Interview: Vicki Fourie

Vicki Fourie – South Africa’s own Miss Deaf South Africa 2009/2010 – was crowned 2nd Princess at the Miss Deaf International 2010 last year in Las Vegas. This year Vicki will participate in the Miss Deaf World 2011, which will take place in Prague, Czech Rep. from the 1st till 11th of July 2011. Girls-4-God chatted with Vicki to get a glimpse at what exactly motivated her to participate in beauty pageants…

1. Were you born without hearing, or did it develop later on in life?

When I was a baby, I had a high fever (just like Helen Keller) and we think that’s what caused my hearing loss. When I was 2 years old, I didn’t respond when my family called my name, and after extensive tests at the hospital, it was confirmed that I have 97% hearing loss. This came as a big shock for the family, especially my parents. However, my parents didn’t give up on me after receiving the news. Instead of looking at how big the problem was, they said, ‘How big is our God?’ I’m grateful that they reacted this way, for it enabled me to learn how to speak like a hearing person and read lips. I even went to a hearing English school, despite Afrikaans (a Dutch dialect) being my home language. There were many obstacles along the way, but I overcame them by believing that ‘Courage isn’t a gift, it’s a decision.’

2. Many people in your situation feel that they can’t achieve much in life, what would you say to them to convince them otherwise?
There are people who wallow in self-pity and bitterness, and that doesn’t bring you very far in life... Stop complaining – you are alive, and your disability and/or circumstances is nothing compared to what you have – the gift of life. The world doesn’t owe you a thing – it’s your responsibility to make something out of your life.

3. What made you enter beauty pageants?

The beauty pageant world came onto me unexpectedly. When I was in matric, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. There were 3 or 4 people who prophesied that I was going to be like Esther of the Bible – I was going to use my beauty to save a nation. At first, I didn’t quite understand (I thought I needed to marry a prince, and South Africa does not have royalty!). I heard about the Miss Deaf South Africa, and realized that Esther also partook in a pageant: the Miss Persia pageant. I took this as a sure sign that I must enter. It’s important to remember that beauty should not be our main focus in life. However, God used Esther’s beauty to save a nation… I know that the Lord gave me beauty for a reason. It’s always been my choice: will I use it to glorify God or bring myself fame?

4. Have you had a low point in your life? And if so, how did you rise above it to become successful?
When I was 14 years old, I was accidentally shot with a gun – the bullet entered me at the back of my shoulder and exited in the front. This accident changed my whole life – in a good way. Before this happened, I always thought that my life was about ME, about what I wanted, what I needed. I also struggled with depression. After the accident, my attitude towards life changed. I decided not to be selfish anymore and not to feel sorry for myself. Life owes you nothing – it’s your responsibility to make something out of it. The more I shared my story with others, the more I received healing. When something traumatic happens to you, you tend to keep it inside. It’s not the right thing to do – if you don’t talk about it, you will die within yourself.

5. What are your goals and ambitions in life?

As a kid, I knew that God had a great purpose for my life. I just didn’t know what that purpose would be. As I grew older, I realized that life is not about what I want and what I need, it’s about others. Whenever I meet people, and they tell me that I have changed their lives, it’s at that moment where I know that I’m right on track in my life. It’s not about how many times I’m on TV, or how many articles is written about me – it’s about the people.

6. What advice would you give other young people who have to overcome obstacles?

Be bold – do not be shy. Always ask questions. Be curious about everything and everything – the more you learn, the more you realize you still have a lot to learn. The world owes you nothing – it’s your responsibility to make something of it. It doesn’t help feeling angry towards God or people about your disability or circumstances. Believe me, it’s a waste of time. Find out what are your talents and gifts, and focus on them. Embrace who you are. You’re disability does not need to define you… Be courageous!

Email Vicki: vicki@247mail.co.za , or visit her blog http://www.vickifourie.blogspot.com/ . Follow her on Twitter (@vickifourie) to see how she does at the Miss Deaf World 2011 in Prague.

