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26 September 2011

Interview with Lynn Squire













Interview  by Carrie Fancett Pagels


Lynn Squire is the author of Joab’s Fire.

I met Lynn through American Christian Fiction Writers and My Book Therapy and have been privileged to have her as a critique partner through The Fellowship of Christian Writers. Lynn is also a member of Colonial American Christian Writers and is a contributor on Colonial Quills 

Lynn, welcome to Overcoming Through Time. 

Would you share either the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help, or the most tragic situation or circumstance one of your character’s has had to get past?

I look over my life and see time and time again God’s help in difficult situation. He is indeed faithful and merciful. About two years ago my eldest daughter, Chenisse, had a severe asthma attack. She was not responding to treatments on the nebulizer at home. We went through the night with her on what we call the breathing machine (nebulizer) several times. About 3:00 AM I considered taking her to emergency, but decided against it. In the fog of my mind I couldn’t see how I would get the other two kids to school if I was with her in emergency (duh, my husband could have taken them). If she could just hold out, I thought to myself, I’ll call the doctor when his office opens.
And, I confess, I also didn’t want to incur the expense of a trip to emergency. We’ve done this before. The doctors did nothing more than what I was doing at home except to prescribe medicine. I could get that from the doctor’s office, I thought.

What a fool. My sweet girl was suffering because I was too cheap and too obtuse to act on her best interests.
When I took Chenisse to the doctor’s office, he looked at her, put her on oxygen and called the ambulance. The doctor’s office is only two football fields away from emergency. I rode in the ambulance with her, and held her hand while sending up a brief, “Please Lord, don’t let her die”. For the better part of the day the doctors worked to bring her oxygen level up and stabilizer her so that she could be moved to the Oakland Children’s Hospital for further treatment. That hospital is about thirty miles away. I knew the prayers of family and friends were bolding approaching the throne of grace.

By the time we settled into the ICU at the children’s hospital, my daughter was miserable. She couldn’t breathe, the medicine was making her sick to her stomach, and she was utterly exhausted. In time, Chenisse improved enough to be transported to the Asthma Center, resulting in yet another ambulance ride. A couple of days later she was released and we returned home.

At the follow up appointment I asked the doctor how serious she was when she came into his office. I know, a rather dumb question, but I wanted to know at what point I should have seen the signs indicating she required an emergency visit. He turned gray and replied that just months ago a boy died because his mother hadn’t taken him to emergency soon enough for the doctors to help him recover.

My stomach hit the floor like a cannonball. I knew she had been bad, but I didn’t know I’d put my daughter at such risk all because I was too cheap to go to emergency in the middle of the night. Yes, I could say I just didn’t know the signs, but bottom line, money should never have factored into that decision.

God’s grace and mercy, however, is bountiful. Throughout the ordeal I didn’t find myself wringing my hands or worrying in excess. I knew God had a purpose. I had no doubt in my mind Chenisse would pull through that emergency. I can say with all honesty that He kept me in perfect peace through the trial. When we were in the Asthma Center I even had opportunity to share my faith. God is indeed so very good, even though I can be so very moronic.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?
Can I say the whole Bible? Through my life I have found that God provides different verses or passages to which I can cling at that time. Recently my meditation focuses on Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Executing the Joab’s Fire marketing plan means exposing myself to the public like never before. Some of those encounters will include mean-spirited people or those who take offense to the message. Coping with such will require me remembering that God goes with me, and He will not fail me nor forsake me.

What formats is your book available in? 
Joab’s Fire is available as an e-book. As far as I know, every e-book reader allows a person to enlarge the print to a comfortable size for him. It is also available in paperback. Eventually, it will be available in audio format, as will Best of Faith, Fiction, Fun, and Fanciful.
What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

 The most important thing would be acceptance of the Gospel message if a person is not saved, and for those who are, a deeper knowledge of God. I like how Paul puts it in Colossians 1:9b-11 “…that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
Those who have turned from their old beliefs, thoughts, and actions to believe in the death, burial and resurrection will encounter hardships. Generally hardships come as a result of sin, whether your own or someone else’s. At times in our life we suffer because of what we choose to believe.  I hope to direct my readers to God’s Word, where He tells us how to overcome every situation in which we find ourselves. Our faith, which is more precious than gold, will be tried and made more pure. Through trials we can gain a deeper understanding of God and His bountiful love and grace toward us.

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart?

