Welcome to Florida! The place where fall is a dream, winter is a lie, and humidity never dies! I always say that's what we get for invading a swamp. :-/As we turn our attention from spooky and sometimes demonic things to a spirit of thankfulness (only in America!), we here at ckevinthompson.com wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! No matter what's happened in your past, no matter how unforgiving and ruthless life has been and can be, if we are honest, there is always something we can be thankful for. Even if it's simply the breath we breathed while we ready this sentence. No adverse events in our lives can match the limitless love of God. We just have to seek Him (Matthew 6:33-34).
With that sentiment, I want everyone to meet a fellow writer I have had the privilege of knowing for several years now. We met during a writers conference, if memory serves, and have gotten to know each other a little more through a writers critique community of which we are both a part called Word Weavers International.
Let us welcome non-fiction author Tina Yeager to the Florida front porch!
Tina, you know all about the Florida weather, so pull up a chair, allow our team to place a little umbrella in your iced tea for some ambiance, and give us a quick bio. In fifty words or less, who is Tina Yeager?
An award-winning author, speaker, life coach, LMHC, and host
of the Flourish-Meant podcast, I’m passionate about helping audiences fulfill
their potential as heroes of their divine stories.
What educational background do you
have?
I
attended a small high school in Mulberry, Florida, where I often appeared as a
white speck in the crowd of my friends. I grew so much from my relationships
with those from differing races and backgrounds, and therefore tend to champion
diversity. I have a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Florida State
University, but learned everything I needed to know about writing for
publication from conferences. I was pregnant with my first child while
finishing my bachelor’s degree. I earned my M.A. in Counseling from U.C.F. when
pregnant with my second child. My father says I should be careful about getting
a PhD, since it’ll certainly bring a third child.
FSU, huh? As a Gator fan, I'm tempted to break out the joke book, but I will refrain. :-)
You're obviously married. Tell us a little about your family.
I’m
married to a heroic and loving gentleman, with whom I share two amazing sons.
My oldest son is a gunsmith in Clearwater, Florida, and an incredibly noble
young man. When my youngest son filled out his fellowship application, I
encouraged him to include the fact that he attended a UCF graduate program
before birth. I’m not sure it helped, but he now serves as a research
fellowship student in UCF’s combined doctoral and master’s program for
aerospace engineering.
Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life?
At six years old, I submitted my first work for publication in the local newspaper. While my poem about Winnie the Pooh didn’t transform lives or set the publishing industry on notice, the achievement inspired me to continue writing. My love for the craft continued throughout childhood and into college, but I didn’t identify myself as a potential author until much later. The Lord called me to write during my first child’s infancy. My winding life journey took me through other career fields and circumstances—all of which informed my writing—before I heard the Lord bring my writing call to action. I began the long hike up this faith-building mountain of perseverance toward publication shortly before I attended my first writers conference in 2006.
Besides storytelling, what talents do you have?
I love speaking and storytelling from the stage. I’m also a life coach and therapist, so I enjoy praying with and encouraging others toward healing and embracing their full potential.
What makes you
cringe?
I’ve always had a hard time tolerating bullies. Though
otherwise non-confrontational by nature, a bully stiffens my backbone and
floods me with indignance. I once thought this related to my role in standing
up to the neighborhood bully as a child, but I believe its root is actually not
about human beings at all. The true bully behind the oppression in every
situation is Satan. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, Ephesians tells
us. I now remind myself to see past the human bullies to the cruel spirit
tormenting them and others through them.
Do you have a
favorite line from a movie or book? If so, what is it and explain why it is
special to you?
“A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives
precisely when he means to.” – Gandalf, Lord of the Rings
If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?
I’d love to meet Deborah, a true pioneer of women’s Christ-centered leadership as a divine “shero.”
What’s the craziest thing you have ever done?
When my husband’s job qualified him to take me on a bonus trip to Paris twenty years ago, the museums were closed due to a strike. Desperate to get a close look at the art, I snuck into the off-limits areas of L’Opera and climbed all the stairs to get as close as possible to the ceiling frescos. Probably not the best idea to risk arrest in a foreign country.
Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story?
I like to dabble in new genres, just to stretch and grow my craft muscles. When I ventured into contemporary fantasy, I discovered an unlimited playground for my imagination and fell in love with writing the genre. I adore the characters and relish every moment I can spend in the Urban Dragon series’ world. My favorite story-baby remains unpublished. For now. Like many niche genres, contemporary fantasy has fallen temporarily out of fashion with acquisitions agents. So, I’m holding onto my darling fantasy for a little while. We’ll find her the perfect home when the time is right.
As a writer, if you
had one thing you would do over again, what would it be?
I made the mistake of publishing with a predatory company
which touted itself as “traditional” but is reputed as the publisher of
idiots. I wasn’t a member of a writing community, so I had no one to warn me
against the company. Since I had a degree in creative writing, I didn’t realize
I needed to attend writers’ conferences before seeking publication. I would
advise new writers to seek a community of wise authors through conference attendance
and membership in a well-reputed writing organization. Word Weavers
International and the conference I attended have offered priceless and vital
training, support, and networking. I cannot recommend these two professional
areas of engagement more strongly.
Tell us about what
project you are currently working on.
I’m working on a new non-fiction project about becoming the
hero of your life story. I also have a completed non-fiction manuscript on how
God uses broken people which my agent is shopping. In addition, we’re
considering a few fiction pieces for editing and submission. I’m focusing a lot
of time on my podcast, Flourish-Meant, as well.
We know “Readers are leaders, and
leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that
has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it
affect your life?
I
recently read Linda Evans Shepherd’s new book, When You Need to Move a Mountain. Since I know Linda’s dedication
to prayer and her obedience to the Spirit’s leading, the book spoke to me as if
it were from her heart to mine. When You Need to Move a Mountain underscores
the centrality of prayer which Linda models in her life, and I feel inspired to
follow her lead by remaining mindful of this vital piece in my life, too.
Is there anything else you’d like
to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover?
I
used to wonder how my passion for optimizing life in non-fiction could work
together with my love for speculative fiction writing. I’ve recently discovered
the aim of becoming heroes in the story God authors for each and all of us
covers both fiction and non-fiction themes. I now embrace the diversity and
unity of heroic triumph in fiction and nonfiction.
Thank you, Tina, for allowing our readers to get to know you a little bit. We wish you the best as you work to spread His word.
Readers, if you wish to find out more about Tina's writing ministry, check out the links below!
Beautiful Warrior:
Finding Victory Over the Lies Formed Against You (publisher site): https://www.newhopepublishers.com/shop/beautiful-warrior/
Inkspirations
Online (devotional publication by writers for writers): https://www.inkspirationsonline.com/
Until next month, may God bless America, and more importantly, may America bless God!
Kevin
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