Vonda Skelton - Christian Speaker, Author, and Funny Lady

It’s author interview and book give-away day and I’m so pumped to introduce my friend, author and speaker Patty Mason, to you. Patty and I met in May ’09 at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference where her book, Transformed by Desire: A Journey of Awakening to Life and Love, won an award in the Bible study category. At that conference, Patty also attended my How to Develop a Speaking Ministry to Women continuing class at Blue Ridge and I later endorsed her book. Then, in January 2011, Patty participated in our very first Christian Communicators Conference at Lake Keowee, SC, and I can tell you, she’s an amazing speaker.

As you can see, Patty and I have developed a lasting relationship and I’m honored to be able to share her books with you today.

Be sure to check out Patty’s bio below, but for now, just take my word that she’s someone you want to listen to. 🙂

And if you’d like the opportunity to win a free copy of Patty’s book, just leave a comment below and you’ll be in the running! (Be sure to check back next week to see if you’re the winner.)

Thanks for being with us today, Patty. I can’t wait for the readers to hear your story. First of all, tell us about your newest book, Finally Free: Breaking the Bonds of Depression Without Drugs. Why did you write it? Who did you write it for?

Patty: Finally Free is my story—my personal battle with depression. In the book, I share how I got there—even to the point of becoming suicidal—to how I was instantly delivered from depression without drugs. When I first began to write Finally Free, I had other depression sufferers in mind. I know the pain of their anguish. I wanted to reach out to them and offer hope, to let them know they are not alone. However, during the months it took to write the book, many people approached me and told me how their mother, husband, friend, etc. was suffering. They were looking for answers because they didn’t know what to do to help those they loved. From these conversations I saw another need: To reach people who are living with a depressed loved one.

How difficult was it to write from both perspectives?

Patty: I know depression from both sides of the well. I know what it is to suffer, and I know what it is to live with someone who is depressed. About seven years after I was healed, my husband became depressed. Listen, I am not a doctor, so I do not share medical advice in the book. I wrote purely out of personal experience. I know what worked for me when my husband was suffering, so in the back of the book I share some practical tips, some do’s and don’ts, when handling someone with depression.

That sounds like a valuable resource. Would you share a couple of those tips with us?

Patty: First of all, be a good listener. Don’t judge or criticize how your loved one feels. Don’t say, “Oh, you’ll get over it.” That is what my husband would say to me. Prior to his depression my husband didn’t understand what I was going through, so he dismissed it as something I would “get over.” If someone has never experienced depression, they will not understand. However, when my husband began to experience his own trouble with depression, he apologized to me profusely.

Another good helpful tip is to get them out of the house. Depression suffers tend to hide from people and life, and a change of scenery can help. I took my husband and our three children on vacation for a few days, and that trip helped tremendously.

Although I’ve had down periods, like after the death of my daddy and while caring for my terminally-ill sister, I’m blessed that I’ve never suffered with lasting depression. Can you tell us more about what you went through? How did the depression start? Did you seek help? How did you find your way out of depression without drugs?

Patty: Disappointment and disillusionment caused me to fall hard into my well of depression. From the age of 18, I went on one pursuit after another expecting “people and things” to fill me in some way. By the time I was 35 I had everything. I had a husband who loved me, three beautiful, healthy children, a nice home and successful career, yet none of it gave me the sense of worth and satisfaction I was looking for. For a long time I wore the mask that told those around me I was fine and I had it all together. Outwardly I looked like I had everything, but inwardly I was dying. I didn’t want to admit I had problems, so I didn’t seek help at first.

Finally, once I figured out I couldn’t help myself, I began to seek help through family and friends. When that didn’t work, I turned to the medical profession, but I couldn’t find any doctors who would help me.

The most critical day came when I had come to the end of myself. Suicidal, I cried out to God to help me. “Only you can help me!” I told Him, “Please, help me!” Later that same day, God reached into my well of darkness and pulled me out. And when I came out of that well, I came out a different person.

What an amazing story of the power of our God! Since your book came out, I know your story has been told numerous times. Would you tell us about some of the places you’ve had opportunities to share your story of God’s healing grace?

Patty: Actually, I began sharing my story before audiences back in 1997, shortly after the healing took place. God has given me many opportunities to share it over the years at various conferences, churches groups, and workshops. But since the release of Finally Free, He has opened doors for me to share on numerous television and radio programs, including CBN 700 Club. My story has also been published in several magazines, on blog sites, and in books by other authors, such as Unshackled and Free and Recycled Women.

I’ve watched your video interviews and you do a great job of telling your story. I hope the readers will visit your website to find out more about Liberty in Christ Ministries and to check out your videos.

But now, let’s switch to writing. Tell us more about your journey. What are you working on these days?

Patty: My writing began at the age of nine when I won my first writing contest. From then on my mother would tell me, “Patty, you’re a writer.” My writing career, however, began 34 years later. I wrote my first book in 2003. Since then I have had the privilege to write five books, including two Bible studies. Transformed by Desire: A Journey of Awakening to Life and Love was released in 2010; then Finally Free in 2011.

I’m currently working toward publishing my second Bible study, Know That I AM God, and working on the video series that will accompany the workbook. In between all this, I’ve written several magazine articles and on various blog sites.

Writer’s conferences have played a big part in my developing career; as well as the guidance from my writing mentor, Doc Hensley, who I met at the first writer’s workshop. And as you said, Vonda, we also met at a writer’s conference—whoo hoo! You, too, have played a big part in my writing and speaking. What I have learned from you is priceless to me.

Wow, thank YOU for your kind words and for sharing your wisdom and journey with us. It’s been a joy to watch God bring glory to Himself through your faithfulness.

And readers, don’t forget to leave a comment below for Patty and you’ll be in the drawing for a free book! Be sure to check back next week to see if you’re the winner.

Thanks for joining us today, Patty.

Patty: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my heart and my story of God’s healing mercy.

Author Bio:

Patty Mason is a wife and mother who found hope and healing when Jesus reached into her well of depression and set her free. From her painful past God created Liberty in Christ Ministries, a ministry dedicated to helping others find hope, healing, and freedom for their souls. As a speaker and Bible teacher, Patty continues to speak at women’s luncheons, events, workshops and conferences and has reached audiences all over the world through Sisters on Assignment, Christian TV, Salem Communication’s Light Source, WLGT Blog Radio Live, and CBN 700 Club.

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