Interview with Bonnie Hirst

Author of Test of Faith: Surviving My Daughter’s Life Sentence

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

I was born in Wyoming and currently live in Washington State.

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

My parents worked for the Bureau of Reclamation and we moved from Wyoming, to Idaho, to Utah, and then to Coulee Dam, Washington. That’s where I met my husband Ron. We moved from there to Tonasket, WA so we could work at his father’s restaurant. We raised our family in Tonasket and have since retired to a small resort community near there.

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

My memoir Test of Faith: Surviving My Daughter’s Life Sentence was not a book I would have chosen to write. I prefer feel good stories that end happily. My book began as I journaled my fears and prayers onto the page after my 36 year-old daughter was arrested on a murder for hire charge. After she was convicted and sentenced to life without parole, I felt God guiding me to continue to write my feelings down. Those journal entries morphed into my memoir. I have often said that I don’t feel like I authored this book alone. I was blessed by excellent writing teachers, fellow students, editors, and a wonderful publisher in She Writes Press. Brooke Warner of SWP has the expertise and resources to allow her SWP authors books to shine.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My memoir is a story of a mother’s pain and devastation when her prayers for the safety of her daughter are not answered. It is a journey of finally asking for help and receiving the blessings offered when I allowed my vulnerability to show. We all have setbacks or challenges in our lives. My daughter has been in prison nine years. During that time I have come to believe that how we choose to react to our challenges is the key to our survival.

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

I would hope that my book connects with anyone going through a difficult time. There is a quote a friend shared with me…”One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide.” I can’t think of a higher compliment than to be someone’s guiding light thru their trauma.

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

I think the most surprising aspect of writing my story, was the heart healing effect it had on me. When I recorded even the tiniest blessings I received, my heart swelled and my pain lessened.

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

I would tell my younger self, that it’s okay to not have all the answers. That’s it’s okay to ask for help. That it’s more than okay to show your vulnerability when you are in dire situations.

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

A million! Realistically, I would hope that those who need guidance or inspiration to get thru a difficult time will miraculously find my book.

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

My biggest challenge was when I decided to move my journal pages into book form. I was a total novice in the writing arena. I had to teach myself Microsoft Word in the beginning to record it all!

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

The writing was the easiest although it was painful purging all the memories onto the page.

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

Both publishing and marketing. They are both better left to the experts.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I don’t have a next book in mind unless my daughter wins an appeal and gets released early. That might be a great sequel.

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

I published with a hybrid. She Writes Press was amazing to work with.