About The Author
Elizabeth Chalker is still in the furnace of life’s'
calamities and fighting the good fight of faith and endurance, keeping her eyes
on the prize of heaven. Before serious, physical illness devastated her body,
Elizabeth was on the fast track as a successful psychologist and addictions
specialist, working with violent juvenile offenders and their families, near
completion of her third graduate degree. Her life is a testimony of faith that
is steadfast and remains no matter the seemingly dark, unjust, and treacherous
circumstances of life. She resides in Lighthouse Point, Florida. Elizabeth
continues to minister to those in need and aspires to show God's glory through
every breath she takes.
This is a real life story of being in the fire, where
I currently remain, where my heart for the Lord has become increasingly insatiable.
A deepened intimacy has developed and continues to grow even through this very
moment, and will continue beyond. As you read, this is my hope and prayer for
you as well.
About the Book
Foreword by Pastor Charles Carrin and Dr. Corey
Cameron
You—one person—an individual, can literally change this whole world with love.
By focusing on love, making a choice to love, feeding all that is positive,
good, and of the light with exuberance and abundance instead of feeding the
negative and evil things of the darkness. You can literally change the world
and yourself. One relationship--one interaction--one decision at a time.
If you are experiencing the dark night of the soul in affliction year after
year, it will present you, as it has me, with opportunities not found in most
other life circumstances.
This is a life story of being in the fire, where I currently remain, where my
heart for the Lord has become increasingly insatiable. A deepened intimacy has
developed and continues to grow even through this very moment, and will
continue beyond. As you read, this is my hope and prayer for you as well.
Book detail:
ISBN-13: 9781612151205
Publisher: Xulon Press
Publication date: 10/26/2010
Pages: 470
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Author Interview
Q:
What motivated you to begin writing?
A:
I began writing as a catharsis to everyday life. Also, as an avenue to share
raw insights, emotion, and to inspire and encourage others.
Q:
What is your favorite genre to write? Why?
A:
My favorite genre to write is non-fiction. I believe there is more than enough
to share about real life, our raw human expressions and dealings, events that
happen in life, ponderings of our hearts and minds, to fill volumes without the
necessity of fantasy. Our authentic lives hold many and continuous unfolding
stories that we each want to share, and that we desire to have heard. When we
share from an altruistic place, we make ourselves more vulnerable and hence,
relatable to others. Such is an opportunity to connect with each other and
share in all of the stories life affords.
My personal favorite subject in non-fiction is of God, Jesus Christ, and the
Holy Spirit. He is my compass in life and my core. From this place, I exist and
all of life is staged upon this foundation.
Fiction has its place of course; I personally have the drive to write
non-fiction.
Q:
How have other jobs and life experiences influenced your writing?
A: Other jobs and life experiences have largely influenced my writing.
Currently, I am in the challenge of a life-time in enduring and persevering
through serious physical illness that has no cure in the natural and is
potentially fatal, yet causes a very slow, agonizing death rather than a
relatively quick demise.
Before becoming debilitated to the point of being
mostly bed-ridden, I worked as a Psychologist in the fields of Forensic and
Sports psychology. My work was with violent juvenile offenders and their
families. Additionally, I worked with athletes helping them hone their skills
and on and off the playing fields. [I helped] them to raise their confidence
and play whatever sport it was, with passion rather than intensity, a life
skill as well.
Working in both arenas afforded me the opportunity to
see diverse aspects of society and opened my eyes to the deep need we all have
to be loved, to be understood, to be cared about. No matter the population,
whether gifted athletes or youth who lived in battlefields and committed
violent crimes as a means to survive…the core need of each is the same.
Nevertheless, writing with different lenses; the
lenses of talented athletes or that of sitting in a court room testifying on
behalf of a teenager who has never known the love of another human… inspiration
and self-analysis presents in profoundly deep measure.
Having serious physical disease with no cure, no
answers and no means to receive necessary medical treatment, has deepened my
relationship with God and the intimacy in relationship. Such has poured out and
into my other relationships and given me a deeper compassion for individuals.
Living with these diseases, where I am not able to simply think them away or
‘push through’ as if they did not exist, has truly humbled me and deepened my
character as a person, all of which is reflected in my writing and influences
the perspective I have on the world around me.
Q: What is the aim of Hanging On by the Scratch Marks My Nails Left
Behind (Raw Faith)?
A: I have several aims of my book. One is to inspire individuals to self-examine
and find their core; to realize that we are all children of God and therefore,
one in Him. We tend to see as if from under a quilt as it is being made, where
all that is seen is a bunch of haphazard threads from our view. God’s view is
from above where everything comes together and forms a beautiful and complete
picture. Another aim is to encourage individuals to seek love and extend love.
One of the most important aims of the book is to
strengthen anyone who reads it, to cause him/her to embrace all of who he/she
is, the parts we deem ‘dark’ and unacceptable as well as the parts we see as
praiseworthy and pleasant.
Most importantly, my hope is that the reader will
embrace intimacy with God and realize that raw expression of heart, no matter
how unacceptable to the world, is honorable in the eyes of God and welcomed.
We live in a world where appearances are most
important and true character; integrity, honesty, ethics, service…are balked at
and mocked in exchange for superficial ‘wealth’ that only breeds hate and
egocentricity. I pray that the God inspired messages in my book will lend
‘permission’ to the readers to step up within themselves and fully own all of
who they are and share such with others, while also serving as a soft cushion
for others to share.
Q: What was your experience like with your publisher?
A: I had a wonderful experience with my publisher. [They were] very
helpful, patient, generous, humble, with expertise and leadership for guidance.
Q: Where do you look for inspiration when you are struggling?
A: Mainly I look to God. I see Him everywhere; through nature, other
people, and the trials/triumphs of life.
Q: What are some activities that you are involved in aside from
writing?
A: Currently I am fighting for my life and doing all I can to promote my
book in order to have some income for life-saving medical treatment. Due to
severe limitations from physical illness, I am not able to participate in much
of life. Nevertheless, I do all I can and push to do more. Encouraging others
and giving to my loved ones in all the ways I am able…sharing my relationship
with Christ wherever I can…to God be the glory.
Review Coming Soon!
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