Book Writing Made Simple | How to Write a Book, Christian Author, Self-Publishing, Memoir, Holy Spirit

The Untarnished Moments Podcast has officially published 20 episodes with over 500 downloads to help inspire individuals to move forward with their lives in the various areas of personal development. So far we’ve had topics discussing mental health and wellness, developing healthy boundaries, dealing with emotional trauma, self-care, and more. 

The party is just getting started! I’m super excited and encouraged to keep going. I know that someone somewhere needs this show. I’m so grateful to those who have reached out to me to provide your feedback and offer your support. It means a lot. We are Overcomers! Let’s see what God has in store for ALL the episodes to come. 

In this solo episode, I share when I officially launched the podcast and how I feel about podcasting so far. Listen in to hear more about how I’m maintaining a full-time job, running a podcast, and going back to school part-time.

In  this episode, I also share:

• How my Junior year as an adult college student turned out

Resource Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie 

Always Remember: “Starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed unless you stop trying”

Thanks for tuning in. 

This week, I sat down with Jenna Hodge, a Motherhood Coach, who helps moms with the challenges they face in motherhood. Being a mom of three boys, Jenna helps other moms take care of themselves while taking care of their children. She has overcome post-partum depression three times and has managed to find time for herself and eat balanced meals.

In this episode, Jenna discusses: 

• Her personal experiences as a first-time mom

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Jenna Hodge:

• Jenna’s Instagram

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie 

In this episode, we'll discuss the importance of healthy boundaries and how to establish them in our lives. Today’s guest is Meghan DeVito a Christian Life Coach and Boundary Builder who has a personal story of overcoming challenges and learning to set healthy boundaries.

In this episode, Meghan discusses: 

• Her personal story of recovery overcoming challenges and realizing the importance of putting healthy boundaries in place

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Meghan DeVito:

• Meghan’s Facebook 

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie 

Thank you for listening!

Be sure to subscribe, share, and review on your favorite listening platform. 

This week, I spoke with Carla Arges, the Host of the Affirming Truths Podcast, Founder of In HIS Image Wellness Collective, Author, Mom, Wife, and Mental Health Advocate. Her mission is to help women take thoughts captive, renew their minds and affirm their identity in Christ. She loves to see women gain confidence in who they are and walk more boldly in God's purpose over their lives. Carla will share her personal journey and how she has implemented healthy, God-centered coping strategies.  

In this episode, Carla discusses: 

• Her experience with childhood trauma and mental illness

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Carla Arges:

• @carlaarges

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie

We hope this episode has encouraged you and that you have found some helpful insights and tips for dealing with trauma, mental illness, and building a relationship with Jesus.

Be sure to subscribe to the show

This week, I spoke with Reshanda Yates, a Food Trigger Specialist who shares her personal journey of overcoming binge eating and losing 60lbs by learning to love herself. Reshanda dives into her struggles with food triggers and how she ended her binge eating habits.

In this episode, Reshanda discusses: 

• How to regain your power over food triggers so that you can have more energy and better mental performance

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Reshanda Yates:

• https://www.instagram.com/reshandayates/

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie 

Thank you for listening, and I hope you found this episode informative and inspiring.

This week, I spoke with Dr. LaToya Wiggins, the CEO of She is Nourished, LLC. She is a wellness coach, self-care strategist, and transformational speaker for Christian moms. Her goal is to help moms with multiple children go from worn-out to winning, and develop healthy habits to be nourished, renewed, and rejuvenated with biblical principles that bring peace instead of self-pity. Dr. Wiggins holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Marymount University and health and life coaching certifications from the Health Coach Institute. She is a wife, mother of three sons, physical therapist, and lover of health and wellness. Dr. Wiggins enjoys dancing, step classes, comedy shows, and traveling.

In this episode, Dr. LaToya Wiggins discusses: 

• The importance of pausing before reacting

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Dr. LaToya Wiggins:

• https://instagram.com/sheisanourishedmom

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie

Thank you for listening, and we hope you found this episode informative and inspiring.

This week, I’m excited to chat with Sabrina Carter-Anderson, founder of Black and Traveled, a travel company focused on empowering Black men and women to pursue their largest travel dreams and providing a safe space for them to travel without limitations. A company that provides luxury and value to its community of travelers. 

In 2018, she took a chance and booked a group trip to a faraway place….Thailand. After salvaging that trip, she realized just what’s needed to have a memorable first-time experience abroad. With over 14 years of project management experience and a love of travel, she decided to create Black and Traveled. 

Since its inception, travelers have voyaged to 7 countries and there are more bucket list destinations to go to.

