Looking out the Window: Terri Gillespie Talks About Her Journey From Reading to Writing. Introduces Her Weekly Devotional Book, Making Eye Contact With God. Giveaway.

 

A Warm Welcome to Terri Gillespie

Terri will give away a signed hardback devotional book. To enter to win leave a comment and an email address below.

Hi Terri, first, tell us a little about yourself. 

I suppose I can begin with I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother. From the time I could press the keys of my grandmother’s ancient Royal typewriter, I have wanted to write stories. It has been a long journey with twists and turns and topsy-turvey experiences, but after sixty years, here I am. It’s never too late.

Many writers were avid readers as children. How about you? If so, what did you read?

I had undiagnosed reading issues. Reading for me was a challenge. My parents didn’t read to me as a child, so despite a passion for writing and telling stories, I struggled with reading.

My grandmother was a storyteller and my best friend. Some of my best memories are of us swinging on the porch swing and her telling me these amazing tales—some of them true.

It wasn’t until my younger sisters were born, when I was almost a teenager, that I began reading the Little Golden Books, to them. From sixth grade to high school, I would read to them at night. Poky Little Puppy, The Saggy, Baggy Elephant—those old classics.

When our daughter was born, we read to her the classic Golden Books, and the newer ones—she loved The Monster at the End of This Book. While she too struggles with reading disabilities, she was able to overcome them to become an avid reader much earlier in life. I like to think it was because we read to her as a child.

It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I read the classics like Gone with the Wind, Jane Eyre, and believe it or not, The Nancy Drew Mysteries.

Why do you write?

I know it’s a cliché, but I write because I must. If I don’t get those stories out of my brain and onto paper, I think you’d find me running the streets screaming—hopefully fully clothed. I process through writing, so I have boxes of journals. 

There was a season where I buried that part of me, until Marlene Bagnull walked into our congregational bookstore and within minutes of meeting me said, “You need to be writing.” 

Tell us about your latest book.

Well, this isn’t my latest book, but it is the book that keeps ticking. Making Eye Contact with God—A Weekly Women’s Devotional, was written for a specialized market—Jewish believers in Jesus. It turns out, some non-Jewish followers of Jesus found it meaningful, too. In fact, my publisher recently informed me that fifty copies were ordered by a company in Abu Dhabi, UAE. We have no idea how that came about, but what a blessing!

Wow! How rewarding to bless so many. In three words describe your style of writing.

Intense. Thoughtful. Feverish.

How do you get to know your characters?

Sometimes they are created, sometimes they just step up and tap me on the shoulder. I love them—even the ornery ones, like Harriet in She Does Good Hair (Book 1 of the Hair Mavens series).

I search online for headshots of people that remind me of the character. Then, I print them and create a folder with the photos, relevant information like hair and eye color, and any backstory pertinent to their story arc. If I forget the protagonist’s eye color, I can open that folder and it is right there.

 What themes do you write about?

Redemption. No matter what we’ve done, our Heavenly Father stands ready with open arms. Whether nonfiction, blogs, or novels, that is my passion.

Do you put yourself in your books?

The devotionals, absolutely. It’s only fair that if I’m asking others to look inside to those dark places, I would have had to have done it, too. 

For fiction, until recently, I would have said no. I would like to emulate some of my characters. Especially the feisty ones, but making a character like me? I didn’t think so.

A few months ago, I sent a third draft of a new manuscript to one of my beta readers, who happens to be a childhood friend and member of several book clubs. She is an avid reader and I love getting her point of view. Once she finished it, she called me and said she loved it. Then she said, “This is really about you.” Given the content, I was surprised. But as I reflected on it, she was right.

So, I guess there is always a bit—or a lot—of an author in their stories.

What are you working on right now?

As I mentioned above, I have completed a manuscript with a working title of, Sweet Rivalry. A women’s contemporary novel. Right now, I have sent it off to a freelance editor, so it won’t be polished and ready for submission to publishers until the Spring. Then, it’s in God’s hands . . .

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Listen to wise mentors who have published. As difficult as it may be, take your time and learn. I missed so many important lessons because I was impatient. Which probably kept me from being more successful.

What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

Sitting in a fetal position, sucking my thumb.

LOL. What is the coolest, wackiest, most risk-taking thing you’ve ever done?

Hubby, our daughter and I went white river rafting on a class 3 river in Washington state. It was the first time any of us had done anything like that. I’m not the outdoorsy type at all, but my boss at the time paid for us to go.

It was peaceful until we hit the rapids. Our guide mentioned that this was a class 3, but I didn’t know what that meant. We sure found out.

I have a photo of us going down what they called the “Drunkard’s Drop.” In the photo I am laughing, but I have no recollection of that. Mostly I remember screaming and thinking I was going to die. 

Making Eye Contact with God—A Women’s Weekly Devotional

What Kind of Eyes do You Have?

Are they downcast and sad, or are they full of God’s joy and passion? This weekly devotional—for women only—enables you to see God in a new and fresh way. Using real life anecdotes combined with Scripture, author Terri Gillespie reveal’s God’s heart for women everywhere, as she softly speaks of the ways in which women see God.

Buy Making Eye Contact with God here

Bio: Award-winning author and speaker, Terri Gillespie writes stories of faith and redemption to nurture souls. Her novels, devotionals, and blogs have drawn readers to hunger for a deeper, passionate relationship with their Heavenly Father.

With over 20 years in ministry, she worked behind the scenes in development and fundraising, wrote the Restoration of Israel radio spots, and was a managing editor of the bestselling Tree of Life Version of the Holy Scriptures (TLV) For three years she posted daily blogs for Wisdom’s Journey and contributes to Arise Daily.

Her first book was Making Eye Contact with God—A Weekly Devotional (2008). Terri then published the first two books in The Hair Mavens series: She Does Good Hair (a 2013 LYRA Winner in Women’s Fiction) and CUT IT OUT! Book 3, Really Bad Hair Day is scheduled for 2020.

Learn more about Terri on her Website

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