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| Author Connie Almony |
Connie,
welcome to Overcoming With God. We
appreciate your willingness to share your testimony of overcoming with our
readers. I have so enjoyed the privilege of getting to know you and becoming friends through our ACFW MidAtlantic Zone! You are such a sweetheart and have a heart of gold!
Thanks for having me.
Would
you tell us about the most difficult thing in your life you have had to
overcome, with God’s help? (transparency appreciated!)
I’d have to say the most striking thing He did was to
prepare me to be the mother of a special-needs child. When I was in grad
school, He gave me a dog with a major skin disorder that required I use natural
therapies I would later need for my son. I remember saying this dog was an
angel from God to teach me how to be a good mother, and then joke, “I guess
He’s going to give me a high-maintenance child.” I didn’t realize how true that
statement would become.
The other thing God did to prepare me was to show me a
novel, Sir Gibbie, by George
MacDonald, about a wonderful, compassionate mute boy who wordlessly changed
lots of lives. Little did I know then He’d give me a son much like the Gibbie
of the book. This helped me to appreciate my son for who he is rather than what
he isn’t.
Lastly, He drew me to my current job, at a Christian
counseling office, where my faith would be tried and strengthened in order to
weather the coming storm. Being there, I had a group of solid Christians who
would love, support and pray for me as I journey the challenges of motherhood.
Thank you, Jesus!
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?
Yes, At
the Edge of a Dark Forest is currently available in Large Print. I am
looking into having an audio version done eventually.
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| At the Edge of a Dark Forest by Connie Almony |
In this
latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic
influence through reading about a disorder or situation?
This novella deals with many issues surrounding the
homecoming of a disabled veteran: Adjusting to life without limbs, alcoholism,
dealing with flashbacks due to PTSD, and the pride that gets in the way of accepting
the help one needs. It is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. However, I’ve always been uncomfortable with
the idea of a woman setting out to change a man with her love. Having counseled
many abused women who dated projects rather than soul mates, I worry some could
take this story as an encouragement to find a beast of a man and hope to change
him. Because of my experience, I felt I needed to adjust the story, just a
little bit, so now it’s not her love
that makes him whole. I’d love to see a book club expound on that idea after reading this story!
Thank
you, Connie, for agreeing to answer these questions. Have a blessed day and keep on writing!!
Book Blurb:
Cole Harrison, a war veteran, wears his disfigurement like a
barrier to those who might love him, shielding them from the ugliness inside.
He agrees to try and potentially invest in, a prototype prosthetic with the goal
of saving a hopeless man’s dreams.
Carly Rose contracts to live with Cole and train him to use
his new limbs, only to discover the darkness that wars against the man he could
become.
At
the Edge of a Dark Forest is a modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Only it is not her love that will make him whole.
Author Bio:
Connie Almony is trained as a mental health therapist and
likes to mix a little fun with the serious stuff of life. She was a 2012
semi-finalist in the Genesis Contest for Women’s Fiction and was awarded an
Honorable Mention in the Winter 2012 WOW Flash Fiction Contest. Her newest release, At the Edge of a Dark Forest, is a
modern-day re-telling of Beauty and the
Beast about a war-vet, amputee struggling with PTSD.
You can find Connie on the web, writing book reviews for Jesus Freak Hideout, and
hosting the following blogs: InfiniteCharacters.com and LivingtheBodyofChrist.Blogspot.com.
You can also meet her on the following social media outlets:
Giveaway: We are giving away two copies of Connie's book this week and a $10.00 Starbucks gift card. We also have a giveaway from Connie, this week, of a $10 gift card to an online book seller such as Barnes and Noble. Follow Connie on Twitter/Pinterest/or Facebook and leave a comment or answer my Q to enter (and your email address.) Put T/P/FB for wherever you followed this lovely lady! My question: Were you aware that this is Autism Awareness month?
