Interview With Author Rachel Young
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My motto in life is to have fun. I believe God created us to live life to full—which to me means— to soak in the beauty of every sunset, delight in the giggles of my children, and splash into the deep end of the activity before me.
My writing journey began in the fourth grade when my teacher read my adjective-infused story aloud to the superintendent. I was hooked. I discovered journalism in high school with delightful Bruce who let me sneak off campus for donuts and gave me behind-the-scenes access to everything with my press pass. I learned some more at Azusa Pacific University and put my skills to work at a small-town publication in Pasadena. Then I told God that I wasn’t meant to be a writer, but a baker and extravagant hospitality giver.
With many tears, I answered the call God set before me to endeavor to write my first book. I questioned Him many times if I heard Him correctly. But here we are, to the detriment of my housekeeping, the book he gave me to write is available to anyone who needs its message.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book I just published is God Gave Me Diarrhea.
About 12 years ago my mother-in-law asked me to write down her story where she met the God who sees her. I started the project by interviewing her several times and even writing what I thought was the introduction. Somehow the project got tabled and I put it out of my mind.
Fast forward 10 years and I am 8 months pregnant with my third child. I somehow stumbled upon a one hour webinar with Selfpublishing.com and when the presenter said “a writer needs to write,” I started crying. I knew right then I couldn’t keep delaying. I had to obey God’s call to write this book.
I went up to talk to my mother-in-law who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and early signs of dementia. She did not remember that she had once wanted me to write a book for her. With prodding from her husband, she finally did remember and was thrilled I wanted to take on the project.
Two years later, I am at last publishing God Gave Me Diarrhea, a testimony of faith through impossibly difficult circumstances. It is an interweaving of stories that bring together God’s faithfulness and attentive care.
She suddenly became a full-time caretaker of her 27-year old adopted son when he was severely brain injured. He became like a permanent one-and-a-half-year-old, angry and violent. She had to trust God for the help she needed and saw him answer one prayer after another, the first being in the form of Diarrhea.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have to wake up at 3 or 4 a.m. to write before my children wake up. Sometimes I write at night when I get a whim. I always drink tea while I’m writing.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My all time favorite author is C.S. Lewis. He had a profound way of speaking God’s truths into story. I love any story that captivates me. I have especially loved lately Andy Andrews’ “The Noticer” and Bob Goff. I love theology reading and philosophy. And just a good fun story. Currently reading “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingall’s Wilder to my 1st grader for homeschool. We are enjoying it. And my other all time favorite author is Francine Rivers. I have also recently enjoyed Lynn Austin.
What are you working on now?
Now that I finished my first book, I plan to write the beautiful books of my dear children. A month after publishing my book I am expecting my fourth child. I have three others aged 6, 4 and 2. I plan to homeschool them and fill their buckets with beautiful knowledge and books. When they are all a bit older or launched into the world I may return to writing more.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Trying them all out currently.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
The thing that got my book written is simply writing 3 words a day. It sounds silly. It’s not even a complete sentence. But then I thought, well I have 15 minutes, I could get at least 3 words in. And of course I typically ended up writing far more than 3 words. But even on hard days, it was 3 more words than I would have had.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It came from a Yogi tea bag and it changed my life: Life is best lived by focusing on your goals and dancing through all other distractions.
What are you reading now?
The Elegance of a Hedgehog (and about 9 other books)
What’s next for you as a writer?
Updating my blog every other month just to keep the writing muscle in use.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
the Bible, Oswald Chamber’s Utmost for His Highest, Little Women, Narnia Series by C.S. Lewis
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