Sheila L. Jackson
lives with her family in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is an anointed
speaker, teacher, and writer that utilize her gifts to carry the Word of God to
those in need of spiritual soul food. Sheila has penned two, inspirational
non-fiction books, The Enemy Within and Through the Eyes of God.
She has also written several inspirational and social articles for a local
newspaper and magazine.
Her latest book
is the Christian fiction romance suspense, Where
Was God? (Their Hearts Burned to be Together).
Can you tell us
what your book, Where is God?, is about?
Where Was God is a
book that deals with many of the issues we are faced with today. Fayth Angelica
Hope is a young woman who, her mother despised since birth. She is physically,
mentally, and emotionally abused, which carries over into her adult life. She
turns her back on the church and her family who she thought was supposed to
protect her, her faith, and love. In a nut-shell, it’s about redemption, with
the help of a young man, by the name of Jasion McCoy who teaches her how to
love again.
Why did you write
your book?
I wanted to bring
many of the issues most families sweep underneath the rug to light. Parents
don’t realize how they scar their children for life. Some are able to rise
above the abuse, while others succumb to it, never able let go and live a
normal life.
Can you tell us a
little about your main and supporting characters?
Fayth Angelica Hope
(Heroin) wants to live a normal life, but she is crippled by her past abuse and
failed relationships. Jasion McCoy (Hero) falls for all the wrong women in his
search for Mrs. Right. Unfortunately, for him, he may be serving prison time
for embezzlement. Nicole Swaggart (Antagonist) is self-centered. She plays by nobody rules,
except her own. There are more shady, hilarious, and dramatic characters inside
the pages of, Where Was God.
Are you consciously
aware of the plot before you begin a novel or do you discover it as you write?
I discover the plot
as I go. Just like the readers, I want to be surprise of how the story will
turn out. Knowing the plot beforehand, bores me, I love the not knowing until
the juices of creativity starts flowing.
Your book is set in
Port City, Louisiana. Can you tell us why you chose this city in
particular?
Port City is the name, native Louisianans use to refer
to Shreveport. I choose this name, because I wanted a
little bit of home in my book.
What would you do
with an extra hour today if you could do anything you wanted?
I’d go hide
somewhere and sleep. With two teenage, active daughters, one who plays high school
varsity basketball, juggling a husband, and a career, leaves little time for
me.
Can you tell us
about your family?
I have the best
family in the world. I am extremely close to my daughters, they love handing
out with me. My husband supports my dreams. No matter what I want to do in
life, he’s onboard with it.
What do you like
the most about being an author?
I love touching
people lives with the words God breathe into my spirit. Knowing that lives are
changed and life lessons are learned through the stories I tell, is a blessing
as well as rewarding.
What is the most
pivotal point of a writer’s life?
Knowing a
publishing company believes in my story and me as an author enough to sign me
to a contract. To me, its validation for all the doors that were closed in my
face and that one person believed in my work to get behind my project to bring
it to the public.
What kind of advice
would you give other fiction authors?
If writing is your
passion, never let anyone stop you from doing just that. Know that it takes
only one yes to fulfill your dreams. Rejection will come but use it as a
teaching tool to better your craft. Don’t wallow in it; keep moving and one day
someone will see your hard.