I am delighted to have an opportunity to introduce Cynthia Howerter, who collaborated with La-Tan Roland Murphy to write God’s Provision in Tough Times. While this is a book that will encourage and inspire anyone going through unemployment, underemployment, or financial difficulties, the underlying principles can help one experiencing trials of any sort.
I know the genesis of this book, Cynthia, came from your own personal experience. Could you briefly share with us those events which lead up to your desire to write it?
Actually, Janet, it wasn’t a story or book that I wanted to write because my family and I went through so many painful difficulties during the time of my husband’s unemployment. However, after speaking with Publisher Eddie Jones of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas at a writers’ conference in May, 2012, Eddie encouraged me to write about my family’s experiences as a means of conveying hope to others who are going through unemployment, underemployment, or financial difficulties. As I prayed about writing the book, it became very clear that my family’s experiences were meant to be shared.
How did your association with Latan begin, and how did you come up with the idea and format for this book?
After God put it on my heart that the book should be an anthology of stories written by numerous writers, I asked God to give me a co-author who could share the responsibilities and La-Tan’s name immediately came to mind. Because I’d only met La-Tan briefly at two writers’ conferences, I had no idea until I phoned her that she and her family had also been through unemployment! Truly, God’s hand is all over this book.
What was the process of finding the contributors, particularly in light of the sensitive nature of the book?
La-Tan and I prayed and asked God which writers we should approach because neither of us were aware of other writers who had experienced these issues. When we contacted the writers whose names came to us, we learned that not only did each person have unemployment experiences, but they were happy to share what they’d gone through in order to help others. Everyone experiences adversity, but when you learn what problems someone else went through and the ways in which God provided for them, it helps you realize that God is willing to help you, too.
Were there any particular challenges you faced in compiling a work with so many different collaborators and in finding a publisher?
In speaking with Publisher Eddie Jones, he and I both realized that it would be best to use multiple writers who’d experienced a wide variety of adverse unemployment situations because using only my story would provide too narrow of a focus. After La-Tan agreed to be my co-author, she and I composed a list of story topics for the anthology and asked each of the contributing writers to select a topic for their article. Having a co-author was a huge help because neither La-Tan nor I had previous experience writing and compiling an anthology. All in all, the entire process flowed smoothly. La-Tan and I worked very well together even though we were virtual strangers at the beginning of the project. Our experiences with God’s Provision in Tough Times served to grow a strong bond and lasting friendship with each other.
How long have you been writing and what particular genre do you like to write?
I’ve been writing since I was a little girl, but began writing seriously during my husband’s unemployment period. I love historical fiction, in particular the Colonial Period.
Are you working on any projects currently?
I just finished the research for a novel I’m about to write. It’s set shortly before the American Revolution began.
Where can readers find you and your books on the internet?
I’d love to have readers visit my website “Soar With Eagles” at: http://cynthiahowerter.com I also post articles once a month at the Colonial Quills website: http://colonialquills.blogspot.com God’s Provision in Tough Times is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christianbook.com .
Thank you, Cynthia.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, Janet.
CYNTHIA HOWERTER is a Pennsylvania girl who now lives in Virginia. Her love for history, especially the American Revolutionary War period, along with being a member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) and Colonial American Christian Writers, gives Cynthia a wealth of knowledge to use in her writing. She is currently writing an historical fiction novel, writes for her website Soar With Eagles, and is a contributing writer to the Colonial Quills website. Cynthia and La-Tan Roland Murphy are co-authors of God’s Provision in Tough Times, an anthology of 25 true stories of God’s provision during unemployment and financial despair.