Author Interview: Sandra Byrd

Grounded in both her faith and craft, author Sandra Byrd uses her talents for writing to inspire and influence tween and teen girls with down-to-earth books about one girl's life in the U.K. Sandra chats with Melissa Renee about her stories and upcoming projects and gives aspiring writers some tried-and-true advice.

When did you realize you wanted to write for a living?
When I was a kid I wanted three careers: to be a hair stylist, to be a waitress, and to be an author. After I mohawked my Barbie I knew I wasn’t cut out for the hairstylist career. I actually was a waitress in a Jewish deli when I was a teenager, and I worked for a caterer. Writing, however, was the real passion. And it stuck.

Tell us about the London Confidential series.
LONDON CONFIDENTIAL, published by Tyndale House Publishers, is a new Tween/Teen series where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and where an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her Christian faith. A nub of doubt rose inside me—the kind that popped up, unwelcome, anytime I tried to rationalize something that wasn’t exactly true or right. This time I swallowed it back. I lived in London now. It was time to take matters into my own hands.  When her family moves to London, 15-year-old Savvy Smith has to make her way in a new school and in a new country. She just knows the school newspaper is the right place for her, but she doesn’t have the required experience. Can she come up with a way to prove herself and nab the one available position on the newspaper staff at Wexburg Academy? Along the way, Savvy finds out a lot about herself, her family, and her God and in the process she learns to love life and live out her faith.

Is Savvy’s story connected somehow to your own life?
I moved quite a bit when I was growing up, so the challenges that Savvy faces in relation to that are ones I can relate to as well. I do love London, too! :)

Has Savvy’s story ended, or will there be another installment in the series?
You can find Savvy’s story in four installments: Book 1 – Asking for Trouble; Book 2 – Through Thick and Thin; Book 3 -- Don't Kiss Him Goodbye; and Book 4 -- Flirting With Disaster.

Are you currently working on any other projects?
I am currently writing a series for adults set in Tudor England, called Ladies in Waiting. I have been a lady waiting to write about this time period, waiting for a long time, so I am pinching myself, if you'll excuse the cliché, that it's finally happening! I am so excited about this project. It's a series of three historical books that take place at the Tudor Court. Book 1 is set during Anne Boleyn's reign, and as told from the point of view of her true-to-life best friend, Meg Wyatt. Book 2, Best Kept Secrets, will be set in Katherine Parr's court and features a young woman with a gift of prophecy. Book 3, Queen of Hearts, shows a daring young woman whom Queen Elizabeth befriends, but then who may lose it all. These were strong, educated women that had a major impact on the world and on the reformation. I hope you'll love reading them as much as I am loving writing them. Book 1, To Die For, will release in August 2011.

