Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Music commentary
Listen Linda! Hosted by Jacquiline Cox
Mud Makes Miracles: How Pain Births Purpose
What happens when nine extraordinary women decide to bare their souls and share the storms that nearly destroyed them? "Through the Rain" isn't just another anthology—it's a spiritual lifeline for anyone drowning in their own downpour.
From the moment you open this labor of love curated by Jacquiline Cox (ListenLinda), you're invited into sacred spaces where vulnerability becomes strength. Each contributor brings a unique testimony that will leave you breathless: Dr. Katrina Fuller reveals what happens when the support person everyone leans on finally breaks; LeShawn Fernandez chronicles her daughter Miracle's journey from a one-pound preemie given no chance to a child who didn't just survive but thrived beyond all medical predictions; and Dr. Velma Bagby—a relationship coach married for over 50 years—courageously shares how her own marriage nearly ended before God intervened to "burn off what He couldn't use."
The stories continue with Denise Walker explaining why "The Rain Is Necessary" for growth, Dr. LeAnn Hendrick demonstrating what "Mustard Seed Faith" truly looks like when facing impossible medical diagnoses, and ListenLinda herself revealing how she "Prayed for Rain and Got Mud" but found purpose in that very mud. Each testimony flows beautifully into the next, creating a powerful narrative arc from darkness to deliverance.
What sets this anthology apart isn't just the raw honesty of each story, but the intentional care taken in its creation—from the custom graphics and AI photography for each chapter to the inclusion of helpline resources for readers triggered by similar experiences. These aren't just stories; they're invitations to healing, proving that your darkest moments might become your most powerful ministry.
Ready to find hope in your own storm? Contact any contributing author directly for a signed copy that means more than just a book—it's evidence that survival is not only possible but can become your greatest testimony.
Hey there, I'm Jacqueline Cox, but you might know me as ListenLinda. Um, where do I even begin? I guess you could say I wear many hats Podcast host, entrepreneur, Mrs Illinois, usa, and so much more but it all started with a simple passion to tell stories and empower others. Building a platform wasn't easy. There were days when I wondered if anyone was even listening. But then something amazing happened. I realized the power of my voice. Suddenly, my words were reaching people, touching lives, making a difference. Now I see my mission clearly to create spaces where every voice can be heard, because when we listen to each other's stories, we grow, we connect, we become stronger. Every voice matters, every story has power. So what's your story? I'm here to listen and together we can make our voices echo far and wide. To be a guest on Listen Linda. Contact Jacqueline Cox on Facebook Messenger.
Speaker 2:What's up, what's up, what's up. How is everyone doing today? I am just dropping in because that's what I do. I am super excited.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I just got a package in the mail and today has not been one of my best. I've been in a lupus flare this morning, so you got to excuse my appearance, but what you see is what you get today, uh, but I am coming on not just for myself, um, but really also for um, the women, um, who participated in the through the rain um anthology, and straightening out my camera, y'all, um. But yes, so I just just got the copy and I don't usually order the pre-order copies because I already know how it looks, because I have the PDF, I have the e-plug, but I decided to go ahead and order the copy of the Through the Rain anthology, the copy of the Through the Rain anthology, and I just want to say I'm so grateful for the women who participated in this anthology. This is probably one of the hardest labors of love that I have ever had to do, but this is also my first time actually publishing an anthology. I published some self-care books for myself, some self-help books or devotionals, but this is my first time publishing. I usually have my I like to call Mama Queda from PayPal, payprov publishing to publish the anthologies.
Speaker 2:But I've decided to go ahead and take a leap of faith and and do it myself say that I am so, so proud of this work.
Speaker 2:But I'm also so, so grateful for Laquita Parks, because this was definitely a labor of love for me to do, not more so because of the authors in the book, but just the work and the machine that goes behind it. I'm used to doing media management, content and media and graphic creation, but to actually go into actually editing, formatting, making sure each chapter aligns with the next as far as storytelling, and creating the storyline from beginning to end, based on each person's chapter, to make sure that it sounds right, going from this chapter to the next and it flows nicely, that all takes a lot of skill and hard work and I'm super proud of this project. It came out so beautifully. Before we get and I actually let you guys see the book, I want to run over some of the videos again to some of the chapters in the book. Ok, so let's, let's just do a quick recap of some of the some of the stories that are in the book.
