Pump Up Chats with Susie Hobson

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Susie Hobson has a B.A. in Special Education and an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from The University of Alabama. She worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Alabama Dept. of Rehabilitation Services for sixteen years managing a deaf/hearing-impaired and blind/vision-impaired caseload. She retired to spend more time with her family and to write as God has called her. She and her husband Rich have two daughters. They live in Montgomery, Alabama. Susie’s book, Loving God with All Your Heart, was published by Nordskog Publishing (www.nordskogpublishing.com).

Thank you for this interview, Susie. Do you remember writing stories as a child or did the writing bug come later? Do you remember your first published piece?

Thank you for your interest in my book. I was a great reader as a young person but did not have a desire to write until I was in my thirties. My book Loving God with All Your Heart is my first published piece.

What do you consider as the most frustrating side of becoming a published author and what has been the most rewarding?

Thankfully I had very little frustration. The hard part to me was getting my book to the point where I felt it was finished. I kept praying and tweaking and polishing and rewriting until God finally gave me that peace of knowing—this is it, it is finished! Then I sent it to several major publishers (3) and got nice letters back saying “we do not read or accept unsolicited manuscripts.” So, I put it aside and prayed and prayed, “What do You want me to do with this?” Then one day, a publisher (Nordskog Publishing) called my husband’s business, the Foundation for Moral Law, to ask for his boss, Judge Roy Moore (the former Alabama Chief Justice also known as the Ten Commandments Judge), to consider an endorsement for another book. My husband happened to mention my book to them and, out of courtesy, they replied, “Ok, send it to us and we will get back with you.” Well, they liked it and then we went right into the publishing process. One of the most rewarding parts of the process was that the publisher decided to use my daughter Amelia’s cover design for the book. I’m grateful and humbled that it all came about as it did.

Are you married or single and how do you combine the writing life with home life? Do you have support?

I have been married to Rich for 27 years and we have two college-aged daughters. I worked for years as a counselor, but left the work force over five years ago to stay at home and write. I find that writing and homemaking go very well together. My husband and daughters are great encouragers and supporters.

Can you tell us about your latest book and why you wrote it?

About eight years ago I was reading my Bible in the early morning hours, as is my habit, and I read the Greatest Commandment in one of the Gospels as I had many times before. Yet this time I heard a still, small voice say, “Do you love me like that?” At first I said, “Of course I do!” But then I started honestly thinking it over and had to say, “No Lord, I don’t love You like that, but I’m willing to if You will show me how.” That was the start of a deeper and deeper relationship with God where I saw Him being more real, active, and powerful in my life than ever before. And the relationship continues to grow.

Can you share an excerpt?

“For all who are wanting more, for all who want more love, real love, filling their lives, the key for unlocking the unfailing love we all crave is to . . . love God with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength. It is that simple.

Recently a lady asked me, “How can I find that real relationship with God? I just wish someone could tell me!” The answer is to get to know God. Read His Word daily, pray in a real and substantial way, and then expect a response! Seek God first and you will find Him.

Keeping the greatest commandment in every day life leads to a love-filled life. It leads to a relationship with God that will change your whole life and stream out into the lives of everyone around you.

God wants a relationship with each of us, not just for us to believe that there is a God. He wants to pour out His unfailing love over you and your whole life. What are you waiting for? What could possibly hold you back from running to receive this? We are not giving up anything when we surrender everything to God. Don’t let the world make you think it has something better to offer than unfailing love—it does not.

What God has planned for you and me makes everything dim in comparison!”

Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

I write in my study at home. Two large windows make it bright and inviting, it is a bit formal but I like it that way. I sit at the computer and write in silence, except for when my dog, Rugby, barks at any activity outside when she is not sound asleep.

What is one thing about your book that makes it different from other books on the market?

I think it is frank and real. You won’t find platitudes or what I call “church talk” in my book. I went through a conversion experience that was filled with evil and there was a good chance I was not going to make it to the other side—I never forget that! I live with that appreciation of God and His powerful hand in my life day by day. I am asking you to have a relationship with God that I know is there, ready and available.

Tables are turned…what is one thing you’d like to say to your audience who might buy your book one day?

Do you have a great relationship with God? Many people (old Christians, mature Christians, baby Christians, teenagers, and even non-believers!) told me they did not . . . but wanted to. Most said they did not think that they could keep the Greatest Commandment at this time in their lives for numerous reasons (could not love anyone more than this or that person, too busy, did not know how to have a relationship with God, etc.). Loving God with all your heart is a totally win-win process! The more you love God, the more you will love others—all others actually. It will never take any love away; it will only add love to your life! When we love God with all our hearts, He takes our busy lives and starts filling our lives with the very busy things that He made us for. God has a plan and when we avail ourselves to His plan we find that all those things that we are good at and interested in are the very things He wanted us to be filled with! God has a good plan for your life and if you will turn to Him and say “I want You and Your ways for me!” He will pour this out on you—He is waiting, willing and able to do this. Come on, what are you waiting for?! This book will get you going in the right direction.

Thank you for this interview, Susie. Good luck on your virtual book tour!

Thank you very much for this opportunity to share my book with Pump Up Your Book. I’m very excited about my virtual book tour!

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach