Passion In Writing
Vanessa Davis Griggs (Interview)
by Terrence G. Clark
I believe, out of all the people I have interviewed---author, motivational speaker, and all around encourager Vannessa Davis Griggs, up to now, has been the most passionate.
As we sat at a small table, outside the conference room door, of a writer’s retreat, where she was a presenter, she shared excerpts of her books, life, and history. At times the conversation reached prophetic tones. I bridled my tongue letting her speak squelching the contagious joy that radiated from her spirit to mine. Background and Connections “I was born in a small community,” began Vanessa. "I had maybe a few questions penned but decided to let the Holy Spirit conduct the session. She continued, “Village Springs, Alabama, I right now live in Irondale, which is about eight miles outside of Birmingham Alabama. "In fact, I tell people, that where I now live, if you have seen the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, It really originated, somewhat, from a cafe called Whistlestop Cafe that's about three miles from my house. It’s really close, that's kind of interesting. “Tidbit, my mother told me when she was caring me that for the most part, she read the Bible every day. So I've been under the Word since even before I came out. When I got here, two weeks after I was born, my daddy took me to church in a bassinet. You know, they used those big old bassinets in the old days. So, I pretty much have been in church all my life. Although I don’t like to say the church building, because the church really is in us---We are the church. I've been there. I just had a love for the Lord all my life. I'm a mother of three sons. One of my sons is a Major in the military. He's in North Carolina right now. And I have my other two sons that are doing their thing. |
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"Sometimes we may end up with different challenges. Challenges may sometimes come from our children, our spouses, our friends, or from just growing up---or from all of those things. If we use them in the right way, they can be a tool to a blessing to somebody else. Sometimes, it makes us more empathetic to other people and what they're going through. We know, or at least know what it feels like, allowing us to be supportive of others, giving us what to say.
"I’m a grandmother of five. I have five grandchildren. Two from my son. He married a woman who had two. They have one son together. So they have two girls each and then they had a son. My grandson's name is Jasher, which I think is interesting because my son, who always loved the Lord, got that name from the Bible. It’s from something called The Book of Jasher, of which nobody has ever heard. There’s no information on it. However, in Joshua, you hear in the Book of Jasher. It’s an interesting tidbit.
"I’m a grandmother of five. I have five grandchildren. Two from my son. He married a woman who had two. They have one son together. So they have two girls each and then they had a son. My grandson's name is Jasher, which I think is interesting because my son, who always loved the Lord, got that name from the Bible. It’s from something called The Book of Jasher, of which nobody has ever heard. There’s no information on it. However, in Joshua, you hear in the Book of Jasher. It’s an interesting tidbit.
"Sometimes we may end up with different challenges. Challenges may sometimes come from our children, our spouses, our friends, or from just growing up---or from all of those things. If we use them in the right way, they can be a tool to a blessing to somebody else. Sometimes, it makes us more empathetic to other people and what they're going through. We know, or at least know what it feels like, allowing us to be supportive of others, giving us what to say."
"I used to work for Bell South for 18 years. At some point, I was writing books. I used to write at night and be up to two o'clock in the morning. I would get up the next morning and I would hate that I couldn't just keep writing. So I said something to God---about if he did a particular thing---then I would leave. What I prayed to happen, happened in two weeks, so I keep my word.
"And of course, the company didn't want me to leave. They kept saying you know Vanessa if we change this will you stay. I told them I'm not leaving because I don't like my job. My point is God will direct us to do things. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to us. Right now, I'm in a season of him having me in a particular place. I'm like going okay, I don't understand what this is about, but I’ll be obedient. I know he's going to use that in some way. One of my favorite scriptures and stories, I always share---is of Joseph, the dreamer. I love him.
"It’s in Genesis 50:20, 21, when Joseph is saying that what the enemy meant and what the devil meant for bad, God used it for good. So I'm saying that sometimes we go through things in life. We don't understand why. We don't know what's going on at that point. We don’t even know if it's the enemy trying to hurt us or to stop us. God would still take that thing and use it for good.”
The seasoned author is not only passionate but prolific claiming over 18 published works. She recalls them all.
“There’s---Destiny Unlimited, Rose of Jericho, Promises Beyond Jordan, Wings of Grace, Blessed Trinity, Strongholds, If Memory Serves, Practicing What You Preach, Goodness and Mercy, The Truth Is The Light, The Other Side Of Goodness, The Other Side of Dare, The Other Side Of Divine. Ray Of Hope. Redeeming Waters, Forever Soul Ties. I also have two e-books that are out exclusively as e-books. They are Countless Blessings and Steely Gray. I also wrote ten devotionals that were in a Sisters In Faith King James Version Bible.
