The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)
CLEARING MASSIVE HURDLES
Raquel Granger figured she’d cap off 2019 by updating her gallery of social media followers on the status of her newly-assembled book.
“I’ve been patient,” Granger on the morning of December 31 staged in a Facebook post that was accompanied by the hashtag: #I’mInThere.
Given the awe-inspiring developments surrounding her book, it’s safe to assume that #I’mInThere means this rising Mid-South author’s best and brightest days as a writer are well ahead of her.
A native of Memphis, Granger is the mastermind behind the spiritually-empowering book entitled, “The Day I Met Life,” a life-enhancing, emotionally-driven written document that recently made its ceremonious release.
Granger’s “The Day I Met Life” depicts the memorable developments in the life of a then-13-year-old girl, who was left to outlast and conquer life amid the tragic death of her mother, Brenda Faye Henry, who died after a battle with AIDS in August 1993.
“It’s a compelling story about how I struggled with sin, strongholds, and generational curses,” Granger told Making Headline News this week.
CONNECT WITH RAQUEL TO BUY HER BOOK: https://www.facebook.com/raquel.henry.334
As if Granger’s mother having passed away at the tender age of 37 wasn’t enough to shatter her spiritually and mentally — and probably physically — this author had at one point in time found herself thrust within the walls of a jail cell because of some ill-advised decisions that essentially had brought her life to a streaking halt.
Fortunately for Granger, though, she had come to know God during her incarceration.
“God gave me this vision during my time in prison,” Granger explained. “In such a hard place, I learned to confess my sins…forgive myself for all I had done in my life.”
REMEMBERING BRENDA HENRY (1956-1993)
Interestingly, Granger had come to a point during her incarceration where she sensed she had no choice but to sellout completely to her Creator, a development that, in turn, had ultimately given way to her having acquired the very thing she needed the most: a new lease on life.
“In prison, I was baptized,” Granger recalled. “God not only saved me, but He also conditioned my heart to trust Him in all my ways. I was seeking God for deliverance, healing from all the pain I endured from my past.”
Much to her delight, it wasn’t until Granger had turned her life over to God that He subsequently commenced to showing her all sorts of signs and wonders, she explained.
“He used people to speak to me,” Granger said of her spiritual connection with the Lord. “After facing answered prayers that I sent up to God, then I begin to realize the promise from God would take time. I was in a hurry to get home to my children…get back to life.”
For what it’s worth, Granger emphasized her new book is dedicated exclusively to single mothers whom, like her, have struggled with the strongholds life often deals them.
“I chose to write this book to be a blessing to single mothers and young women who experienced the death of their mother or parents of with HIV or AIDS, or those who were just left without structure and guidance,” Granger said. “(This book is for) women that had to grow up fast and became a mother at an early age. “(This book is for) women who have suffered abuse from family members and men, as well as those getting tangled in toxic relationships and mental illness.”
As expected, the feedback since the release of Granger’s book has been overwhelmingly favorable.
“I’ve received great feedback,” Granger said, adding that she’s very much open to speaking engagement nationwide to share of life-changing story. “The most important thing that was said to me was, ‘Let your voice be heard. Have faith! Speak life!’ (I was encouraged to) prophesy from God speaking into my life, from many men and women of God.”
Aside from being a new author, Granger is approximately a year removed from having started a business.
A graduate of Manassas Park High, Granger is owner of Legacy Pro Cleaning Service here, a venture that was spearheaded through Jan Pro of Memphis.
“I had to invest in myself and build my business so that it can provide financial stability (for me and my family),” Granger said.
GOD’S PLAN…GOD’S PLAN
A few months removed from having made her authorship debut, Granger is especially grateful of how God is about to allow “The Day I Met Life” to open an array of doors for her.
“I began writing once I was out of prison,” Granger said. “It took years for me to spill out all the hurt and pain I kept in for so many years. It was hindering my walk. I was holding grudges against the family for the lies and horrible things that were spoken over my life.
