Send to KindleOur interview today is with Teresa Pollard. Thank you Teresa for being here today and for agreeing to do this interview.
Answer: I am a reader. My family says I’ve had my nose in a book since I was able to sit up. I’ve read things from Trixie Beldon to War and Peace. But I especially love to read the Bible. I’ve spent much of the last forty years teaching it to children. Its stories are full of passion and intrigue, but most of all, full of the Truth of God’s great love for us. That’s the Truth I want to write about.
Question: Tell us a little about your “real” (Non-writing) life — family, job, church life. Does it give you inspiration for your writing? Does it get in the way of your writing, or are there times when you get help, from people or circumstances?
Answer: I’m a Christian mom and grandma, and I taught children in Sunday School for forty years. I was also married for forty years to someone I thought was the love of my life. Then six years ago, he decided he didn’t want to be married anymore. A few months later, my youngest daughter was given 4 to 6 months to live. She lived 13 months. It was the most devastating time of my life. But God took me in His arms and walked me safely through it. Then He gave me a new home and a new grandson to care for. I’m teaching Sunday School again, but this time ladies my age. It’s a joy!
Question: Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction?
Answer: I love to travel. For an old lady, I’m still pretty adventurous. I’ve stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon as well as peered into the depths of a glacier, and I’ve hiked a few hills just to admire the beauty of a waterfall. I also love art, but have zero artistic ability, so I satisfy that urge through the lens of my camera.
Question: Tell us about working with any people who help you create your books — Do you use Beta readers? Hire an editor or proofreader? How do you get your covers?
Answer: Not Guilty, my first published novel, was written in 1982 with my friend Candi Pullen. The Lord gave me the idea when I was sitting in church one Sunday evening. I went home and wrote furiously for three days until I had an 80 page hand written first draft. I knew it wasn’t a finished novel, but I gave it to Candi to see what she thought of the idea. She gave me back 20 pages of critique! I know it was a God thing, because I didn’t get the least bit upset. I just said, “Well girl, if you’ve got that much to say, you’re going to have to help me do this right! So for almost a year, we wrote every weekday. I hadn’t seen Candi for nearly thirty years, but when I called to tell her it was going to be published, the years melted away, and we went throught the editing process just as if we had been together writing the day before! The harmony was amazing! I couldn’t ask for a better writing partner. Although she lives in Florida now, we’ve recently gotten together to write a sequel, and that same unity of spirit was right there every moment.
Question: Tell us about your newest book. Make us want to read it.
Answer: My newest published book is Tokens of Promise, an imagining of the love story of Tamar and Judah from Genesis 38. Rescued by Judah from an evil slave trader, Tamar is smitten by the handsome Hebrew, and Judah can’t deny his attraction to her. But he is already married, and has vowed only to have one wife. He gives her in marriage to his son Er, not realizing Er is even more wicked than the slave trader. On their wedding night, the Lord strikes Er dead. Then Judah gives Tamar to Onan, his second son. Judah has another dead son. How can Tamar and Shelah (Judah’s third son) make Judah realize his obligation, or will Tamar be burned alive for the attempt?
Question: What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)
Answer: Redemption. Jesus can make the vilest clean, and He will use a willing heart to accomplish His purposes. It isn’t about us. It’s about Him and His kingdom. We may suffer in this life, but He will reward us for it in eternity. Jesus does love me. This I know, and I would tell the whole world so.
Question: Tell us one place you visited or person you met, that made a big impression on you, and why.
Answer: Besides my godmother, I think the person who made the biggest impression on me was Mildred Presson. Mildred spent most of her adult life caring for an invalid husband as well as working and raising three children. Yet I never saw one iota of bitterness in her. She had such a sweet spirit about her. She cooked our Wednesday night dinners at church. My mouth waters just remembering some of her meals. But it was her smile and her outstretched arms I remember even more. To me she was Jesus personified.
Question: Share something that’s amazing, touching, or that makes you angry.
Answer: I think there’s probably nothing more amazine on earth than the birth of a child. That perfect tiny person taking his or her first breath and screaming at the injustice of being pulled from the safety and comfort of Mother’s womb to face a cruel world. What a miracle! But I think that in God’s eyes, as precious as that is, it doesn’t compare to one sinner who repents and is born again into His kingdom. I wish we could see that through His eyes. We’re told even the angels are rejoicing in heaven at that miracle! I’ve witnessed the birth of my three children and two of my grandchildren, but I’ve also been present at the new birth of many children. What a joy and privilege!
Question: What’s your next project? Tell us so we can’t wait for it to come out!
Answer: The next project is Not Ashamed, the sequel to Not Guilty. It’s the story of Charity Wright, a child of rape, who comes home after 18 years as an MK in Africa. Only recently told the story of her conception, she’s angry and determined to confront her biological father. But before she even meets him, Charity is caught up in a murder mystery and is persuaded that her biological father is also a murderer. What will it take to make her see the truth? Can she learn to forgive, or will forgiveness come too late as she’s caught in the clutches of a killer?
Question: What is your current WIP?
Answer: Woman of Light, the story of Deborah and Barak from Judges. Adonai has spoken. Deborah will be the next judge of Israel, but the people of Ephraim want no part of a woman judge in their city gate. So Deborah sits out under the palm trees, and soon people from all around are coming to hear her wisdom. But not everyone is happy with Barak and Deborah’s success, and when Adonai begins to pour out His own judgments against the people, they blame Deborah for their misery. Even Barak is beginning to lose his song of joy. How can they win the battle against Sisera, when all they can do is fight amongst themselves?
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