What
motivated you to begin writing?
I began writing as a catharsis to everyday life. Also, as an avenue
to share raw insights, emotion, and to inspire and encourage others.
What is
your favorite genre to write? Why?
My favorite genre to write is non-fiction. I believe there is more
than enough to share about real life, our raw human expressions and dealings,
events that happen in life, ponderings of our hearts and minds, to fill volumes
without the necessity of fantasy. Our authentic lives hold many and continuous
unfolding stories that we each want to share, and that we desire to have heard.
When we share from an altruistic place, we make ourselves more vulnerable and
hence, relatable to others. Such is an opportunity to connect with each other
and share in all of the stories life affords.
My personal favorite subject in non-fiction is of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy
Spirit. He is my compass in life and my core. From this place, I exist and all
of life is staged upon this foundation.
Fiction has its place of course; I personally have the drive to write
non-fiction.
How have
other jobs and life experiences influenced your writing?
Other jobs and life experiences have largely influenced my writing.
Currently, I am in the challenge of a life-time in enduring and persevering
through serious physical illness that has no cure in the natural and is
potentially fatal, yet causes a very slow, agonizing death rather than a
relatively quick demise.
Before becoming debilitated to the point of
being mostly bed-ridden, I worked as a Psychologist in the fields of Forensic
and Sports psychology. My work was with violent juvenile offenders and their
families.
Additionally, I worked with athletes helping them hone their skills
and on and off the playing fields. [I helped] them to raise their confidence
and play whatever sport it was, with passion rather than intensity, a life
skill as well.
Working in both arenas afforded me the
opportunity to see diverse aspects of society and opened my eyes to the deep
need we all have to be loved, to be understood, to be cared about. No matter
the population, whether gifted athletes or youth who lived in battlefields and
committed violent crimes as a means to survive…the core need of each is the
same.
Nevertheless, writing with different
lenses; the lenses of talented athletes or that of sitting in a court room
testifying on behalf of a teenager who has never known the love of another
human… inspiration and self-analysis presents in profoundly deep measure.
Having serious physical disease with no
cure, no answers and no means to receive necessary medical treatment, has
deepened my relationship with God and the intimacy in relationship. Such has
poured out and into my other relationships and given me a deeper compassion for
individuals. Living with these diseases, where I am not able to simply think
them away or ‘push through’ as if they did not exist, has truly humbled me and
deepened my character as a person, all of which is reflected in my writing and
influences the perspective I have on the world around me.
What is
the aim of Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind (Raw Faith)?
I have several aims of my book. One is to inspire individuals to
self-examine and find their core; to realize that we are all children of God
and therefore, one in Him. We tend to see as if from under a quilt as it is
being made, where all that is seen is a bunch of haphazard threads from our
view. God’s view is from above where everything comes together and forms a
beautiful and complete picture. Another aim is to encourage individuals to seek
love and extend love.
One of the most important aims of the book
is to strengthen anyone who reads it, to cause him/her to embrace all of who
he/she is, the parts we deem ‘dark’ and unacceptable as well as the parts we
see as praiseworthy and pleasant.
Most importantly, my hope is that the
reader will embrace intimacy with God and realize that raw expression of heart,
no matter how unacceptable to the world, is honorable in the eyes of God and
welcomed.
We live in a world where appearances are
most important and true character; integrity, honesty, ethics, service…are
balked at and mocked in exchange for superficial ‘wealth’ that only breeds hate
and egocentricity. I pray that the God inspired messages in my book will lend
‘permission’ to the readers to step up within themselves and fully own all of
who they are and share such with others, while also serving as a soft cushion
for others to share.
Do you have a book trailer for Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind (Raw Faith)?
Yes. Here it is...
Do you have a book trailer for Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left Behind (Raw Faith)?
Yes. Here it is...
What was
your experience like with your publisher?
I had a wonderful experience with my publisher. [They were] very
helpful, patient, generous, humble, with expertise and leadership for guidance.
What are
some activities that you are involved in aside from writing?
Currently I am fighting for my life and doing all I can to promote my
book in order to have some income for life-saving medical treatment. Due to
severe limitations from physical illness, I am not able to participate in much
of life. Nevertheless, I do all I can and push to do more. Encouraging others
and giving to my loved ones in all the ways I am able… sharing my relationship
with Christ wherever I can… to God be the glory.
Where can people find out more about you and your writing?
Where can people find out more about you and your writing?
Book Website: www.elizabethchalker.org
Personal Website:www.helpelizabeth.net
Twitter: https://twitter.com/purplebu77erfly
2 Comments
Thanks Jo once again for featuring Elizabeth on her tour.
ReplyDeleteHello Jo, thank you so much for featuring me and my book today! I am so grateful and praying your readers will be blessed!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Chalker
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