Today we welcome author, Suzanne Woods Fisher!
About Suzanne Woods Fisher: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA
bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. Suzanne has contracts with Revell for six more books about the Amish, both fiction and non-fiction. Suzanne lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has one husband, four children, one son-in-law, a brand new grandbaby, and a couple of dogs. She graduated from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Find out more about Suzanne at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com
Suzanne, do you have a “life verse”, that you have claimed? If so what is it and why is that verse
so meaningful to you? I’m not sure there’s just one that I consider a “life verse”–but there are times when a particular verse seems to be a life line!
Right now, this is the verse that rolls around in my mind every day: “In your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11).
My dad is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s and I find that this verse gives me such peace about his situation.
AD is such a terrible way to end a life–so hard on the individual, so hard on the family. It’s a marathon with a sad finish. Thinking of Heaven fills me with hope. This isn’t just “the end.” This is just a small point in time, a brief moment in our life on earth, and we have so much to look forward to in Heaven. Dad will be fully restored! And in the presence of God.
Who (or what) is your greatest encourager when you write and why?
My eldest daughter has become my “first reader”–that very first draft when the book is just AWFUL but I need some help or affirmation that I’m headed in the right direction. She’s been amazing–helpful and thoughtful. I send her chunks of the manuscript at a time, via computer (she lives 3,000 miles away and has a brand new baby!). Finding someone who has the patience to help with that first draft–or even the first “outloud” thoughts about a novel–it’s such a gift!
Is there anything else that you would like your readers to know about you that would give us even more of a glimpse into your personality and passions?
I raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind! Right now, I have a 13-week-old golden retriever puppy. It’s kind of crazy to add a puppy into the writing life–but it’s so good, too. Keeps me balanced and makes me laugh…(who can hold back a smile when you watch a puppy bounce around?!).
In fact…the house is suddenly too quiet and I’m wondering where she wandered off…better go!
Hahaha! Well, it has been a pleasure talking to Suzanne this morning!
(A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host: litfusegroup.com)
The subtext of your interview is that you are doing a lot of good in a lot of different areas.
That’s bad for time, but good for writing.