You’re a Christian author, how important is it that your faith be reflected in the work you produce?
My faith is very important to me and so it certainly shows up in my work. I give glory to God because He deserves the glory for anything good I have accomplished. At the same time, there are times when I make the choice to not be explicit about my faith. For me, it is more important for my faith to be reflected in how I teach and how I treat people every day. My wife says, “They will know you are a Christian by your love.” That always resonated with me, so if I can show a glimpse of Jesus’ light, love, compassion and peace to others, then I am blessed.My faith is very important to me and so it certainly shows up in my work. I give glory to God because He deserves the glory for anything good I have accomplished. At the same time, there are times when I make the choice to not be explicit about my faith. For me, it is more important for my faith to be reflected in how I teach and how I treat people every day. My wife says, “They will know you are a Christian by your love.” That always resonated with me, so if I can show a glimpse of Jesus’ light, love, compassion and peace to others, then I am blessed.
Tell us about your book!
To the Survivors is about my journey as a rape crisis counselor with true stories of sexual violence shared by male and female survivors in their own words. Readers will encounter uncensored written stories, poems, and interviews by these brave individuals who give similarly raw and heartfelt accounts of their victimization and recovery. The book includes issues relating to sexual trauma, depression, suicide, evil, family, hope, healing, and God. To the Survivors shows how horrific and compassionate we can be to each other, but this book is not just for survivors of sexual violence. I believe anyone can benefit from the words in these pages, rape survivor or not.
Tell us about the process – how long did it take you to write your book from start to finish?
To the Survivors took just under three years to complete. This process was extremely difficult for me to go through, but I am thankful that I did. Many tears were shed throughout the journey, as they still are. I could never have written this book if it weren’t for God and for the vulnerability and trust of the survivors who chose to open up to me.
Whenever I speak to writers there’s usually a fascinating back story that led to a career in writing, what’s yours?
I did not consider myself a writer and never once tried to write a book until the experience of an intensely vivid dream one morning changed my life. I woke up from this dream and said, “I have to write a book.” I interpreted this dream as a vision from God. I prayed to God, moved from the bed to the computer, opened up Microsoft Word, and continued to pray. That is how To the Survivors began. In other words, God inspired me to write To the Survivors.
How has your family supported your desire to write?
I have family members and friends who have been incredibly supportive of my writing and my outreach efforts. Their love for me is strong no matter what I choose to do, and I am truly blessed to have loving people in my life. Words can’t fully describe how incredible my wife has been throughout my years as a rape crisis counselor, public educator, and author. I am still in debt to her!
What were some unexpected challenges you encountered on the path toward getting published?
More challenges occurred during the writing process than the publishing process. The biggest challenge for me was my own patience. I wanted everything done quickly so that I could finish and get the book into the world. I was not as patient as I could have been and I became pretty frustrated when things wouldn’t go as scheduled. But then again, God’s timing is not our own.
As a writer of faith, I view my work as a calling, do you view your work the same way?
What moment showed you this was your purpose? My work as a rape crisis counseling and advocacy is a calling given to me by God deep in my soul. This calling began to unravel during my senior year in college. I wrote about this in my “Getting Involved” chapter where I explain the moment I said “Yes” to God’s call to help anyone affected by sexual violence. Another moment I had is what I previously explained, having an intense dream. I instantly knew I had to write a book and became certain of two things in that moment: Jesus would be in the book, and I needed true, uncensored stories from people who had experienced these terrible crimes.
What’s a bit of advice you would give to new authors?
Write, write, and write some more. I teach writing to teenagers and adults, and my goals are simple: to break down any writing blocks they have, to get them in their zone so that they can write, and to inspire their confidence as writers. Writers and anyone interested in writing, you need to get your thoughts, emotions and prayers out. Don’t worry about perfection, editing, publishing, or anything else. Those will come in time, but you may never get there if you are stuck on things that don’t matter in the moment. Immerse yourself in the writing process and give your mind, heart and soul to it if you care enough about what you are creating. Be confident. Know that God has given you gifts, so embrace those gifts and use them to the best of your ability. Jesus says, “Do not fear”, so listen to Jesus and know that he is with you in your writing and in your life.
Why do you think it’s important to pursue writing about matters of faith at this point in time?
I believe it is always important to pursue writing about matters of faith, but it is incredibly important during this time given how quickly the world has changed. COVID-19 has clearly taken lives, affected global health and finances, increased fear and anxiety, and there is still so much uncertainty every day. Many people have increased their faith and deepened their relationship with God, while others do not believe. In times of suffering it can be easy to lose faith, but that is all the more reason why believers should be writing, speaking, and praying for the world. Believers should be beacons of light, hope, and strength. Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” and “I have gone and prepared a place for you.” I believe we should let Jesus’ words sink into our spirit and spread the beautiful hope of the Gospel always, especially during times of suffering and unrest.
What are you working on now?
My wife gave me the idea to work on a guidebook that pairs with my book To the Survivors to help educate students who have been accused of sexual misconduct. I currently have done that for one high school, and administrators described the guidebook as seminal in one young man’s life. I now want to expand on this and publish a guidebook that is useful beyond high school. My hope and prayer is that this will impact perpetrators and prevent further acts of sexual violence while increasing compassionate treatment of others.
Anything else you want to tell readers?
To the Survivors can be a difficult book to read, especially if you or someone you know has been raped or sexually assaulted. If you choose to read this book, please go at your own pace and reach out to someone for help if you need it at any time. To anyone reading this that has been affected by sexual violence in any way, you are not to blame. Nothing you did or didn’t do caused another person to hurt you or a loved one. It is not your fault. It’s never your fault. You are not alone. You are never alone, even if you feel that way. There is someone out there that will listen to you, believe you, not judge you, and support you if you choose to open up. If you are not believed or treated poorly after speaking up, know that there is someone else who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated and will help you along the way. Feelings of shame and guilt are normal, but know that shame and guilt do not have to remain throughout your life. You can grow and heal. You are stronger than you know, even when you feel weak. Be patient with yourself. Be good to yourself. Seek to understand the truth about yourself and listen to truth. Do not listen and believe the lies from sexual violence. To all who have been affected, know and truly understand that you are believed, you are not to blame, you are not alone, and you are loved by God more than you even understand. I have seen some of Jesus’ power and healing on people, and I continue to pray for Him to bring comfort, peace, strength and healing to His children who are suffering and lost. .
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of sexual violence, please check out these resources:
Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN) – www.rainn.org
National Sexual Violence Resource Center https://www.nsvrc.org/organizations
Survivors Chat – http://www.survivorschat.com/
After Silence – https://www.aftersilence.org/
National Eating Disorders.org https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms
National Suicide Prevention: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Online Suicide Crisis Network https://www.imalive.org/
International Association For Suicide Prevention https://www.iasp.info/index.php
Thank you for reading, and thank you to Candace and everyone at Aknowingspirit. God bless you all.
