Guest Blogger Janet Morris Grimes Writes About Author Mary DeMuth

The Gift of Transparency

By

Janet Morris Grimes

The process of penning a personal story, for the writer, is similar to standing on a stage, donned in only a bikini, lining up for a beauty contest. Exposed and unprotected, the writer unleashes all that she has to offer, timidly waiting to be evaluated, judged and even criticized for doing so. But rather than focusing on the contestant’s physical beauty, smile, shape, walk, talk, etc., the spotlight falls squarely on her deepest emotions, betrayals, suffering, fears and dreams. And instead of a trio of judges, there are thousands; each one as valued as the next.

Such is the case for Author, Mary Demuth, whose personal memoir, Thin Places, hits bookshelves on February 1st.

“Why would you splay out your life in this way?” she was once asked.

“Because I don’t want them to feel alone,” she answered, referring to her readers, who in turn, also serve as the judges in her beauty contest.

Mary’s story is that of a little girl who faced sexual abuse, neglect, drug-using parents, fear, and even the death of a parent. Though she is forced to relive these experiences in order to share her story, the focus of the book is on the hope of God through these trials. As God rescued her from a past that could have easily led to a path of downward spirals, this story focuses on the “thin places” in her life, or places where she could clearly feel the presence of God, long before she recognized the need for Him or knew how to put her feelings into words.

“Jesus says truth sets people free. This is my way of doing that—of telling the stark truth on the page so others can be set free.” Mary explains, readily admitting that by sharing her story, she has been set free from the grips of her past as well.

Everyone has a story to tell; perhaps true healing only comes to those willing to tear down the walls and become truly transparent, even in front of strangers.

And today, as Mary stands on her stage, waiting to see how her story will be received, I suspect she may find herself in another of those “thin places.”

But such is required for those willing to give the gift of transparency.

For additional information on Mary and all of her books, see www.marydemuth.com.

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Janet Morris Grimes
Any day spent writing is the best day of my life...

 
Have you ever experienced a "God Incident?" I had never read Mary DeMuth until I read A Slow Burn, which I had just posted yesterday. Immediately after I received this: "This is more of a story on author, Mary Demuth rather than a book review." That's what I call a God Incident!

Thanks Janet! You may meet Janet on her web site by clicking the article title!

Review: A Slow Burn Beautiful Story of Love!

A Slow Burn


By Mary E. DeMuth
Zondervan
ISBN: 9780310278375
362 Pages


There are some books, like A Slow Burn by Mary E. DeMuth, that speak directly to you. When that happens, it becomes memorable and is one that will be placed on your “keep” shelf, possibly to reread or refer to special friends. A Slow Burn has a number of lessons to be learned, or perhaps, as He is prone to do, God’s particular message for “you” will be what you find.

While Emory Chance is the main character, I was drawn most to Hixon and his role in the book. Although I don’t normally find that race is an important factor in a book, I think it was for this novel. Hixon is a Black handyman. He loves God and talks with Him often. The thing is—God has told him that Emory Chance was going to be his wife. Not only was it hard to believe because he thought she was so beautiful and he just a handyman with little to give her, but he knew that his being Black was something that those in Defiance would find hard to accept.

Yet he felt His message had been clear. And he quietly went about doing small jobs for Emory and being there when she might need him. Just waiting until God gave him further guidance.

Emory was beautiful, yes, but she was also a drunk and a druggie. In fact, her daughter, Daisy, was more mature and did more to take care of her mother rather than what it should have been—Emory taking care of Daisy.

And then Daisy was gone—murdered!

Emory was lost without her daughter. Not only because she loved her but because Daisy had been the one good thing in her life and had constantly tried to help Emory. Now, Emory was forced to face the fact that she had been zoned out while her daughter had been taken; she knew she had to carry some of the responsibility for Daisy’s death. And it was tearing her apart.

When she could, she would try to stay off the drugs; even Hixon was trying to help her get clean. Then her guilt would surface and she’d turn to the drugs to help her forget. Or her supplier would come by and give her some samples, wanting to party and have a good time... Then, too, someone, perhaps the one who murdered Daisy, was playing tricks—stealing things and putting them back, etc. It seemed Emory was doomed to stay on the drugs!

DeMuth has created a wonderful cast of characters, merging racial differences in such a way that you know those differences mean little in the scheme of things. Some quietly bring food to Emory, her boss cares for and gives her time when she needed it and, because of Hixon and God’s promise, she was being provided a home for her future. God surely does work in mysterious ways!

I won’t say that I enjoyed the ending. However, A Slow Burn by Mary E. DeMuth is a beautiful story of love, forgiveness and redemption like no other. DeMuth certainly writes to explain clearly that God does indeed have a personal plan for us and that He takes personal interest to ensure His children come home to Him! An amazing story that must be read!

G. A. Bixler
For Amazon Vine