What is a typical day in the life of a writer like?
Coffee. Email. Coffee. Responding to lessons I am reviewing or coaching other writers through their manuscripts. Coffee. Writing for several hours to meet a word count. More email. Coffee.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
1. The first and foremost qualification for being a writer is being a reader. If you don’t love to read – reward yourself with books, talk about books with others, find yourself reading late into the night with a good one – it will be hard to be a writer. A lot of writing structure is assimilated by osmosis – reading.
2. Next, you have to be a dedicated craftsman. Be willing to write and rewrite and rewrite again till you get it perfect. As Michelangelo said, the David was inside the marble waiting to come out. A good sculptor can carve it out of the stone. So it is with a book. The good book is in there, but it must be patiently worked and reworked. Part of the key to this is to not worry about getting it “right” the first time. It won’t be right the first time. The first draft, you’re often just laying out all the pieces on the table and then looking at them to see how they fit together.
I believe that one reason people want it right the first time is that they’re afraid that if it isn’t, they aren’t a “real” writer. Real writers keep working on a book till it’s all the way done. Sometimes I think that computer technology has done a real disservice to writers, because we can type fast, and email, the expectation is that we can create quickly. And that’s not always true. I think that new writers are shocked by the amount of work it takes to write and rewrite a book till it’s “done” too. It’s a hard job with mostly mediocre pay. But the satisfaction of having finished the book and reached into peoples’ lives in a fun and meaningful way is satisfying
3. Find a mentor. There are excellent organizations, the Christian Writer’s Guild is one, that offer mentoring courses. If you don’t want to enroll in a course, find someone who writes and take them out to lunch. Ask them how to begin, ask for tips, ask for anything except the contact to their agent. If an established writer sees you constantly working to better your craft they may be willing to help in other ways. Attending writing conferences is another excellent way to better your skills and make good contacts.
4. Be patient and persistent. Don’t give up. Be willing to start small, and stay there, if that’s where your ministry lies. I’ve written many books, but some of my most satisfying published works are small pieces. One piece I wrote to honor a high school teacher who made a significant impact on the pre-Christian me. Another fulfilling writing project was a small speaking part for a child who didn’t have a place in the church’s Christmas program. Don’t discount “little” ministry, it’s often the very thing the Lord wants you to do.
5. Keep an open hand. Let God put in it what He wants, and take out what He wants.

Besides writing, what do you enjoy?
Cooking and baking, spending time with my family and friends, music, and, of course, reading!

What do you feel God has been trying to teach you lately?
My favorite piece of scripture at any given time is whichever one God is using to speak to me at the moment, because when He does, I know He is attentive to my concerns and hears and loves me in both hopeful and ashen circumstances. He has already prepared a plan and a way.

What message do you hope girls will get from your books?
Be strong and courageous. Dream big. Trust God even when it seems very dark. Love people but don't let them walk on you. Live with joy and faith.

For a review of Sandra's book Don't Kiss Him Goodbye, click here.

Interview with Author Brandy Bruce

I sit down for an exclusive interview with Brandy Bruce, author of Looks Like Love and book editor for Focus on the Family, as she dishes on God, love, and her top advice for aspiring authors.

WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOUR PASSION FOR WRITING?
I can remember writing stories from the time I was in the sixth grade. I fell in love with books at a really early age. I think it was my love of reading that inspired me to want to write my own stories.

WHAT WAS WORKING AS A NONFICTION BOOK EDITOR FOR FOCUS ON THE FAMILY LIKE?

Well, I'm still currently a book editor for Focus. I've been with Focus for more than 6 years now and I love it. Working with authors, editing manuscripts, reviewing cover comps, going to writers' conferences--it's the perfect job for a book-lover like myself. And actually, we're considering breaking into the fiction market as well as nonfiction. I'm pretty excited about that. I've worked on some amazing book projects at Focus; it's been a phenomenal experience for me.

HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR NEW BOOK?
I went on a European tour the summer before I graduated college, and I fell in love with London. I knew I wanted to write a story that involved London in some way. I also really love the contemporary romance genre. So I was inspired by writers such as Robin Gunn, Susan May Warren, Tracey Bateman, Kristin Billerbeck, and Jenny B. Jones.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

Looks Like Love is basically about a girl, Kasey Addison, a junior marketing consultant, who's starting over. Everything she thought she knew about love suddenly feels like a lie. So Kasey takes off on a journey to rediscover life and faith and love. Her adventure begins in London while she's visiting her best friend. When her little whirlwind trip to England is over, she comes home to find herself suddenly on the marketing team for LETA, a growing cosmetics company. When LETA decides to release their very first fragrance, Kasey's challenged to find out what love looks like and find a way to sell it. Along the way, Kasey learns that love looks like what she least expected.

