This was your first major book. What was your inspiration for writing this story?

Yes, this was my first major book. I was inspired to write this story because everyone kept telling me to write it down! I had been sending out e-mails to give people updates regarding my illness, and many encouraged me to write a book. When God provided an editor to help me through the writing process, I knew it was what I was supposed to be doing.

How did having cancer treatment affect you while writing this story?

Well, because I took steroids with each dose of chemo, I was wide awake that night following chemo therapy. So it was then that I wrote my book. Instead of getting worried about the lack of sleep, I turned my time into something productive…I wrote a book!

How long did it take you to write this book?

Two years.

What was the most challenging part about writing this story?

Getting past the facts into the feelings.

What do you want your readers to learn from this book?

That no matter what your life’s circumstances may be, you can always trust in the Lord to see you through.

Just what is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is the term to describe the clinical observation of a woman with a variety of symptoms, which may include rapid unusual increase in breast size, redness, rash or blotchiness on breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, lump or thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain and /or soreness of breast, feverish breast, swelling of lymph nodes under the arm or above the collar bone, dimpling or ridging of breast, flattening or retracting of nipple and nipple discharge or change in pigmented area around nipple. It’s a very uncommon type of breast cancer in that it often presents itself without a lump. In younger, denser breast tissue, it cannot be seen through mammographpy. The best test for IBC is a skin biopsy.

For more information about Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), please visit http://www.ibcresearch.org.

Where do you receive your encouragement from?

Daily, I open up God’s Word and that is where my hope comes from. God is my encourager through His Holy Spirit.

Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. What encouragement would you give her on the first day?

Allow yourself permission to feel all the feelings that come with the initial diagnosis. I tried to keep death far away from my mind. I had many well-meaning friends who came by to tell me their stories of people they knew had cancer, but then they died! So the first day, just get through it…one hour at a time. Your body will react to such powerful news, and it doesn’t mean you lack faith or anything else. So I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on the truth. You’re still the same person you were 24 hours ago, before the dreadful news.

What are your plans now and does it include writing more books?

Currently, I am working on another book on “how to help” people in their time of need. Unfortunately, I’m at a small roadblock due to the chemoembolization I had done on my liver, and I’m unable to do any writing at all. But that’s ok, because I know God will give me time to write the next story.