Books In Sync Author Spotlight Interview With Brenda Craig Books In Sync,Brenda CraigAuthor And Founder Of Spirit Food for Life Ministries - PublishesCarvings In HisPalm,Soaking with a Purpose: The Five P’s to Living InGod’s Presence Through Purpose Driven Soaking, AndDiving Deeper: The Seven I’s To Intimacy & PersonalTransformation Through The Power Of God’s Word.

Brenda is a graduate of the

International PropheticMentoring Counsel

, a ministry of

Mary Lindow

. She hashad many years of training through various ministries such as:Dr. Bill Hamon, Patricia King’s Glory School, Mary Lindow,Kansas City IHOP, Apostle John Dean of AllianceInternational Ministries and many others.You can read more of Brenda’s writings at

www.allaboutprayer.org

under Hearing God and at

www.faithwriters.com

where she garnered 1

place for her poem “Surrendered to Red

”

which has beenpublished in Faith Writers Abundance of Life.As a prophetic teacher and Seer, Brenda has received revelation on how to take the simple act of “Soaking in His presence” to a new level. She has developed a course called ‘Soaking with a Purpose’.Brenda and her husband, Duane, have three children and reside in San Antonio Texas.

*************************Q: Tell us what makes you proud to be a writer from Texas?

I am originally from Kentucky and have lived in several states as I traveled with my husband whilehe was in the military. Our last duty station was San Antonio, Texas and we loved it so much we retiredhere. I am proud to a Texan now and consider it a privilege to be able to contribute to one of the greateststates in the nation. San Antonio, home of the Alamo, has a rich spiritual history that blesses andinspires me. I am a woman of faith and San Antonio has a history of faith. We fit well together.

Q: What or who inspired you to become a writer?

I began writing poetry when I was a young child without any inspiration from anyone. I didn’t evenunderstand why I was writing. I just did. I quit writing in my teenage to young adult years. It wasn’tuntil I gave my life to Christ that I began writing again. Once again I penned a few poems. One dayanother secretary I worked with named Carmen found one of my poems and she became my personalencourager. I often wonder what I would have done without her encouragement.However, this lasted only a few years and I quit once again. One day I picked up the book by FrancisRoberts, Come Away My Beloved and I was captivated. I read her book for many years and she becamethe inspiration for my book. I loved her heart for God and her ability to hear His voice. I had writtenpoems of prophetic vein many times but never in paragraph or letter form. I had never written a story ora teaching. Poetry was it.

2Over a period of time I found myself in a wilderness situation in life for more than three years. I beganto record my times with the Lord as He would write letters of love and encouragement to me. I simplytranscribed His thoughts to me on paper. Before I knew it, I was writing like my favorite author FrancisRoberts. She to this day is an inspiration to me.I also became a regular part of

FaithWriters

and contributed there for some time. This inspired me andgave me the courage to put my writing out there for others to read.

Q: When did you begin writing with the intention of becoming published?

I am not quite sure. Somewhere around 2004 or 2005. I toyed with it awhile and found an editor. Itdidn’t work out well so I quit thinking about it for some time. Then I met Randall Niles of

All AboutGod

and through supernatural events my letters were published on his website. I began

Journals of theHeart

in response to Randall publishing my God letters. This led me to consider publishing a collectionof my books once again the end of 2007. It was quite a journey.

Q: Did your environment or upbringing play a major role in your writing and why?

I believemy upbringing and environment played a big part. Growing up, I did not fit in and poetry became a wayto express myself in ways I was not capable of or allowed to do in any other way. My environment…mywilderness experiences were without much human companionship and left me clinging to the Lord. Thiscreated and environment conducive to hearing His voice. Without the wilderness I would have been toobusy to cling to the Lord…too busy to listen for and to His voice.

Q: Do you come up with your title (s) before or after you write the manuscript (s)?

For the mostpart, yet Carvings In His Palm was the calibration of many thoughts and insights from many people. Ioften ask my closest friends to give me their opinion. It seems it is a mix of both. I did a poll on mywebsite Journals for Carvings. The insight was both interesting and helpful. The participants in the pollpicked the title I wanted to use, which was a wonderful confirmation for me.

Q: Tell us why you write the genre (s) that you write?

The genre of inspirational and devotional writing fits with the intuitive, prophetic, meditative giftingof my heart. I am sensitive to the Lord’s voice and simply free write what I sense Him saying. I writemuch more freely when I am expressing His heart.However, I have begun to write Christian teaching articles and almost finished with two books onSoaking In God’s Presence. They are workbook style and completely different from anything I havedone before. They do require the same meditative heart so I am sure it why it works.

Q: Tell us your most rewarding experience while in the writing process?

The most rewarding experience is feeling, knowing and experiencing the Lord speaking throughme…using me to encourage others. Sometimes when I am done I will read what I have written andmarvel, not at myself, but at the fact I could be used to express the Lord’s heart. Sometimes I wouldwonder how I knew the things I was writing? I knew and know them because it is Christ in me the hopeof glory being released to bless others. It is so humbling in every way.

Q: Tell us your most rewarding experience in your publishing journey?

To be published by

Arrow Publishing Inc

. a ministry of Francis Frangipane. To be published by amajor ministry in this nation is an incredibly rewarding experience. The most rewarding experience washolding my book in my hand after a three year battle to publish it and to give the first book away tosomeone I love very much.

Q: Tell us your most negative experience in your publishing journey?

The most negative experience was almost letting one editor take over my book and change it intosomething it was not.

Q: What one positive piece of advice would you give to other authors?

I would say, “Never give up on your dream. Just keep writing, writing and writing. Start a blog. Dosomething to get your name out there. Write articles for article banks. Just write until it happens. Joinwriter groups where you can get publishing advice and most of all encouragement. Trust in God. He isable to do anything. If a barefoot girl from a small farm in Kentucky can, so can you.

Q: Who Is Your Favorite Author?

Right now my favorite author is Steve McVey and his books on grace such as; Grace Amazing andGrace Walk. This does not exclude my all time favorite Francis Roberts.

Q: What Format (s) are your books in: Print Only.....E-Book Only....or Both?

My book Carvings In His Palm is available in both print and E-Book form. We are in the process of having an audio book produced. My E-book for

Carvings

can be ordered at the same link as my printbook.

The Five P’s To Living In God’s Presence Through Purpose Driven Soaking Workbook

is onlyavailable in E-book at this time.

*************************Featured Book:

Carvings in His Palm, What God ThinksWhen He Whispers Your Name!The Five P’s To Living In God’s Presence Through PurposeDriven Soaking Workbook

which for the time being isavailable only as an E-book. My Five P’s Workbook consist of the 5 principles (incentives) of

Soaking With A Purpose

whichare: Prepare, Pursue, Proclaim, Persist and Pour.

Diving Deeper, The Seven I’s To Intimacy & PersonalTransformation Through The Power Of God’s Word an E-book sequel toThe Five P’s To Living In God’sPresence Through Purpose Driven Soaking Workbook. Assoon as it is formatted it will be available on line atSWAP.Soaking with a Purpose: The Five P’s to Living In God’sPresence Through Purpose Driven SoakingbyBrenda Craig B:

I am in the formatting/creating a cover stage of my work on

Whispering Grass, Singing Waters, TheGood Shepherd Speaks

written in the same style as

Carvings In His Palm.

Over a period of twentydays, the reader will be taken on an intimate, prophetic journey, phrase by phrase, through Psalm 23. Ihope to have it either published to print or in E-Book within the next few months.