WHAT MESSAGE DID YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO GET FROM YOUR BOOK?
That love doesn't always come wrapped in neat little packages. It can be messy; it can be painful; it can be hard. But it's worth it. And that no matter what we go through in life, God's love is always available to us.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED WHILE WRITING AND PUBLISHING, AND HOW HAS GOD HELPED YOU OVERCOME THEM?
If you talk to most writers, they'll say that they just have to write. It's who they are. They'll find the time to do it somehow. For me, I had this story that wouldn't stop bugging me. I had to write it. Once I did, I showed it to an agent (Chip MacGregor) who loved it and signed me as one of his authors. That was a great day. Then came the hard part--selling it. We came really close with a couple of publishers and got some great feedback, but just weren't able to sell it. I told Chip I wanted to self-publish it at that point, and he was totally supportive. Working in the industry myself, I know how difficult it can be for new people to break into the business. So I self-published with WestBow Press and it's been a wonderful experience. I had a few authors come alongside me and give me some great endorsements. I had editorial help from fellow editors as I polished my story. So I felt really blessed with all the support and encouragement I received. Now the book is out there and I am thrilled with the final product.

ARE YOU WORKING ON ANY OTHER UPCOMING PROJECTS?
Well, as an editor, I'm currently juggling two book projects. That takes a lot of my time. But I'm also working in a little time to write. My sister and I have been working together, co-authoring a fantasy YA (young adult) novel. I'm super excited about it!

WHAT'S ONE RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW?
I'm more than a little bit obsessed with Diet Dr Pepper.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG ASPIRING AUTHORS?
Go to writers' conferences and make contacts. Create the best book proposal you can and shop it to agents. And if an agent tells you that something is missing, listen to him or her. Join a critique group and get feedback on your writing. And most of all, know your genre and audience. So read, read, read!

Cadia Magazine Interview [part2]

Cadia is an online magazine for Christian teen girls. Find out where the editor stands on God, dating, beauty, and more in Part 2 of the interview.

Why is it important to keep God at the forefront of your life?

To me, its important to keep God at the forefront of my life because I strive to follow Him. I am such a sinner who tries to go get off the path God has made for me that I look to Him during that time of need. God helps me and leads me back onto the path.

What are your thoughts on dating?
I think before you begin dating you should pray and ask God when is the right time for you to start dating. When you have gone out with multiple guys through out junior high and highschool, you have given a little piece of your heart to each of them weither you know it or not. It's so easy after you are married to turn back to one of those relationships during a time of stress to remember the "good old days" because those guys still have a peice of your heart. I am praying, and even through the temptation of watching girls my age go out with guys, I am determined to save my whole heart for the guy God wants me to marry.

What do you think about makeup?
These days, make up is used as a cover to take care of "flaws", pimples, blackheads, etc.To me, if you are wearing makeup as a cover or you think you aren't pretty when you don't wear make up, you are using it for the wrong reason. Make up should be worn to enhance the natural beauty God gave to you. I can tell when girls are using it as a cover up and when girls are using it to enhance natural beauty. It makes make up so much prettier when you wear it to enhance natural beauty!

What’s the greatest thing God has done in your life?
What a tough question! It would have to be giving me an amazing family! I love my parents and my little brother. We have had so many amazing experiences and if their is a disagreement of some sort it is always worked out in an organized way. I love that my parents are a role model to me in my faith and that my parents are so honest about what they are struggling with in their faith. I hope my faith can be as strong as theirs one day!

What’s been your biggest struggle in life?
My biggest stuggle in life has been jealousy. I am so jealous of the girls who have the personality that makes everyone laugh and the girls who can walk into a room and instantly start talking and making friends. Even though I am extremely bubbly around my friends, I am some times shy around new people until you get me talking.

How do you keep your prayer time interesting?
I am going to be completely honest, before I started making my prayer time interesting I had to force myself to pray because I "didn't feel like" or "didn't have the time." So I found something to make me more interested in praying and now I am am constantly doing this. I started a prayer journal which is basically like a journal just between you and God. I love to write, so this was perfect for me. It allows me to get my thoughts down on paper and I even doodle little things on the sides like "Lovin' my Jesus" or "Child of the Lord 4 ever".

