Write to the Point with Melissa Finnegan

Well, if you  haven’t figured out by now that I am a bit crazy this interview ought to do it. Today I am interviewing myself as I have a book out….sort of. I contributed to a book that is out. But you can read all about it below and then grab a free copy of it for yourself. Enjoy!

What is the name of the book you contributed to?

Sweet Freedom with a Slice of Peach Cobbler, it’s compiled by Jennifer Slattery.

What is the book about?

Here’s the back cover blurb:

In these pages you will read stories of people held in bondage by fears, bitterness, and deep emotional wounds, set free by their loving, compassionate, all powerful Savior. The same Savior that longs to free you. For when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. 

This Fourth of July, may you grab hold of the freedom that penetrates to your very core. A freedom only Christ can give you.

Basically in this book you will find fiction and non-fiction stories of people being healed, set free and coming alive in Christ. This book will bless your socks off 🙂

How did you get to become part of this book?

Short answer: God

Slightly longer answer: I have no idea.

The real answer: I really have no idea, it was God.

Right around Christimas I got an email from Jennifer Slattery asking me if I would be interested in contributing to a book for Christimas 2013 and possibly July 4th this year. I thought, “Hm, why would Jennifer ask me to do this? I only had a small interaction with her when I featured a couple of authors she worked with on my blog. But why would she ask me? There are ‘real’ authors in this email. She must have accidently added my address.”

Seriously, this is what I thought. There was no way she meant to ask me to join this group of “real” authors. But I emailed her back and basically said, “If you really meant to email me then I would love to do this.”

She emailed me back and said that my name was no accident.

I still have no idea what made her think of me, so I have to attribute it all to God.

What did you contribute to the book?

I wrote a short story called “Burned” and a devotion following a true story by another writer. Kelly’s story is truly inspirational as she shares all God has delivered her from, not only spiritually but physically as well. My devotion is called “Delivered.”

Have you written a lot of short stories before?

None, so I wasn’t sure how this would turn out. But I was pretty pleased with the final outcome.

How did you come up with the idea for your story?

I really struggled to come up with a story idea to tie into the fourth of July. But one day I was teaching one of my second grade music classes and we were studying Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel. You can hear the music here. 

As I thought about the music I started to create a character who played an instrument in the orchestra who was struggling to overcome a hurt in her life and through the music God would set her free.

The story developed from there and I realized Julie, my main character, had been burned in more ways then one in her life and both times occurred on the fourth of July. She has to learn to trust and love again.

It was fun writing about a character who loves music, since I am music person. I was able to combine writing and music. I want to do that more often.

What do you want your readers to take away at the end of the story?

I hope the reader will see that it is only in loving others and allowing others to love us can we fully embrace the love Christ has lavished on us.

How can we get our hands on this book?

Two ways. You can leave a comment and I will send you the PDF or if you own a kindle you can download it from Amazon for free for the next few days after that it will only be $o.99. Click here to download to kindle.

Will it be available in paperback?

Yes, it will, but not yet. I will let you know when that happens.

Anything else you would like to add?

I am very excited to see what God wants to do with this book. I hope you all will get a copy and let us know what you think. I know all the contributors are blessed to be a part of this book.

Sweet Freedom is just another example of God’s Genesis 5020 in my life. I would not have been a part of this amazing group of ladies if not for what the enemy meant to use to harm me.

Again, if you want a copy (and I hope every single one of you do) I can email you a PDF, just leave a comment letting me know you want one, or click here to download on your kindle.

Thanks for indulging me today. I do hope you will be blessed by this book and have a wonderful 4th of July.