Interview with Rebekah Palmer (friend and fellow Cystinosis survivor) ~ Author of A Letter to My Friend!!

Today I have a special interview. An interview with Rebekah Palmer author of A Letter to My Friend. Rebekah and I met each other through the same Facebook Cystinosis support group that my boyfriend and met each other through. Yes, Rebekah also has Cystinosis. I recently found out that she had written a book, So of course, I asked her if she would be interested in doing an interview on my blog. she said yes and here we are. :) One of the things that has really helped Rebekah is her faith (Christianity). Her book, A Letter to My Friend, focuses a lot on this. Here it is: 

 

A book for teenagers written by a teenager. If you are a young person not quite on your own, in college or a young adult, this book was written with you in mind. The truths expressed inside will help you on your journey to becoming an adult who makes Holy Spirit-led decisions and takes on responsibility for those around you.

Now, on to the interview! 

Amanda Leigh: First, tell us a little bit about yourself. Give us a little introduction to you. :)

Rebekah Palmer: I am a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, and soon-to-be Aunt! I love my family, my boyfriend, and my God Jesus Christ. I enjoy reading books and writing, especially poetry.

Amanda Leigh: Where did the idea for "A Letter To My Friend" come from? Is it something that you've been thinking about for a while? The description says "A book for teenagers written by a teenager." Does this book have things that you actually wrote as a teenager or did you go back and sort of re-write your teenage thoughts?

Rebekah Palmer: The idea for "A Letter To My Friend" came about because of a journal I was writing my thoughts in specifically for a gift for a high school friend of mine. I was a senior in high school and was about to leave my underclassmen friends for  college and I wanted to write what I had learned being where they are now. I wanted to give this specific friend advice that helped me through high school. It turned out my heart was so big I wanted to share the truths I learned with all teenagers.

Amanda Leigh: What was the process like for writing/putting this book together?

Rebekah Palmer: Basically, anything I felt I needed to work on in my own life I wrote about, for example: the need to obey authority, love one another not just a specific boy or girl exclusively, and having a cheerful spirit. I wrote what I felt I needed to hear and if I needed the advice so did other teenagers.

Amanda Leigh: You and I know each other through the Cystinosis community via Facebook. I know that personally for me, writing a book with the fatigue that many of us face was/is a challenge for me. Was that a challenge for you as well? How did you handle it?

Rebekah Palmer: I wrote when I felt like writing, mostly at night. I wrote bits here and there in a notebook then at night just typed it all out on the computer.

Amanda Leigh: Your book focuses (from what I can tell) a lot on faith and your faith and how that can help young Christian adults or Christian teenagers in their life? How has that helped you in your life - your faith?

Rebekah Palmer: I have the tendency to be an anxious person. My faith helps me look to a brighter future. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, faith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Living with Cystinosis has put much fear inside me. As a little girl, being sick all the time, I would quote Psalm 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

Amanda Leigh: I follow your blog "Map of My Heart". You occasionally post your poetry on there. Are there plans for a poetry collection in the future? Is there any poetry in "A Letter to My Friend"?

Rebekah Palmer: I do have a poetry collection. It is being judged in a contest right now. There is poetry in "A Letter To My Friend"-8 poems I wrote in high school.

Amanda Leigh: What made you decide to start your blog?

Rebekah Palmer: A guidance counselor suggested I start a blog since I voiced the desire to be a writer.

Amanda Leigh: I'm sure that you have been building up advice for a while. Why did you choose to put it into a book at this point in your life?

Rebekah Palmer: I wanted to leave behind some kind of legacy. The written word seemed like the perfect object I could show my loved ones and people in general.

Amanda Leigh: Are you a reader of poetry as well? Do you have a favorite poem? (I love poetry and am very curious. :)

Rebekah Palmer: Yes! I read poetry-I love Meg Kearney, Marilyn Nelson and Lisa Sandell. My favorite poems are Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol, The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear and The Lady of Shalott by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Amanda Leigh: Anything else you'd like to add? Words of advice to writers or advice in general?

Rebekah Palmer: Writers: Keep on writing! Write for yourself and your loved ones.

About the Author:

Rebekah Palmer graduated in 2010 from Providence Baptist College in Elgin, Illinois, with a degree in secondary Christian education. She is currently enrolled as a creative writing student at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is excited about the path that God has placed her on and continues to share the truth and love He places on her heart with those with whom she comes in contact.

Thank you so much to Rebekah for stopping by the blog and doing an interview! Congratulations on A Letter to My Friend! Stop by her blog, Map of My Heart, if you're interested: http://reba-mapofmyheart.blogspot.com/

Buy Link for A Letter to My Friend: http://www.shop.lifesentencepublishing.com/A-Letter-to-My-Friend-6310.htm?categoryId=-1 

<3 Amanda Leigh