When God Speaks, 40 Days and Nights of His Promises, which is a story format devotional with an accompanying Bible Study work book.

My next book I compiled and edited was Transformed—Inspiring Stories of Freedom, a book of testimonies about men freed from the bondage of addictions.

My recent release, Letters to God on a Prodigal Son—Overcoming Addiction Through Prayer was birthed from the painful journey I experienced while navigating the minefield of my son’s addiction

I kept a journal that contained many powerful prayers, letters and scriptures that I thought would help others navigate the turbulent waters of a prodigal’s addiction, so I worked on transforming it into a book. I added two sections, Lessons Learned and Suggestions that I thought would further help others to avoid some of the pitfalls I experienced, while offering a lifeline of hope. At the time my son was going through this terrible ordeal, I couldn’t find any Christian books on the subject that gave practical and spiritual, not textbook, advice. Letters to God, on a Prodigal Son was designed to fit this need. It’s filled with the heart-felt letters and prayers of a mother, key spiritual insights and practical advice. My desire in writing this book is to help others and minister to them though this true life story. You can buy this book and any of my others at www.anitaestes.com or on Amazon

Barnes and Nobles (Transformed only)

I’ve also written a novel, The Dividing Stone, which I plan on publishing in 2012. It is a spiritual warfare book with a historical slant involving angels, demons and an unsuspecting artist who is drawn into a battle for her life to rescue the lives of other Christians.

What do you hope this book accomplishes and who is this book written for?

First I want to reach out to parents of prodigals and let them know there is hope. I especially want to let them know that God has not abandoned them, nor is he punishing them. God is compassionate and there to help, but he doesn’t trespass our will. I want to show parents and loved ones that it’s okay to be honest with God. He desires that. I also want to reach out not only to parents and loved ones of prodigals, but to everyone who is dealing with a difficult relationship or situation. I believe the prayers and scriptures in Letters to God are powerful for “pulling down strong holds” ( ) in people’s lives—areas of bondage.

Do you have a “life verse” that you have claimed? If so what is it and why is that verse so meaningful to you?

I have many verses throughout my life that I have felt a particular affinity to, but none as much as Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” I thought I knew about trusting God until my son had a problem with addiction. I learned to truly trust God with everything, even when circumstances looked bleak. He taught me how to keep my eyes on Him, and how to surrender to him. I also learned a lot about praising Him in the storm, another facet of trusting. I firmly believe that if you “Delight in the LORD, (and) he will give you the desires of your heart (Proverbs 37:4).

What do you want reader’s to come away with?

All my non-fiction books and articles are written to either help Christian’s grow in their spiritual walk with God or to reach those who are hurting and hurl them a lifeline in their storm. My books lean heavily on the power of prayer and God’s amazing compassion, mercy and love. I want others to intimately know the awesome God I know and the power of praying His promises. My fiction work is also spiritual in nature, filled with mystery and intrigue. I want to alert Christians to the enemy’s tactics so they can avoid his traps and use prayer as a powerful weapon. All of my writing is geared to coming away with a fuller understanding of God, His promises, and the transforming power of prayer.

What one issue ignites your passion?

Prayer and an intimate relationship with God are my two deepest passions. I want others to know how much God really cares for us and wants to know us. He gives us so many great gifts nestled in His promises. I want others to know how they can avail themselves of these treasures and go deeper with God. It is my desire to help others who face life’s challenges to know and understand how they can be victorious—in Jesus.

On August 30th I’ll be having a book launch for Letters to God… and you’ll be able to get many free products when you purchase the book on that day. You can find out more about the launch on my web-site, www.anitaestes.com or blog http://anita-thoughtsonchristianity.blogspot.com/

Anita, I’m sure your books will minister to many lives. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers.

Please leave a comment and tell Anita how much her story has touched your life.

Tom Welcome to Empowered to Prosper. Please introduce yourself, then tell us how you got started writing.

I’m a very transparent person. I have no secrets about myself. I’ve lived a tough life having been sexually abused when I was twelve years old. I was out of control and a felon by time I was fifteen. The Lord revealed Himself to me when I was twenty-eight and I became a Christian. My life has been on an upward path from that day—Dec. 13, 1970.

You’ve been a speaker for more than twenty-five years. What sparked your writing journey?

