And our Sue's Clues Mystery Author is:
Meet SONYA KATE CHILDERS. I think you will find, as I have, that this is a lady who
doesn't let things get her down and doesn't hesitate to help others. She has plenty to handle in her own life and yet finds time to help causes such as St. Jude's Children's Hospital and SOS (Support Our Soldiers). I can't help but feel this is a lady to inspire others to look beyond themselves and reep the rewards of helping others; the satisfaction of making another's life a little easier and better.
When you are done reading her interview, take the time to access the links she has provided at the end.
1. You've basically lived the "small town girl goes to the big city" story. Would that be an accurate assumption?
Yes. I came from a small, rural community, quietly nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River. The town is located deep in "Mark Twain" territory. The population of Louisiana, Missouri, when I lived there, was roughly 5,000. There was one stop light and my high school class consisted of 75 graduates. In its day, Georgia Street was bustling, lined with delis, clothiers, the newspaper, print shops and grand older homes. Gradually, the town began to reduce in size due to the decline of our family farms and loss of industry. The small "Mom and Pop" stores gave way to larger corporations such as Wal-Mart and Pizza Hut.
Did you realize it at the time?
Coming from a small town, I wanted to take in all that the 'big city' had to offer. A co-worker and good friend at the time, who also happened to be a former Kansas City Missouri Police Cadet, took me around to all the local attractions. She showed the country girl the strange and wonderful sites of the city. I was introduced to art, music festivals, famous landmarks, sporting events and foreign foods. Working as legal secretaries, we got to meet powerful, local celebrities at parties in Crown Center Towers. I even attended a Star Trek Convention - but that's another story.
For some real weekend fun, which I think was more for shock value for my friend at the expense of the country girl, we'd grab McDonalds and sit outside the metropolitan police station where she trained. There, Ms. Innocent saw everything the rural community had, but never talked about like domestic abusers, drug dealers, drag queens gone bad and prostitutes like on Miami Vice. Come on! I know most of you remember that show and had a crush on either Don Johnson or Tubbs.
In those days, living in a rural community crime appeared on a much smaller scale, so the criminal element and colorful drag queens were all new to me. It was fascinating and almost like watching my own version of what would later be known as "Cops". Unfortunately, today, it doesn't make much difference where you live, as times are hard in all areas for everybody.
It was during the time spent outside the police precinct that I realized the plight of our inner-cities and people in need. I never got a chance to thank my friend for giving me a newfound respect and understanding for the hardships people face and just how diligent our police officers work to keep us safe. These experiences gave me a greater respect for charitable causes and the people benefiting from them, whether they be from a rural community or metropolitan area.
There are a lot of good folks out there needing help and many programs being cut due to lack of funding. While I told this story with a humorous flair, I hope people reading the interview take to heart what I've said. Perhaps it will inspire them to donate their time or make a donation to the charity of their choice.
And what challenges were there for you?
Definitely city driving. When you hail from a town with one stop light, two-lane roadways and move to a city with major highways and four/five lanes of traffic one-way, traffic lights and millions of cars, it can be a frightening experience. I'm sure it was for the drivers that had to follow behind me. Yikes!
2. Tell us about your family. They sound very supportive.
I'm glad I have an opportunity to answer this question. My family means everything to me and I don't know what I'd do without them. The four of us make up our own unique support group. With my husband's parents deceased, we are all we have in this world. Therefore, not one of us takes a single day together for granted.
My Husband: My husband, Bert and I have been married almost twenty years. If I could go back in time and marry him again, I would. A woman couldn't ask for a more supportive and giving husband. When it comes to my illness he is always by my side trying to help me. For example, in November, while walking into a local hospital my legs wouldn't work. I vocalized this to Bert. As he turned around, my body began to fall. The only things stopping me were the edge of the concrete sidewalk or a metal drain. Without so much as a second thought, he threw himself underneath me so that I wouldn't be injured. I'm on a very powerful blood-thinner and had my head hit either one of those objects, it could've been fatal. That's just the kind of caring person he is.
In 1996, we started a small construction based business, which we nurtured into a home-building company. In 2005, we discovered the superintendent we'd so carefully hired embezzled an astronomical sum of money from the business we began as mere kids. Our family lost everything. It took one man, eight months to ruin a life-long dream ten years in the making.