Speaker 1:She was always the one people leaned on, until life knocked her off her feet. She poured into others, but when she needed someone, no one showed up. Katrina wasn't just tired, she was spiritually drowning and no one even knew. God, if you're still with me, I need you now. And in that moment heaven responded, not with thunder, but with stillness. Her rescue didn't look like fireworks. She survived the downpour. Now she walks in purpose the worst in me.
Speaker 4:Can I tell y'all one more time?
Speaker 3:one more time I said he saw the best in me when everyone else around me could only see the worst in me.
Speaker 2:Yes, so that was Dr Katrina Fuller with her chapter in the book called when the Sky Clears when the Sky Clears one of my favorite chapters in the book. I think for me that's top three. Not saying that all of them are being rated, but for me, just knowing Katrina and having conversations with her prior to reading her story, I would have never guessed some of the things that she overcame in her life, because she doesn't really talk about it and she, she doesn't really hold it as a crutch as a crutch. And for her to be so vulnerable in this book and just tell her truth. The video really doesn't do it justice at all. It is absolutely the women in this. And through the rain, jeez, louise. Let's get to the next one the rain, jeez, louise.
Speaker 1:Oh, let's get to the next one. Have you ever prayed so hard? Your throat burned, but heaven stayed quiet. She wasn't supposed to get pregnant again. Not after the doctors told her her body was too broken. Not after the pain, the scar tissue, the surgeries. But God had other plans and her name was Miracle. One pound nine ounces, that's all she weighed. Paper-thin skin, a heart that kept stopping, lungs that forgot how to breathe, a mother told to say goodbye before she ever said hello. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. No feeding tube check, no monitor gone hole in her heart closed, jaundice brain, bleeds, cerebral palsy, silent nights. She survived it all. When Miracle first spoke, she didn't say mama. She said mama Ra-Ra wants a juice cup, mama Ra-Ra wants a juice cup. A sentence, a whole sentence. After years of silence, after doctors said she'd never speak, they said she wouldn't walk. She ran, she ran.
Speaker 1:They said she wouldn't talk. She testified. They said she wouldn't learn. She excelled. She didn't just beat the odds, she embarrassed them. And right there in a consignment shop, a little girl remembered the angel God assigned to keep her alive.
Speaker 1:This isn't a story. This is a spiritual autopsy. It will break you, wreck you, heal you and make you weep with worship. Wreck you, heal you and make you weep with worship. Through every storm, every tear and every moment of hope. This journey has shown us the power of faith and the beauty of miracles. Even when the rain falls hardest, love and belief can carry us through. As the clouds part, we remember every trial is a step toward the light. The sun always rises and with it new beginnings and endless possibilities. May this story remind us to look for the miracles in our own lives and to never stop believing. Pre-order from LaShawn Fernandez as she debuts. Her chapter Look at God is one of many chapters in the upcoming anthology Through the Rain, let her take you through her storm. Let her take you through her storm and come out to the sunshine.
Speaker 2:Yes, now, that was um best-selling author, um, she has her own insurance company. Here is the insurance lady. She is the host of the global podcast, I mean the international podcast wounded warrior podcast, and that is streaming everywhere, everywhere on Spotify, on iHeartRadio, you name it. She is there. Miss LaShawn Fernandez would look at God and tells a story about how her baby, just you know, fought to survive and beat the odds. Miracle, who is my girl, I love Miracle, vibe and beat the odds. Miracle, who is my girl, I love Miracle.
Speaker 2:And I actually met LaShawn through, again a really, really great friend of mine and spiritual mom and leader and philanthropist and just an all-around beautiful spirit. Ms Dr Laquita Parks. And again I just I want to say of Parks, and again I just I want to say I have to say Dr Parks has published every book of mine and my family, from it Can't Always Be Night, all the way up to the Women of the Waiting Room, volume 2. When she did Volume 2, she did the devotional, she signed on for the devotional and for the anthology and I kind of threw her into the poetic ministry one and she never said a mumbling word, she just went ahead on with it and I am so, so grateful to have her because she mentored me and she taught me so much about this business and I taught her. You know some things about graphics and about you know just the, the, the actual marketing aspect. But as far as like publishing and getting my name out there and my podcast, um, of course, uh, to glory, to God, be all the glory, but I, I, just I. It don't sit well in my spirit to not give people their flowers where it's due. So, dr Laquita Parks, also, somebody who played a very intricate role in me starting my publishing company with Dr Velma Bagby, because I was afraid to start. I was afraid of what people would think was afraid to start, I was afraid of what people would think I was afraid of letting you know some people down or feeling like you know, if I did this, you know how would other people feel about it. And she just told me to, if I'm good at something, follow my truth and do it. And I did it and I'm so, so grateful for just my community of people. Carolyn Coleman, dr Audrey and Moses Lakeisha Williams' contract with four projects. It was the Let it Go journal, the Let it Go 30-day devotional, the paperback, the e-book and the Leadership Unlimited magazine. And when I say I crafted everything and started everything and we finished by her birthday. So we published on her birthday four projects and they all hit number one that day, that day and we did it in 11 days. We did it in 11 days.
