Interview with Ann Shorey: Overcoming after Losing the Love of Your Life

Anne Shorey

Ann Shorey is the author of Where Wildflowers Bloom and When the Heart Heals, the first two novels in the Sisters at Heart series for Revell. The third book in the series, Love’s Sweet Beginning, is scheduled for release in February, 2014. She’s also the author of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, also published by Revel.

Ann, welcome to Overcoming With God.  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?

            In the late 1980’s, my husband of twenty-plus years was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. He had recently taken early retirement, we moved to a new community (where we knew no one—although that wasn’t intentional!), and had many plans for a long future together. The book of James says, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” (James 4:4:14a NIV) How true! We certainly didn’t know what awaited us soon after our move.

            Surgery was recommended following the diagnosis, and the surgeon found cancer cells had wrapped around his spine. The surgeon removed all that he could, but the surgery left my husband unable to sit upright or walk without wearing a clamshell-like body brace. He spent three weeks in a rehab facility where we were both taught how to maneuver him in and out of the brace, how to transfer him to a wheelchair, how he could shower—and on and on. As I learned to do things I never dreamed I’d have to master, the Lord was my constant companion.

            Once back home, my husband began radiation treatment and we settled into a routine. We’d been told that some patients with kidney cancer lived as many as thirteen years beyond the surgery. In our case, this was not to be. During his final hospitalization nine months after the initial surgery, one of the nurses asked me how we could show such strength in the face of our circumstances. Right there in the hospital corridor the Lord enabled me to share my faith with her. (Pausing here to re-group. This is hard to write about.)

            When my husband died, I believed my life was over. Instead, the Lord has opened doors that I didn’t know were there. I’d always wanted to write, and my first published article was for a bereavement magazine, telling of our last days together. Since then, so much has happened, immeasurably more than I could ever ask or imagine. God has given me grace to overcome, grace to persevere, and blessing upon blessing in my life.

When the Heart Heals

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?

Unfortunately, none of my books are available in either large print or audio. They are all available in e-book format, however, which makes it possible to enlarge the font on an e-reader.

Where Wildflowers Bloom

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

When the Heart Heals deals with the issue of forgiveness.

In Where Wildflowers Bloom, one of the main characters struggles with PTSD in the aftermath of the War Between the States. (An interesting note: in that time period, PTSD was called “Soldier’s Heart.”)

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

You can find Ann and her books at www.AnnShorey.com

Two Giveaways: Ann will give away reader's choice of Where Wildflowers Bloom or When the Heart Heals! International-ebook only. Carrie is also giving away a paperback copy of Where Wildflowers Bloom!