Interview with Iris Carignan

Author of Moriah’s Wings and Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in the small town of Americus, Georgia. I currently live in Southern California

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

When I was about six years old my family moved to Southern California. We lived in Lawndale, Ca for about 3 years, then moved to the San Fernando Valley where I spent most of youth. Then during my second year of college, we moved to the Thousand Oaks area, where I currently reside.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first book published began as just a collection of poetry for my family & friends, but as I got further into it, I began to feel a strong nudge within to add a few astonishing experiences from my life. Before I knew it, this intimate little collection became a whole book that was clearly for a larger audience than just my family. It also ended up being more about my many surprising experiences in life than about my poetry. But ironically, my first written book, though not published, was a children’s book that I wrote when I was only 9. I have written & illustrated several children’s books in the past 16 years, but didn’t pursue getting them published until more recent times.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books, whether fiction or non fiction, always have an uplifting message of hope and inspiration that I pray will encourage their hearts and spirits and lead them closer to God. My first published book: “Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected” is a collection of true amazing and surprising stories from my life and a handful of friend’s lives. All of the stories illustrate how God frequently shows up in ways we never expected yet blesses us far more than we imagined. It was self published, even though it was seriously considered to be published by a major publishing company. They loved the writing and concept, but my platform was not sufficient for them at that time.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Anyone who is searching to know God in a more real and intimate way will love my books. All people of faith who seek to grow in their faith and/or strength of character will find nuggets of truth, wisdom, humor and hope through my books.
“Fresh Eyes: Seeing God in the Unexpected” is written in a form that lends to quick snippets of inspiration for the day and could be used as a daily devotional if desired. My children’s books are often based on an inspiration from my own life, but also from impromptu bedtime stories for my children and grandchildren. They bring humor and some intrigue to a child’s curious heart. My latest children’s book, “Moriah’s Wings,” is based on a story in the Bible that I’ve never seen used for Sunday School or other church related kids edification. But after reading it for about the 10th time, I suddenly felt a strong inspiration to write a fiction version of that story. It too will bring a hopeful message to children and help them grow in their faith, yet it has some intrigue and mystery built into it.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

As an author, I have learned that writing is a most revealing craft. Consuming a story may fill the reader with insights for their own life, but it may also peer into the heart of the author’s own soul. If that sounds a little backwards, it probably is. But, for me, writing has always been an overflow of my own experiences, hopes, dreams, and soul-searching wounds. So, naturally, some or all of those may float to the surface of a fluid story. Perhaps that is why my latest book, Moriah’s Wings, reflects so much of my own seasoning. I also came to realize that it was at the young age of nine, when three key factors

Most surprising, though, is how my own words sometimes return full circle to me. While writing one of many biographies for art & writing purposes, all the puzzle pieces came together as an amazing trifecta. I suddenly realized that it was at the age of nine that three key factors had a profound effect on my life. At nine, I took my first painting lesson, wrote my first book and I came to faith in Christ. All three became my fountainhead as an author, artist and woman of faith.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

Using the powerful racehorse, Secretariat, in comparison to its jockey, consider how the rider must feel as he becomes one with the horse, experiencing its power, strength, and exhilarating force flow through his spirit. It’s a beautiful metaphor for everyone, equestrian or not, as we ride through life. When we become one with God in purpose and goal, we harness His power, like a jockey whose horse takes him to the finish line. Whether we are at the pinnacle of a life changing moment or working our way through everyday stuff, only through His might and strength, will we run the race He has set before us.
All of the above are words I need to continue to remind myself of often, because life keeps throwing new bumps into the racetrack of our journey.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Someone once said “The sky’s the limit” and I’m letting God’s heavenly purposes reach as many as He wills it too. Of course I was propelled by that very core to begin with and would love to see my books be read by hundreds of thousands,
even heavenly levels.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

My biggest challenge has been and continues to be marketing. It’s the chicken or egg syndrome of what comes first if you want to be a best selling author in today’s publishing reality. How does a person of little acclaim and small platform, become an author that everyone recognizes, when large publishing companies won’t take a chance on little known people?
More than that, as a creative type, the skills needed to be a good marketing guru, don’t come easy to me and likely not to most creative people.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

MY biggest strengths are creativity, writing, and Illustrating

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Marketing is by far my biggest weakness

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I am already in the process of writing two new books and have two others on the back burner that are nearly complete.
Three of them are children’s books and the other will be my first novel.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

My first book was self published and my latest: Moriah’s Wings is published by a small traditional publishing company called Celebrate Lit.