Speaker 2:Talking about pressure, everything that I do, every opportunity that I try to give indie authors and also traditional authors, but mainly indie authors is a chance for quality exposure. I want you guys to be able to get your message, your business, your book, your brand out there globally. And a lot of times I don't toot my own horn because people feel like it would be bragging, but I am. I did win the top 100 stellar business award of 2024. I have been published in CBS, in Fox News, in ABC. I have done those things. I have received the Vanguard of Excellence Award for my brand and marketing.
Speaker 2:I am a part of the NYC Journal top 40 under 40 influencers. Like I do have these accolades, I do have a presidential lifetime achievement award for my literary works and my volunteer career work. You know I do have these things. You know also the honorary doctorate for my literary works and my volunteer work in my community, that I did have the mayor of the former mayor of Aurora write my letter of recommendation. All of these things are true and I cannot receive these things and have these things if I do not have the experience to back these things up. So when I say I am a top tier brand and marketing firm, that is just what I strive to be and anybody who has worked with me can attest to. I will do every single thing I can to make sure your message get out, your testimony gets out, your book, your business, your brand gets out. So, without further ado, I'm going to go to the next chapter in the book and let's see what this one is.
Speaker 1:Some storms shake your home, others shake your soul, but the ones God allows. Some storms shake your home, others shake your soul, but the ones God allows, they're designed to break chains. She's a pastor, a wife, a mama, a woman of faith with decades invested in love and now staring down the storm of her life. He's God's servant too, a preacher of the word, a man who stood at the altar and said I do, with every intention of keeping it, God, what do I do with this? They have the titles, the faith, the calling, but even covenant can get caught in the crossfire of generational curses.
Speaker 4:Baby, what you gonna do with all you done invested in that man. Just hand it over to the next woman.
Speaker 1:That was the moment God stepped in, not to end it, but to refine it. He wasn't trying to break them apart. He was burning off what he couldn't use. This isn't just a marriage. It's a ministry, a movement, a miracle in motion. Some couples survive storms.
Speaker 3:Others rise from them with purpose in their bones and fire in their testimony.
Speaker 1:Read the story, break the cycle and remember what God joins together no storm can tear apart. Pre-order Through the Rain anthology and read all about Dr Velma's journey of love and war and love again, destroying the Curse of Divorce Coming this fall.
Speaker 2:Contact Dr Velma Bagby, speaking of uh with her chapter, which, I must say, I'm getting emotional, which, I must say, um, I am so grateful. Again, happy belated birthday to Dr Velma Bagney. She has just turned 71. 71. God bless you, mama B. I'm so, so grateful for this chapter because a lot of people know Dr Velma.
Speaker 2:She has been married for over 50 years. She's a dating and marriage relationship certified dating and relationship coach. She's an ordained minister. She's a publisher herself, she is a multi-award winning bestselling author and she also is a motivational speaker. She goes out, she does speaking engagements, speaking on her catch series book and it really helps a lot of people who are singles but also who are dating with intent, or why you should date with intent to marry. But she also helps married couples, such as myself.
Speaker 2:I've been on her three years now, me and my whole family, and she has became family to us. Her husband, pastor Bagby, they counsel me and my husband sometimes I mean just just a great human being, and I had never heard about her, her and her husband's battle with, you know, on the edge of being divorced, and I had. I would never had guessed that based on just some of the things that she has written about and that she has spoken about over time. But she, she, she decided to to kind of break those walls down with this anthology and I was, you know, blessed to have been the first person that that she trusted with this story to me in this anthology, and I'm so, so grateful for her and just all that she does. She's a god, grandma to my kids and just a beautiful person all the way around and I'm just so, so lucky to have her. I want to get into this next one.
Speaker 1:Um, this one is special and I want to make sure that when I play it, um, I'm just going to go ahead and she was just a little girl when the world told her she wasn't worthy of love, told her she'd never be enough, and for a while she believed it. Then God gave her a glimpse of real love Through the heart of a father who never stopped showing up.
