Thursday, June 19, 2008

Author Kevin Smith - LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE - Free Book

We're welcoming another author of a nonfiction book today.

Hi, Kevin, you are writing nonfiction. Do you also write fiction?

I have written a couple of children’s stories which are fiction. I haven’t published them yet. There are loosely based on my childhood, though I used some creative license.

What would you like for our readers to know about you personally?

I write as a means of self expression. Growing up I was very shy and tended to internalize many thoughts and emotions. Only later in life did I discover that writing was a therapeutic outlet for those feelings, and that books such as this one could find an audience who might benefit or be encouraged by my experiences.

Tell us about your family.

I grew up the middle child, 3rd in a family of five children. We’re life-long New Jersey residents. Now I am raising my own family here too. I have a wife and one son, a 3 ½ year old who is the subject of Look What the Lord has Done.

Have you written other nonfiction books?

I have written poetry and a truncated version of my son’s testimony from this book in a short story.

What other books have you written, and where can the readers of the blog find them?

The short story was titled “Where are you little ones?” which is also the title to the poem that ultimately launched this book. It is published in a compilation from Xulon Press titled Praise Reports, which can be found by googling or looking up ISBN 9781600349638.

Do you have any other books in the works right now?

I have more children’s books in process and life with my little boy is fertile ground for more of them. As I watch him, it takes me back to my youth and some of my boyhood adventures. I also love the Psalms and would like to publish a book of psalms/poems.

Where on the Internet can the readers find you?

I don’t have a website yet but I have just started a blog on Wordpress.com. The weblog is Rysprouddad, and I started it as an outlet for others to post their testimonies as well. They can also email me at myguyry@yahoo.com.

What kinds of hobbies and leisure activities do you enjoy?

Aside from writing, I am a sports nut, playing sports, watching sports, playing fantasy sports, and now playing sports with my son. I enjoy teaching the Bible in small groups. I like to listen to contemporary Christian music as well as some classical.

Why did you write the featured book?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 refers to God as the “…God of all comfort who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.” This book brings the reader into my prayer closet, where God brought comfort to me throughout our trial. The book started as my journal which helped me to deal with the myriad of issues talked about in the book. Though ultimately our battle was won and our faith was strengthened, we had lots of questions for God and the answer to our ‘why prayer’ was that passage. Our continuing prayer is that this book would have its desired effect; to bring comfort those in affliction.

What do you want the reader to take away from the book?

I would want them to know that having faith does not preclude you from being real with God. He can be trusted with your heart, your emotions, your dreams, and your life. Lastly, that there is a difference between having faith that God will make things go smoothly and having faith that God knows what He is doing, even when things don’t.

Thank you, Kevin, for spending this time with us.

Readers, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

12 comments:

windycindy said...

I am very interested in seeing what his book entails! I like the way he uses his childhood and the observations of his son to write his books. Sounds like a wonderful father and author. Please enter me in your drawing. I always appreciate it!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Lynette Eason said...

Hi Kevin, Your family sounds precious and your book wonderful. Best wishes for the success of it.

Lynette

Anonymous said...

Thank you Lena for posting the interview and thank you readers, especially Cindy and Lynette for being the first readers.

It was truly a blessing to write the book but even more to see the lives that it is touching in many areas. I just had a young lady relay a message to me that she was going to stop trying to have children but then read this book and it changed her whole outlook. That is the real blessing.

Please feel free to stop by my blogs at rysprouddad.wordpress.com and http://shoutlife.com/profile_view.cfm?uid=95512 Kevin Smith. I look forward to getting your feedback on the book. My prayer is that it blesses you.

God Bless,
Kevin
Author Look What the Lord Has Done

Pamela J said...

I should not be amazed that the Lord brings a topic to discuss more than once around the same time frame. In our Ladies Bible Study we talked about "having faith that God knows what He is doing, even when things don’t" go well. I'm very interested in this book, please enter me in your drawing. Thank you.
Pam
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

apple blossom said...

I like reading nonfiction as well as fiction. This sounds like a good book to read.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like this book is touching lives for God, how wonderful! I'd enjoy reading it :).

Anonymous said...

thnaks for sharing! I have a 3 year old boy too; aren't they so fun?!

Grateful Gramma said...

Sounds interesting. Please enter my name in the drawing. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Glad to see the list of comments is growing...good luck to all...I hope it is a real blessing to the winner and I would appreciate the feedback.

Again feel free to visit me on my blog at Rysprouddad.wordpress.com

Good luck

Uniquely Yours said...

Boy he said it in a nutshell. I have a hard time dealing with the hard times because for me they last for years were talking about eight to be exact and I could use some extra help in this area.

kamewh said...

I also have a 3 year old boy :) Thank you for the giveaway!

Carolynn said...

I would love to read the book, please enter me, thanks!