If there’s one thing you’ve learned in life, it’s:
That when you have been working really hard on your relationship with Christ and you start feeling farther away from Him, it's because your relationship with Him has gotton stronger. I was working so hard on my relationship with the Lord and just kept feeling farther from Him. It's funny how God works because that day during Bible class my teacher said that when you have been working on your relationship with Him and feel farther away from Him, your relationship is getting stronger. Let me explain, when you want to get closer to God, don't you work on particular areas of your life? Well, once you start getting those down (of coarse it will never be perfect :) ) Christ has you identify more areas in your life you need to work on, which means you feel farther from Him. He is doing this because He knows what you are capible of, and you just have to step up to the plate.

How can GFG readers support your mission?
GFG readers can support Cadia by praying for us. We always welcome prayer!

How can GFG readers subscribe to the e-magazine for free?
If you want to subscribe to Cadia, the free online Christian girls magazine, just e-mail us at cadiamagazine@gmail.com telling us you want to subscribe.

If you could say one thing to teen girls everywhere, what would it be?
With God, anything is possible

Cadia Magazine Interview [part1]

It all started with one girl's dream to make a "place of peace" for teen girls. Now the editor and creator of Cadia Magazine sits down with me to share her passion, vision, and her message for teen girls.

Why did you choose the name “Cadia”?
I chose the name Cadia while looking up different names online. I didn't have any luck so I thought it might be fun to look up words on a translator to see what they meant in different languages. One things that popped up after I typed in peace was the word "arcadia" which means "a place of peace." I went to Google and typed in "arcadia" and found places with the name "Cadia". I loved the name, so that's what I decided to name the magazine.

What prompted you to make an online magazine for teen girls?
I have always loved writing. From making family newspapers, newletters, and I have even started mini magazines included one that my friends and I wrote for a little while called Girls Rule. So one day during Bible class our teacher asked us to make a list of 5 things we wanted to accomplish while we were teenagers and the first answer on my list was to make a magazine. From there, I started planning out the magazine and getting the word out.

What challenges have you faced so far regarding the magazine?
I have never done page layout and design on a professional program like what we are using. So it has been a major frustration trying to figure it out and get my creative juices running. Many times I have felt like giving up and calling it quits, but then I remember, this magazine is in God's hands and we are doing this magazine for His honor and glory! That fact, that we are doing this magazine for Him keeps me going.

In what ways have you already seen God work through your idea?
God has worked through the magazine in so many ways already! In three days He provided us with 10 staff members, He has provided many different girls and ladies to help us design blog buttons, He has given us almost 300 subscribers, and so much more! It's amazing watching God working through our ministry and we can't wait to watch it unfold more.

Why should young women strive to be modest?

Young women should strive to be modest for many reasons. This answer can also go along with purity. We don't want the way we dress to give guys the wrong idea or be a stumbling block for them. Another reason we should strive to be modest is because in the Bible it says for us to do everything for the honor and glory for the Lord Jesus Christ. How are we giving God honor and glory when we aren't dressed modestly?

What do you consider to be your biggest passion in life?
I have found that I have a huge love for telling others about Christ even if they are already Christians. It gives me an indiscribable feeling when I write something or say something and someone tells me that it helped them learn more about Christ. My newest passion though, is Christian girls magazines. There is such a huge potential to tell others about Him through these magazines and to tell others about Him though Christian magazines.

What does beauty mean to you?
When I read this question, I imediatly thought of inner beauty. To God, it's whats on the inside that matters. True beauty is the beauty inside and that's all that really matters. :)

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Nancy Rue's Guide to Fashion on a Budget

Nancy Rue has published many books for tween girls on beauty, style, faith, and growing up, as well as both The Lily Series and The Sophie Series. We’re going to be soaking in a lot of her favorite beauty and fashion tips, but right now let’s focus on getting great fashions for a great price.

