What personal experience or research first led you to write this book?
During the darkest season of my life, I lost my voice to pray. God led me to use Scriptures to articulate my prayers. My voice was restored, and my faith was reignited. The powerful prayer strategies that renewed my strength are included in my first book, In Dark of Night When Words Fail, Voice of Jesus Pray for Me.
God inspired me to write my second book, The Whole Bible Devotional: Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible, after struggling to read through the Bible with my family. My then-teenage kids and I planned to read through the Bible. With great excitement, we plunged in. Then sputtered, tried again, and eventually gave up. I was so disappointed that I wasn’t able to help support my family to read through the Bible. So, God planted a seed of hope in my heart to write a book to help others with busy schedules, to get a big-picture view of the Bible by reading an excerpt from each book of the Bible.
Who do you hope will benefit most from your message, and how?
With the book, In Dark of Night When Words Fail, I hope to encourage people who may be going through a dark or difficult season of life. Anyone who may feel they have lost hope or have lost the strength to pray. This prayer guide will help people find strength through Scripture to connect with God again. This book provides strategies for strengthening your prayer life.
My goal with The Whole Bible Devotional is to help others with today’s busy lifestyles grasp the Bible’s main message, see Jesus throughout the Scriptures, and connect with God through prayer. This is a 66-day reading plan that provides an overview of the Bible, excerpts from each book of the Bible, and corresponding prayers to help people deepen their relationship with Christ.
What was the most surprising thing you discovered while writing or researching your book?
I was most surprised to discover how God can take out the ashes of our weakness and brokenness to bring about something beautiful.
What’s one piece of advice you’d share with aspiring nonfiction writers who want to publish?
Attend writers’ conferences. These events help you develop as a writer and make connections with others in the industry, so you can hone your skills and find a support network.
Fun question: If your book were turned into a documentary, what would the theme song be?
Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts (This is a favorite of mine!)
Where to find Melissa and her books:
Website: https://melissamclaughlin.org/
Social Media:
Books:
The Whole Bible Devotional
In Dark of Night When Words Fail
