Author Interview ~ Becky Harling

Becky Harling is a gifted communicator, with a passion for seeing the Bible “come alive” in the hearts of women. Her love for the Lord, compassionate spirit, sense of humor and energetic style inspires women to draw closer to God.

Becky has spent more than 30 years teaching the Word of God to women both nationally and internationally. She and her husband have served in pastoral ministry both here in the United States and overseas in the country of Sudan, East Africa. She creatively combines deep Biblical insight with her powerful testimony and the stories of other women. Her life experience as a pastor’s wife, missionary, parent of four children, Women’s Ministries Director, survivor of breast cancer and childhood sexual abuse all bring depth to her message. She brings a message of hope and healing that is refreshingly transparent.

Becky holds a degree in Biblical Literature. She speaks both individually and together with her husband Steve, who is the Lead Pastor at Foothills Community Church in Arvada, Co. Becky has served as a consultant for Women’s Ministry Directors around the country. She and Steve have four adult children and one grandchild.

Becky has written Finding Calm in Life’s Chaos and Rewriting Your Emotional Script, which is now also published in Polish. Her third book, Living for His Applause Alone is scheduled to be released in 2010. She has been a guest on Denver Celebration (Daystar Television Network), Moody’s Midday Connection, The John and Stephanie Show, The Author’s Corner with Adam Winkler and many other top rated radio talk shows.

When did you decide to be a writer?

I first thought about being a writer as ten year old. I loved reading and the thought of writing felt intriguing! That year I read 100 books and thought about what type of book I’d like to write.

At what point did you stop juggling suggestions and critiques and trust yourself (as a writer)?

I am not sure I’ve reached the point of “trusting myself” yet……..I’m definitely growing and my editor continues to build my confidence. She is teaching me to “trust my gut.” I continue to remind myself that the Holy Spirit indwells me and so I know that He leads as I write.

Are you a disciplined writer or do you just write when you feel like it?

I tend to be fairly disciplined but at times “writers block” sets in and I have to lay it aside and let my thoughts simmer until I have clarity.

What kind of activities to you like to do that help you relax and step away from your deadlines for a bit?

I work out at the gym and go for walks. My husband and I enjoy going to movies together and watching the Denver Nuggets play basketball. I love to read and I am wild about hanging out with my eight week old grandson! (Charlie)

What is your favorite novel (not written by you) and what made it special?

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon. My husband and I entered pastoral ministry at age 21. Our first church was a little country church in small town America much like Mitford. I fell in love with the characters that Jan created because I felt like I had already met them in our small country church!

How do you think reading the work of others helps you as a writer?

I find inspiration in reading the writings of other authors. I was first a “speaker” who then became a writer so, I still consider myself a learner. Reading the writings of others helps me pick up tips on how to develop my thoughts and find my own writing voice.

Tell us a little about your latest release:

My latest release was Rewriting Your Emotional Script. The book gives readers a process for personal healing and life transformation. Rewriting takes readers through the beatitudes and shows them how to step by step erase the false messages they received in childhood and replace them with truth from God’s word. The book gives women hope that freedom from the emotional baggage of childhood is possible!

Where did you get your inspiration for Rewriting Your Emotional Script?

As I began sharing my story of healing from childhood sexual abuse, women began coming to me and asking me to show them how I found healing. Many felt hopeless and as if they would never recover. In many ways, God used my story to provide living hope for women, showing them that healing and life transformation were possible!

One of the themes of this book is finding freedom for people whose past is holding them bondage. What would you say is the number one thing people struggle with freeing themselves from?

The number one thing I hear is that women are held in bondage to the messages of their past. Instead of replacing those messages with truth they rehearse those false messages over and over like a broken tape in their minds.

Was there ever a time in your life when you wish someone would have shared the tips found in this book with you? Can you tell us about it?

Yes! When I began having sexual abuse memories and realized the extent of those memories I felt as if my life was over. At that time God brought a godly mentor and a godly therapist alonsgide me and together they worked with me showing me how to erase the messages of the past and replace them with the truth found in God’s word. God used those two godly women to shoe me that God was going to use me in the lives of thousands of women to show them how to break free from their past.

What is the main thing you hope readers remember from this story?

No matter how much emotional pain you have experienced, freedom and life transformation are possible!

What kinds of things have you done to market this book? Have you found anything that works particularly well?

I have taken a lot of radio interviews. Moody radio ran a ten week on the air Bible study where listeners could join two co-hosts and myself, on the air for a “small group Bible study” going through Rewriting Your Emotional Script. In addition, whenever I do a Rewriting Your Emotional Script conference in an area of the United States, I contact counseling agencies in that area and send ahead copies of my book to give them a head’s up that I will be in their area. I make them aware that I will be mentioning issues such as sexual abuse, eating disorders and depression. That has worked very well and gets counselors behind the book.

Tell us what new projects you’re working on.

I am presently finishing my third book which helps women find grace in a performance driven world. The book uses the parables that Jesus taught as a spring board to help women internalize grace. The whole book is built around one statement: “Grace tells me I am completely known, loved, forgiven, empowered and pursued by God.”

Do you have any parting words of advice?

Learn to unleash the power of praising God in your own personal life. When you learn to praise God in spite of your circumstances, chains of bondage are broken!

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Becky is giving away a copy of her book, Rewriting Your Emotional Script. Be sure to stop by The Borrowed Book on Friday for your chance to win!