I have the privilege of being one of the stops on Mary E. DeMuth’s blog tour this week. The tour is to help spread the word about her latest book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture.
Mary, how did the idea for this book come about?
We raised our kids for 2 1/2 years in a culture that was postmodern on steroids. (France). I figured if we survived, and our kids came through, maybe we’d have something to share with other parents. I also am tired of parenting books that pound out solutions instead of get to the heart of the matter. Good parenting flows from the inside out. The best thing we can do for our kids is to run to Jesus and have Him move us, heal us, help us, empower us. I wanted to share that message with parents.
As a mom of six precious children, that’s a message I want to read.
About how long did the first draft take to write? Would you say there were more days where the words flowed well or more days where you wrestled them onto the page?
I think it tool about 3-4 months to write. I set myself a word count goal every day. No matter whether the words flowed or not, I would write. Sometimes I wrestled, sometimes the words flew out.
That’s a good tip for the writer’s out there. Set a word count goal every day and STICK TO IT.
What would you say was your greatest challenge in writing this book?
Trying to translate what I’d learned about parenting to the page in such a way that would bless parents and genuinely help them. In the book, I help parents become conversational, to have the kinds of conversations that rebel-proof their kids. I help them create a home that’s a haven, the kind of place that’s irresistible to kids so they never want to leave. In order to do that, of course, I had to live it!
I imagine that would be a challenge to write. Communication with our kids is an important thing to pursue in todays fast paced society. You have an important message and I hope parents will take the time to read it and take it to heart.
Let’s have a little fun with the questions now.
Do you have any weird or funny writing quirks?
It’s hard to say. I am very focused when I write, so I can get in the zone and forget to eat. It’s been interesting having the kids home this summer because they need to eat!
So does their mom, so she has the strength to write more books. I can relate to forgetting to eat when you’re focused.
Do you have any rituals/habits you perform to help you settle into a writing session?
No. I pray and ask God for wisdom.
That is the most important habit to perform! I need to tack a reminder up on my monitor to get in the habit of praying EVERY time I write.
If you were a music CD, what style music would you be and why?
Edgy global music because I’m an edgy global girl.
An edgy global gal. Great answer.
What are you currently reading and how is it so far?
The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Oh my. Wow. Beautiful stuff, but a little depressing.
I haven’t heard of that one. I’ll have to read a blurb on it.
The spotlight is turned off now, any parting words?
Writing is a blessing to me. Through it, God has chosen to heal me of many, many wounds. And in the process, He’s actually used my words to bless others. It’s all very humbling and amazing.
I love it when God inspires our writing and touches both the writer and the reader. I’ve enjoyed hosting you on your blog tour and look forward to reading your book. Thanks, Mary, for joining us.
Learn more about Mary and her books at her website, Relevant Prose and her blog, Relevant Blog.
Mary E DeMuth says
Thanks so much for bring a beautiful stop on the Authentic Parenting Tour!