Here’s the situation… You have met your literary equivalent, and realize you have more than writing in common. Sharing their stories of being broken, Elissa Gabrielle and Angelia Vernon Menchan offer a life guide for all women.
The Situation Room with Michelle Cuttino caught up with Gabrielle and Menchan to discuss their latest endeavor–their new collaboration titled Testifyin: Rise To Grace.
Michelle: How did the two of you meet?
Angelia: I met Elissa in several Yahoo groups in 2007 after I started publishing.
Michelle: What was it about Angelia that made you want to collaborate?
Elissa: I had never entertained the idea of collaborating one-on-one with another author, although I had published anthologies. Angelia’s presence in the literary world commands respect, which is a plus, because I wanted to attach my name to someone who other people respected and admired.
Michelle: Of all books written together, which is your favorite and why?
Angelia: Testifyin’: Rise To Grace by far. It’s ministry.
Michelle: What is your writing process? How do the collaborations come together?
Elissa: We write. It’s that simple. We talk, share ideas and are spiritually connected so it works –seamlessly even when it’s difficult.
Michelle: In your opinion, when is the best time for someone to start on a journey of healing?
Elissa: The minute they admit they are broken.
Michelle: Testifyin’: The Rise To Grace is your latest release. What is the book about?
Elissa: Testifyin’ is about broken women healing other broken women. It is a book of empowerment to encourage others to live – live free, live without regret, and to live your best life.
Michelle: What do you hope readers walk away with once they read Testifyin’?
Angelia: Hope and encouragement.
Elissa: It is my prayer that readers understand they are here for a purpose, and God already has a divine destiny in place for them from the minute He created them. It is up to us to fulfill that destiny. Additionally, find joy and completion on life’s journey by knowing you are worthy, and have the absolute right to live your life.
Michelle: What is the overall message between its pages?
Angelia: Love, nurture and protect your soul and give back to others.
Michelle: Why did you choose this particular title?
Elissa: I had the title in my back pocket for some time, and wanted to use it. When Angelia and I discussed writing a non-fiction book on empowerment for women, this seemed appropriate.
Michelle: What did each of you learn about yourself while writing this book?
Elissa: I learned that I am stronger than my storms, and that my life, and the circumstances that have brought me to this point, was by design.
Angelia: How much I’ve lived, loved and learned.
Michelle: What made each of you put pen to paper and “testify’?
Elissa: Many women are held hostage by their pasts, by other people, by low self-worth, by falsely believing some of the misinformation that has been forced down our throats. We can be champions even after hitting rock bottom.
About the book
God often uses our deepest pain as a catalyst to our greatest calling. The pain will lead us to our purpose. Every single thing that happens in our lives has been set in motion to prepare us for moments that are yet to come. Oftentimes, while in the midst of those moments, we are unaware that all of the time that led up to it, was preparation. To testify means to bear witness. And in Testifyin’: The Rise to Grace, two women give proof with confidence, transparency and honesty about the moments that allowed them to rise to grace.
A profound Journey on how being broken saved them, and how they learned that rock bottom builds more champions than privilege. Faith, resiliency, marriage, motherhood, mistakes, sisterhood, pain and purpose, Testifyin’: The Rise to Grace by Elissa Gabrielle and Angelia Vernon Menchan is an amazing life guide for all women, and teaches life-changing and life affirming lessons on passion, courage, life, love, and tapping into the power within.
About the authors
Angelia Vernon Menchan is an author, publisher and public speaker who owns two publishing companies, MAMM Productions and Honorable Menchan Media. Menchan is also a Budget Officer and former Job Corps Counselor. To date she has published eighteen books of her own works, both fiction and non-fiction, and more than fifty eBook novellas on amazon.com. Menchan has also published the works of seven other authors, including a children’s book, a book of poetry, non-fiction and fiction novels, as well as a breast cancer memoir. Menchan is also a sought-after speaker.
Menchan is currently working on More Womanish, a follow up to Womanish, a book about how women survive day to day.
I am a woman, and was raised by women. My mom was a single woman of thirty when I was born and immediately I was thrust and immersed into the culture of women, my single mother, widowed grandmother, married godmother, two married aunts, one widowed aunt, one divorced aunt and another single aunt. My grandmother bore ten children, six of whom were women, my mom two women children, two aunts one woman child and one man child, three aunts no children and my godmother one woman child. In their presence I learned what it meant to be a woman in all its permeations. I have also spent most of my life in the presence of myriad women who shared through words or actions their lives with me, leaving me feel honored. These stories aren’t about us, me or my people and yet they are because as women we share so many similar experiences in such different ways
Angelia Vernon Menchan on Facebook
Angelia Vernon Menchan on Twitter
Angelia Vernon Menchan’s Blogspot
Elissa Gabrielle is a powerhouse in the literary industry. Respected by many, revered in the highest regard, Elissa maintains a spirit of excellence in all she does. She is known to have the Midas touch with her gift in the skill of multi-genre writing. The author of multiple poetry books, numerous novels and contributor to several anthologies, Elissa has proven herself to be well-versed in artistic creativity. She also has the ability to mold and shape newcomers into literary superstars–creating multiple award-winning authors and best-selling books in the process. Elissa Gabrielle remains an ingenious and creative force to be reckoned with in terms of delivering distinct, fulfilling and entertaining literature. By pushing herself to stay a cut above the rest, Elissa Gabrielle brilliantly and consistently delivers literary best.
Gabrielle is currently publisher of six Real Life Real Faith Magazines at www.RealLifeRealFaithMagazine.com.
Additionally, she has a collaborative effort coming up at year’s end. 2017 will debut Like Water for Chocolate by Elissa Gabrielle.
Like Water for Chocolate
Indigo Jones had a love affair with words an
d sounds. The eccentric, yet broken beauty understood the power of the written and spoken word. She often embraced the healing powers of water – the ocean breeze against her face. She was mesmerized by sound, most notably; jazz. While studying the history of jazz in New Orleans, fate rears its beautiful head. Isaiah Underwood, a community organizer and history enthusiast, who was convicted of murder during Hurricane Katrina, is in the midst of the fight for his life, sanity and freedom. New Orleans has the power and magic to bring unknowing lovers together with the pulse and vibrancy the city beholds. The breath of new life revives yearning spirits and resuscitates weary souls. Life can change in an instant and Indigo is faced with immeasurable odds, while Isaiah maintains his innocence. In this poignant tale of triumph over adversity, both are awakened by the light of the sun, and the sound of the living waters running deep.
Elissa Gabrielle’s Official Website
Good to know about these great personalities, they should be an example to those who think that hard work does not pay. Trusting and having a great faith in the Almighty God to push ahead, is what we need to have. Their success in life, have a connection with the Lord God Almighty.