In this episode, Sabrina shares:

• Her experience of going on a group trip to Thailand

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Black and Traveled:

• IG: @blackandtraveled

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie

Kristin Secor was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy which affects her mobility, strength, balance, endurance, and breathing (she uses a ventilator full-time). She has worked as a licensed mental health counselor for 11 years and is now the owner and author of a wheelchair-accessible travel blog. Despite her physical challenges, she lives life to the fullest and actively pursues her love of travel which she shares on her blog. Her mission is to inspire people to travel and provide accessible travel information and resources to make wheelchair travel easier.

Kristen has traveled to 4 continents and 20 different countries. By the end of 2026, her goal is to visit all 7 continents.

In this episode, Kristen shares:

• How to research, plan, and organize your accessible trip in advance

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Kristen Secor:

• IG: @worldonwheelsblog

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie

Maureen is the President of LIFESWITCH, INC. where she helps women over 40 lose weight and age gracefully to experience more energy and purpose without dieting, calorie counting, or excessive exercise. She is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach with a MA in Psychology. 

Throughout Maureen’s life, she encountered unexpected hardships from seeing her brother become paralyzed, having a mother living with Alzheimer's, dealing with a loss of an infant child, and being hit by a bus in a car accident.

After Maureen’s bad car accident, she was told she would not run, bike, or swim again. However, her passion for health and wellness helped her to heal. Within five years of the accident, she ran the Boston Marathon, competed in a half ironman, and summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, East Africa. 

And by the way, Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano with three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It's the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain above sea level in the world.

How cool is that?! A living example of grit, tenacity, laser focus, and resiliency!

In this episode, Maureen addresses: 

• How to deal with mental blocks that interfere with living a healthier lifestyle

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Connect with Maureen Kemeny:

• Facebook

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram @iamdonnasherrie

Has there ever been in a time in your life when you questioned why you were suffering? Suffering physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually. We don’t tend to know why God allows some experiences or ailments to happen to us but we can still hold fast to His promises during those difficult times. 

This week I interviewed Karis Meier, the Author of Suffering Redeemed: Finding strength to endure, purpose in pain, and hope for tomorrow.

It’s been seventeen years since Karis can remember feeling well in her body. She has learned to live feeling sick and in pain, but it certainly doesn’t get easier with time. In 2006 she contracted a few species of rare intestinal parasites while traveling overseas. But, the diagnosis went undetected for several months. Karis started feeling sick amid the process of getting married and moving to Alaska, where her husband was stationed in the army. A few months later he was deployed to Iraq. The doctors kept telling Karis it was nerves but she knew it was more. After losing 25 pounds, and persistent to get more tests done, the parasites were found and then treated.

In the weeks that followed, she waited expectantly to start feeling better. But was left disappointed. Every time Karis ate, she felt sick. She was depleted of energy and couldn’t gain the weight back. Stomach pains woke her up in the night and stole her sleep. She felt despair starting to find its way into the core of her being.

Time elapsed and by God’s grace, he brought blessings in the midst of her trial. After being told she would never be able to have children, Karis became pregnant with a son. As the army moved her family from place to place, she met many wonderful people who encouraged them on the way. Although life was not what she would have wanted, God faithfully walked with her family each step of the way.

Only by her hope in Christ and eternity to come was she able to keep on going every day. She burned to use the illness as an opportunity to share her testimony of hope in God. At the same time, she felt burdened by the fact that she may remain ill and weak for the rest of her life and all she could think about was wanting it to be over. Those were the thoughts that would constantly bring her back to her knees, longing to get the Father’s perspective again.

Karis didn’t think things could get worse, but they did. Her heart and flesh were failing her and despair loomed around every corner. The list of bodily ailments continued to grow: intestinal disease, malabsorption, pancreas atrophy, heart arrhythmia, Lyme disease, and peripheral neuropathy. It seemed like her body wanted to give up and so was she. The battle against depression and despair was always waging.

Karis and her husband now have four children and reside in Northern Virginia. She holds a BA in Christian Education and a MA in Counseling. She is a Wife, Mother, Author, Counselor, and Speaker. Karis has struggled with chronic illness for many years and is passionate about sharing how God leads her through this journey. Her heart is to walk alongside others in their suffering and seek God’s comfort and hope in the process. When Karis is not writing, you can find her enjoying the sun, taking walks, playing with her kids, watching soccer, and reading.

In this episode, Karis shares:

• How to find joy in the midst of suffering

Resources Mentioned:

• Untarnished Book: Free Chapter

Key Verses: 

• Psalm 42:11

Connect with Author Karis Meier:

• Facebook

Connect with Me: 

• Instagram:s @iamdonnasherrie