Laura Smith works as a medical coding and reimbursement
specialist in Northern Minnesota. She spent her youth on a small dairy farm in
Northeast Minnesota. She was married two weeks after her high school
graduation. Three years and two children later, she was facing divorce and
single parenthood. She moved to a college town in north central MN where she
hoped to earn a degree and make a life for her and her two young daughters.
There she met and married the love of her life. Together they embarked on a
life together as a ready-made family facing all the challenges that comes with
it. They had no idea that the life experiences they walked through early on and
one life altering event would prepare them for the ultimate challenge, the
possible death of their daughter.
VS: I want to
thank you, Laura for being my guest here on The Writing Mama today. I really
enjoyed reading your book, In All Things: Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost. I
was wondering; how long have you been writing?
Laura: This is
actually my first published book. I have however had a poem published as
well. I do write regular medical coding
articles for my employer and have written articles for the American Academy of
Professional Coders’ national magazine.
VS: What inspired
you to write your book and share your personal story?
Laura: Originally,
I did not intend to share my story, as it was so personal and painful however,
when God gave me the vision he did one Sunday during a church worship service
and it instantly healed my broken heart, I knew it was big. A few months later, He spoke to my heart that
I needed to get this vision out for other hurting people who have suffered
miscarriage or abortion. And that it was
not only for women but men as well who have been touched by these two events.
VS: I think it is wonderful you did choose to take that
leap of faith and share your story. It is not easy to do. What is a typical
writing day like for you?
Laura: Well, I still work a 9-5 job so writing for
me is whenever I can steal away an evening or weekend from my family and other
duties.
VS: Sharing a
personal life story not only means you are exposing yourself, but also those you
love. Is your family supportive of your writing?
Laura: Yes, my
family is very proud of me for publishing my painful journey in order to
hopefully help others through similar events.
VS: Can you share with us a little about your current
book, In All Things: Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost?
Laura: In All Things is my spiritual journey
through real life issues; divorce, single parenting, re-marriage, the desire to
have a child and being told it would not be possible then to experience the
miracle of pregnancy and then devastating loss. It is about the lessons I
learned through these experiences to always trust Him and to look for the
“gold” and when bad things happen, ask the Lord to show me the situation
through His eyes so that I can find that gold because it is always there.
VS: What did you find to be the most challenging part
of writing your book?
Laura: The hardest thing was re-living the loss of
our baby numerous times as I wrote, edited and edited again numerous
times. Also to write these experiences
in such a way that will honor the Lord and our family but also to find the
words that carry such power that they will have the impact and bless everyone who
reads them so they can find peace and healing .
VS: What part of
your book do you feel really stands out to you personally?
Laura: The most impactful part of my book is the vision the Lord
gave me in church one Easter Sunday. That experience was so very powerful that
it healed me instantly from the pain I was suffering after my miscarriage. I still cry every time I get to that part. However,
it is a good cry and helps me to remember my angel in Heaven that I will meet
one day. The lesson I learned through that experienced taught me to always see
things through His eyes.
VS: Your book is considered
a memoir as well as inspirational. What event do you feel was the turning point
to your story?
Laura: I would
say it was again the vision the Lord gave me. It was through that amazing experience that a
few years later helped me to realize that our suffering and experiences are not
about us. They are about learning to
look beyond ourselves and to reach out to others who are hurting and need us.
If not for that experience and without giving away too much of my story, I may
not have a relationship with my daughter today.
VS: Do you have
any other works in progress? Can you share a little about them?
Laura: Yes. I am
currently working on book #2 in the In All Things series called “Expect a
Miracle!” It is about my dad’s two-year journey through cancer. Through his entire life, he was a very bitter
and angry man with no relationship to speak of with his immediate family,
siblings, and even his own children. I
will share how God worked in all of our hearts during that time and beyond.
VS: Sounds like
another wonderful book. What tips can you give writing parents with children at
home to help them see publication?
Laura: Never give
up! Never stop believing in yourself. Nevertheless, always be a parent first.
Those amazing gifts the Lord gave you are precious and are your ultimate
legacy.
VS: What do
you think are the basic ingredients of a good book?
Laura: I
would say it is the ability to capture and hold the reader’s attention from the
very beginning. I have been so blessed to hear from all of my readers that they
started reading my book and were not able to put it down until they finished!
Some even stayed up to the wee hours of the morning to finish. If it is
non-fiction as mine is, always be honest that way it will always reflect your
heart. Do not hold back the hard stuff because you never know who might be
reading it that might need that very message in order to find peace or healing.
VS: What do
you feel as parents we need to do to help our children see success?
Laura: Encourage,
encourage, encourage! Always build up, never tear down. Let them know that no
matter how many times they may fall you will always love them, believe in them
and help them back up. Instill personal responsibility and good values that
will carry through to the next generation.
VS: Have you
received any awards for your writing?
Laura: I did
receive an award for a poem I wrote years ago, however since this is my first
published book and it is so newly published I will say “not yet”. I hope to
however my main goal is to help others through its message.
VS: Where can the
readers of The Writing Mama find out more about and your writing?
Laura: Halo
Publishing: www.halopublishing.com
I regularly update my Facebook and
Twitter pages: https://www.facebook.com/InAllThings
VS: Is there
anything else you would like to share with us about being a “Writing Mama or
Dad”?
Laura: When your
child comes to you with dirty faces and dirty hands, and you are in the middle
of writing a very important section of your project, just put it down and thank
the Lord for these little interruptions. You will never get those opportunities
again.
About the Book:
Experience an incredible journey that will make you laugh
out loud and cry tears of joy and sorrow. Learn how one miraculous encounter
with God created an unshakeable faith that would later give Laura Smith the
strength to face the near death of her oldest daughter.
Get a sneak peek of the book at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4KBlLlBXhQ
Halo Publishing and the World of
Ink Network are touring author Laura Smith’s, In All Things:
Giving Thanks When Hope Seems Lost published by Halo Publishing Int. You
can find out more about Laura Smiths’s World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/77nwvdt
To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com
Last Stops on Laura Smith's Tour:
June 16th
Families Matter Book Review
Writers and Authors – Guest Post
June 18th
Writing to the Hearts of Children – Guest Post
Putting Words Down on Paper – Book Review & Giveaway
June
19th
The
Patient Dreamer – Guest Post
June 20th
Sweeping
the USA—Book Review & Giveaway
June 22nd
Home School Blogger - Book Review
June 21st
Facebook Event Page Wall Chat at 8pm EST
June
23rd
Rambling
of a Coffee Addicted Writer – Spotlight & Giveaway
June
25th
4
the LOVE of BOOKS – Spotlight & Giveaway
The Maggie Project – Guest Post
June 26th
Interview on From My Mama’s Kitchen Radio Show at 11am EST
From My Mama's Kitchen®
- "Personal Success Begins at Home"
Host: Johnny Tan
The
New Book Review
June
27th
BlogCritics
Book Review
June
28th
Writer’s
Sanctuary—Guest Post
http://writersanctuary.blogspot.com/