Speaker 3:And just like that the light faded, her protector gone and the world got heavy again.
Speaker 1:They told her she'd never carry life, that love wouldn't grow inside her, that motherhood was a dream she might have to bury. But they forgot one thing Her story didn't belong to the doctors, it belonged to the deliverer. He took her pain and made it purpose, gave her a platform, a voice and a mission to help others rise from the rain too, because the rain was never meant to ruin her. It was sent to water the seeds of her calling this ain't just a book, it's a lifeline.
Speaker 2:read it and let it water your soul yes, yes, yes, that was miss denise m walker, who who, just I see, is the recipient of the Women of Impact Award. So congratulations, denise Walker. Just such a beautiful, another beautiful woman of God. I actually I've been knowing Denise, knowing of Denise, but I met her through the Listen Linda Book Club. Actually, she, her book, was one of the books of the month and a powerful, powerful testimony, and I am so grateful to know her.
Speaker 2:The book is called so that you May Live and it's part of the redemption series and her chapter in the book is the Rain Is Necessary. Now, take what you may from that title, but for me, and from what I read from her chapter, she was basically, you know, saying that you know, she was just, you know, everything around her was just howling her with dirt and sometimes it takes those storms and it takes that rain for you to wash those things away. Awesome, awesome chapter. I mean I truly feel like it does not get any realer than what she posted there. But let's see what else we got here let's talk about.
Speaker 1:She was already broken.
Speaker 4:She's crowning. She's only five months. Leanne, she's alive, but she has no prognosis.
Speaker 1:No cerebellum, one lung, damaged eyes, no voice, no future. They said Our father who art in heaven, in a moment of agony, she didn't scream for man's help, she made an exchange with God. She wasn't supposed to survive, but miracles don't need permission. She lost more than just sleep. She lost her mother, her peace, almost her mind. But she lost her mother, her peace, almost her mind, but she never lost her faith. Cerise would defy every diagnosis, crawl, feed herself, volunteer, compete, inspire. But then, after 17 years and 9 months, Lord, it's me again and I still believe.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, so that was Leanne Cerise Hendrick. Dr Leanne Cerise Hendrick, one of my sponsors, the listening to sponsors. Her organization is called Beyond the Calling, beyond the call um, and she does so. So much for the community. It is. It is insane. Um, she feeds the homeless, she clothes the clothes the people in the shelters and people without. She gives um sanitation, um things to women who are homeless. She just goes all out with supplies for the kids that's going back to school, you name it. If she don't do it, she will do it, and I am also lucky to have her, just her support. I met her when we both actually were receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award this past I think it was September this past September, if I'm not mistaken in Atlanta her and know her and to have her trust. Listen, linda, brand and marketing. With her brand and marketing needs, I'm super excited. She's also one of the students in my Arthur Bootcamp, the 21 day Arthur Bootcamp. She won the raffle and so we are here now and I just cannot wait to help her take her brand to the next level. So, yeah, I think I've held you guys long enough.
Speaker 2:The rest of the chapters you can find in the anthology. I am doing a let's play my call to action for the Through the Rain devotional. So if you like this book, if you like the quality of the book, if you like the chapters in this book and you feel like you have a story inbox me, see me. I'm looking for not necessarily experienced writers although everyone is welcome but really just some people who want to get it off their chest, some people who feel like they have a testimony and they want to help people who may have experienced the same thing that they did, but God brought them through their storms. I'm looking for you. I'm looking for you. I need you to help make a difference, you to help make a difference.
Speaker 2:It's one thing to have a testimony and go to church and tell them. It's another thing to put it out there in the world and let somebody from a different country from India, from Japan, from China, from the UK hear your story and know that, just because I'm going through this, I'm not alone. This person went through that, even though they are in America, they went through this and God brought them through it. Or somebody don't believe in God. Well, I don't believe in God because I'm going through all of this and I don't see my way out. And then they see that you went through those same things and it's such impossible things that you went through in your life right, and nobody could have brought you out but God. So when you have those things and you have those testimonies, my advice to you is write it out, let it out, write it out through paper and leave it on the paper and it lifts you.
Speaker 2:I come out with writings all the time because that is my way of letting go and release and it really has brought me a long way personally, business-wise, I'm not the same person that I was three years ago.
