Aug 9, 2021
I was privileged to invite Author Abigail Follows for an interview to discuss her latest book Hidden Song of the Himalayas. Enjoy!
**********
What's your book about, and what inspired you to write it?
Hidden Song of the Himalayas is a memoir about the seven years my family and I spent as missionaries in North India. My husband and I were really still newlyweds when we left, and we had a baby within our first year in the field. If that sounds intense... it was! The whole seven years were intense. We faced sickness, injury, and stress. I personally wrestled with God daily, asking a lot of truly difficult questions. Not the least of which was how we could explain the gospel in a way that was relevant and meaningful to a people group very different from us.
I wanted to write this book because of God's interaction with me personally
during our service. He met me where I was and used our difficulties to answer
my questions. Not only that, but He proved Himself to me. He showed me that
even if He brings me to the brink of everything I know, He will always be there
waiting on the other side. He'll catch my fall. Particularly when He asks me to
do things "I can't do." He can, and does, empower us to face harder
challenges than we think we're capable of handling.
Who
is your target audience, and why do you think this book will appeal to them?
First
of all, people who are trying to live their lives in a way that pleases God.
They might have hard questions for God; they might need a little inspiration
and encouragement in their journey with God; they might not know what to do
next; but ultimately, they want to be a part of God's plans.
I've really bared my heart in this story--so much so that sometimes I feel a
bit overexposed now--but I'm so glad I was honest about my doubts, fears, and
difficulties. Many people have written to tell me that my personal spiritual
journey gave them encouragement. And seeing the way God came through, even by
modern-day miracles, can give us hope to keep trying.
My second target audience would be anyone interested in missions or evangelism.
I deal with a lot of practical questions on how we as Christians can be a
blessing in our communities, so I think that anyone in a ministry context, or
supporting someone in a ministry context, would find our story interesting.
What
message do you wish to pass across to your readers with this book?
I
hope my readers come away with the sense that God exists, His plans are
awesome, and it's worth any cost to follow Him. I also want people to know that
missions can be done in a way that is redeeming rather than demeaning.
What
was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Getting
started! Since the day we left India, I felt impressed that I needed to write
our story. But I couldn't even look at pictures of India that whole first year
after we left. Finally, I forced myself to open up our computer and look at
them--I looked at thousands in the space of just a few hours. I had a good,
long cry to grieve what I left behind and celebrate my experiences and
relationships in India. After that, I was finally ready to write.
As
a writer, is there anything you've learned about yourself while writing this
book?
I
learned that I really can get up at 5:30am. :) Most of my writing was done in
the early mornings, before my kids were awake. I thought that would be
impossible, since I'm a total night owl. But I prayed about it, and God sent me
a kitten who had the habit of waking up early and pouncing me. Thank You, Lord!
For
your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books,
and why?
I
prefer reading paperback books rather than ebooks. I find them more comfortable
for my eyes, and I just enjoy the whole experience of holding a book.
What
is your niche genre, and if you were to write in a different genre, what would
it be?
The
niche of this book is Christian memoir. I'd also be interested in writing
middle-grade Christian novels. There might be something in the works for that
niche soon.
What
books and authors have most influenced you?
Anne
Lamott is so honest and funny. I also love anything written by June Strong.
But I grew up reading as much as I could get my hands on, so I'm sure I've been
influenced in small ways by all the books I've read.
Is
there anything you'd like readers to know about you?
I
never thought I could handle being a missionary, and briefly considered
breaking up with my then-boyfriend when he said he felt God was calling him to
overseas missions. God had a lot of work to do to change my heart; thankfully,
He's good at that.
Do
you have any more books in the works?
Yes!
I am working with my friend's father to write about his experiences escaping
certain death under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. He eventually found himself in
a refugee camp, where he became a Christian after Jesus appeared to him in a
vision. I'm really excited about the project and praying I'll be able to tell
his story well.
Do
you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
So
far, yes. :) I try to be like Jesus and not care too much what people think.
But in reality, I feel like I'm going to die if I get a bad review, and like
I've been given a new car when I get a good one. After those feelings fade,
however, I try to mine reviews for anything that will help make my writing
better. What are people resonating with? What is helpful, and what isn't? If
something helps me improve my craft, it's a blessing.
𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟯 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 /𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂:
- I'm
allergic to cold (literally) but I love swimming in lakes anyway
- My husband
and I like to play guitar together
- As a child, I used to cry in sympathy at
the end of the song, "Ten in the Bed," when the little one was
lonely.
How
can readers get in touch with or follow you (website, personal blog, social
media handle, Goodreads)?
www.abigailfollows.com
Abigail Follows has lived on
three continents and understood the life stories of friends in three languages.
She has been a cross-cultural missionary for 11 years. Abigail lives wherever
God leads with her husband, two children, and cat, Protagonist. Hidden Song of
the Himalayas is her first book. To learn more, visit www.abigailfollows.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment