Released: In Search of A King - An Interview with Author Andrea Gadson
A fictional story with real family, societal and spiritual impact
by Rev. Terrence G. Clark Chief Editor Voice of One Online
Caleb began packing things. Mimi was confused. They did not normally respond like this. “Caleb, wait. Wait. What’s wrong?”
“Mimi, I think you’re a nice girl. A smart one too.” He stopped packing and looked at her. “But you don’t have to try so hard to get friends, especially boyfriends.” He continued packing and when he was done, he stopped at the door. “You don’t have to do this to yourself.” He walked out.
(excerpt from Released: In Search Of A King---Andrea Gadson)
Jo-Jo, Bobby, Caleb, Tate, Xavier, just a few of the boys and men that were in and out of Mimi Combs’ life. Although, none left a mark on her like Joe Combs. All these male figures would affect her finally finding herself bowed before the one who would be the true king and love of her life.
In ways that she is like me, says Andrea, the experience that she had emotionally. There were days I considering killing myself. There were times that my self-esteem was so low. I put myself in situations where I look back today I’m like---what the heck was I thinking.
by Rev. Terrence G. Clark Chief Editor Voice of One Online
Caleb began packing things. Mimi was confused. They did not normally respond like this. “Caleb, wait. Wait. What’s wrong?”
“Mimi, I think you’re a nice girl. A smart one too.” He stopped packing and looked at her. “But you don’t have to try so hard to get friends, especially boyfriends.” He continued packing and when he was done, he stopped at the door. “You don’t have to do this to yourself.” He walked out.
(excerpt from Released: In Search Of A King---Andrea Gadson)
Jo-Jo, Bobby, Caleb, Tate, Xavier, just a few of the boys and men that were in and out of Mimi Combs’ life. Although, none left a mark on her like Joe Combs. All these male figures would affect her finally finding herself bowed before the one who would be the true king and love of her life.
In ways that she is like me, says Andrea, the experience that she had emotionally. There were days I considering killing myself. There were times that my self-esteem was so low. I put myself in situations where I look back today I’m like---what the heck was I thinking.
Hindsight, they say, is always 20/20. You go---what on earth was on my mind? There’s the emotional impact that being sexually abused can have on you, where you feel, I did something wrong, thinking this happened because of me. Those are some of the ways I can relate to Mimi. The other ways that this story unfolds is uniquely Mimi’s?
Andrea Gadson was relaxed and poised during the interview. She was a free woman sharing her story of abuse and deliverance. Her pulpit, her book---Released: In Search of a King. Her parable---Mimi Combs. Her hope---is to help other women and their families overcome and move past closeted secrets.
Andrea is a native Philly girl now living in South Jersey. A successful, newly published, black, Christian author with her day job in technology as an administrator and teacher. She worked on the book over three years. Only changing the title right before publications to expand the audience and help more people---Letters To My Molesters the original thought.
It’s a dressed up autobiography, I thought. Andrea stories, mixed with those of others highlighted with unique encounters from Mimi. I could hear her freedom articulated in her voice pausing between questions with a smile and peace declaring sighs. At the same time, her conversation still voiced ongoing healing. Hers began with forgiveness to her abuser prepped in letters and finally face to face---much like Mimi.
Andrea Gadson was relaxed and poised during the interview. She was a free woman sharing her story of abuse and deliverance. Her pulpit, her book---Released: In Search of a King. Her parable---Mimi Combs. Her hope---is to help other women and their families overcome and move past closeted secrets.
Andrea is a native Philly girl now living in South Jersey. A successful, newly published, black, Christian author with her day job in technology as an administrator and teacher. She worked on the book over three years. Only changing the title right before publications to expand the audience and help more people---Letters To My Molesters the original thought.
It’s a dressed up autobiography, I thought. Andrea stories, mixed with those of others highlighted with unique encounters from Mimi. I could hear her freedom articulated in her voice pausing between questions with a smile and peace declaring sighs. At the same time, her conversation still voiced ongoing healing. Hers began with forgiveness to her abuser prepped in letters and finally face to face---much like Mimi.
“The book is set to help the abused, said Andrea. There is a supporting workbook that guides those who have been abused to deliverance and healing, by writing their own letters, like Mimi. She notes that she hopes the books by-product would cause the abusers to stop.
Abuse attempts to derail the God-given purpose of the abused. It also challenges their ability to trust. Often times, those like Mimi equivocate sex to love. As the character finds herself in situations where she should not have been---not having the tools to properly discern true love. There was Mimi’s date with Tate, alone in his apartment. “He was, and had been, saying all these right things to her, says Andrea, but she didn’t give love the test of time, to see if he was really who he said he was.”
Mimi’s story follows a pattern of broken relationships that becomes almost predictable. Her creator allows her to navigate her readers (those from the similar background) to identify and move on to rest.
Andrea is a very creative and expressive writer and has the ability to paint a portrait with words. And although, the subject of her first book is a dark and serious one, it manages to appeal to the Christians Romance novel readers. In my opinion, her work will find success in multiple genres. Her current book is about finding true love after being cheated, hurt, and devalued by sexual abuse. It’s the story of finding deliverance and purpose in the Lover Himself---Jesus Christ. It's finding healing and forgiveness through His ability to restore and make right. You can connect with Andrea Gadson and purchase Released: In Search of the King via her web page (http://surrenderedpen.com/) To read the interview in entirety, click the link here. (full article)
For more information on childhood sexual abuse visit the following organizations websites. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) -- > https://rainn.org/ NSRVC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) -- > https://rainn.org/ Child Molestation and Prevention -- > http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/index.html
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/public/statistics_childSexualAbuse.html
It is reported that one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 (This statistic varies---sometimes reporting 1 in 4 for the girls)There are an estimated 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse Like rape, child molestation is one of the most under-reported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Provided for this article by Andrea Gadson)
Abuse attempts to derail the God-given purpose of the abused. It also challenges their ability to trust. Often times, those like Mimi equivocate sex to love. As the character finds herself in situations where she should not have been---not having the tools to properly discern true love. There was Mimi’s date with Tate, alone in his apartment. “He was, and had been, saying all these right things to her, says Andrea, but she didn’t give love the test of time, to see if he was really who he said he was.”
Mimi’s story follows a pattern of broken relationships that becomes almost predictable. Her creator allows her to navigate her readers (those from the similar background) to identify and move on to rest.
Andrea is a very creative and expressive writer and has the ability to paint a portrait with words. And although, the subject of her first book is a dark and serious one, it manages to appeal to the Christians Romance novel readers. In my opinion, her work will find success in multiple genres. Her current book is about finding true love after being cheated, hurt, and devalued by sexual abuse. It’s the story of finding deliverance and purpose in the Lover Himself---Jesus Christ. It's finding healing and forgiveness through His ability to restore and make right. You can connect with Andrea Gadson and purchase Released: In Search of the King via her web page (http://surrenderedpen.com/) To read the interview in entirety, click the link here. (full article)
For more information on childhood sexual abuse visit the following organizations websites. RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) -- > https://rainn.org/ NSRVC (National Sexual Violence Resource Center) -- > https://rainn.org/ Child Molestation and Prevention -- > http://www.childmolestationprevention.org/index.html
http://www.parentsformeganslaw.org/public/statistics_childSexualAbuse.html
It is reported that one in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 (This statistic varies---sometimes reporting 1 in 4 for the girls)There are an estimated 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse Like rape, child molestation is one of the most under-reported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin (Provided for this article by Andrea Gadson)