Mina R Raulston has been a freelance writer for newspapers and
magazines for nearly twenty years. Last year she self-published her first book,
Home Should Be Safe: Hope and Help for Domestic Violence Victims. Her most recent adventure is forming her own
book company, Hat Rack Books, LLC
where she will write, publish and sell books at Trade Fairs and online. In
November she is hosting her first annual Christian Author Fair in Hilliard, Ohio, USA.
In her personal life Mina is a single mother of two married children who have
blessed her with 4 wonderful grandchildren.
Welcome Mina!
When did you
realize you wanted to become a writer?
I
don’t remember a moment when I decided I wanted to become a writer. It’s been
more of a journey. Although I was always good at English and writing school
papers I didn’t start writing until after my divorce in 1989. I began with
journaling for myself, just to get all the pent up emotions out of me. Later
wrote Bible studies and became the editor for my church’s newsletter. That led
to writing for local newsletters and denominational magazines. Since then I
have self-published my first book and expanded my writing opportunities to
include writing my own blog, writing for websites and writing speeches for a
company called Easy Speech.
Who would
enjoy reading your books?
So
far I have written strictly non-fiction so I think the people who would most
enjoy reading my books are those who are seeking knowledge. I went through a
traumatic experience and after surviving it with God’s help and strength I had
to tell others so they might find the same healing and deliverance as well as
inform those who know a domestic violence victim and want to help them.
What is God's
role for Women?
God’s Role for Women is a Bible study that I
wrote as a result of my brokenness after my divorce. My family was not
religious in any way but God has been my strength and foundation since I was a
child. I grew up very unsure of what I was supposed to do or be and never
feeling like I was doing what I was intended to do. I studied all the women in
the Bible to discover what God intended me to do with my life. In that study I
found women who filled a plethora of roles. Eve was the First woman to do
anything and everything possible for her in her day. Sara, the wife of Abraham
ran a household in a caravan. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was a music
minister. Esther, a Jewish orphan, became a queen and saved her people from
being destroyed and became one of the first women in history to write a law.
Deborah was married but the Bible only talks about her being a Judge in Israel
appointed by God. And that’s just the Old Testament. In the New Testament there
are women who were leaders in the church, ministers and teachers. Basically God created each of us with unique gifts and talents and he doesn’t call us, appoint us or anoint us based upon gender. We can do whatever we are naturally gifted to do and as the scripture teaches do it all to the glory of God.
How do you
maintain thoughts and ideas?
I
have learned to keep a notebook with me at all times to write down ideas and
thoughts and if I don’t have paper and pen with me then I’ve learned to use my
notepad on my phone. Sometimes I take a few minutes and just brainstorm while
other times I just write down ideas when they come to me.
Where do you
like to write?
My
favorite place to write is sitting in my tilt back chair, holding my laptop
while watching television. My favorite time to write is late at night when the
rest of the world is sound asleep, no car doors slamming, no doors opening and
closing, no neighbors chattering up and down the stairs or clomping around
upstairs.
What are you
currently writing?
Currently
I am working on a memoir about my relationship with my mother who developed
mental illness when I was eight years old. From the critiques I’m receiving from
fellow students and professors there is a great need for this book from other
adult children of a mentally ill parent.
What are you
currently reading?
Wow,
I read so much and so many different things. I love mysteries and a couple of
my favorite mystery authors are James Scott Bell who writes legal mysteries. As
a former trial attorney he brings wonderful realism to his books. I also like
historical fiction, and Biblical fiction. Other authors I enjoy are Dee
Henderson, Lynn Austin, Irene Hannon, Shelley Gray and Sarah Sundin. I don’t
watch much television because a good novel is so much more engrossing.
Do you have
advice for beginning writers?
Do
everything you can to improve your writing: Read books by good writers, take classes
in writing, find a critique group, WRITE something every day even if it’s just your
own journal. No muscle grows without exercise and your writing muscles are the same.
Stretch yourself. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try to
write something new and different. Have fun with your writing. It is one of the
few professions where you can actually say you’re having fun unlike most office
jobs or factory jobs.
List 10 things
that your fans may not know about you...
I am a mother of 2 and
grandmother of 4.
In my junior year of high
school I was the runner up for Miss Junior Achievement in my home town.
I have worked in retail,
mortgage and the wireless industry as my “day jobs”.
I have sung in the church choir
for most of my life.
I may possibly be a distant
cousin of Robert Frost on my father’s side of my family.
We are a family of musicians,
teachers and trainers.
I am the first person in my
family to graduate from college.
I
just started a new business, Hat Rack
Books, LLC where I will write, publish and sell my own books as well as
sell other author’s books both new and used and offer publishing consulting.
Future plans including publishing other author’s books.
I
am hosting my first annual Christian Author Fair titled “Adventures in
Creativity” November 15, 2014. Details are available on my Facebook Event page.
Last but not least, I am a born
again Christian and my desire is to use my writing talents to glorify God.
Connect with Mina…
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