One of my favorite books is The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity. I love it so much because of the conversations between Mack and God. It made me ponder my own perceptions of God and why “bad” things happen. And the whole book felt so real that I could see myself in the story. Why am I telling you this?
Because the conversations in The Shack were one of the aspects that inspired my new book, Not Far From The Truth.
Another set of books that inspired my book is the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection. Each of the multiple books has short stories that are sentimental, positive, and easy to read. I love reading them when I want to pass the time, but I don’t want to think too much. Plus, finishing a story gives me a sense of accomplishment.
So, there you have it, short stories written in the form of conversations. This is the format of Not Far From The Truth!
But let’s talk about the content...
I remember the first time I saw my first Black client after being in a majority White school and town. Her issues felt a little more personal; I actually felt my heart skip a beat at one point in the session. There is something about a shared lived experience that connects us with others. That’s why we love when people say, “I also grew up in … (your hometown).” That’s all they need to say for you to feel like they get you.
So, when I was thinking about writing this book, naturally I thought of how I can make the reader have shared experiences with the characters in the book. That’s why the stories are all about things you and I have been through, losing loved ones, disappointing someone, wrestling with faith issues, dealing with discrimination, struggling with aspects of migration, navigating singleness, workaholism, and many more.
But the coolest thing about the stories is that they are hopeful (because I’m tired of sad Black peoples stories). You will notice that the themes of the book are the same as the themes of this blog, mental health, Christian faith, and African culture.
I’m excited for you to have an insider view of the book and to sign up for the waitlist by clicking on the link below.
