I'm happy to welcome Suzy back to the blog with a heartwarming, hilarious Christmas story. Suzy, tell us about your salvation experience. I grew up in the church, and was saved at a young age (let’s say seven) and then baptized at 12. However, in my teenage years I went through some questioning about my faith, and I’m sad to say I walked away from the Lord in my early college years. I realized how empty my life was without him pretty quickly, however, and I rededicated my life to Christ in July 1987. I also dedicated my life to missions, or full time ministry if He wanted at that time. Obviously, at that moment, Christ took the reins of my life and my heart and I’ve never been the same since. Yay!
How did you and your husband meet?
I worked as a program director at a wilderness camp; he worked as a trail guide at a local outfitter’s place. My place had no indoor plumbing or electricity – his place was a cake walk with HOT showers and a television! So, every weekend I went down and took a shower and ate hot pizza. We met during training week – or rather, he remembers meeting me during training week; I don’t’ remember meeting him until the end of the summer when our crew came to help their crew tear down a building. I was assigned to his tear down crew, and my first words to him were, “Can I borrow your hammer?” We “hit” it off, and were engaged 2 ½ months later!
James and I got married 3 months and 3 days after we met. Now, you’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?
Hmmm….well, I love the plotting and deep thinking of James Scott Bell; the spiritual depth of Rachel Hauck; the literary voice of Mary DeMuth, and the free-spirited fun of Karen Ball. (Can’t I have more? I have SO many more!!)
Do you have a singing and speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.
Not singing – unless you count Karaoke, and if you ever heard me sing, you’d know I have a voice fit only for heaven (as in, it needs to be transformed). But I do love speaking – I do a lot of women’s ministry speaking, at retreats, luncheons, teas, etc. I love getting to know w
omen on a personal level, and sharing so many of the stories that God has used to teach me. (I’m a storyteller, not a Bible expositor).What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?
I brought the wrong kid to summer camp! Sadly, our camp was six hours away (one way), and they had flipped the regular schedule, so I THOUGHT I was supposed to bring my son – but I should have brought my daughter. I was rescued by a great friend who picked her up and drove her ½ way. We were still able to get her to camp by the lights out bell! I always double check now…
Now tell us about the book.
Yes. I LOVE Christmas stories - and every year I read aloud to my kids (okay, my college kid MIGHT be too old), The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever. And recently Dave Barry's, The Shephard, the Angel and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog. (SOOO funny). I wanted to write my OWN Christmas Classic.
So, I did. Well, at least I HOPE it is a Christmas classic.
Marrianne Wallace is focused on two things this holiday season: planning the greatest family Christmas ever and cheering on her youngest son’s football team in their bid for the state championship. Disaster strikes when the team loses their mascot—the Trout. Is it going too far to ask her to don the costume? So what if her husband has also volunteered her to organize the church Christmas tea. When football playoffs start ramping up, the Christmas tea starts falling apart. Then, one by one, her children tell her they can’t come home for Christmas. As life continues to unravel, will Marianne remember the true meaning of the holidays?
Dear Readers, I've read and reviewed this book, and I think you'll love it.
Thank you, Suzy for spending this time with us.
Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
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 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