Did the embezzlement and a declining housing market get my husband down? Nope! He picked up the pieces, packed up the family and relocated us to another state where the home-building economy is strong. Together, we will rebuild another company. Bert leaves for work before dawn and comes home very late at night. Yet, no matter how tired he is, if I'm busy writing or marketing TIDES OF TIME, he always finds the energy to make dinner or help with the kids in order to keep my dream of being an author alive.
My Children: I thank God every day for my children. I can honestly say my husband and I have raised two very happy, healthy kids and selfless individuals. The kids have bravely dealt with my illness, pitch in to help with housework or walk me into a store when it's raining so I don't fall. They are never too busy to be by my side or call me from school to make sure I'm feeling okay.
In 2000, shortly after returning home from a Florida booksigning, we were eating a late lunch at a popular restaurant. My daughter noticed that my eye was bleeding. At the urging of my family, I went to the restroom to take a look, figuring it was nothing more than a bad blood vessel break, I returned to the table. I remember telling my husband "I don't feel well." It was then that I collapsed and could hear my children crying and screaming for me to wake up, yet it was if they were hundreds of miles away. I kept hearing myself saying, "It's okay, Mommy is here kids. I'm here. I'm okay." Yet no sound came from me. When I awoke, my right side wouldn't work. I had suffered a stroke. My children carry those images of that day around with them. I believe the stroke made us all stronger as a family and showed my children just how precious time together really is.
We seem to be of an age, and I'm guessing your kids must be in their teens, at the least, by now. Have either read your book?
My daughter, who graduates from High School this spring just finished reading TIDES OF TIME and I might add, couldn't put it down. Like most teens, Melissa is constantly on the go with school activities, studies, dating and a job 'there is little time for reading', no matter how much I promote it. However, due to the efforts of my daughter's English teacher, Mr. Joe, allowing the kids to read my novels in class and report on them, his students are taking a real interest in books again. My son just turned 12. While the romance scenes in TIDES OF TIME are tastefully done, Josh is still a little too young to be reading it. However, I have a copy wrapped up and put back for when he is older.
3. You have quite a list of health issues to deal with: Lupus, Anti-Phospholipid Disorder, Raynaud's Disease and Fibromyalgia. I'm familiar with Lupus and have a niece who suffers from Fibromyalgia. Either of these alone are quite a challenge. For those of us who don't know, tell us about these diseases and what it means for a person?
Lupus/Fibromyalgia: These are horrible diseases that mimic so many others and are extremely hard for doctors to diagnose. Some days, it feels like the flu, but it’s the body reacting to the effects of Lupus or Fibromyalgia. A person suffering from either one of these illnesses feels tired most of the time, suffers extreme headaches, muscle pain and spasms, immune system deficiencies, limbs that often are too weak to work and weight gain.
For myself, it is hard to function as a person with any sense of normalcy. Some days the pain in my leg bones is so bad it can only be described as someone taking a dull butter knife and scrapping the bones. The headaches are horrible and can last for weeks. A simple case of a sore throat or minor cold turns into bronchitis or pneumonia because the immune system is compromised. Then there are the days wherein I'm too tired to function or speak. Lifting my legs is hard so I shuffle my feet on bad days. As I'm trying to wash my hair, it's like my limbs are dead and won't work. Oh, weight gain! I eat less than anyone in my family, yet gain weight at the drop of a hat.
The nickname for Lupus is "The Wolf". How appropriate that is, as the disease sneaks in and overtakes your life like a hungry wolf hunting prey. The amount of medication I take on a deadly basis to keep the wolf at bay is expensive and astounding.
There is one other point I'd like to share with all of you. Seven years ago a doctor told me, "You have seven 'good' years left." At that time, I didn't ask him to elaborate on whether that meant 'left' here on this earth or quality of life. To me it doesn't matter. Each day is a gift and is what we make of it. For me, there is nothing more important than beating these illnesses for my husband, children and most importantly myself. If I sit down and allow these afflictions to overtake my life - then they win and I will not become a victim.