"Beyond the books was the next question. I wanted to know what it was that motivated Ms. Briggs. I knew that some authors struggle with their first and are extremely content if they have published a second.
"And of course, the company didn't want me to leave. They kept saying you know Vanessa if we change this will you stay. I told them I'm not leaving because I don't like my job. My point is God will direct us to do things. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to us. Right now, I'm in a season of him having me in a particular place. I'm like going okay, I don't understand what this is about, but I’ll be obedient. I know he's going to use that in some way. One of my favorite scriptures and stories, I always share---is of Joseph, the dreamer. I love him.
"It’s in Genesis 50:20, 21, when Joseph is saying that what the enemy meant and what the devil meant for bad, God used it for good. So I'm saying that sometimes we go through things in life. We don't understand why. We don't know what's going on at that point. We don’t even know if it's the enemy trying to hurt us or to stop us. God would still take that thing and use it for good.”
The seasoned author is not only passionate but prolific claiming over 18 published works. She recalls them all.
“There’s---Destiny Unlimited, Rose of Jericho, Promises Beyond Jordan, Wings of Grace, Blessed Trinity, Strongholds, If Memory Serves, Practicing What You Preach, Goodness and Mercy, The Truth Is The Light, The Other Side Of Goodness, The Other Side of Dare, The Other Side Of Divine. Ray Of Hope. Redeeming Waters, Forever Soul Ties. I also have two e-books that are out exclusively as e-books. They are Countless Blessings and Steely Gray. I also wrote ten devotionals that were in a Sisters In Faith King James Version Bible.
"Beyond the books was the next question. I wanted to know what it was that motivated Ms. Briggs. I knew that some authors struggle with their first and are extremely content if they have published a second.
“There was one book that I wrote called Strongholds. God told me as I was coming back from Atlanta after a speaking conference. God told me, ‘I want you to write a book. He said I want you to name it Strongholds. He said but I don't want you to come at it from a sin standpoint. I want you to come at it from a stronghold standpoint. They seem like they should be the same.
"But what he showed me---I have eight characters that are dealing with their own strongholds. There’s somebody who's dealing with weight---somebody with gambling, somebody with pornography. But you also have somebody who’s in church and they think they're better than everybody. They’re so churchy that they almost turn folks away. There is one person who worked too much. Even though we'll ask is that a sin, you can say it is not a good thing. In fact, he was neglecting his family.
"Sometimes, we'll have things that may not be necessarily a sin, but it's a stronghold because it's keeping us from reaching the height that God has for us. It’s about getting rid of those strongholds, casting down imaginations. Sometimes it is really the least of things that are keeping us from what God would have us to soar. So he asked me to write that.
"There was another book that he had me to write. It was funny because people don't realize when God tells me to do something. I do have dialogue with him. Sometimes people go---‘Oh you can't question God. When you pray---prayer is not only us telling God, it is him talking to us. We have this conversation because he's my Father. And just like my earthly father, if I go to my earthly father, I'm like dad let me ask you this. And he's telling me something. I asked, I don't necessarily understand why you want me to do that. So in that case with God, sometimes he will tell me to do something. And in this case, he said I want you to write a book.
"But what he showed me---I have eight characters that are dealing with their own strongholds. There’s somebody who's dealing with weight---somebody with gambling, somebody with pornography. But you also have somebody who’s in church and they think they're better than everybody. They’re so churchy that they almost turn folks away. There is one person who worked too much. Even though we'll ask is that a sin, you can say it is not a good thing. In fact, he was neglecting his family.
"Sometimes, we'll have things that may not be necessarily a sin, but it's a stronghold because it's keeping us from reaching the height that God has for us. It’s about getting rid of those strongholds, casting down imaginations. Sometimes it is really the least of things that are keeping us from what God would have us to soar. So he asked me to write that.
"There was another book that he had me to write. It was funny because people don't realize when God tells me to do something. I do have dialogue with him. Sometimes people go---‘Oh you can't question God. When you pray---prayer is not only us telling God, it is him talking to us. We have this conversation because he's my Father. And just like my earthly father, if I go to my earthly father, I'm like dad let me ask you this. And he's telling me something. I asked, I don't necessarily understand why you want me to do that. So in that case with God, sometimes he will tell me to do something. And in this case, he said I want you to write a book.
"Sometimes, we'll have things that may not be necessarily a sin, but it's a stronghold because it's keeping us from reaching the height that God has for us. It’s about getting rid of those strongholds, casting down imaginations. Sometimes it is really the least of things that are keeping us from what God would have us to soar. So he asked me to write that."