Speaker 2:I'm not the same person I was two years ago. I'm not the same person I was last month, because writing heals I know it does for me. I can't speak for everybody, but I know that when I unpack and I lay it on those pages, it's like me laying my letter out to God for the things that I need him to help me overcome. And when I leave it there, it's like I'm leaving it at the altar. But I'm not only doing that for me, but when other people read my testimony and other people read my books and my stories and they can relate and they say that this piece helped me get through this time. That's what it's about for me. So I'm going to run the promo so you can, guys, kind of get a little more feel about the Through the Rain devotional, and then I will be right back with the Through the Rain anthology reveal all women who face unique challenges and triumphs.
Speaker 4:This is about what we went through and how god pulled us through. This ain't just another book. This is real talk, real healing and real ministry for all women who've been through it and still got the strength to speak. Your tears, your triumphs, your testimony, they all matter. You don't have to be a writer, sis. I got you From ghostwriting to one-on-one consults. I'll help you get your story out the way it's meant to be told with grace and power. Your story has power. Let it do the ministry. Come join us through the rain. We're waiting on you, sis. Spots are limited. Payment plans are available. Dm me today and let's walk this journey together. It's time to turn your pain into purpose, your struggle into strength.
Speaker 2:That's right and, just like the video shows, it's not just specifically aimed at one culture. I started my platform for women of color, started, um, my platform for women of color, um, because we are, we are at, it seems, like the least cared about, the least protected and the least um, it's like almost like we're at the end of the totem pole on everybody's list. But the end of that totem pole has so much weight and we keep it lifted. We're lifting everybody up while everybody is trying to press us down. So my main focus starting to listen Linda brand, not just a podcast or the magazine or the publishing for the brand and marketing firm, what is, and always will be, number one for women of color. But just because you're not a person of color does not mean that you don't deserve exposure, because in my growth in this business, I have learned that everybody is dealing with something, everybody has pain, and I don't want to exclude people from telling their story. I don't want to exclude people from releasing their pain. So within this past year, I have opened my platform to women of all cultures, of all nationalities, of all races. While I respect men, I humbly ask that you respect the fact that this platform is a woman-based platform. I can absolutely refer you to some wonderful brand and marketing people who do work with men, but I just prefer to help women. That is my goal. That has always been my goal in life. So it's nothing against me and I just, in my own professional capacity, prefer to help women. I feel like that's what God told me to do, and men were not mentioned when I had that conversation with the Lord. Okay, not saying that I cannot help you, not saying that I cannot refer you to some of my amazing, amazing network of people who do the same thing that I do, because I collaborate with some amazing people who also do brand and marketing, who do work with men to help you get your stories out, to help you expand your book, business or brand. But me, I work with women, but I have opened that gate to not just women of color, and I know y'all looking like. Well, she came on. She was wearing a Louis Vuitton shirt. Like what happened? It's lunchtime for me, so I got my pizza box. Sorry, and I feel something on my shirt right here too, where y'all can see it, so I had to change during the commercial break. I apologize, but let's get to it, let's get to it.
Speaker 2:Okay, now it's time for the reveal, um, and I'm going to actually change my visual effects, my background, uh, because I want you guys to really see. So, um, if you, looking at the background and you you kind of see some things back there, have grace with me. It's still a work in progress, okay, it's still. I don't want y'all to be seeing my shoes and all that stuff, so I do kind of still kind of got it blurry back there, but it's a host of shoes back there that I got to try to figure out how to get on that side of the office and just put everything else back here, like my awards and you, you know all my published books, um, okay, so right now we're gonna get to it.
Speaker 2:Here is the through the rain anthology all graphics, all covers, covers and everything done by yours truly on the inside. Oh, it's so beautiful. We have our chapter covers. The first one is I might have to take the blur. I'm going to take the blur out, but you guys excuse my background, okay, just excuse my office, but I really need to show you guys this, okay, so here we go. Dr Norma, do the rain towards tomorrow. Then we have her beautiful photograph there as well. Everything is all color on the inside gloss, running back absolutely adorable in this video on doing no justice either, but it came out so beautiful, so detailed. Look at that. And on each of my anthologies I always want to make sure that and all of my people are listed as contributing authors on Amazon, so they do get that author credit. Okay, here we go again.
Speaker 2:Dr Gwendolyn Bradley, new levels, new devils, and I know y'all, like all of them, get in blue jean outfits with umbrellas and hunter boots, because your girl also does AI photography. Okay, so everyone is coordinated. Clock it okay. And here is the professional photo for Dr Gwendolyn Bradley. Okay, absolutely phenomenal.