Although I was a speaker, I was writing along the way. I had some articles published in company and denomination magazines. I self-published a book back in the mid 70’s. Nonfiction writing has always been a part of my adult life.

How does your faith play into your writing?

Everything I do is an act of worship. I learned this from Julia Cameron in the Artist’s Way. Until then I thought only spiritual things could be worship. My favorite verses are Prov. 16:9 and 19:21.

Where do your story and character ideas come from?

From my life, for the most part. One day I was out working in the yard and Barbara, my wife, called me to the phone. It was one of our granddaughters with a question. I answered her and I went back to work in the yard. Within forty-five minutes, in my mind, I wrote a children’s story based on her question and my answer. I distributed the story to all of our grandchildren for Christmas. It has become a part of my legacy never to be forgotten. Another time, our newly acquired black cat got into the duct work in our house and provided me with another children’s story—in fact, probably a series. Our minds are awesome creations.

In my newly released historical novel, the protagonist is based on my maternal grandfather. The rest of the characters are figments of my imagination.

Let’s talk about your debut novel, Night of the Cossack (Bound by Faith Publishers, April 2011). Please tell us a little about it.

This is my first work of fiction, which took me five years to write. I have found writing fiction is much more difficult than writing nonfiction. It’s a story about a 16 year old who is kidnapped by a Cossack soldier in 1898 and is forced to be a Cossack himself.

Where did you get the idea for the book?

It’s about my maternal grandfather. Both of my grandfathers died before I was born. I had a little information about my maternal grandfather. I wanted to know him so I started researching Russian history and found the information I had was fact. I began writing about him with the purpose of creating my own grandfather. Then I started writing for my six children and fourteen grandchildren. I let my wife read it and she thought it might be publishable.

What is a Cossack?

Cossacks were members of several peasant groups of Russian and Polish descent. They lived in autonomous communal settlements, especially in the Ukraine, until the early 20th century. In return for special privileges, they served in the cavalry under the czars. They were well known for their horsemanship. They raided villages for supplies, women and young men to increase or replenish their ranks. Eventually they became a part of the Russian army.

The Night of the Cossack looks like it required quite a bit of research. How did you go about that? Did you encounter any obstacles?

Night of the Cossack did require a lot of research. I worked hard at it and took my first fifty pages to a Russian History professor at a local university and asked her to read it. She did and told me there wasn’t a word of truth in it, which really threw me. At the time, I was tutoring English as a second language and there were some students from Russia and Ukraine. One of them read it and told me it was all true. I told her I was confused. She asked me where the professor was educated and I told her in Russia. She told me that was the problem—that there is one version of history taught in the universities and there was the true history written by those who escaped and immigrated to the USA. After that, I continued researching and writing.

We are all about journeys...unique ones at that. How complex was your path to your first published book?

I agree, I’m always on a journey. This is why Prov. 16:9 is a favorite verse. The path to my first published book, Night of the Cossack, wasn’t complex at all. Mainly because I wrote eighty percent of it for myself without thinking of being published. I was busy creating my grandfather, who died before I was born, and filling a void in my life. Near what I thought was the finish, I let a friend read what I had written and she suggested I pursue publication. I joined a local critique group. When I was nearly finished, a publisher came to me and asked to publish it. What is complex is getting people to read the first chapter, which greatly enhances the chances of their purchase.

How can readers find the book and where can they find you on the Internet?

At the present time, if you do a Google search for Tom Blubaugh, nearly 90,000 results show up. This is hard for me to believe with my last name seemingly not that common. Not all of are me. One in particular was recently convicted on fraud—definitely not me.

I can be found at http://tomblubaugh.com . http://nightofthecossack.com also feeds into my site. I’m on Facebook here and here . I can also be found on Twitter @tomblubaugh and I have a blog. My book is available on my site, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view of writing?

Writing is a group thing. Surround yourself with a good critique group. One of the most valuable things I learned is this—if one person says a part needs to be rewritten, it may be just their opinion; if two say a part needs to be rewritten, you should take a good look at it; if three or more say a part needs to be rewritten—rewrite it.

What advice would you give to someone just beginning to write and wanting to publish?

Don’t wait another minute to start promoting your name and what you’re doing. A deep platform is extremely important if you want to see your work do well. I don’t know how the writers did it before the computer.

Any last words?

There is a great need for clean, wholesome literature for young adults.

Thanks for interviewing me, Paulette.