An Assignment of Introspect and Deliverance
"And it was going to be Practicing What You Preach. What most people noticed about me, in my books, I never had a character who was divorced. I mean you never saw it. Somebody asked me, they said, ‘do you have a problem with it?’
"If you know anything about the Bible, you will see that there were scriptures that kind of speak on divorce. Well here's my thing. You had people trying to explain what that really means and if it doesn't mean that then what does mean? All I knew was what the Scriptures said and what it said was very clear.
"God said to me that there are a lot of people in bondage. There are some people who read the scripture and say, ‘well he hadn't committed adultery on me.' But they're getting their head beat in. They're staying in there. There are some people who have divorced, but they say, they can't remarry because their ex is still living. They believe, if they do, they’ll be committing adultery.
"When I got home, God said to me that there are people that are in bondage right now. He has someone for them and they won't even go. Now here is my conversation with God. You can see where I was when he said I want you to write a book. And, he told me what he wanted me to write.
"I said, God unless you can show me, I will be the main person arguing against this book. I read the scripture. I see what it said. So that was why I wouldn't touch certain things. Still, you did have some people who were being beaten in the head and just staying in that marriage because they refused to commit adultery. So he had me turn to Leviticus. He said go here. He started to direct me to these various scriptures. When he finished, needless to say, I wrote the book.
"What was funny, when I wrote the book, it was the first book out of all of them that ended up in large print. There usually are different formats---like audiobooks or e-books. However, I had never had a book that a publisher picked to do a large print edition. I started laughing because it was the one that God told me exactly what to write down.”
Vannessa admitted in her former studies; she only read the red verses, where Jesus was speaking and never took into account the other connecting scriptures on divorce. Now highlighting her research, writing, and assignment from God, she clarified.
“God had me bring out that Jesus was walking at the time of the Old Testament. The New Testament didn’t begin until after he died and rose. The Law, old rules, and everything that we're talking about are Old Testament. In the Old Testament, they have a law. If you committed adultery, you would be stoned to death. If you're stoned to death, who gets a divorce from somebody who just got stoned---Right. There's no reason to.
"So when I wrote this story, there was this man who actually taught the whole thing. Everything that God showed me. He hunted me down and found me, to tell me, ‘I want to thank you for that book.’ He had been divorced and didn’t want to remarry, because he felt like he would be committing adultery, while they were living. He said he now felt free enough to move forward."
"And it was going to be Practicing What You Preach. What most people noticed about me, in my books, I never had a character who was divorced. I mean you never saw it. Somebody asked me, they said, ‘do you have a problem with it?’
"If you know anything about the Bible, you will see that there were scriptures that kind of speak on divorce. Well here's my thing. You had people trying to explain what that really means and if it doesn't mean that then what does mean? All I knew was what the Scriptures said and what it said was very clear.
"God said to me that there are a lot of people in bondage. There are some people who read the scripture and say, ‘well he hadn't committed adultery on me.' But they're getting their head beat in. They're staying in there. There are some people who have divorced, but they say, they can't remarry because their ex is still living. They believe, if they do, they’ll be committing adultery.
"When I got home, God said to me that there are people that are in bondage right now. He has someone for them and they won't even go. Now here is my conversation with God. You can see where I was when he said I want you to write a book. And, he told me what he wanted me to write.
"I said, God unless you can show me, I will be the main person arguing against this book. I read the scripture. I see what it said. So that was why I wouldn't touch certain things. Still, you did have some people who were being beaten in the head and just staying in that marriage because they refused to commit adultery. So he had me turn to Leviticus. He said go here. He started to direct me to these various scriptures. When he finished, needless to say, I wrote the book.
"What was funny, when I wrote the book, it was the first book out of all of them that ended up in large print. There usually are different formats---like audiobooks or e-books. However, I had never had a book that a publisher picked to do a large print edition. I started laughing because it was the one that God told me exactly what to write down.”
Vannessa admitted in her former studies; she only read the red verses, where Jesus was speaking and never took into account the other connecting scriptures on divorce. Now highlighting her research, writing, and assignment from God, she clarified.
“God had me bring out that Jesus was walking at the time of the Old Testament. The New Testament didn’t begin until after he died and rose. The Law, old rules, and everything that we're talking about are Old Testament. In the Old Testament, they have a law. If you committed adultery, you would be stoned to death. If you're stoned to death, who gets a divorce from somebody who just got stoned---Right. There's no reason to.
"So when I wrote this story, there was this man who actually taught the whole thing. Everything that God showed me. He hunted me down and found me, to tell me, ‘I want to thank you for that book.’ He had been divorced and didn’t want to remarry, because he felt like he would be committing adultery, while they were living. He said he now felt free enough to move forward."