Speaker 2:This one was one of my favorite ones to do. It was Dr Velma's Destroying the Curse, because, of course, you cannot find a graphic for Destroying the Curse, so I literally had to piece together curves and it came out absolutely beautiful. So I was able to add God's hands here. Of course, her umbrella is golden. Her umbrella is golden. A marriage taped back together. A marriage certificate here, as you can see, is taped back together with the rings, kind of tossed with the heart broken. And then I added the rain in the background, absolutely. And yes, yes, as you can see, hunter boots, honey, hunter boots. Hunter boots, honey, hunter boots. But I kept it in true Dr Velma form with her dream by design by Melissa Banks. Pearls, honey, yes, you better come through, dr Velma with her red um with her red nails, yes. So I try to make sure that when I do my AI photography it looks exactly like the person, and I've been getting some good reviews on that. I've been getting some good reviews on that.
Speaker 2:Why spend thousands of dollars getting your hair makeup wardrobe photographer then you can't eat until after you finish shooting, and shooting takes three to four hours. You got to put on all this makeup. I know because I did freelance modeling for over 14 years. I've been featured in jc penny sears, I've done runway shows, I've done um a lot of print work with guests and um wilson's leather and a few other ads that I've been fortunate enough in my earlier years to have participated in. So I do know that photography is quite expensive. So you can just bypass all of that. Contact Liz and Linda Brand, brandon marketing, and I will do your photo shoot, uh, between the ranges of one 99 and four 99. Amen, and that that's just for hair and makeup. Okay, so if you can do hair and makeup for a regular photo shoot, then you can hit me up for one, 99 to four, 99 and get a full, and you can do as many outfits, many scenes you could be in Paris or whatever.
Speaker 2:Okay, here's Dr Velma's photo, absolutely beautiful. Here we go with Dr Leanne Hendrick with Mustard Seed, faith. She's another one I had to kind of piece together, okay, but it came out absolutely beautiful, full color, and even, like with this live, the screen is kind of giving it a shade there, as you can see, but it's very, very clear in person there, as you can see, but it's very, very clear in person. Absolutely beautiful, absolutely beautiful. And here is her, that's my girl. And, yes, honey, I got your name right this time, baby. Yes, absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 2:Here we is with my girl, denise, another one that I pieced together. Actually, now that I think about it, I pieced together every single thing, from the sun to the flower, to the dirt, um, to the rain. Everything was pieced together, um, as far as their, their chapter covers. So nothing is a template. My love. Not hating on the want to do, I'm just saying me personally, I really like to to put my own touch on stuff so often imitated, never duplicated. But yes, honey, yes, denise, absolutely hands down was Rochelle Relaford. Rochelle Relaford is a really good friend of mine and just so super supportive. Oh, I love this lady to life. You guys may know her by a different name, but her pen name is Rochelle Relaford and doing her purse.
Speaker 2:I had to literally find something that shows the meaning of a deeper reflection and I figured, why not a woman looking at her reflection in the puddle? And guess what? I found it. And she's almost like she's almost falling in the puddle. And of course, you know, I added the rain. And of course she has her hunter boots, honey, okay, with her blue jean and her golden umbrella absolutely beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, um. And her story kind of talks about, you know, her going through life and some troubles that she had before her storm and then meeting her, her ex, who was an adulterer. So then she decided to just really just be with herself for a moment and have a deeper reflection, because what was it about her that was attracting those type of people? Met her at the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards banquet as well, and of course we got our girl friend of the show. I like to call her my twin flame, lashawn Fernandez.
Speaker 2:Bestselling author, founder of here is the Insurance Lady. So if you need anything insurance wise or health care wise, give her a call or contact her at here is the insurance lady dot com. And her chapter of course you guys saw in the video was look at God. So you can kind of see a child's hand touching God's hand through the rain, because her talked about miracles. So I thought that that was definitely a good concept to have for her chapter. And here is her absolutely beautiful. I love this book so much. This one is a great concept as well. But before I get into it I want to play a video. So, because I think I forgot to play mine. So here's mine.
