Lament of Hope

Katherine Paterson is an incredible individual to talk to. Her interview was full of anecdotes about her life, ranging from childhood, to writing, to hardships, and her strong faith in Christ. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did!

Kechi Okwuchi was one of two survivors of a devastating plane crash that killed 107 passengers in Nigeria in 2005. Kechi sustained burns to her body, but her physical scares do not define her. She was a finalist for her singing talent on the 12th season of AGT in 2017, published a memoir five years later entitled More Than My Scars, and currently advocates for several causes close to her heart. Kechi's story is one of faith, honesty, and courage.

Dave Pelzer is a New York Times and International bestselling author. He has written several books, but the one that Dave talked about in this interview was the memoir of his childhood, A Child Called "It." Dave's mother called him "It" and targeted him out of his siblings for horrendous abuse that led him to fear for his life. Dave was taken from his mother at age 12 and went through several foster homes until age 18. Dave talked with me about his mother's abuse, the positive adventures of his adult years, and his desire to help others and be a source of encouragement and hope.

Robin Jones Gunn is a best-selling Christian author of more than 100 books including the Christy Miller series, the Haven Makers series, her memoir, Victim of Grace, and four novels that ended up being adapted into Christmas movies for Hallmark. Robin talked with me about her newest book, Tea with Elephants, which begins her newest series, the Suitcase Sisters. We also talked about tough writing periods, sweet moments with her husband, Ross, and her favorite food, carrot cake.

Naghmeh Panahi's husband, Saeed Abedini, was arrested in 2012 while visiting Iran. Naghmeh spent three and a half years advocating for her husband's release around the globe. She spoke with American presidents, the U.S. Congress, and the United Nations as well as numerous media outlets to bring attention to the plight of the persecuted church. Her husband was released in 2016, but Naghmeh chose separation due to the abuse she experienced before and during his imprisonment. Her husband eventually filed for divorce as he did not want to pursue healing and reconciliation. Naghmeh now advocates for women around the world who experience abuse within the religious community. Naghmeh is a strong believer, and I was so encouraged to hear her story and how she did not lose her faith despite her ex-husband's poor representation of Christ's love for the church. I can definitely say she is one of my heroes. I highly encourage you to take the time to listen/watch this interview to hear her story.

Cristiana was such a gift to interact with as we talked about topics ranging from her acting journey all the way to her thoughts on the meaning of life. Cristiana even read some of her poetry for me! One of my favorite interviews so far. Please take the time to listen to this episode to know more about the actress who played the leading role in Angel Studios' Cabrini, which was released earlier this year.

Anne Ursu is the author of "The Real Boy," "The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy," her newest book, "Not Quite a Ghost," and others. Anne sat down with me to talk about several of her books, how she started writing middle grade novels, her journey with chronic fatigue syndrome, and her love of animals. It was such a delightful conversation, and I am so grateful Anne and I got to connect.

It was an honor for me to connect with Jaha Dukureh. Jaha is one of over 200 million women around the world who have experienced FGM. Jaha is the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, which is an organization that provides support to female survivors in Africa of genital mutilation. Jaha talked with me about her upcoming memoir, her experience with FGM and forced marriage, and how she lives with the trauma of her past. I highly encourage my listeners to make time for this interview. It is informative, vulnerable, and a true story of female oppression that so many women are experiencing around the world, predominately in Africa.

It was a gift for me to connect with Sara Somers who published a memoir on her food addiction journey in 2020 entitled Saving Sara. Sara shared with me her decades-long struggle with binging food and where she is now in her recovery journey. I hope this can be an encouragement to anyone who feels alone in this struggle. You are far from alone, dear listener, and Sara's story proves there is hope. Also, please do check out her blog if you want to know more about her life in Paris!