Betty Collier, author interview, Living Inside The Testimony
1. What led you to write your book(s) and was there a pivotal event you can
share?
I wrote the book after being divinely inspired by the Lord to share my testimony with
others. The book is obviously based on my faith, and I wrote it well aware that not everyone would share my faith, but I am sharing my faith with anyone who chooses to believe. I never wanted to be an author, and if you had asked me prior to January 2009 if I would ever write a book, my answer would have immediately been "absolutely not," and that would have been the end of the discussion. I've never had a desire to write a book, so you're likely wondering why I wrote it and why I am trying to share it with others now. Perhaps my honesty will make you wonder if the book is even worth purchasing. However, this one thing I do know...I am an author. I became one overnight, and in fact, I know the exact night it happened. It was after midnight when January 9, 2009 turned into January 10th, the night I dreamed about this book. I am confident that if you allow me to share my journey with you, you will understand perfectly, but only if you have the faith to believe.
2. How do you approach the creative process?
I simply started in front of a blank computer screen and began typing. Because my book is a journey through time from when I was in middle school up until the time my husband and our 2 children moved into our dream home, I simply wrote from my heart based on things that have occurred in my past. I believe my urgency and obsession with writing the book allowed me to complete it very quickly. It only took one month to write, but that is because I was totally and utterly consumed and obsessed with getting all of my thoughts and ideas down on paper. I had suddenly realized that I did have a story to tell, so I stayed up until 2:00 AM for a month sitting at the computer screen to tell my story.
3. Are there any influentials in your life that have encouraged you to stay the course as an author?
Since my faith is what made me become an author overnight, it is that same faith
that encourages me to share my journey with others.
4. Can you explain the basic premise of your book?
My story comes from an everyday person who realized how God’s amazing love and
abundant blessings have always surrounded my life. Because of that realization, I am
sharing my life inside the testimony while helping others realize they too live inside
testimonies meant to encourage and inspire others.
It's like watching a Lifetime Movie...You'll go to bed and dream about the real-life characters
in the book...It's a beautiful, heartfelt love story...It's funny, amusing, and entertaining...
It's very emotional and inspirational...You'll laugh on one page and cry on the next...
5. What do you hope to teach your readers?
My purpose is simply to encourage and inspire readers to discover that we all live inside testimonies meant to be shared with others, but I have been just as encouraged and inspired by readers comments. It confirms my original belief that the Lord wanted me to share my journey of faith. As one reader told me, "It's like being on a roller coaster. I didn't know what to expect next. I was laughing on one page and crying on the next...This book is a masterpiece! Thank you so much for sharing. I have been truly blessed."
6. Apart from writing, what other endeavors, or hobbies are you involved in?
On the back of the book, I wrote that I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, nurse, author, and child of the King. That summarizes my life and everything else that I am involved in. Of course my family is my number one priority on this
earth. I have been married to the absolute love of my life for 24 years, and we have 2 boys, ages 16 and 11. That in itself is a full-time job, just keeping up with the 3 of them. I am also a full-time RN; I work as a nurse case manager during the day, and share the journey inside my testimony as an author whenever I can - morning, noon, and night.
7. What would you say to someone thinking about becoming a writer?
All of us have something to share with others, and if we would simply take the time to begin the writing process and stay committed to it, we could all write something to share.
8. Do you have any plans for the future- work related and/or personal?
My plans are simply to share my journey with others, and I will go wherever this book takes me in order to do that. This is only the beginning. Although I had no prior plans to write a book, after literally becoming an author overnight, I know that this is something that I will never give up now. I am passionate about my story, and it’s my desire to reach as many people as I can to inspire and encourage them. There is more to come, but I will have to wait on divine inspiration to figure out what that is.
9. Describe a typical day in your writing life.
Because I have so many other “job titles,” writing became a way of life after-hours. If I had waited until I actually had time to write, it never would have happened. So I made time each and every day, and squeezed in time whenever I could, ensuring that I wrote something each day. I believe I am probably one of the most sleep-deprived people you will ever meet, but when you are consumed and obsessed to write and share your story, you cannot sleep anyway.
10. Tell us something about yourself outside of the job of writing- your interests, an experience you want to share, something you are proud of / or have overcome.
My greatest accomplishment is that I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I am committed to doing the work that he has called me to do. My greatest joy and satisfaction comes from the life I share with my husband and our two children. And if you read my book, you will discover there are a tremendous number of things that I can share with you, things that I believe will help inspire and encourage you. A luxury to me is to find time on a Saturday afternoon to watch a Lifetime movie. I believe if you use one of your Saturday afternoons to read this book, you will feel like you have watched a Lifetime movie.
Living Inside The Testimony is a collection of anecdotes compiled by author Betty Collier. In reading these stories, you will share in her journey and experience the inspiration, faith, hope, humor, romance, and love she experienced. The stories in Living Inside The Testimony revolve around Betty’s experiences with her family, friends, and other individuals who have contributed, often unknowingly, to the path God has chosen for her. You will hear the story of how Betty fell in love at age fourteen (with her future husband), about her husband’s near-death experience with emergency brain surgery a week before high school graduation, their experiences in New York a week prior to 9/11, and the frustrating ordeal she and her husband overcame when trying to build their dream home.
Betty attributes her success and her great love to God, and she shares with readers how God has orchestrated her life’s path every step of the way. Betty’s prayer is that you will see and feel Proverbs 3:5-6 come alive and speak to your heart as you take a walk with her, inside her testimony. She hopes you enjoy the journey and discover that we all live inside testimonies meant to be shared with others.
BIO
Betty Collier is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, nurse, author, and child of the King. Married to William Collier since 1986, they live in Bartlett, Tennessee, with their sons, Jordan William and Brandon William.
Book Giveawy: Be the first to leave a comment on Betty's fanpage and win a free copy of her book: www.facebook.com/livinginsidethetestimony
website links
http://livinginsidethetestimony.com
http://www.facebook.com/livinginsidethetestimony
http://twitter.com/BettyCollier
book trailer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9R57Q3H954&feature=channel
Where is the book sold? (not sure if you need all these sites or not) Of course the main 2 are Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com
barnesandnoble.com
amazon.com
booksamillion.com
cokesbury.com
lifewaystores.com
crossbooks.com
parable.com
christianbookstore.net
promiseangels.com
infibeam.com