Speaker 1:They told me to pray for rain. So I did, but nobody tells you that rain can drown you, that it can steal your innocence in one breathless moment. My granddaddy gone and no one cared. I thought the father of my first child cared about me. I was carrying life his unborn child and he beat it out of me. Death didn't knock. It broke in over and over again. January 20th, my oldest living child's birthday and the anniversary of my grandfather's death and the day my grandmother passed away. My son's birthday, my grandfather and my grandmother's grave four years apart, grief and joy, sharing a bed. My estranged mama and I barely argued, but this day was different because we did. Then she died not even two weeks later and they didn't find her for two days.
Speaker 1:Ministry didn't heal me. It exposed every wound I ever wrapped in scripture. The women in ministry used me for my talent but judged me constantly and left my name off all the credits for the work I did behind the scenes. They clapped on Sunday but crucified me by Monday. Kik said not, yet Jaden saved my life. I buried them all, all the loved ones I held close, and still I had to breathe. I didn't write books. I wrote through blood, through betrayal, through breathlessness. This is the mud, this is the ministry, this is the message Through. The Rain is more than an anthology. It's a lifeline for all women who feel alone in their storm. I prayed for rain and I got mud, but baby in that mud.
Speaker 2:God made me rise. Yes, yes, yes, I prayed for rain and got mud Now with mine. I really kind of focused and honed in on just a lot of the loss that I've had within these past few years. Within these past few years, I've lost, you know, my mom, my dad, my grandma, my favorite foster parent, slash mom, my foster sister, slash sister, my best friend, who died of kidney failure, and we were friends since the second grade, probably about a total of 15 people that were very, very close to me. Um, I've lost within the past maybe five or six years and, um, that's a lot for anybody. Um, but I think losing my mom in January really, really did something to me as far as spiritually, because you think you've got forever to patch it up with people, you think you've got forever to make things right and you don't always have that. I thank God every day that I get up that.
Speaker 2:The last conversation I had with my mom started off very rough because, you know, me and my mom were estranged, but I was never disrespectful. I love my mom. She's my queen. She always have been. I'm not the type of person to ever be disrespectful to an elder being. I'm not the type of person to ever be disrespectful to an elder. Even if I find myself getting out of line, I'm always the one who will call and say you know, I apologize, my delivery was whack, you know, because it wasn't that I was raised to do better, but God. I feel like God raised me to do better because that was just something that was always just like second nature to me to never disrespect anyone. So, even though I'm always first to apologize, I've learned to stop apologizing for the action but apologize for the delivery, because some people will feel like oh, you, just you called, you apologized, so you were wrong. So I want you guys to know that I'm not giving you advice to apologize if you're right, but just check your tone, you know. Check your delivery, especially when you're speaking to your parents or your adults, because a lot of times you can be right, right, but it's all about how you present yourself in that moment and how you address an elder. That makes all of the difference, okay. So, um, yeah, I wrote a lot about that and uh, and I wrote a lot about um, some things that I went through, um, just coming up to um, my mental breaking point, and um, and how God delivered me from that and I am always, always, glory to God, grateful for everything and everything that he has brought me through.
Speaker 2:So in the beginning I showed you guys the trailer for Katrina Fuller for her chapter in the anthology and it was called when the Sky Clears, and I wanted, I was very intentional about making her cover because I wanted her to shine. So you don't really see a lot of background graphics in this and only because it's when the sky clears. You won't see rain back there, you won't see anything else that's distracting you from the person at hand, which is Dr Katrina Fuller with through the rain when the sky clears. I just wanted her to kind of shine there. Like I said, my camera is not doing it justice. Like I said, my camera is not doing it justice. I really need to upgrade my camera to a 1080 HP because it is absolutely beautiful, even the details.
Speaker 2:When you get the book, you will actually see here where it does say Hunter. There, like you will see, everything is absolutely, absolutely beautiful. Okay, Absolutely beautiful, okay, and here is her headshot, or her chapter Absolutely beautiful, absolutely beautiful. Go ahead, kk, girl, you better go ahead, girl, that's my girl right there. So, absolutely, dr Katrina Fuller, and next I have my mama Queda. Ok, her chapter is looking for a rainbow in the clouds and here I was always so very intentional, like I said, I wanted the chapter covers to reflect the book, so, and, and their stories and their titles.
Speaker 2:So, as you can see, you have the eye here that's looking for the rainbow and of course it sees the rainbow and you see the rainbow reflecting in the eye. But you also see the details of the rain the puddle, her hunter boots, honey, get to it. The rain, the puddle, her Hunter Boots, honey, get to it. And her umbrella being clear, because of course she wants to see the rainbow in the clouds. Okay, absolutely beautiful.
