Larie: Author, Entrepreneur & Inspirational Speaker

Sylvia: Hi Larie. It is such a pleasure to interview you.  Thank you for your time. I am so glad that you want to share your story with my readers. Please give our readers a brief introduction of yourself and a little about your book.

Larie: Sure Sylvia. Folks call me many things—an inspirational author, a woman of faith, a cancer survivor, a dedicated wife and mother, and a refreshing voice of reality.  I have a “No filters!” approach to life that helps women and girls remember that they’re not alone in their struggles, and that self-worth and true healing is possible through the power of seeing one’s self as God’s great work.

I speak about the taboo topics like co-cheating spouses, the effects of molestation, and the use of sex to gain attention, love, and acceptance, as common ground conversations with my audiences.  Whether I’m engaging participants during women’s retreats and co-facilitating faith-focused workshops in Misawa, Japan, or contributing to popular faith-based publications such as Christian Woman and In Her Heart magazines, and The Truth International Journal, my core message is simple and sound: “My Mess is Your MESSage!™”

I unabashedly serve my readers, listeners, and clients through my commitment of using my life experiences to empower others in their times of need. I’ve had first-hand experiences with promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, chronic illness, and battles with self-value which now serve as powerful testimonials for how to move from victim to victory through God’s love.

My mission and message continues to gain traction with women and girls’ focused organizations such as She Counts®, who invited me to be a featured speaker at their annual leadership conference for girls.  My passion for the creation of access to open conversation about focus on faith, releasing self-judgment, and learning how to live a life of alignment with God’s plan is the driving force behind my relentless efforts.

I am passionate about transparency and non-judgment, and am building a faith-focused empire with a triple focus on writing, speaking, and culinary artistry.

In my first book, “My Heart Speaks…”, I harness the power of poetry, narratives, and scripture to create a powerful read with full transparency and heavy doses of hope, empowerment, and self-love through knowledge of God.

My catering company, 5 Loaves and 2 Fish, further opens my arsenal of gifts to share through my experiences.  “Through 5 Loaves, I feed my clients’ physical hunger, and through speaking and writing, I serve their spiritual hunger.” Weather I’m in the kitchen, at a conference podium, or computer keyboard, my divine alignment with my gifts allows me to be present in all aspects of my, and show up wherever I am led to serve.

You can find me sharing my love for the written word over at Breathe Again magazine, a web-based women’s empowerment publication, as the resident book reviewer or baring my soul on my personal online space, LarieWrites.com.  I frequent the Blog Talk Radio scene with guest appearances on substantive shows, and am active on Facebook.

Sylvia: What inspired you to write your first book?

Larie: I felt alone in my chronic illness battles, “mastering” motherhood, as well as living beyond sexual abuse.  I thought, “I can’t be the only one who feels ‘this’ way or has been through ‘this’ or struggling like I am.”

Sylvia: Unfortunately Larie, you are not alone.  The latest data on sexual abuse alone is alarming. In fact, according to The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network:

  • Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted
  • There is an average of 207,754 victims (age 12 or older) of sexual assault each year

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Larie: Yes!  You are not alone; many others deal with the same issues that you do but will not share because they, just like I use to be, are afraid of what family, friends, neighbors, church family, and even strangers will think.  We have to stop this shameful thinking of ourselves and others.  I’m not perfect and I’m OK with that; “I am imperfectly perfect.”

Sylvia: You are so right. Victims should not lurk in the shadows of shame. It’s not their fault!  Gosh, it angers me the hurt and pain one must endure from such a senseless, cowardly and sick act!  I commend you Larie, for not only speaking out, but for your bravery.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Larie: Don’t worry if another writer has done what you want to do; your story is exclusive.  Though the main issue may be similar, the outcome is different.  We all handle situations uniquely.

Sylvia: Why should we buy your book?

Larie: “My Heart Speaks…” is what chronic illness fighters, childhood sexually assaulted warriors, and mommy troopers must have as a part of their battle gear to embrace soul-success and move into the community of, “I’ve been there…done that…mastered it…and now sharing it with you because, ‘My Mess is Your MESSage’!”

Sylvia: I just love the title of your book. The title is befitting for any situation that a woman is facing. To be able to scream and shout from within, and then… letting it ALL out, is therapeutic!

Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

Larie: No.  Typically I keep a pen and small notebook with me so that I can write whatever comes to my mind at any time.  A lot of my inspiration comes from within, but when I’m out there are people and/or other things that add to that inspiration.  However, most of my first book was written in a local Krispy Kreme™ when the “HOT NOW” sign glowed!

Sylvia: Ha Ha! I love it! Larie, I am interested in knowing what your POWER WORD is?  A power word is a word that has great effect to the person hearing or reading it. My power word is EMPOWER! In fact, I created a weekly program called, POWER UP and each week members of my group discover and discuss a specific POWER WORD as it relates to our lives. I provide audio and handouts as well.

Larie: It varies for the situation, but mostly my POWER WORD is “YES!”

How can I share such intimate details about myself?  “If I don’t talk about it and watch ‘you’ struggle, then all that mess I endured was in vain.” ~Larie~

Sylvia: Wow that is a powerful quote. Thank you for your time.  Please share with my readers how they can purchase your book.

Larie: You are welcome Sylvia.

Website: www.Lariewrites.com
Email: Larie@Lariewrites.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/lariewrites

 

Audio Interview

 

 

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