|
Spotlight on Freda
Chrisman By Cheryl Bolen Like the title of her first published novel, Faith Came Late, Freda Chrisman's writing career came late. Long married with two children, she began gathering letters, recordings and experiences of her 100 year-old grandmother and put them in a book. That experience gave Freda the confidence to know she could, indeed, finish a complete book. "I asked the Lord if this was a new direction for me," Freda said. She said He answered her in the affirmative. Since then she's worked furiously to establish herself as a writer. She studied with our own B.K. Reeves at San Jacinto College, taking eight creative writing courses with B.K., whom she counts as a close friend. "She (B.K.) is someone I can really trust as well as being there when I need a critical but loving eye for my projects." The projects have included writing articles at Texas Children's Hospital as a volunteer, and writing songs, short stories and novellas -- all of which have an inspirational theme. "I wouldn't write anything that doesn't honor the Lord," Freda said. Faith Came Late--the fifth book she wrote--became her first published novel. With that publication and through the efforts of BK, Freda joined our chapter over three years ago. "RWA has been a large factor in my writing," she said. "Many, many personal perks have come to me as a direct result of being a member." She points with gratitude to RWA's Faith, Hope and Love Chapter (for inspirational authors) as being a great support to her. The local chapter meetings, too, have helped her grow as a writer, she says. "The programs have been tremendously helpful in my learning process." Freda also finds exposure to our "productive" group of writers inspiring. "I had a special feeling about Faith Came Late, and I still do," she says. "I felt Christ so close to me as I wrote it I wanted to reach out and touch Him." Since then, she's written seven more books. Her second to be published, titled At the Golden Gate, will be available Oct. 1 through Heartsong Presents Book Club, with a 20,000 print run scheduled. It can be ordered at 1-800-847-8270. The ISBN is 1-58660-068-0. "A different emotion emerged when At the Golden Gate was submitted. The book was agented, and although I prayed continually for it, I told myself I would not die if it was not published. I was very surprised when it was accepted, which says to me that God is faithful. As long as I had faith to keep praying, He was willing to give me my heart's desire." Freda is now working on a novella with three other inspirational authors for an anthology proposal, and she is submitting a 75,OOO-word novel and doing research for a long inspirational romance--a prairie story. On the advice of Rita winner Robin Lee Hatcher, a fellow inspirational author and former RWA national president, Freda plans to revise and rewrite some of her earlier books. All of this has been encouraged by Chris, her husband of 50 years. Together, they have two children and five grandchildren. |