SP: Leslie, what a pleasure to have you with us today. Welcome! And congratulations on the release of your debut novel, Like Sheep Gone Astray.

Leslie: Thank you for the invitation! I am honored to be here and praise God for the opportunity. Congratulations to you as well on the recent release of your wonderful first novel! I read it, my husband read it, and we’ve been discussing it ever since! Great job!

SP: Thanks, Leslie. I appreciate those kind words. So, first tell us a little about yourself, and then share a bit about Like Sheep Gone Astray.

Leslie: Well, I’m married with two children, and turning 30 this year. I've been a resident of Baltimore, Maryland all my life, and I enjoy spending time with my family and friends at museums, plays, dance performances, and the movies.

In a nutshell, Like Sheep Gone Astray is a Christian novel that’s a fast-paced, suspense-filled story. It follows a young minister trapped in a conspiracy because of greed, and touches on many issues including family secrets, communication and motivations in relationships, and empowering communities. I think I’m especially excited about the community component because it’s heartening to see grassroots efforts of regular people trying to bring healing and help to broken lives around them. You don’t see or hear about that all the time, and having that element pop up in the story brought a lot of passion and purpose to the characters.

SP: When did you begin writing this book and how did you connect with a publisher?

Leslie: I started writing Like Sheep Gone Astray when my older child was two months old. That was five years ago. I had just quit full-time employment as an assistant clinical social worker to be a stay-at-home-mom, and writing seemed like the natural next step as I’d been working on poems and short stories for as long as I could remember. I never expected to write a novel, but that’s the door God opened. He literally led me to my publisher, Denise Stinson of Walk Worthy Press, an hour after I prayed for clear direction about what to do with the story. After praying, I ended up on her website, and found out about a special conference she was hosting for first time authors. I entered my half-written story into the contest, was selected to attend, and submitted the entire manuscript to her not too long afterwards. I’ve been amazed watching God do the miraculous at every step and know with confidence that this is His project. 

SP: Your book is filled with colorful and memorable characters. What steps do you take to form your characters’ personalities?

Leslie: The characters pretty much dictate themselves to me. As I’m writing, who they are becomes more tangible -- their thoughts, actions, appearances. They become like real people to me; and like real people they can’t be controlled. They are who they are and do what they do.  I can think of entire scenes deleted from the story because I was trying to force a character to do something I wanted him/her to do to fit my outline.  In the end, the character won, and the story went the direction he or she took it. I was merely transcribing.

SP: Writing is rewarding but it is also challenging at times, and I’m sure there have been many Bible verses that have kept you motivated during the writing/publishing process. Would you share one of them with us and tell us how this verse has empowered you to keep writing?

Leslie: There’s one particular passage in Habakkuk that spoke to me at a point when I was discouraged with writing. Habakkuk 2:2-3: “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” This verse is used by many writers and workers in ministry. It encourages me when I am not sure what to write. I’ve started and stopped many stories and when that happens, I get frustrated, unsure of what I’m supposed to be writing. Through these verses, God reminds me that “the vision” will come at the necessary time. The words He wants me to write will come, and that when it is written the message will be easy for the reader to understand and it will be a message of encouragement —words to help somebody “get running.” Being in a position of encouraging another with a perfectly-timed Divine message is encouraging to me. It’s not my message or my timing. I only have to wait for Him and be secure in His promise.

SP: Leslie, readers will want to learn more about you and your work, so tell us where we can visit.

Leslie: Please visit my website at www.LeslieJSherrod.com and sign the Guestbook or send an email to leslie@lesliejsherrod.com. I love to hear from readers—that was one of the main reasons I started my website. Check back often for updates and more info, as well as to read the latest edition of my newsletter, Blossom.

You can also get more information at www.WalkWorthyPress.net and by clicking on http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/authors/60/3525/index.html.

SP: Thank you so much for stopping by Soul Pen, and for writing such an inspiring book, Like Sheep Gone Astray. Please come back and talk to us again in the future.

Leslie: Thanks again for having me. To everyone that reads the book, I pray that you find it encouraging, inspiring, and enjoyable. Though it was a lot of work, it truly was a fun story to write. And to everyone who is writing or living out another God-given vision, stay encouraged. His timing is perfect and many will be blessed by your obedience. Take care.