In researching for Joab’s Fire, I marveled at how my ancestors overcame such great hardships. While reading my great grandfather’s memoirs I could not escape the fact of his faith. Because of his trust in God he endured much and found his hope in eternity.

Thank you Lynn for agreeing to answer these questions.  Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!


Giveaway:  Leave your email address and a comment for a chance to win a copy of Joab's Fire.  Read Diana Flowers' Five Star review of Joab's Fire right here on Overcoming Through Time!!!

11 comments:

  1. What a touching and wonderful interview, Carrie, and Lynn. Lynn, we have ALL made unwise decisions in our lives, but as you have said, God's grace and mercy is bountiful, and I'm so grateful for that!

    I was blown away by Joab's Fire. No, it was not the typical historical romance fiction I normally read, but it left a great impact on me. I believe that every reader will glean something different from Joab's Fire, depending on where they are at in their lives. As I'm already a Christian, who is experiencing a multiplicity of trials, physical mostly, reading this book and how it parallels the story of Job helped me in a lot of ways. Joab wasn't being punished (neither am I, though the enemy whispers that in our ears alot), Joab had comforters that didn't help him much (so do I, though I'm thankful for the true comforters He has sent my way), Joab had more in the end than he had in the beginning (and so will I).

    This book helped me to be more thankful, more hopeful, and more trusting, that "all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose"-Romans 8:28. Thank you, Lynn, for your obedience in writing this book, that I believe will impact every person who reads it in a different, but positive way! I'm sorry y'all, I just did another mini review...it's in my blood, Carrie!

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  2. Wow, and what a mini review it was Miss Diana! Good morning Lynn and Diana, and I am home now, yay! I hope Lynn's second image shows up as I copied it from her blog!

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  3. LOL, Carrie, I think it's better than the original! Good morning and so glad you are back, safe and sound! I watched the ACFW awards live on my computer; it was great! Admit it, you know you cried during Beth Wiseman's speech, well I sure did! You looked lovely in your gold blouse and beautiful scarf BTW! Now back to Lynn.

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  4. I meant this mini review better than the original review, not the second image you copied. sheesh

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  5. Diana, Only God can use this book for His glory. I'm so glad God used it to help you, and I pray that He will continue to use it for His glory.

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  6. Carrie, I trust you had a great time at the conference.

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  7. What a touching interview. I appreciate your sharing your heart and experiences, Lynn. You could save a life in doing so. I have asthma and I know it is not even easy for me to know when I need to go to the hospital. When dealing with the management of a chronic situation it is so hard to remain objective. I'm so glad your daughter pulled through the ordeal, and you as well!

    I have heard nothing but good things about Joab's Fire and hope it, too, touches a lot of lives. It is wonderful that you are ministering to your readers with this book.

    Many blessings!

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  8. Thank you, Carla. All three of my kids and my husband have asthma. I have it too, but considering what the rest of my family goes through, it's hardly worth mentioning.

    Even since that fall I've had plenty of "hand wringing" nights with the question in the air - should I or should I not?

    I suppose you might think, just go, but sometimes staying home is actually healthier for the child...not just because of germs but because being relaxed helps. Anxiety can make the situation worse and a trip to the hospital is a sure fire way to increase anxiety.

    I am glad, though, that the doctor took the time to show me how to see distress in a child. I know to look for those signs, and if I don't see them, I'm more inclined to continue with treatments at home.

    Last spring, I called our doctor on a Sunday morning because my youngest was having an asthma attack. He dealt with it over the phone and didn't use the knee-jerk response of "take her to the hospital". Having established a good relationship with our doctor has made it possible to make better judgment calls. God has truly blessed us.

    I pray I'll never have to go through that again, but if I do, I know God will be with me.

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  9. Lynn, I'm so glad you have such a good relationship with the doctor. That helps so much. And yes, God will be with you to give you wisdom and watch care over your family. God bless you all.

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  10. Lynn ~ God's grace is merciful and bountiful ~ so very true! Oh how many times I wish I would have listened to the still small voice leading me to do something. Praise the Lord your daughter made it through. Thank you for writing the book. I'll have to check it out as it sounds wonderful!

    Carrie. I. Am. JEALOUS. :( Everywhere I go here in the blogosphere, I'm reminded that I didn't get to attend the conference. I'm going to pout!
    Seriously though, glad you had fun. Just next year, perhaps you can smuggle me in your suitcase?! Pretty please?

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