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| Author Susanne Dietze |
Susanne,
welcome to Overcoming With God. We
appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our
readers. It was nice meeting you at an ACFW conference a few years back!
Thank
you for having me!
Would
you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to
overcome, with God’s help? Answer:
I’ve
struggled with anxiety off and on for several years, but the most recent
experience coincided with writing the story that became my first sale. Signing
a contract was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but writing my story was
not quite a fairy tale experience. I had a medical issue that turned out to be
fine, but I was tested for autoimmune disease and cancer. I worked on Love’s Reward while waiting for those
test results. “Love is love’s reward” (by Dryden) was already set as the theme
of the story: the greatest prize of a relationship with God is Jesus Himself,
and the reward of our relationship with another person is that relationship.
Waiting for my test results was agonizing; however, I believe God was teaching
me to trust Him with my unknowable future, to dwell close to Him on my journey
without questioning where He takes me (because ultimately, my journey will take
me to His arms!). While the particulars of my experience were far different
than my characters’, I got to go through the process of trusting Jesus, right
along with the characters.
What
passages in the Bible have been most helpful to you in those times?
I’ve
found comfort in times of anxiety Scriptures that remind me that my weaknesses
and flaws are places where God can be glorified, and I must rely on His
strength, not my own. I also return time and again to verses that remind me of
God’s unending love.
“My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that
Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Cor. 12:9
Our
bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are
buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 1 Cor. 15:43
One
thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: "Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love…”
Psalm 62: 11-12
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?
I do
not have any information on that at this time.
In this
latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic
influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
In addition
to the theme of trusting God, the characters struggle with forgiveness,
feelings of inadequacy, and family dysfunction.
BIO:
Susanne
Dietze is a pastor’s wife and mom who began writing love stories in high
school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today she writes in the hope
of encouraging and entertaining others. You can visit her on her website,www.susannedietze.com.
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| The Most Eligible Bachelor Romance Collection |
LINKS:
Website:
www.susannedietze.com
Facebook:
Facebook.com/SusanneDietzeBooks
Twitter:
@SusanneDietze
Blog: Tea and a Good Book ~
www.susannedietze.blogspot.com
Other
(please specify): Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Dietze/e/B00O3MR63A/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_4
Newsletter
sign-up: http://www.susannedietze.com/contact.html
BOOK LINKS:
Question you’d like to ask readers:
The characters in the story are caught up in the bicycle craze of the 1890s. How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was about 9 years old I think. angelachesnut246@gmail.com Angela
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! Nine years old is a great age to learn to ride a bike. Thanks for coming by.
DeleteI believe I was 8 when I learned to ride a bike. The only girl's bike at our house was adult size, with the old fat tires and very heavy. I imagine I was not strong enough to keep the bilke upright before that time...lol. Would love to win this giveaway and enjoy the stories!
ReplyDeletebettimace at gmail dot com
Hi Betti! That bikes sounds so hard to learn to ride! I remember trying my older brother's bike when I was small, and it fell on me! LOL. There's definitely something to be said about having the right-size-bike!
DeleteThanks for hosting me this week, Carrie! What a treat.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed meeting you Susanne! My grace is sufficient for you is a wonderful verse to remember every day :)
ReplyDeleteI probably learned before starting school.. 4-5 years old. I do remember giving my sister a ride on the back, I was probably 9 & she maybe 5 and got some of her toes in the spokes... I felt so bad! Never be a barefoot passenger!
Please toss me into the drawing for Most Eligible Bachelor :)
dkstevensne AToutlookdOtCoM
Hi Deanna! It's so good ot see you here! Yes, that verse is one I hold dear.
DeleteYour story about giving your barefoot sister a ride reminded me of my own bike hijinks. Barefoot riding, riding with my feet on the handlebars...and falling into bushes plenty of times. But we all survived!
Dee, you are one of my winners this week! You'll receive a very gently used copy of Most Eligible Bachelors.
DeleteIt's been so long ago that I don't really remember! Ha! Ha! I do remember that it was one of my most favorite childhood activities...things were very different then, I rode my bike all over my small town without a care in the world. I feel sorry for today's kids! Thanks for sharing Susanne & Carrie! rw620ATaolDOTcom
ReplyDeleteYou're right; things were so different then. I rode my bike all over the place, too. I had a yellow bicycle and I loved it! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHello Susanne.Glad your health problem got better. I enjoyed the interview. As to your question about the bike, I will say never. What I mean is I can get on and peddle it, but could never keep it going straight. And, I tried many times. Don't know why but finally stopped trying. Had a hard time with making some people believe it, who kept insisting I ride with them. I finally got tired of it and said okay, but don't ride close to me. They did anyway, but quickly learned I was speaking the truth. Still don't understand why. But learned right away to drive a car. No zig-zagging there. I would love to win your book. Thanks for visiting and for my special OWG girls for having you and the giveaway. GOD bless you. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
ReplyDeleteHi Maxie! I envy you learning to drive easily. I had a hard time and just hated it at first!
DeleteThanks for coming by!
