Authors Interview - Kris Belcher

It is a true delight for me to introduce you to Kris.  I came across her a few weeks back through a YouTube video which you can view HERE.  Later on we did a phone interview about her most recent publication, 

Facing The Son

 Kristin Warner Belcher is a motivational speaker for 

Time Out For Women 

The author of 2 books, 

Facing the Son 

Hard Times Holy Places  

She also has published an audio book 

But Now I See

  

She is the mother of 2 boys and assists her husband in his Florist Business.

Suffering from bi-lateral retinoblastoma since the age of seven months, going completely blind was one of her worst fears.  Eight years ago she was found with a cancer than came from her early childhood radiation treatments; she was given the choice of having her eye removed or dying.  She is now completely blind.  Her own story of heartache, trials and faith in God can be found mingled within the pages of her writings.

·         What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Saying things that are going to change lives, putting my experiences into words.  It takes a lot of mental and spiritual effort.   Some of my best ideas come in the middle of the night.

·         Being blind, how do you do the actual writing of your books?

I type on my computer key board like everyone else.  But since I can’t use a mouse, I’ve memorized all the key commands.  I have a special computer program that speaks every word as I type it.  I am not a good speller…thank heavens for spell check.

·         How did your desire to write evolve?  What prompted you to write?

I love to write.  In High School I took creative writing classes. (I also found out I don’t like deadlines.) Later on I wrote small pieces for The Ensign magazine.  I always wanted to write a book, but never thought it would be about myself.

I have a friend that works for Deseret Book Publishing,  he  recorded one of my motivational firesides and submitted it to DB.  They  asked me to participate in Time Out for Women.   In order to do this, I had to be a published author.  Deseret Book gave me 3 months to write my first book,  Hard Times and Holy Places.  I completed my book on time.  I knew the Lord was helping me every step.

Writing is not easy.  My second book Facing The Son took me 1 ½ years to write.

·         What is one thing you enjoy the most…favorite pastime!

I love to nap!

Most of my time is spent with my family, doing family things.

I also like to listen to audio books, and bake.  The only drawback is I eat what I bake!  (I don’t like to cook.)

I go on lots of walks with my two dogs.  I have a small dog that is my pet and my guide dog is a Labrador, so while I’m walking my little dog, my big dog is walking me.

·         Right from 7 months you’ve had unique and difficult challenges. It’s quite obvious through your writings, that you have developed a deep trusting relationship with your Savior.  Was there a time when you were angry at God for making you blind?  Why me?  Is God really there?  What did I do to deserve this punishment?

When I lost my vision 8 years ago I was not angry with Heavenly Father.  I was secure in my knowledge of God and His plan.   I was angry, sad, and depressed.  I didn’t function well for a year and half.  But I never questioned God.  My foundation was firm.

·         Are your books in audio form?  Being blind yourself, you understand what it’s like to have limited printed material available, are you going to pursue getting them available in audio form?

One of my books is available through Library for the Blind.  Deseret Book has not made my books available yet.  They will need lots of requests from outside sources before considering it.

·         Quoting from your book, Facing The Sun:

 He listened as a group of men approached. They stopped and spoke together about his blindness. He marveled at the words of one whom the others called Jesus, when they asked, “Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” 
In anticipation, the blind man leaned forward to catch the reply.
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him” (John 9:2–3).

·         Do you feel a connection with this blind man?

Yes, I feel a connection with this in my own life.  If I allow myself to, I can make the works of God manifest.  They can see that I can be happy with a disability. Also, when people help me, the works of God are manifest.

·         Anything  special you would like to tell my readers?

 Keep trying.  It’s okay to have bad days, and to think this really stinks,  but get up and try again.  I’m not happy all the time.  It’s pretty inconvenient to be in the dark all the time.

In conclusion here is another quote from her book:

I invite you to try examining your own visual acuity—not your physical sight, for that is of lesser importance, but your spiritual ability to see.

Kris's publications can be purchased online HERE
About Becky Jane