Christian Bookworm Reviews -

Yvonne, describe yourself for our visitors.

Reading is one of my hobbies. The Bible is my favorite book. I participated in the Bible Memory Association for seven years and in Awana Club for two years. As I walk five-seven days a week, I review my Bible memory verses. I’ve been a children’s leader in Bible Study Fellowship and taught Sunday school and Precept Bible studies.

I enjoy the beach. I feel restored after walking at least two or three miles on the beach early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. The sound of the waves refreshes me and stirs up my creativity. I have lots of beach toys and make sand castles and collect shells.

I relax as I work in my garden. The kid in me loves to play in the dirt and splash water everywhere. I plant flowers in all different colors and for the various seasons, so that I can feast on yellow mums in the fall, yellow and purple pansies in the winter, and Mexican heather, Blue Hawaii, portulucca in the confetti mix, red or hot pink super tunias, and geraniums in an assortment of colors in the summer. I also have perennials I planted years ago.

How I appreciate music. The best way to motivate myself to clean house is to listen to praise and worship music. I grew up with classical music and took piano lessons eleven years. I listen to classical and easy-listening music at work. I also play the keyboard and the autoharp and sing while I work in the house or in my garden. I play the piano monthly for the Sunday morning worship service at a local retirement center.

The few times it snows in Virginia, I throw snowballs at the neighbors and make snowmen and angels in the snow. When it rains, I like to put on my knee high boots and splash in the puddles.

How do you find time to connect with God?

When I first wake up, I kneel at the side of the bed and thank God for the gift of life and another opportunity to serve Him. Then I have a quiet time as I sip on hot tea. My daily walks provide time to review Bible memory verses. Praise and worship music plays in my car, soothes my soul, and draws me closer to the Lord. Throughout the day, I pray for my clients and every need that arises in my life and that of family and friends. Before I go to bed, I kneel again at the side of the bed to thank Him for the day’s blessings and to seek His forgiveness for anything I’ve said or done wrong.

Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?

My favorite authors are Cec Murphey, Donna Partow, and Beth Moore. As I’ve already mentioned, my favorite book is the Bible. Cec, Donna, and Beth have written several fabulous books, but if I must pick one from each, I would choose Committed but Flawed by Cec Murphey, Let Your Life Count by Donna Partow, and Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore.

Tell us about your journey to publication.

The day I received my diagnosis of cancer, I stood in the driveway with my prayer partner, Nancy. We hugged and cried, and I said, “My prayer is that God will use this cancer for good in my life and the lives of others, for furthering His kingdom here on earth, and for His honor and glory.” I never dreamed God would answer my prayer through a book. Cancer shook the foundation of my faith and tested me in ways I never dreamed possible. I journaled daily to cope with the emotional roller coaster, searched the Bible for verses that would speak to my need, and wrote those Scriptures and my prayers. After the second round of chemotherapy, I stayed in the hospital a week. The night nurse read one of my devotions and made copies for all the patients on the oncology floor. The men and women came out of their rooms and talked to me at the nurses’ station. Their responses encouraged me to continue writing. At the Colorado Christian Writers Conference, Bill Petersen from Revell liked my manuscript and asked me to write a ten-page introduction for it and send the finished product to him. The publishing house voted to publish the book, and the rest is history.

Tell us about your current book.

My book, Hope for the Journey through Cancer, is for cancer patients, their families, friends, and care givers. It is also for anyone with a major disease, their families, friends, and care givers. Some readers have told me it is also for those going through any pain, loss, or upheaval in their lives. The introduction offers several suggestions for maximum benefit from the book. The sixty devotions are short, which is perfect for the readers who are sick, busy, or tired. With honesty and boldness it addresses the emotional roller coaster that cancer patients, even Christian ones, ride. The book consists of four sections: diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and recovery. Each inspirational reading starts with a Bible passage called a Hope Builder and ends with prayer. The anecdotes come from my experience with cancer or that of friends.

How did you come up with ideas for this book?

Months of aggressive chemotherapy and thirty-three rounds of radiation gave me many ideas. I belonged to two cancer support groups, one at the hospital and one at my church. Through both, I met cancer survivors who encouraged and supported me. Some of the devotionals tell about them. Family and friends provided help with household chores, gardening, and errands. Their love and assistance found a place in my book.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a book for people who make bad choices.

Where can visitors find you online?

They can find me at www.yvonneortega.com. My website includes links for resources for cancer patients, their families, friends, and caregivers. The link Stepping Stones for Survival is my blog which includes tips and information about such things as Relay for Life, cancer support groups, a breast cancer survivors’ retreat, and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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