Hi, friends! Today I have a super fun and encouraging interview put together for you with author Amy Elaine Martinez. I hope you will be encouraged by the wisdom and encouragement that she shares. Now go ahead and sit back and we'll get started... Bella: Welcome to my blog, Amy! Would you please start off by sharing with us a little bit about yourself and your writing background? Amy: My name is Amy Elaine Martinez. I'm a southern girl who loves sweet tea and wearing cowboy boots with a sassy top of course. I'm originally from Oklahoma City, OK, but I moved to beautiful, dry Colorado in 1994 to marry my husband. Fun fact: We met and got engaged in 3 weeks, sounds crazy, but we're still going strong 24 years later! I'm a boy-mom to two grown boys, 21 and 19. Recently, I became a mother-in-law...I finally got a girl! I've been in women's ministry, both on staff at a big church and a small church plant...and now on my own as Founder of BeLoved Lumière Devotional. I'm a teacher at heart. Bible study is my jam! My writing background: I have a degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in social work, from Oklahoma Baptist University, but I probably should have been an English or History major. When my son got married in 2015, I wrote a book for my daughter-in-love as a gift and a countdown to their wedding. Every time someone saw it, they said, “You should get that published...” The next summer, I went to a large Christian writer's conference and started pursuing my dream. I've always loved writing and while leading Bible studies and women's retreats, I found myself writing devotionals for many events. Eventually, with a lot of sweet encouragement, I decided to start a weekly online devotional. So, while I'm new on the writing scene, I've been writing for years. Bella: What did your publishing journey look like for your brand new book Becoming a Victory Girl: Staking Your Claim in the Kingdom? Amy: Wow! This was a bittersweet journey. The truth is I knew I wanted to make my devotional series Becoming a Victory Girl into a book for several months, but was honestly too scared to figure out how ‘self-publishing’ worked and make it happen. Then, one day, a dear friend, who is more of a speaker than a writer, achieved my dream of having a book before I did. It was like a wake-up call. I was devastated. That's really hard to admit, but I was. I was so very excited for my friend; she's an amazing woman of God, yet at the same time, I was really disappointed in myself. So, what's a disappointed girl to do? I didn't tell a soul and just did it...all by myself! I decided to make my dream come true! And, in just a few short weeks, Becoming a Victory Girl: Staking Your Claim in The Kingdom (the book) was born! It was a real, tangible, hold-it-in-your-hands book. I learned a whole lot and I certainly wouldn't call it easy, but I'm really pleased with my new book and I love the cover. Bella: What was the inspiration behind your book? Why was the message important to you? Amy: Becoming a Victory Girl was inspired by a conversation God started with me on a plane ride home from Oklahoma. He started talking to me about land and territory and destiny on the plane. I looked out the window and saw the land, you know, those plots of land you see when you are landing. I was struck by the image of the land with its territorial and boundary lines. I had just spent several weeks in the ICU with my sister who almost died from a very rare blood disorder. Praise God, she was miraculously healed, but I was weary from the hard-fought battle. I heard the Lord say, “Take the land!” I didn't know what in the world that meant, but over the next several months of spending time with Him, I walked away with a much richer understanding and better picture of what He was trying to speak to me. We've each been given a place of influence, it's our spiritual territory. Becoming a Victory Girl sums up what it means to stake your claim in the Kingdom of God and walk in your God-given destiny through victorious living. This book is written for the woman who is weary from Life's battles and ready to take back what the enemy has stolen! Bella: On the topic of writing, what is the most important piece of advice that you would give to any new writer just starting out? Amy: I think the most important advice I would give is the same that I have received... You have a unique voice and a God-given story. No one can tell your story and if you don't tell it, nobody else will. Don't compare yourself to others; cling to the beauty of your own story and the fact that you've been chosen to write it and tell it. Bella: What is the most important piece of writing advice that has ever been given to you? Amy: On a technical note, staying true to your voice and message is a vital part of any compelling piece. One way to stay focused and en pointe is to have a picture of the person