Sunday, June 8, 2008

Interview with Sherri Sand

Answer the question at the end of this post for a chance to win a copy of Leave it to Chance by Sherri Sand.

How did you come up with the characters in your book?
They came to me. When I saw Sierra, I knew she was a mom who deeply loved her kids and wanted the best for them. Elise was so fun to write with her over-the-top ways. When she drove up to Sierra’s and pushed her ooga horn, I knew I was going to love her. And Sid is such a dear and reminds me so much of my father-in-law, Art. And Ross, how could you not love him?


Do you have a horse?
No, but I love horses, and desperately wanted one as a child. I did end up with a little Shetland pony named Sundance that I would gallop through the mint fields around our house. I spent countless hours sprawled across him backwards reading books. One time he’d apparently had enough of the dead weight on his back and he lay down. It was a shocking end to my reading time.

Did the theme of forgiveness / unforgiveness that Sierra deals with come from your own life?
In a way it did, though I didn’t consciously implement it into the novel. Just like most of us living in this fallen world, there have been a couple significant events in my life that I had difficulty forgiving. I finally realized that if I waited until I felt like forgiving, it would never happen. And I desperately needed to forgive. The bitterness was choking the life out of me. So with God’s help and through His grace I made the choice to forgive and forgive and forgive. I wish I could say that there was instant peace and joy. Though I think that can happen for people when they forgive, I’d lived in unforgiveness for so long that I had to continually make a choice to forgive until the freedom came. And when that freedom came, it was a wow moment for me!

In the story, Sierra has three young kids, you have four children.
How successful are you at trusting God with their lives?

It’s been an ongoing process for me. Maybe because I’m a writer and have such a vivid imagination, I can always come up with the most gut-wrenching conclusions to the most innocuous circumstances involving my kids. That makes it hard to let go and trust. But how much control do we actually have over every day life? I had to learn that before we can trust God with ourselves or our children, we have to get to know him first. It’s only in knowing God and His character that trust can develop. And when we truly know the God of the universe, we can trust him with everything.

Ross worked hard in his landscaping business in an attempt to prove his value. Do you struggle with that?It’s difficult not to get caught up in that. Our world is performance driven. How often do we praise others without attributing it to something they’ve done?
Even with our children, we praise how well they unloaded the dishwasher or drew a picture or minded us. It’s difficult to find the words to value people for who they are, apart from anything they do. For most of my life, performance colored my relationship with God. I could not wrap my mind around the concept that He loved me despite less than perfect behaviors. Recently I glimpsed His grace from a new angle. Sin does create anger, but God’s anger was satisfied at the cross. So rather than His anger at our sinfulness, we have His pleasure in us. That has done wonders with my ability to be myself with Him, to honestly let His light shine on all parts of me—the good and the unsightly. When you bring your faults to God and discover He isn’t angry, you can fully experience His compassion and love.

If you want to purchase this book click here.
Be sure to visit Sherrie's blog at http://www.sherrisand.blogspot.com/ or her website at http://www.sherrisand.com/

Leave a comment and be entered to win a copy of this novel. Answer the question. What is the best gift you have ever recieved?

11 comments:

Becky C. said...

Interesting interview, and looks like a very interesting book.

Please enter me in the contest.

rec(at)hiwaay(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I'd have to say my best gift is salvation from my sin! my 2nd best would be my children :)

Anonymous said...

At first when I was thinking best gift, I was thinking of something that someone gave me and than realized no, the best gift would have to be my salvation. This book sounds great and I would love to get entered in the drawing.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Pamela J said...

Our family tradition when our boys were growing up was to go to the mountains with packed lunch and hot chocolate and pick a Christmas tree together. This particular year, our family was so out of money we couldn't get gifts or gas to drive to the mountain. A family relative who usually only always has their hand out came to the door with an early gift for us and said we needed to open it right away. It was a 3-foot already decorated Christmas tree. We have enjoyed that tree for years. Remembering the kindness passed our way during that very hard time still makes tears well up in my eyes. Please enter me for your drawing. Thank you.
Pam
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

TK Williams~Hurlston said...

The best gift I received is Salvation. Then my husband and then my family. I love teddy bears so, they are always a great gift to me. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks, TK. vcw1476(at)gmail(dot)com

Sherri said...

Great question. My husband is a blessing and our kids are a gift. Thanks for hosting me Donna!

Cheryl said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. It sounds great. Please enter me in the contest. My email address is shryackmom@charter.net

Cheryl said...

I forgot to answer the question so you can disgard my last comment. I think my favorite gift ever given to me would have to be just a deed done like cleaning the house without being asked or breakfast in bed. I just love to be pampered.

Bethany said...

Absolutely, positively the best gift ever was salvation through Jesus Christ! After that, my husband and my children are my best (and long-awaited!) gifts.

momofjimmy [at] yahoo [dot] com

ChristyJan said...

My life has been filled with gifts and I feel very blessed.
One of the best gifts I've ever received has extended my life and the quality of my life ~ it is the heart valve that I received from a Organ Transplant Donor.

Please enter me to win a copy of Sherri's book.

Anonymous said...

I would have to say my greatest gift has been the understanding that God gave His only Son for me. He was given for me even if I was the only person ever. That is awsome!!

Close second would be the love of my daughter Mal.

anna[at]kinnee[dot]net