Interview with Author Laura Smith

1.      Tell us a little bit about your background and how you became an author.

I used to write stories when I was in 4^th grade. They were all about “The Rabbit Family” who lived in a beautifully decorated egg and the children rabbits were facing some very difficult issues in school. Some of which are so prevalent in our schools today such as bullying, difficulty making friends in a new school etc. Due to life issues and a very difficult childhood, the dream of writing was shelved. My grandfather used to write articles for a local newspaper and I always loved his heartfelt beautifully crafted stores. I longed to write like that but never had the belief in myself until God wrote my story.

2.      Tell us about your current book. Give a short summary. (You can follow this up with any points you hope readers will take away with them)

In All Things is the first in a series that will follow “Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost”. They are about God’s hand in some of the most incredibly life events imaginable. When I started writing this first one, I thought it was only going to be about the pain of miscarriage but God had other plans. I ended up sharing some of the most personal and painful experiences that I have face and had no intention of sharing. I am now working on the second in the “In All Things” series called “Expect a Miracle” which is about my dad’s two year battle with cancer.

3.      Can you tell us about your publisher and how the process worked in getting published?

Halo Publishing was amazing from the very first time I contacted them. The screener was immediately interested in my story. Lisa Umina the founder and owner called me personally one day out of the blue to tell me that she read my book and couldn’t put it down! She said she laughed and cried and had to stop numerous times just to absorb the messages. By the time she was done talking, I was in tears.

4.      How did you get the idea for this book?

As I mentioned, God wrote my story. He just used me as a vessel to get it out to others. The messages within are only explainable through the lord and His amazing love for us.

5.      What is a typical writing day like for you?

Well, I still work at a 9 to 5 job 5 days per week as a medical coding specialist so writing for me is whenever and wherever I get the time. I hope this will change as I would much rather be writing and speaking.

6.      What do you enjoy most about writing?

The picture I get in my mind of how the reader will be blessed or how the lord may use my experiences to help heal someone facing the same things I have gone through.

7.      What is the most difficult part of writing?

The most difficult part of writing is re-living the most painful experiences and finding just the right words to convey the pain and suffering in such a way that will honor the Lord and impact the reader so deeply.

8.      How has publishing a book changed your life?

On the surface my life hasn’t changed at all. Personally however it has defined me as very serious about my faith and increased my desire to see others set free from pain and suffering.

9.      If your book is based on true events, how has that affected those around you?

My immediate family is incredibly proud of me for sharing my most personal and painful memories in order to try and help others. Other family and some friends seem to see me differently like I’m untouchable or some super Jesus freak. Ha Ha, that is so funny! I’m the most down to earth average person you could ever imagine. I love throwing on old clothes and jumping on the 4-wheeler to go mudding and get as dirty as I possibly can. 

10.  What are your plans now?

I would love to start speaking all over the country to share my message with as many hurting people that I can. There’s just something so healing when you can share you story in person and you can reach out to those hurting in person. I just so deeply desire to help others and heal from the wounds that are holding them back from the amazing person that God created them to be and from their destiny.

11.  What is your best tip for aspiring authors?

Believe in your dream. Never let others tell you that you can’t when your heart is telling you that you must! Don’t strive to find the words, trust God to provide them. If you’re writing fiction, vampires seem to be quite popular…

12.  What advice can you give adults, children and/or teens as they prepare for life?

Don’t let your past write your future! Find healing if that is needed so you can live the life you were put on this earth to live.

13.  Is there anything else you would like to share with our readership? (Here you can share about characters, historical facts, setting or whatever else you would like our readers to know about and/or your book.)

My book is about real life issues from divorce, single parenting, raising a bipolar child, infertility, miscarriage etc. These are issues that every person in this world has been touched by at least once in their lifetime. It’s about a faith so strong that it caused instant healing and allowed me to be hopeful in all things life throws at me, knowing that He has a plan and we just need to see things through His eyes to see the gold in these life issues; because there is ALWAYS gold.

14.  Do you make school visits or do speaking/book signing engagements? If so, please describe a typical presentation.

I have spoken at a couple church events so far and the feedback and tears through the presentation told me that the people were tremendously blessed. There is always an “I went through this”, or “my sister is facing that” story that someone can’t wait to share with me. And they can’t wait to get my book in the hands of a friend or loved one who is suffering from these same issues.

15.  Do you have a website? If so, please give the URL. If not, where can readers go online to learn more about your book(s) and to order?

Halo Publishing: www.halopublishing.com

I regularly update my Facebook and Twitter pages: https://www.facebook.com/InAllThings

https://twitter.com/#!/LauraMStorrs