Anti-Phospholipid Disease: Anti-Phospholipid Disease merged with Lupus is a dangerous combination. As mentioned before, I suffered a stroke. APS causes my blood to thicken and 'throw' clots for no apparent reason. These clots cause strokes, mini-strokes and a host of other problems. The doctors have me taking blood-thinners to help combat the problem. I go in about once a month for blood tests. It's like living with a time-bomb- you never know if or when a clot will develop, possibly resulting in another stroke. The question always looms "will this one be worst than the last?"
Raynaud's Disease: It is my understanding that with this disease, your blood vessels and veins narrow sometimes to the point of closure. Extremities such as hands, feet, nose and ears become very painful and sensitive when touching anything cold. By my own experiences it is extremely difficult to deal with ice cubes or getting anything in or out of the freezer, not to mention cold weather. As the disease progresses surgery to reopen the vessels and veins becomes necessary.
4. A program you are very involved with is SOS (Support Our Soldiers). How did you become involved in this? What can we do to help?
September 11th, the invasion of Afghanistan and the Iraqi War all have had a profound impact on me, as with millions of other Americans. The images of our soldiers and families left behind are heart-wrenching. It is my belief that no matter how one feels about the war, as an American you should support our soldiers. They don't want to be away from home any more than we want them to be away.
Weeks after the war started, our family adopted a soldier. We wrote to him, mailed care packages and organized a letter drive from school children for nearly a year. I can honestly say this was one of the most rewarding experiences of our lives, resulting in a life-long friendship with his family. Our soldier made it home safely, but for countless others the outcome is not as positive.
When Kathryn Falk, Founder of Romantic Times Magazine approached me with her idea for Support Our Soldiers America, Inc., I jumped at the chance to help. Our family has been involved with SOS since 2004, donating a bullet proof vest and sending books and supplies overseas. We have taken part in Kathryn's many benefits including the soldier retreat house and spa in Alvin, Texas. I couldn't begin to tell you what it's meant to the parents, wives and children of our military personnel to see so many caring publishers, authors, reviewers and readers supporting their brave family members.
5. You've been lucky to meet some rather big names in entertainment! Tell us about it. Gene Hackman, Keith Urban - even an invite to the Presidential Inauguration!
How I met Gene Hackman is a rather funny story. I was paling around at the 2004 BEA in Chicago with Kathryn Falk, Founder and Owner of Romantic Times Magazine and her disposable camera. There was a huge crowd gathered around Mr. Hackman. I turned to Kathryn and said, "Oh shoot. I'm never gonna get to meet him." At that point, Gene's agent grabbed his arm and was leading him away from the growing crowd. Before I knew what was going on, Kathryn yelled, "Gene" and pushed me into him. This larger than life movie character didn't know what hit him, but nonetheless graciously agreed to pose for a picture.
For those of you that enjoy Country Music, you can appreciate my meeting with Keith Urban. I was able to go backstage at a concert he was performing near Kansas City. My daughter and I waited several hours just to see him. Let me tell you ladies—he was worth the wait. The man is georgeous and very down-to-earth, not to mention he can sing and play guitar!
The funniest celebrity meeting was with Country Music artist Blake Shelton. He was performing at the Blue Springs, Missouri Fall Fun Fest. An official with his label took me to the holding area to meet him. When our family entered the room, there before us was a string of beautiful, shiny autographed guitars neatly lined up against a back wall. Well, never being known as graceful, my size eleven shoe became entangled with the end guitar. With a clang, twang and crash, the guitars began falling like Dominos. My husband yelled, "Better get your checkbook!" I figure, Mr. Shelton will remember who I am. How many other ladies are going to make an entrance like that one?
The most special celebrity meeting was with Country Music Artist Steve Azar. His mother and I struck up an Internet friendship through his fan club several years ago. I had no idea she was Steve's mother until Virgie mentioned something about a family event. We have continued our correspondence throughout the years and she and her husband never miss a day praying for me and my family. There is more to read concerning our friendship and a 'Special Dedication' page to the Azar family in TIDES OF TIME. In September 2005 Steve and I finally had our face-to-face meeting. At that time, he'd just gotten his bright, shiny new bus and gave us a tour. It was all very exciting to be backstage seeing how much work actually goes into the production of a concert. The day was more like a family reunion than meet-and-greet.
