9!!! New Books Contracted for Interviewee - Kim Vogel Sawyer

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of Song of My Heart and of twenty-two other titles, including My Heart Remembers and the Sommerfeld Trilogy.

I met Kim through ACFW. She was the registration desk coordinator and as the ACFW Mid-Atlantic Zone Director I asked our zone members to volunteer (many did, as I did, also!)  

Kim, 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?

My biggest challenge is one that is intensely personal. Because of something I faced as a child, I carried a tremendous burden of shame well into adulthood. When one views herself as tainted, that view can skew everything else. To “rise above” the ugliness, I tried to be “perfect.” Well, as we know, that isn’t a possible goal for any of us, so continual failures broke me down and severely affected my physical health. 


It’s very difficult to share the entire story in a short format, but in 2004, God led a wonderful woman named Ruth to take me by the hand, lead to me a prayer room, and ask her daughter Brandilyn to pray for me. I intended for them to pray for my physical health--I had six chronic illnesses that left me in constant pain and dependent on a cane. Instead, God revealed to Brandilyn the source of my illnesses: an emotional burden that was literally eating me alive from the inside-out. When she asked God to drive the shame from me, not only did my feelings of worthlessness lift, but all of my physical illnesses fled, as well. Now part of my ministry is reaching out to women with similar burdens, assuring them of their great value in God’s eyes and reminding them the shame is not theirs to carry.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why? 
Phil. 4:4-8 are my “life verses”--there’s so much wisdom for living in those scripture. My favorite of these is verse 8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.” I believe if I follow that direction, I will fill myself with the thing of which God approves and have a better opportunity to reflect Him to those around me.

Disability friendliness: 
Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio? 
All of my historical novels are available on audio, Kindle, and also large-print editions through subsidiary publishers. Many of my contemporaries are being made available through Kindle and large-print, as well. 

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why? 
With every new manuscript, I begin with the same prayer: God, reveal Yourself and Your Son through the story. My hope is so strongly imbedded in who I am to Him (His child!) and who He is to me (my Savior! my Peace and Comforter and Friend!). My most fervent wish is that my stories will not only entertain but will edify and perhaps move the reader toward a closer walk in his or her relationship to God through Christ Jesus.

 

As you researched your books, did you learn anything that particularly touched your heart? 
In Song of My Heart, the heroine has the desire to be an opera singer, so I did a lot of research on popular songs of the era and on community programs. The thing that really pleased me is how many of these events included hymns--songs meant to show God’s sovereignty and power. At community events--not church-sponsored events! At events intended to entertain! In a way it made me sad, seeing how much opinion concerning “religious tones” have changed in the past 100 years; in another, it was refreshing to know how people enjoyed hearing God’s name praised through song.


Newest Releases: SONG OF MY HEART, Bethany House; A SEEKING HEART, Hendrickson

Coming Soon: WHEN HOPE BLOSSOMS, Bethany House; A HEART SURRENDERS, Hendrickson

KIM JUST GOT A 9 BOOK CONTRACT WITH WATERBROOK MULTNOMAH!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Kim Vogel Sawyer books are available through Amazon, CBD, Barnes and Noble, and other bookstores.

GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week’s contest.  Drawing will be late Saturday.  Your choice of this author’s books, choice of format.