you are writing to on your desk. Whether that's a real person, or just a fictional character you have in your mind, if you can keep writing to her and for her, your message will be consistent and speak right to the heart of the reader. It's also good for a little comedy relief to have a picture of an unknown person, your imaginary friend, on your desk. Every writer needs that on the days when the words just won't come. A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. Proverbs 17:22 (TPT) Bella: How does being a Christian shape the way you write and the things you write about? Amy: For me, being a Christian shapes everything I write. It's like the woman who loves much because she's been forgiven much. I can't help myself but to tell how knowing Jesus has changed my life. I was a wreck when I wasn't following Him. He loved me through my ugly choices. One of the main reasons I write is to give hope to women who don't believe they can change. We're all one bad choice from disaster, but with Jesus there is hope. I'm not who I used to be thanks to Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. If I can change, they can too. Bella: To end with a fun question, if you could invent any ice cream flavor in the world, what would it be? Amy: I LOVE this question. We've always told our kids they had NO CHANCE of not liking ice cream...we are an ice cream loving family. I'm not gonna lie, this isn't totally original, but I'd invent something like I had on a San Diego pier not too long ago. It would be called, “Sandy, Salty Beach,” with a vanilla base, crushed graham crackers, toasted coconut flakes, mini dark chocolate chips, a frozen peanut butter strip running throughout, and a pinch of sea salt! All my favorites in one! Bella: Thank you so much for joining us today, Amy, and sharing your beautiful story! <3 Becoming A Victory Girl giveaway! Amy was gracious enough to give a book away here today! So one of you is going to have the fantastic opportunity to win her new book! All you have to do to be entered into the drawing for the giveaway is comment below answering the question if you could invent any ice cream flavor, what would it be? That's it! Fun, right? Start commenting! Giveaway winner announced next Friday!
14 Comments
Grace F.
1/5/2018 10:16:53 am
Thank you for sharing this with us, Mrs. Martinez.
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Bella Morganthal
1/5/2018 10:10:51 pm
Haha I knew you'd choose something like that! XD Ooh frozen yogurt is sooo good!
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Anna P.
1/5/2018 02:12:56 pm
This was a great interview! :) Thank you for sharing this with us! Your book looks awesome!! :)
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Bella Morganthal
1/5/2018 10:11:34 pm
Ooh that sounds delicious, Anna!! xD
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Joanna
1/6/2018 02:41:44 pm
Wow! that was a wonderful interview! xD
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Bella Morganthal
1/11/2018 06:15:52 pm
Yummy!! Yessss, especially to the whipped cream part xD
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Olivia Bell (aka Livy)
1/6/2018 06:49:06 pm
This was such an interesting interview, her book sounds amazing! =)
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Bella Morganthal
1/11/2018 06:17:26 pm
You're making me hungry, Livy! xD
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Olivia
1/7/2018 09:02:38 pm
This was a really interesting post! Totally love it!
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Bella Morganthal
1/11/2018 06:18:14 pm
Ooh that sounds awesome, Olivia! Especially the maple syrup flavor part :)
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1/8/2018 12:41:12 pm
This interview was so fun! Thank you!
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Bella Morganthal
1/11/2018 06:19:42 pm
Haha, awesome Chloe! Peanut butter goes with everything! xD
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Amber Elkins
1/9/2018 03:08:46 am
I would invent an ice-cream that could magically change into whatever flavor your heart desired or that your mind could imagine! I'd call it... Dream-cream?
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Bella Morganthal
1/11/2018 06:20:24 pm
That's an awesome idea, Amber! xD
Reply
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About this page:
This page of my blog is dedicated specifically to writers. I've been writing for over half of my life. I live and breathe writing. Because of that, I'm passionate about helping other writers grow, develop, and succeed. This section of my blog will include blog posts dedicated to writing, encouragement, and resources. Feel free to read through some posts and my contact form is always open if you ever have any questions or need encouragement! ♥ Archives
April 2018
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