Carrie Fancett Pagels Interviews Anne Mateer

Anne Mateer

Anne Mateer is the author of At Every Turn and of Wings of a Dream.

Anne, 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?

While I have not had many definable “tragedies” in my life, I’d say the most difficult thing I’ve had to overcome, with God’s help, has been fear. Huge fear. Deep fear. Fear that spawns panic attacks and retreat from the world. Fear of everything from flying in an airplane to talking to a stranger.

I dealt with some fear, like all of us, for much of my life, but as a stay-at-home mom of three little children with a husband working insane hours, it grew out of proportion, out of the bounds of normal. But I didn’t recognize it for what it was. In fact, I thought something was physically wrong with me. I remember having two or three episodes at home where I felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I finally told my husband I needed to go to the doctor, though I didn’t specify why. (I was afraid I had cancer or some other terminal disease.) 

After the doctor gave me a physical, we started talking about my symptoms. I remember the moment he looked at me and smiled. “You’re having panic attacks.”

I just blinked at him. He had to be wrong. Christians didn’t have panic attacks. Did they? He prescribed some medication. I returned home, stunned. I told my husband then stared at the prescription for days before I filled it. After that, I stared at the bottle, warring with myself over actually taking a pill. I was terrified it wouldn’t help. And I was terrified it would. At that time, we were involved in a home group through our church that included a woman who worked as a psychiatrist, a very strong, godly woman. I talked with her about the medication, about what I’d been going through. I’ll never forget what she told me.

“Sometimes medication is necessary so that we can minimize the symptoms and be able to hear the voice of God.” She advised me to take the pills when I felt my fear spiraling out of control, but not to assume I’d have to use them forever. And she encouraged me to press in to Jesus, especially during those times when the medication settled me down.

I did as she advised. The extreme fear abated somewhat. I think I only filled the prescription twice and didn’t even finish the second bottle. But even though the medication helped in the moment, like she’d said it would, I didn’t overcome my fear in an instant. In fact, it wasn’t until several years later that the final spiritual breakthrough came that allowed me to put fear back in its proper perspective for good. But my friend was right. The medication calmed me enough to help me seek the Lord in the way I knew I ought. And while Jesus didn’t “fix” me right away, He and I started on a new journey, one that continues to this day in a deeper and more real way than ever before.
 

What is your favorite bible verse and why?

That is so hard for me to narrow down! I guess I would have to say that at this moment it is Proverbs 16:9: The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. For me, this encapsulates what God has done and continues to do in me. He has given me confidence to plan my way instead of being bound up in fear, but He is growing greater faith in me to understand that what comes to pass in spite of that planning is from His direction. I don’t have to fear when I know--really know--that He is in control. He loves me and desires my good, which, by His definition, is me growing to become more like Christ and bringing glory to Him.

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?

So far, none of my books are available in an audio format, but Wings of a Dream is in large print. I hope At Every Turn will be available in that format as well.

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

I hope my books will stir in my readers a desire to trust the Lord to a greater degree in their lives. In those long years of working through my fear issues, I realized it all came down to trust. I didn’t truly trust God’s goodness or His love for me. I hope my stories encourage readers to examine their own level of trust in the Lord and to seek to trust Him in greater ways in their own lives as I seek to do in mine. I also hope my books will encourage readers to see how God is working through the unexpected situations they encounter in life rather than just seeing those as frustrations.

At Every Turn

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

While researching race tracks for At Every Turn, I came across the history of Speedway Park, located near Chicago. Opened in 1915, it closed three short seasons later, in 1918. The owner donated the land to the government for a VA hospital in memory of the son of the owner who was killed in France during the Great War (WWI). From what I understand, there is still a VA hospital on that site today. That story touched my heart when I read it.

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

I think this story is very helpful for those who feel that God has gifted them in ways that are unusual and often outside the norm of what the church considers giftedness from the Lord. It is very easy to feel alone and unloved when you don’t seem to fit. But I believe the Lord has given us our uniqueness for a reason. Even something as seemingly unimportant as driving fast, as Alyce does in At Every Turn, can be used by the Lord to spread the gospel and to bring Him glory and should not be discounted.

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

Anne's books can be purchased through Amazon, CBD, Barnes & 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 Anne'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.