Featured Interview With Rachel Young
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
My motto in life is to have fun. I believe God created us to live life to full—which to me means— to soak in the beauty of every sunset, delight in the giggles of my children, and splash into the deep end of the activity before me.
I met my prince charming in high school drama class, he woo-ed me with poetry and pursued me until I said yes. I moved to Marysville, California in the middle of my junior year where I met him from Sterling, Colorado, a tiny podunk town that was a lovely place to grow up. My fabulous husband is the superhero dad to our four children and the calm to my crazy. Our couple superpower is supporting each other’s dreams to the bitter (and sweet) end. We live at a lake in Northern California where he manages a campground called Collins Lake. We have a golden doodle, 11 chickens and 3 goats.
I’m not a neutral kind of person–vibrant colors go best on me, and one of my friends has described me as a pen of many colors. You can find me serving tea (or wine) in my cabin in the woods of Northern Calfornia, to anyone and everyone who finds themself at my table for rousing and thoughtful conversations.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My writing journey began in the fourth grade when my teacher read my adjective-infused story aloud to the superintendent. I was hooked. I discovered journalism in high school with delightful Bruce who let me sneak off campus for donuts and gave me behind-the-scenes access to everything with my press pass. I learned some more at Azusa Pacific University and put my skills to work at a small-town publication in Pasadena. Then I told God that I wasn’t meant to be a writer, but a baker and extravagant hospitality giver.
With many tears, I answered the call God set before me to endeavor to write a book. I questioned Him many times if I heard Him correctly. But here we are, to the detriment of my housekeeping, the book he gave me to write is available to anyone who needs its message.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My all time favorite author is C.S. Lewis. He had a profound way of speaking God’s truths into story. I love any story that captivates me. I have especially loved lately Andy Andrews’ “The Noticer” and Bob Goff. I love theology reading and philosophy. And just a good fun story. Currently reading “Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingall’s Wilder to my 1st grader for homeschool. We are enjoying it. And my other all time favorite author is Francine Rivers. I have also recently enjoyed Lynn Austin.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
About 12 years ago my mother-in-law asked me to write down her story where she met the God who sees her. I started the project by interviewing her several times and even writing what I thought was the introduction. Somehow the project got tabled and I put it out of my mind.
Fast forward 10 years and I am 8 months pregnant with my third child. I somehow stumbled upon a one hour webinar with Selfpublishing.com and when the presenter said “a writer needs to write,” I started crying. I knew right then I couldn’t keep delaying. I had to obey God’s call to write this book.
I went up to talk to my mother-in-law who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and early signs of dementia. She did not remember that she had once wanted me to write a book for her. With prodding from her husband, she finally did remember and was thrilled I wanted to take on the project.
Two years later, I am at last publishing God Gave Me Diarrhea, a testimony of faith through impossibly difficult circumstances. It is an interweaving of stories that bring together God’s faithfulness and attentive care.
She suddenly became a full-time caretaker of her 27-year old adopted son when he was severely brain injured. He became like a permanent one-and-a-half-year-old, angry and violent. She had to trust God for the help she needed and saw him answer one prayer after another, the first being in the form of Diarrhea.
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