Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig

RONIE KENDIG  is the author of Trinity: Military War Dog and of the four-book Discarded Heroes series, Dead Reckoning, and various novellas.

I met RONIE  through some online groups, including ACFW.

  

RONIE, welcome to Overcoming Through Time – With God’s Help.  We appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our readers.  Would you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

Thank you so much! I am delighted to be here with you and your readers!

Probably the most challenging thing for me to overcome—and something I continually work on—is being a people pleaser. I just want “everyone” to be happy. This was born out of years of abuse as a child, and I believed that if I was just “good enough,” the abuse would stop. The Lord gave me strength that was not my own to stand up to my abuser—my father—but that tendency to try to keep the peace, keep everyone happy is a daily struggle. I believe that this nurturer-style tendency is also a part of my personality and gift, which is being sensitive toward others.

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

I suppose it’s not too ironic that my favorite verse is one that arose just in the last few years and, I’m sure, is tied to the years of abuse I suffered—Exodus 14:14: The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. This verse came to be my favorite during an especially dark hour in my life, where I had really lost hope, was smothered in defeat, and didn’t know why I should go on. A friend prayed over me, and while she was praying, I noticed that she seemed really distracted by something behind me. Honestly, I started getting angry—“Why isn’t she listening to me? Nobody ever does. I shouldn’t be surprised.” But then she said something that stunned my angry, broken heart into silence: “I see flashes of light, like sparks from two swords clashing, over your head. The Lord is fighting for you.” I stared into the air and asked, “He’s fighting—for me?” I sobbed. Nobody had fought for me before. I’d always (going back to the days of being abused) had to do the fighting to keep myself “alive.”

Discarded Heroes Series

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print? 

To my knowledge and dismay, none of my publishers have secured agreements for my books to be available in audio or large print.
MB: Ronie's books are available in Kindle format which allows print size to be increased and also audio capability of text-to-speech.

What has been the most important thing you hope your readers will get from your books and why?

Through most books, there are two primary goals when I write: for readers to sense the Hope of Christ, and to open dialogue about the book’s theme or message. For instance, with the Discarded Heroes, my purpose/goal was for readers to gain an awareness of and greater respect for the things military heroes faced and dealt with on a daily basis.

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

While researching for the A Breed Apart series, one of the most touching and grievous things I learned was that in Vietnam, most working dogs were left behind. That meant these handlers who’d witnessed their canine best friends save countless lives (estimated to be tens of thousands in Vietnam alone) had to leave that four-legged hero in a war-torn country, most never knowing what came of that beloved dog. That broke my heart.

Trinity: Military War Dog

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?  

Yes, there are several issues that my various books address and suggest help for. In the Discarded Heroes, combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is addressed, as well as the ways it presents. The soldiers learn that talking about the issues, seeking help, and sometimes certain methods (varies by book) can be beneficial and help them on the path toward healing and wholeness. In TALON: Combat Tracking Team, Talon—a yellow Labrador—has PTSD and there is a scene where they must work with him, helping both the handler and Talon overcome his fear through a series of training techniques.

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

Thank you so much, Carrie! It was a delight to talk with you! 

Ronie's book can be purchased at CBD, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Lifeway,  and other book stores.

GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment and your email to be entered in this week's contest. Drawing will be late Saturday. Your choice of Ronie's books and choice of format*. Void where prohibited by law. *International winners will only receive the book in ebook format, not as a paperback.