Our family received an invitation to attend the Presidential Inauguration due to a charitable project we were trying to start-up concerning a free home for wounded soldiers. However, we were unable to attend. Due to a mail delay and area snow/ice storm, the date in which to RSVP had lapsed by one day. Talk about bittersweet. However, the invitation along with letters from First Lady Laura Bush and Vice-President Dick Chaney, are proudly framed and displayed on our wall for visitors to see. Other celebrities I've met include : Darryl Worley (whew! he is one tall drink of water), John Berry, Buddy Jewell, Legendary Radio Announcer: Joe Franklin, Hot Apple Pie, Blaine Larsen, Kix Brooks, Bobby Pinson, Kevin Sharp, Craig Morgan, David Lee Murphy, Mary Higgins Clark, Heather Graham, Christine Feehan, Debbie McComber, The Wrigley Family and Dr. Ruth.
6. Then there is your new book, "Tides of Time". What is it about?
Every girl fantasized about the latest music star; bedroom walls are lined with bedroom eyes. Little did Rebecca Lynn Roberts know, at the tender age of 14, that the lyrics she had inspired then for her guitar-playing boyfriend, Jason Engles, would today become his hit song on the country music charts. When these high school sweethearts are separated by their parents, seven years go by without a word, yet he is never far from Rebecca's heart and mind. Stuck at home with a tedious job, a disabled uncle and alcoholic mother to care for, she can only imagine how different her life might have been if she and her young love had stayed together. Surely Jason, caught in the powerful whirlwind of fate, must have forgotten her. With his rugged good looks, dynamic personality and hypnotic singing voice, he could have his pick of girls.
When the rising star returns home to the Texas Panhandle to give a benefit concert, Rebecca and her friends get front row seats. Would he see her? Would he even remember the small town life he shared with the poetic girl who knew him best? Can't tell ya. I'll leave that for your reading pleasure.
How did the book evolve - what were your influences?
When I go to sleep, I have these wonderful dreams. It's almost like turning on LifeTime Television. The dreams are very vivid and in the mornings I can clearly remember them. TIDES OF TIME is no exception and came to me in a dream. I carried the idea, characters and plot around in my head for years before writing it.
After my stroke, I watched one celebrity after another receive a book deal. While I'm not a blonde, leggy heiress like Paris Hilton nor a bosomed, blonde actress like Pam Anderson or a well-established author with legions of fans, I figured out real quick I needed a niche. One day while CMT (Country Music Television) was on, the idea of merging my book with Country Music was born. I began writing TIDES OF TIME that night, and when it was all said and done I had completed a 500 page manuscript in thirty days. Not to mention, I'd developed a unique and very successful marketing plan.
7. What do you hope to do next?
I want to do everything. When you've been diagnosed with an illness that may or may not end your life early, there is this urge to do it all. I definitely want Tides of Time to become a huge success. It is my desire to have my book become a movie and the plot into a Country Music Video.
8. I've found authors are usually avid readers as well. What and who do you like to read?
While this may come as a shock to all of you, I'm not much of a reader. My passion is writing. What my readers are getting with TIDES OF TIME is my heart and soul. GONE WITH THE WIND is my favorite novel. I have read it more times than I can count. It's just one of those epic books that encompassed my heart from a historical standpoint. Other wonderful authors I've read include Mary Higgins Clark and Christine Feehan.
9. What are your favorite movies?
An easier question would be what aren't your favorite movies! I enjoy so many. Among my all time favorites are: Gone With The Wind, Dangerous Beauty, Scarface, Goodfellas, Wedding Crashers, Meet The Fockers, Dumb & Dumber, Braveheart, Tombstone and 13 Going on 30.
10. What do you like to do in you free time?
In my spare time, I love to spend time with my family. It really doesn't matter what we do as long as all of us are together and happy. The Childers family does everything from just hanging out by the pool on a lazy summer afternoon for a BBQ, to traveling, ocean fishing and walking on the beach, shelling. This of course, when my health allows it—there are days I can't get out of bed.
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