Interview with
author and speaker Kimberley Brooks
SP: Kimberley,
it was a huge pleasure meeting you at the Greater Philadelphia
Christian Writers Conference. I experienced firsthand what a warm and
wonderful person you are, but for those who haven't met you, introduce
yourself and your book.
Kimberley: Thank
you so much, Mata, for your kind words. It was a pleasure meeting you
at the conference as well. I had a great time! Well, my name is
Kimberley Brooks, and my debut novel is, He's Fine...But is He
Saved? which is an entertaining and inspiring novel about
the challenges and triumphs of 3 single girlfriends waiting to be found
by love. Sandy is the babe in
Christ who makes a lot of mistakes with
men. Liz is the devout
Christian who feels she needs "no man but
Jesus," so she gives men a hard time. Michelle,
the most balanced
character, is a successful career woman who wants to be married one
day, but refuses to chase men. The novel is very real, and a lot of
readers have said they can relate to one, if not all of the characters.
SP: I've
attended several conferencess and have joined writers groups. Some new
writers are skeptical of one, or the other, or both. Have you found
either conferences or writers groups to be beneficial to you as a
writer?
Kimberley: The
Greater Philadelphia Writers Conference was actually my first
conference of its kind, and I enjoyed it immensely. I had the
opportunity to meet with several publishers and editors, and also
network with other authors, such as yourself, which is always
beneficial. Currently, I am a member of American Christian Writers'
Detroit Chapter. I joined a few years ago, when my book was merely and
idea, and it was from attending those meetings that I was able to make
the initial contacts and connect with the right people who now help me
tremendously. My publicist, Pam Perry, is the founder of ACW Detroit
and I had no idea, as I attended those meetings, that she would be such
a
blessing to me now as an awesome publicist and mentor. Her website is
www.ministrymarketingsolutions.com for any aspiring Christian authors
who are looking for help promoting your book.
SP: Kim,
how
easy or difficult was it to create the three women of He's Fine...But is He
Saved?
Kimberley: It
was not hard to create these women because I purposely wanted them to
represent three different levels of spiritual development.
Sandy represents the newly born again babe
in Christ who is dealing
with issues from the past, including a past sexually active
relationship and deciding whether or not she wants to fully "live this
thing out"--this holy Christian lifestyle. Like a lot of new believers,
she is somewhat naive when it comes to men and thinks that just because
a brotha looks good, has a nice job, a nice car, and on top of that can
quote a Scripture, then he must be from God and she is ready to get
married tomorrow!
Another spirtual level is the mature
believer, as demonstrated by
Michelle. This is the believer who knows the Word, is in constant
communication with the Father, and seeks God in every decision,
including relationships. The mature saint is normally the one others
lean on for spiritual advice. In the novel, Michelle ministers to
Sandy, and Sandy looks to Michelle as her spiritual guide and godly
example.
A third
level of Christianity, on the opposite end of a Sandy, is the
"super-spiritual" saint. This saint has been saved a long time, knows
the Word in and out, is sanctified and holy, but can sometimes be too
holy for her own good. This type of believer can be a bit judgmental at
times, because she feels she knows it all and that people should know
enough not to sin or miss the mark.
I believe with the 3 levels I chose to
portray in the novel, that a lot
of women can think of a friend, a sister, an aunt, or someone who can
fit into one of these categories. The 3 women are women we come in
contact with every time we step foot in the church.
SP: In
my opinion, your novel is a tool that can be used in
church singles' ministries as a discussion piece for many of the
challenges singles face. As you go around and speak to singles, what
advice do you give to those who feel like God has turned a deaf ear on
their prayer for a mate?
Kimberley: I
give the same advice that I take myself, because I am also one who is
single and believing God for a mate. I explain to them how God hears
all of their prayers and how man operates in time ("Lord, I want to be
married yesterday!") while God operates in seasons. I tell singles who
are believing God for a mate to use this time, as a single, to prepare
for the mate that God has for them, knowing that God hears their prayer
and will grant it in due season according to First John 5:14-15. I tell
singles to use this time to discover their God-given purpose and
talents and to enjoy life. I explain how a mate should be an added
blessing or joy, not the source of their joy. God should be the
ultimate source of their joy, and it is God who wants to bring two
whole and complete people--who know they are in Christ--together in
order to accomplish His will.
SP: At
times
your characters were faced with the challenge to remain sexually pure.
Now, Kim, you know there are those who believe that in this day and age
it is impossible for people, even Christians, to practice abstinence
until married. What do you say about this?
Kimberley:
I
say that it is possible and that I am a
living testimony that it is. I'm 28 and a virgin, and I wasn't raised
in the church. I have friends who are virgins. I know men who are
virgins. It is possible. I believe the abstinence message has been
hidden for far too long and I think it needs to be brought to light.
Youngsters and teenagers need to hear and see that it is possible. If
you missed it, and have had pre-marital sex, believers must know that
there is the forgiving, cleansing power of God which is available once
a believer truly repents, but believers must also realize that holiness
and sanctification is a daily deicision and a daily process. In order
to resist temptation, one must not place him or herself in tempting
situations where the devil is free to enter in, and the flesh is free
to take over (for instance, two believers over each other's house late
at night alone--watching Love Jones, c'mon now!) No mattter how
spiritually mature or "saved" we may think we are, we are still human
and can still be tempted. No one is immune to sexual feelings, it is
what we do with those feelings, and how we control those feelings, that
determine whether or not we are successful when it comes to resisting
temptation according to the Word of God.
SP: Where
can readers find out more about you and your ministry?
Kimberley:
Please
visit me at www.kimontheWeb.com for
a Free Excerpt, and for an
opportunity to respond to my article, 7 Things a Woman Wants.
SP: Kimberley,
I congratulate you for the hard work you've
invested in writing and getting this book into the hands of the world.
May God continue to pour his blessings upon you as you minister through
writing and speaking!
Kimberley: Thank
you,
Mata! Thanks for interviewing me! May God continue to bless and prosper
the work of your hands as well!
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