Vonda, describe yourself for our visitors.
To be honest, I’m a sometimes hardheaded, frequently absentminded, and often goofy wife, mother, and grandmother who loves the Lord with all her heart. But even though I love Him, I fail Him so many times! I totally understand Paul’s words in Romans 7 where he says, “AARRRGGGHHHH!” (Well, maybe that’s not exactly what he said, but that’s what he meant when he said, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.”) Praise God that He can take my messes and use them for His glory!
I love to read, hike with the grandkids, and play golf badly. I used to water ski and snow ski, but now I’m afraid I’ll fall and break a hip! But acting, drama, and singing will always be in my blood, and I hope to get back to community theater one of these days. My favorite music is contemporary Christian and worship songs. Through the words and music of a song, I can be transported straight to the feet of Jesus, especially when the words are scripture.
How do you find time to connect with God?
I have to admit, with traveling so much, it’s often hard to find that time, but we all know the importance of spending time with Him first. I often do as Joanna Weaver describes in her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I picture Jesus, sitting there, waiting for me as I rush from one thing to the next. He has a place saved right next to Him, He’s holding His arms out to me, and yet I’m packing or answering email or trying to get out the door. When I really take the time to envision that scene, it hits me—He wants time with me, I want and need time with Him. Nothing should take priority. I also remember that to go out without first connecting with Him is to go out unprepared, unprotected, and on my own. That’s a scary thought.
Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
There are so many! Anything by Deb Raney, Mindy Starns Clark, Mary Higgins Clark, Terri Blackstock, and James Scott Bell.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
Well, I wrote my first book with no preparation, no training, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. Thought I had written the great American novel for kids. I actually remember thinking, “Oh, my. What am I going to do when five publishers want my book at the same time? Oh, my.” Needless to say, the rejections were back before the stamps were dry. (Yes, those were the days where you had to actually lick the stamps.) After about 5 years of sending out the manuscript, getting rejections, sticking the manuscript up in the closet, getting it back down, making a few changes, sending it out, and getting rejections, I figured out I was going to have to learn something about how to write. So I started going to writer’s conferences and taking writing classes. It’s amazing what can happen when you learn the craft of writing. I thought I couldn’t afford writer’s conferences. I soon learned I couldn’t afford NOT to attend. After 63 rejections, I sold my first article at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference.
Tell us about your current book?
I’m so excited about Seeing Through the Lies: Unmasking the Myths Women Believe! This is my first women’s non-fiction and it has been called “A hilarious journey through all things female as we search for truth in a counterfeit world.” Let’s face it, we’re all deceived at some time. At some time, we’ve all believed a lie and made choices based on that lie. Through this book, I take women through nine topics that are frequent sources of deception: beauty, busyness, fear, pride, materialism, marriage, motherhood, servanthood, and trails. We laugh together as we compare notes and admit out own struggles, but then we look at men and women whose lessons are listed for us in God’s Word. Then we look at five practical steps any of us can take to overcome those lies. Discussion questions are also included at the back of the book for small groups and Bible study groups.
How did you come up with ideas for this book?
My agent and I were brainstorming how to best share material from some of my speaking topics and we both kept coming back to lies. There is one universal truth about lies: Satan is the Father of Lies, and he told the Mother of all lies when we said we could be like God. I believe all lies eventually point back to that one.
List your three most recent books.
My other three books are part of a mystery series for children, the Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries. In them, 12-year-old Bitsy is a scruffy, feisty, tomboy who truly has a heart for God, but just can’t seem to keep herself out of trouble. I guess you could say she’s a lot like me! Seriously, much of Bitsy’s escapades are taken from real life, which makes it especially fun to write! The latest in the series is Bitsy and the Mystery at Hilton Head Island, which will be out in April. The others take Bitsy to Tybee Island (GA) and Amelia Island (FL). To be honest, one of the hardest parts of writing this series is coming up with plausible reasons this scruffy kid from a poor family gets to go to all these cool islands!
What’s next for you?
My agent and I are currently discussing a new women’s book, but everything is still in the brainstorming stage. Hopefully we’ll know something soon. In the meantime, God is blessing my speaking ministry in amazing ways. What a joy to speak to women around the country and see that we’re all the same—trying to figure out why we do what we do and why we don’t do what we should. Praise God He loves us anyway!
Where can visitors find you online?
I’d love to hear from your visitors through my website at www.VondaSkelton.com
There they can sign up for my weekly writer’s blog, find out more about my speaking and writing ministry, and order their own personalized books. I’ll look forward to hearing from them!
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