Hey Susie! Great to see you here at OWG! Congratulations on the release of LOVE'S REWARD in The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection. I can't wait to start reading my copy. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Caryl! I'm glad you came by to say hi. I've sure enjoyed getting to know you. Thanks for the congratulations! I hope you enjoy the collection!
DeleteI was 10 yrs old I think. So far back lol. I loved training wheels.
ReplyDeleteTraining wheels are awesome, Tammy! :) I didn't have any way back in the day, but my kids did. They are a nice help to get a kid started!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI believe I was about 7. I learnt to ride on a full sized ladies bike. I can recall it most vividly. LOTS of falling off & clinging to the fence. I had to stand up to reach the pedals.
Wow, Mary, that's hard to learn to ride an adult sized bike when you're a child! I would've fallen off, too!
DeleteThanks for visiting the post!
Susanne, thank you so much for sharing your story here on OWG! Ohh what would we do without God's unending love and comfort. I went through a similar experience once and knew such fear until I couldn't stand it.. So went down on my knees and cried out to God to take that fear away. The 'peace that passes all understanding' came upon me then, and I knew He was with me and I also knew that everything was going to be okay!
ReplyDeleteI loved your sweet story 'Love's Reward' in the collection btw!!! Not sure when I first rode a bike but it was somewhere around 9-10 yrs in the backyard. :)
Noela, thank you so much for allowing me to share here! I think it's such a blessing when we tell of God's goodness in our lives. Then we don't feel so alone, and we are encouraged by His mighty acts in others' lives as well as in our own! I love hearing others' stories. Nevertheless I'm sorry you had to go through something similar. Praise God He provided you with peace.
DeleteThanks for your kind words about my story! I appreciate that so much!
I love this question as bicycle riding was so much a part of my youth. I probably learned to ride around seven or eight years old and since I was an only child, my mother and I rode many a mile together. I remember one Christmas I got a brand new bicycle and rode it to my grandparents house to show them what Santa and brought. What great memories! Thank you!!!!!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
What a beautiful memory of riding to your grandparents' house, Melanie! I can just imagine their grins when you rode up to their house. Precious!
DeleteThanks so much for coming by!
SUSANNE, we so appreciate you for being with us this week on OWG and for sharing your awesome testimony! I have battled anxiety attacks on and off for years as the result of being abused as a child, but I have learned God's grace is sufficient! They're awful, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteMy parents couldn't afford to buy me a bike so my sweet neighbor took an adult bike, repainted it, and gave it to me when I was 7. I was in heaven. Until I fell while learning to ride and knocked my toenail off. Ouch! But I got back on and soon I could fly in the wind! lol
Thanks, Diana! I'm honored to be here and humbled to share what God has done for me. I am so sorry to hear what you endured, but I join with you in praising God for all He's done in your life. His grace is sufficient, indeed! I just forget that repeatedly....
DeleteHow wonderful of your neighbors to give you such a thoughtful gift. Your toe injury sounds awful! Ugh! It sounds like it didn't slow you down, though!
I was pretty young when I learned to ride a bike. Probably 5 or 6. We lived in a very small town and riding bikes were a great part of our summer entertainment. I haven't ridden a bike in years, but my current town has a great bike trail that I have been wanting to check out!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a good age, Patty! Bikes were part of my summer entertainment, too. I used to tie my dolls to my bike and give them rides.
DeleteEnjoy the bike trail! Thanks for coming by!
I think I probably had my first bike around 5 or 6 years old. If I remember right,it was blue with a banana seat and I had training wheels on it. My dad took those off after the first year of riding it, but I soon got the hang of how to ride. I haven't ridden a bike forever it seems! I used to ride mine all over the place as a young kid into my teen years. I loved the wind in my hair and to see just how fast I could go, lol!
ReplyDeleteI should add, thank you for the author interview Susanne and for the chance to win a copy of your book! Blessings!
DeleteHi Trixi! My first bike had a banana seat, too--and mine was actually yellow. Now I have a red bike (my favorite color) but I don't ride as often as I'd like, thanks to a problematic knee.
DeleteThanks so much for the warm welcome!
Hi, Susanne! It's great to see you here!! I don't remember how old I was when I learned to ride, but I do vividly remember my pink bicycle. Such fun! My five-year-old learned to ride without training wheels just a couple of weeks ago. His big brother taught him, and they were both so excited! I can't wait to read The Most Eligible Bachelor Collection!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Hi Britney! How delightful to see your children teach one another things. I love when that happens! I bet your kids were so cute!
DeleteI'm so glad you could come by. Thanks!
satan sure comes after us when we are doing something good for God, Susie! LOVED your story and look forward to having my review up on Thursday! Praying for your continued success!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the review ! It has been many years since I rode a bike ! but I was probably 5 or 6. We rode bikes almost everywhere we went from early morning until we had to come in. It was a big part of my childhood and loved it !
ReplyDeleteBook looks great !
mcnuttjem0{AT}gmail{DOT]com
I was probably 7 or 8 when I learned to ride my bike. I have scars on my elbows from falling so much on the concrete! My bike was yellow and black! I loved that bike! Good memories!
ReplyDelete