After growing up with four sisters in Illinois, then raising
two daughters, Shirley Kufeldt and her husband left Illinois and her daughters
to retire to Northern Wisconsin in 2007. Having participated in Bible
studies for over 30 years and hearing of the efforts of so many others over the
years to document their personal walk of faith, she developed the Bible Bites
series. Mrs. Kufeldt participates in Tea Party activities as time allows and
cares for her one grandchild (when asked) with joy.
Shirley: I struggled with journaling my prayer
requests many times over the years and was never successful. Trying to focus on
a blank sheet of paper just didn’t work for me and my prayer journals turned
into whining sessions that did not glorify God and I knew it. Over the years, I
accumulated bits and pieces of knowledge, saw others who were successful in
areas where I was not. When the recession started in 2008, I began journaling
in a book my friend had developed over ten years ago. After completing her journal
in just 30 days, I found that I wanted to journal more.
VS:
What inspired you to write your book? If
this is a personal story about you, please share about the decision to open up
about your life.
Shirley: At the end of 2008, my retirement
funds were rapidly being depleted, so I asked God what I could do. I had just
discovered I enjoyed journaling but there was nothing in the Christian book
market that matched the idea God had given me. The first title I came up with
was God’s Word, My Walk. But I knew the name was a very important component to
success so I just asked God for the name. The title became Bible Bites.
VS: Can
you share with us a little about
your current books?
About six ago as I was facilitating a Bible study I asked ladies to respond to the verses they had just read. The one comment was “Wow” as they learned about God’s unconditional love for them, which is now THE WOW FACTOR.
Quite a few years ago, I learned to take my eyes off my problem and focus on God for the solution, hence, GOALS THAT LEAD TO SUCCESS.
We just had election this year and we will have elections in the future. In AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE I found scriptures that apply to governing, justice and leadership to include in this journal.
VS: What
did you find to be the most
challenging part of writing your books?
One day I noticed Halo Publishing, thinking this would be another rabbit trail of wasted time. Numerous e-mails and phone calls directed me to Lisa Umina who took her time with me. In one of our conversations, I mentioned that Eagle River, Wisconsin has Cranberry Fest every October and 40,000 people come to town for the full fall colors, cranberry treats and a craft fair. She focused on that event and was the impetus that got me from publishing “someday” to actually moving forward. She had to convince me that I had a good product because I still felt uncertainty in my heart.
VS:
What part of your
book do you feel really stands out to you personally?
VS:
Do you have any other
works in progress? Can you share a little about them?
VS: What do you think are the basic
ingredients of a good book?
VS: Where can the readers of The Writing Mama find out more
about your writing?
Shirley: Bible
Bites can be purchased through Halo publishing - www.halopublishing.com
Your readers
can visit my blog at www.BibleBites.net
VS:
Is there anything
else you would like to share with us about being a “Writing Mama or Dad”?
During the past three years of writing my prayer requests, I’m experiencing the transforming and renewal process where God is doing something in my life that may not have occurred otherwise. I've been involved in a tea party group and I am more confident in my life and it's easier for me to confront a wrong now without experiencing fear.
The World of Ink Network
will be touring author Shirley Kufeldt’s personal devotions book series, Bible
Bites published by Halo Publishing International. You can find out more about Shirley Kufeldt’s World of Ink
Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/bb3ofxd