Speaker 2:Dr Laquita Parks, and next we have Dr Laquita Parks' headshot. See, everything is full color, no black and white. Here. Formatting is beautifully done, okay. And last but not least, we have mine. I prayed for rain and got mud too and, as you can see, you see where the earthquake kind of cracked the ground. You see the mud, you see the puddles in the mud, you see the rain, okay. So, everything, okay. So everything is like it's maybe about seven or eight photos in this photo alone, okay, so every, every book, cover everything that I do, um, I I originally do. Okay, it's pieced together by me, even the do you see that? How you see the footprint in the mud? Okay, very, very detailed, very, very detailed, okay, and of course, we have my headshot and, of course, some of the chapters I know my chapter, as well as Dr Gwendolyn Bradley and a couple others have poetry inside of the chapters, okay, okay, so it's very beautiful book, um, and of course, I have a call to action at the back on how you can find me.
Speaker 2:But, um, I also have two things in this book that I want to point out. Um, and one would be the trigger warning in the beginning. Okay, it's the lip, because, um, a lot of people are going through things, so write, as soon as you open the page, you'll see here, you'll see a trigger warning just to let you know. Hey, in this book is sensitive content sexual assault and human trafficking, suicidal and suicidal ideation, substance abuse and recovery from alcohol and narcotics, teen homelessness, medical trauma and chronic illnesses okay, and also there's a privacy statement here letting you guys know that, for privacy and safety of contributors and individuals mentioned certain names, locations and some details have been changed. Okay, but this is the most important one to me that I felt, and I always feel, if you read any of my anthologies, that we have a resource and helpline page in here. So for anybody who may be going through domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and website is here in text. Also, the Child Health, national Child Abuse Helpline, the Human Trafficking Hotline, suicide on Crisis Hotline, call for the Runaway Safe Line or Youth Homelessness hotline is there.
Speaker 2:Alcohol Anonymous OK, and Narcotics Anonymous, and I found that that that was definitely needed for people who this may trigger or someone that you know is going through those things, that you guys have the resources that you need to get better. Because, yeah, you know, I see a lot of people on here and they say, hey, pray, do this, do that, but God gives us tools to use right here on earth. He is helping us in that way. So a lot of people say, hey, I don't need therapy, I'll just. But God gave you that resource of therapy to help you get through those things. Ok, so when you fall short of him, he can work through those people to help you, ok, so, absolutely phenomenal book, ok, if you don't have it, please go pick it up.
Speaker 2:And one thing although it's available on Amazon and I know some people, they want to be quick to run and grab it my suggestion, as the visionary and the curator and the compiler of this anthology, is that you purchase it from the contributing writers. It's the same amount it might. Actually, if you think about it, it's cheaper if you get it from a contributing writer because the shipping is included, ok, as well, as you get a signed copy from them. So if you get it off Amazon, you'll be paying more for the book, but you'll also you won't have it signed. You won't have it signed. It won't be as intimate and personal as you would if you would get it from someone who actually wrote their story.
Speaker 2:Okay, so my advice to anybody who's watching this, anybody who purchases the book, the actual paperback copy of the book please get it from one of the contributing writers. They put everything into this book to help someone and I feel like us supporting them as contributing writers would mean way more than you going on Amazon and purchasing the book. Now, I understand you have the book If you already have it from the bestseller campaign for 99 cents. That's great, but it's nothing like actually holding this book and being able to say, hey, I know somebody who could benefit from this book. I'll let them borrow it.
Speaker 2:Okay, because they can't borrow it from your Kindle. So just to have it in your hand and have a signed copy of it, um, it, it, it. It benefits more than you can actually realize. Ok, so I want to thank everyone for tuning in to this impromptu session, right, and before we go, of course, you know, I have to definitely once again thank all the contributing writers for being a part of it, but I also want to play one last video and then, um, we're gonna eat, okay, so let's see what I got cooking.
Speaker 3:Good looking what do I got cooking good looking, thank you.
Speaker 2:Yes, so I am back and this will conclude the impromptu session that I had to show you guys through the rain. Okay, and until next time, let's see it one more time. I just love it. I love it so much. It is so beautiful, right, absolutely beautiful Formatting, impeccable. Everything is beautiful, beautifully, beautifully done. Thank you, ladies, thank these wonderful, wonderful, beautiful ladies for contributing to this anthology through the rain anthology. Um, I'm so proud of it. Peace.
Speaker 3:Thank you. Outro Music