BEAUTY ON A BUDGET

“To really save money, watch for sales. Many stores have sales right after Christmas and right before school starts. Some stores have promotions, like a reward for bringing in a good report card or a coupon in the newspaper or mail. Remember that just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you’ll save money; be sure you’re actually going to wear it.”

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY
“Remember that it’s better to have a few perfect-for-you, good quality pieces of clothing than a whole closet full of stuff that really isn’t your best look. Don’t forget that you can create different outfits with fun accessories. And besides, what rule says you have to wear something different every single day? If it’s great on you this Tuesday, it will still look fabulous next Tuesday!”

DON'T RELY TOO MUCH ON YOUR PARENTS
“Know how much money there is to spend and don’t try to persuade your folks to go outside their budget. You can pretty much tell what he finances are at your house, so why try to wheedle an expensive pair of jeans out of your mom when you know things are tight? If this is hard for you, try earning some money o buy a few things yourself. When you have to fork over your own cash for that new have-to-have-it, you might find out you really don’t have to have it after all.”

MIX & MATCH
“Look for things that will go with what you already have. You might want new colors too, but be sure to choose things that will mix and match.”

Pure Passion

I sit down for an exclusive with Passion Magazine editor Ariel Oliver for her dish on her ministry, modesty, beauty, God, and her message for teen girls today.


GFG: Why did you start Passion Magazine?

ARIEL:Writing has always been a passion of mine, and it was my dad who kept pushing me to create some sort of magazine as an outlet for that talent. I thought starting a webmag would be a good idea. That was one reason for starting it; another was for teen girls to have a place to go to read things encouraging to their faith and walk with God that's also good-quality and interesting, because there's not a lot of those, and I felt we didn't have enough good resources as teen followers of Christ.

GFG: If there was one thing you could tell teen girls today, what would it be?
ARIEL: Surrender to and seek God. Surrender to (count the cost and take up the cross) and seek (genuinely pursue) God (the Creator of the universe, not some distant idea we sing about in church). From there all the other issues will come together that teen girls need to hear about, like purity, cultivating good relationships, etc.

GFG: Why is it important to value modesty?
ARIEL: Mostly because Jesus says so, but that aside, I think a few of the biggest reasons that modesty is important is...
(1) To help our brothers in Christ, the good guys, who are honestly trying to stay pure and avoid lusting. You can say, "Oh, that's their responsibility, and it's their fault if they lust after me" but is that really a loving attitude, at all? It's part our responsibility too. When you dress immodestly, you frankly are asking for guys to lust after you.
(2) To guard and honor our own bodies. I firmly believe it's degrading to dress revealingly. You're sending a message when you wear low-cut shirts or miniskirts: essentially, you're seeking male attention, and that's not what Christ has called us to. I personally want the only guy who knows what I really look like to be my future husband. Of course that doesn't mean I have to wear bags as clothes; I just have to be careful.

GFG: Why is inner beauty important?
ARIEL: External beauty is very temporary and alterable. Our bodies and faces will start to sag and fall apart as we age, but inner beauty--the one that comes from the Holy Spirit--will last forever. People who seek friendships and even romantic relationships with us aren't going to make sure we have the perfect bodies and good skin, but they want to pursue the friendship of someone who is loving, joyful, and kind. This stuff comes from the Holy Spirit and we'll only find true fulfillment if our spirits are beautiful, not our bodies! In the end, it was all that had mattered anyway.

GFG: What has God been teaching you lately?
ARIEL: I think one of the things God's been drilling into my stone heart is to go back to the basics: a love relationship with God. Just following Him out of love, day-by-day. And to keep faith. Sometimes it's so easy to lose sight of the very foundations of our faith as we "grow" in it. We get caught up in all the dumb details and think we're basically holy enough, so we start to shift away from everything that really matters--worship and enjoy Jesus. So I believe God is pulling me into a deeper, truer, purer love relationship with Christ.