Gail Porter’s new release addresses a subject we all struggle with, rejection. she’s here today to share her writing journey and a bit about herself. Welcome, Gail. 
Let’s start with how you began your writing journey toward publication.
The opportunity to become a serious writer opened up when I timidly joined the Orlando Chapter of Word Weavers International. Having the chance to know this encouraging group of writers and sit in a critique group each month improved my writing and built my confidence to create non-fiction articles and books.
Participating in the annual Central Florida Christian Writers Conferences also gave me the chance to sit in on professional workshops and make appointments with editors, publishers, and agents to pitch my current manuscript. The conferences honed my writing skills and paved the way to become a published author.
I love Word Weavers. I wouldn’t be published today without the critque help. I learned so much. So, tell us about your newest project.
My latest book is Will the Real Person Please Stand Up: Rising Above the Fear of Rejection. God’s direction to write this book about the fear of rejection took me by surprise. Most of my adult life I’d been unaware that this devastating fear ruled my life. Through writing this book, I learned a lot about myself. Isn’t that often what happens to us writers?
Absolutely true. What kind of research did you do?
Writing this book thrust me into a deep search for what my early childhood was like. From my adult perspective, there was no reason why a fear or rejection had evolved. Yet, a trusted counselor and a friend gifted in the healing of our pasts, helped me see with child’s eyes. I made crucial discoveries and uncovered buried memories that helped shed light on how I felt in those days: sad, lonely, unimportant, and unloved. For the first time in my life, I realized that my parents’ inability to create a loving connection had left me with unfulfilled longings for their love and acceptance.
Wow, I’m impressed with your willingness to share your heart with us.
Fear of rejection had ruled my life and my lack of love and acceptance fueled my efforts to try to be the person everyone else wanted me to be. I built many emotional defenses against rejection, which served to only keep me alone and isolated from people. Realizing this truth gave me the courage to come out of hiding and let God tear down my defenses so I could walk on His path of freedom. Because of my journey, I am passionate about helping others escape captivity and experience freedom to be all God created them to be.
What a powerful ministry, Gail. Now let me ask a few questions I always ask my blog guests.
When did you realize your calling to create words on paper to share with the world?
While attending one of the Central Florida Christian Writers Conferences, the keynote speaker looked over the audience of perhaps 400 people and made a declaration that became a turning point in my life. He said, “If you write, you are a writer.” Accepting that truth, freed me to write with confidence and share His words so that readers could know about Him and His plan for their lives.
Do you have a favorite verse that resonates with you?
While writing my book, Galatians 5:1 became my theme verse: “It was for freedom that Christ set you free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” I became a slave to my fear of rejection and hid behind an invisible wall and emotional masks to protect myself from rejection. God rescued me from my life of slavery so I could experience the freedom Jesus died to give me. I need to stand firm in this freedom and never become enslaved again.
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice for your younger self about writing what would that be?
Be myself. Write what God lays on my heart and trust that He will use my words to help change the lives of readers. I am uniquely designed, so I have no reason to compete with anyone else.
Where is your favorite place to write?
If you visited me, you’d find me writing at my dining room table, in front of two patio doors, where I can look out and see foliage of every kind, colorful flowers, and many Florida birds. Writing for hours is not a problem for me, because each time I lift my head from my computer, this scenery refreshes me and gives me an outward view.
Sounds lovely and inspiring.
More about Gail Porter
Gail Porter is an inspirational author, speaker and workshop leader. She spent fifty years serving with Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ in the U.S. as well as in the Philippines. She’s had extensive experience in speaking at women’s conferences in many countries. Gail is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and Word Weavers International (WWI.) Her latest book, Will the Real Person Please Stand Up: Rising Above the Free of Rejection, highlights her passion to help those who struggle with the fear of rejection know how to escape captivity and experience freedom to be all God created them to be.
Gail lives in Orlando, Florida. In addition to writing and speaking, she enjoys ballroom dancing and her favorite role as aunt to her nieces and nephews.
Visit Gail’s Website to learn more about her books and to request her to speak. Follow her Blog and connect with her on Facebook: gail.porter.731.
Grab a copy of Gail’s books.
Links to her books:
Will the Real Person Please Stand Up? Amazon Link Redemption Press Link Barnes & Noble Link
Life Through Loss Amazon Link Barnes & Noble Link
Click here to take the Fear of Rejection Quiz.
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About the Book
Will the Real Person Please Stand Up? Rising Above the Fear of Rejection offers hope to those who long to be set free from the fear of rejection. In this life-changing book you will read Gail’s own experiences, stories of real people, and input from those in the medical field. You will learn how to identify and acknowledge the defenses you’ve built that keep you isolated and alone. Gail helps you escape captivity and experience freedom to be all God created you to be. She knows from personal experience the devastation that comes from choosing bondage instead of freedom. The reflection questions at the end of each chapter make this an easy book to study in a small-group setting.
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Cindy