DRAMA FREE - Cindi McMenamin - One Free Book

Welcome, Cindi. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I write nonfiction and use a lot of other women’s stories, as well as stories of women of the Bible. But I also use enough of my own stories to show my weaknesses, where I needed God’s help and how I learned (and am continuing to learn) what I write.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I often spelled out words in cursive with my fingers in the air when I was trying to remember how they were spelled. (On occasion, I’m known to still do this!)

When did you first discover you were a writer?

I learned to read when I was four years old and began writing stories at 5 years old for my little brother, my dolls, my stuffed animals, and my imaginary friends. I basically wrote for anyone who would “listen.” J

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love reading Christian nonfiction, devotional books, and anything that will deepen my love for and understanding of God. Recently, I’ve begun reading more fiction and enjoying it.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I make it a habit to practice rest through long reflective prayer walks outdoors, finding a beautiful spot and taking in the quiet, and disciplining myself to get away alone with God.

In 2004, I wrote my fourth book, When Women Long for Rest, about how to sit at God’s feet while the rest of the world rushes by. I told my own story of how I realized that God would rather have me spend time with Him than do a bunch of things for Him.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I raised a lovely daughter, Dana, who is now living her dream and working for the Walt Disney Company. In 2013, Harvest House Publishers released my book, When a Mom Inspires Her Daughter, which I wrote with Dana’s help when she was 21. I loved learning more about her through her sidebars and insights that are published in the book.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

A cat. I’ve always loved cats. They are mysterious, neat and clean, and each one is quirky in his or her own way.

What is your favorite food? 

I love eating anything at Chick-fil-A!

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

My greatest problem with writing, at any given time, is lack of inspiration and then the feeling that my writing is manufactured and fake if I don’t become inspired. To this day, if I’m not genuine and honest with myself and with God, then my words will be stale and processed. When my soul is fresh and my relationship is right with God, the words flow onto the pages, (or rather, the computer screen).

Tell us about the featured book.

Drama Free: Finding Peace When Emotions Overwhelm You is a practical book about how to dial down the drama in your life, whether it’s from unexpected events that take you by surprise or petty instances that evoke emotional reactions rather than careful responses. 

Please give us the first page of the book.

(book is not yet in e-format, but if you’d prefer, you can include a link for your blog readers to read the first 40 pages of the book on my website at this address:  http://strengthforthesoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pages-from-Drama-Free.pdf

I’m also including the text of the first page here:

Can We Really Be Drama Free?

I’m no stranger to drama.

I wish that weren’t so.

I wish I could tell you that there has never been a dramatic day in my life and that I have never, personally, played into drama, contributed to drama, or let drama control my circumstances or responses.

But then I’d be lying to you. And that would be more drama.

The truth is, like you, I know drama. I have lived and breathed it–and even abhorred it–because I live in a world where drama happens. And because I see it in the thousands of women I work among and minister to every year.

It probably doesn’t help that I’m a child of a recovering alcoholic, that I’m a “recovering enabler” myself (who just recently figured out what the term enabler really means), and that I have been called–on more than one occasion in my life–“dramatic” when all I really want to be is a woman with a gentle, quiet spirit who is pleasing in the sight of the Lord.

I’d much rather be called discerning than dramatic. I’d much rather be considered wise than a woman who occasionally wigs out. And my goal, spiritually, as well as practically, is to become more mature, not more of a mess, the older I get.

 

Daily I receive emails from women who have read my books, or stumbled across my website or an article of mine, asking my advice on how they can manage their lives and be more spirit-led. And as I answer those emails I get the inkling that I just might be in that place where I’ve finally become a woman whose head governs her heart, and who is able to instruct others on how to be more practical than emotional. But at night, as I lie in bed talking to the God who knows me inside and out, I face the sobering reality that I am just as emotionally volatile as you, and I daily need His peace when emotions threaten to overwhelm me.

Oh, how I long to be drama free.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

See my website, www.StrengthForTheSoul.com. I also have a facebook fan page: Strength For the Soul: https://www.facebook.com/strengthforthesoul/

Thank you, Cindi, for sharing this book with us today.

Readers, here’s a link to where you can buy the book.

http://strengthforthesoul.com/product/drama-free/

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com