“I wanted a way out, so I continued to write to release the pain. In 2019, I completed my book after giving up and starting over so many times over the years. The more I wrote, the more I remembered from my childhood to show the world how I grew up and survived.”
With God, her Helper, leading the way.
Yep. She’s certainly #InThere.
That’s for sure.
For more information Mid-South-area Author/Businesswoman Raquel Granger, to order her book, to schedule a public appearance or book signing, connect with her via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/raquel.henry.334. Send email to: brendafaye1993@yahoo.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.
Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.
Interestingly, Shyne Her Light sometime last year was spearheaded as a women empowerment group on Facebook and nearly 400 women have since joined Brooks’ credible organization, which has become widely known for its fervent commitment to empower, equip, and edify women to become the best versions of themselves.
Though she has yet to reach her 30’s, Brooks undoubtedly has endured her share of turmoil, from having conquered depression, molestation, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, mental abuse in relationships, diabetes, and financial struggles, among other things.
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Interestingly, she goes to great lengths to educate youths through her ever-so-popular “Money Don’t Grow On Trees” class, during which she customarily helps prevent them from making financial pitfalls, all the while preparing them for a successful and stress-free future.
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“In this book, you will learn about the 7 Deadly Copouts — called Slayers — that women use as reasons why they can’t move forward. It’s time to Slay the Slayers,” said a spokesperson for Polk’s featured book at Amazon.com.
“Every Woman Is a Business Woman,” released in 2017
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“In my business, this is not law enforcement, but I look at it as a step closer,” Roberts, 35, told Making Headline News late Friday night. “I like the fact that I can help others gain the experience and knowledge about security and law enforcement. I believe that for some it, it is just the beginning if they would like to further their career.”
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Having acknowledged that her past, by all accounts, had become what she describes as her “prison,” there was, in fact, somewhat of a silver-lining in the midst of what was seemingly nothing more than organized confusion in the life of this devout woman of faith whom, to her credit, was determined not to take defeat lying down.
“My past has become a molding platform to reintroduce who I was and who God called me to be,” Taylor said. “My past protected me as a survivor, but my future is calling forth me as a thriver.”
“My grandma encouraged me to marry a man who I did not like just to say I am married and my children have a father,” Taylor continued. “And then I married again only to marry someone who was able to handle my right now, but not my future (he was “jealous and intimated of my ministry” she explained. “From the ministry of misery to the ministry of motivational matrimony.”
Having adopted a keen passion for music, Tamikyo Inez sang her very first solo at the tender age of three, during which she grew up in the church, where she had become fixture in the choir.
And the rest, as they say, was history.
“I was blessed with this gift,” Kelly said. “Writing is my passion. This is my first novel and it took me awhile to complete it due to during that timeframe I was taking care of my mother, who was battling leukemia that quickly transformed into lymphoma.”
For Kelly, losing her mother essentially served as a devastating blow to a writer whom, because of her mother’s unyielding support, eventually had to come to grips with the notion that her No. 1 cheerleader was still very much coaching and guiding her from the heavens.
“After her transition, I didn’t want to write anymore,” Kelly explained. “I decided that I wasn’t going to publish my book, nor continue my literary gift until one night I was sitting in my bed, crying and I heard a voice say, ‘Finish what your father started.’ I’ve been doing it ever since then, because this is what my parents would have wanted me to do.”
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A slim 113-pounder — yet with so much growing to do and weight to put on — Christian often rotates between playing the small forward and shooting guard positions.
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“I feel that I received the vision to write many years ago. As an avid reader, I have always wanted to be an author,” Sewell told Making Headline News this week. “But not just an author; I wanted to be a published author and be able to share my work with as many readers as possible.”
“When I moved to the Memphis area in 2013, I had only written about 10-to-12 chapters,” Sewell recalled. “Every time that I would try to write over the years, life got in the way.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, producer, author, athlete, musician, barber, life coach, motivational speaker, cosmetologist, tax preparer, model, or pastor/minister who is seeking exposure and would like to share your story with an in-depth news feature, call Reporter Andre Johnson at 901-690-6587 or Facebook message him under “Andre T. Johnson” for details.