Growing up on a farm in a small town outside of Selma, AL was the highlight of my life. My appreciation for life and wanting all of its success is what made me work really hard toward my goals. Our plan for our lives are not always God’s plan. I am the tenth child out of thirteen kids but I was determined to be more than a number. I joined the military at age 21, later I retired. While serving in the military I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, Fibromyalgia and depression. I have been faced with many other battles ever since. I was determined to never give up and press on. Through my faith and trust in God, I have endured. I have always been a fighter and I know now that this battle belongs to the Lord.
The book is a brief testimony about my life and the struggles I have had and continue to on a daily basis. I talk openly and candid about life issues and how hard it is to get past one thing and then you look up and there’s something else. It’s real talk and real life. I speak on facts and my faith in God. The book is truly encouraging!
BPM: Tell us about your new book. Available on Nook and Kindle?
Don’t Give Up by Marlena Lewis. The basis of my story is to tell someone that is facing some of the same circumstances that I am going through is that they are not alone.
We all have struggles in our lives that seem like we can never get past them, but if we can learn to trust in the Lord, he will help us. I tell my story of feeling helpless at times and not knowing where to turn.
When I looked back over my life I began to think about my spiritual family life. My parents never gave up on thirteen kids. I have hope and confidence now that I can do the same for my life.
Available on Paperback and Kindle.
BPM: What topics are discussed?
Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia and Depression.
BPM: What was your hardest scene to write, the opening or the close?
Neither, I was by the Lord to write everything so I found it to be very comforting.
BPM: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?
Yes, I would never write about politics.
BPM: What made you want to become a writer? How long have you been writing?
I started writing after my diagnosis of Lyme disease, so this is my first book.
BPM: How has writing impacted your life?
I have gotten so many compliments from others who have Lyme disease and said that the book changed their lives.
BPM: Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
Yes, I was led by the God to write this book.
BPM: What was one of the most surprising things you learned from this project?
How receptive and nice people have been since writing the book.
BPM: Share one specific point in your book that resonated with your present situation or journey.
The fact that I am a Lyme Survivor makes it more real; to the audience and that’s what people want, someone who can relate to them.
BPM: What are the top three things that make you feel happy and fulfilled?
Peace, Love, and Joy.
BPM: What makes you forget about the world around you?
Focus on he that created you.
BPM: What strengths did you use to achieve two major goals in life?
Spiritual and emotional.
BPM: What other projects are you working on at the present time?
Book signings and radio interviews.
BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marlenalewis11
FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006691420412
Don’t Give Up by Marlena Lewis
Review Written by Quiniece Sheppard
Hope in a dying world! Marlena Lewis shares her story of struggle and triumph in her book titled “Don’t Give Up”.
The title itself is encouraging. Marlena Lewis gives an encouraging word to her readers telling them not to give up and to persevere through the hardships and trials. It is a book that offers hope and encouragement to those who are suffering.
Don’t give up and look to Jesus who is the author and finisher of your faith. It’ll get better after while. Great book and I recommend it to those who need a little bit of push to keep going no matter what.
Purchase Don’t Give Up by Marlena Lewis
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1495810607
Non-fiction/Christian/Biography Memoir