Interview with Terri Groh

Interview with Terri Groh
Friday, April 5, 2013 by pam

Today, I'm doing something a little different. I want to introduce my friend, Terri Ackerley Groh. Terri and I met on a Facebook group for parents of special needs children. And it turns out Terri is also a writer! How cool is that?

Pam: Hi, Terri, welcome to Where Are The Blessings!

Terri: Thank you for having me, Pam! I appreciate you sharing your blog with me today.

Pam: You've shared with me a little about your book for encouraging women in their faith. It's called WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR A DISCOURAGED WORLD. I'm excited to let everyone know it's on sale now! And I want my readers to know a little more about you.

Terri: Okay, I'm ready so fire away!

Pam: Arighty then, let's get started. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Terri: I have been married for almost 25 years to my husband Dan who is a pastor of a small church in New York. We are about 70 miles north of New York City. I have three beautiful children. Nathan is 21 and a volunteer fire fighter. He has high-functioning autism. Stephen is 20 and is in college, majoring in journalism. Emily is 13 and in the 8th grade and I'm currently homeschooling her.

Pam: How did you become interested in writing?

Terri: Ever since I was a little girl I have loved books and loved to write. I would dream of growing up and being an author. I remember writing the most elaborate stories and a friend and I co-wrote a story and came in third in a New York State writing competition when I was in the 4th grade. I started keeping a prayer journal in high school and still do today where I write out my prayers. So, writing has just always been a part of my life.

Pam: What inspired you to write this book?

Terri: Five years ago, I started writing a once a week devotional to the ladies in my church. They basically were lessons or truths that the Lord was teaching me as I had my own personal quiet time with Him. After about a year or so, I also started posting them on my blog. I found that though I was sharing what I had learned from the Lord, and the things I was wrestling with in my own private life, other women were also finding them helpful in their own lives. I started feeling led to compile them into a book form and with space to journal so that other women would also be encouraged.

Pam: How would you describe your writing style?

Terri: I tend to write with a very transparent and familiar style. I like to envision sitting with a cup of coffee and having a chat with a friend. So I think that tends to come out in my writing. In fact, one of the edits I had to do on this book was taking out all the exclamation points. I have a tendency to talk with my hands and apparently, I want to write that way too! (laugh)

Pam: Why do you think this book will be helpful to women?

Terri: As women, we often keep things bottled up and are afraid to let others know we are struggling with something. Yet, it is often as we share with each other and pray for one another, that we really grow as believers. I think that is why this book is helpful. I share some of the things I have struggled with, and how I have wrestled with what God has to say with that issue. I'm not perfect. I've made many mistakes in my life. Yet, I want to follow the Lord and please Him. I think most women do too. As they face some of these same issues, they can see what the Bible has to say about it and how to deal with it.

Pam: What you do enjoy when you're not writing?

Terri: I love to sew and craft. I have a craft business on Etsy and also go to local craft fairs. I also tutor children with reading difficulties, specializing in the Orton-Gillingham Multi-sensory method. I love being able to take someone who can't read or reads poorly, and helping them to improve. I also have my hands full helping my husband in his ministry as a pastor and taking care of my family. My daughter has severe and multiple food allergies so I do a lot of baking from scratch.

Pam: What can we expect from you in the future?

Terri: I am planning on a future volume of weekly devotionals, but prior to that I am planning on book of devotionals to celebrate Advent.

Pam: Thanks for being here today, Terri. I'm sure all my readers are excited to check out your book!

Terri: Thank you so much for having me, Pam! I appreciate it.

Pam: You can find Terri's book on Amazon.com or at her website www.terrigroh.com.

Read more about Terri at www.terrigroh.com or https://www.facebook.com/WordsOfEncouragementForADiscouragedWorld.