Characters in Her Books Speak Out
In her workshop presentation, Vannessa revealed that the characters she created in her books would develop their own voice, sometimes waking her up in the night. I asked if any of her characters ever spoke to her concerning the real world.
“Well, what's really funny, said Vannessa, I wrote a book called The Other Side of Goodness. And when I wrote it was almost like the character came in. I had a black guy, who was in Alabama, who was a Democrat. I mean they were normally Democrat. He became a Republican. And then, at the same time, there was a situation where there was a young girl who was in need of a bone marrow transplant. I had to do a lot of research on bone marrow. So, I was writing about two characters, one who was a Republican in Alabama, who's black and the other a girl needing a bone marrow transplant.
"The book came out in July. In June, two things happened. Number one, a senator, whose name was Artur Davis, out of Alabama, who was a Democrat changed over and became a Republican. Number two, at the same time renowned television anchor Robin Roberts was on the air reporting she needed a bone marrow transplant. She’s now telling the story.
"I wrote this book well before all of this happened. Usually, my books are written like maybe eight or nine months before you ever even see them. So, you have this book that's coming out at the same time that all of this stuff is happening.
In her workshop presentation, Vannessa revealed that the characters she created in her books would develop their own voice, sometimes waking her up in the night. I asked if any of her characters ever spoke to her concerning the real world.
“Well, what's really funny, said Vannessa, I wrote a book called The Other Side of Goodness. And when I wrote it was almost like the character came in. I had a black guy, who was in Alabama, who was a Democrat. I mean they were normally Democrat. He became a Republican. And then, at the same time, there was a situation where there was a young girl who was in need of a bone marrow transplant. I had to do a lot of research on bone marrow. So, I was writing about two characters, one who was a Republican in Alabama, who's black and the other a girl needing a bone marrow transplant.
"The book came out in July. In June, two things happened. Number one, a senator, whose name was Artur Davis, out of Alabama, who was a Democrat changed over and became a Republican. Number two, at the same time renowned television anchor Robin Roberts was on the air reporting she needed a bone marrow transplant. She’s now telling the story.
"I wrote this book well before all of this happened. Usually, my books are written like maybe eight or nine months before you ever even see them. So, you have this book that's coming out at the same time that all of this stuff is happening.
"In Redeeming Waters I wrote about Necker Island. It’s in the Virgin Islands. It’s owned by Richard Branson---the rich guy. I have my characters actually go to that island for a wedding thing. It costs a lot of money to go there.
"I enjoy it because sometimes I get to live through my characters. I went back to research. I went to the island all by looking at the videos and the pictures. I was able to go just by studying. So I did a whole lot of research which allowed me to go to the island, as far as I was concerned.
"It was funny what I wrote about my characters. They were in the submarine part. There’s a little submarine that you can go down in and see all the beautiful fish, corrals, and stuff. They had these different cabins. They had these waterfalls and everything. So I had all of them in there. I describe what things look like. There was this lone alligator looking place, made out of this really nice wood that you would go into. So when they had their eating time, I had them go in there.
"Well here's what happened, a little bit after my book came out, probably about a year, Necker Island caught on fire and all of those cabins burnt down. In fact, Branson’s mother was in one of the cabins, when it burned. One of the people stayed, ran in and got her. So he said we will rebuild. It’s amazing. My mom says, every time I write about something, something happens. That’s not a bad thing.
"I enjoy it because sometimes I get to live through my characters. I went back to research. I went to the island all by looking at the videos and the pictures. I was able to go just by studying. So I did a whole lot of research which allowed me to go to the island, as far as I was concerned.
"It was funny what I wrote about my characters. They were in the submarine part. There’s a little submarine that you can go down in and see all the beautiful fish, corrals, and stuff. They had these different cabins. They had these waterfalls and everything. So I had all of them in there. I describe what things look like. There was this lone alligator looking place, made out of this really nice wood that you would go into. So when they had their eating time, I had them go in there.
"Well here's what happened, a little bit after my book came out, probably about a year, Necker Island caught on fire and all of those cabins burnt down. In fact, Branson’s mother was in one of the cabins, when it burned. One of the people stayed, ran in and got her. So he said we will rebuild. It’s amazing. My mom says, every time I write about something, something happens. That’s not a bad thing.
"And so here it is, I capture that island the way it was before the fire. Now this book is still out and they put it out in the mass market. It was out in trade paperback. Anyway, recently when Hurricane Irma came through, she destroyed the whole island again. It is amazing to me because I always feel like this is a place is close to me now.
"Branson went into that wine cellar that is made out of concrete. He and his family decided they were going to stay on the island. They were bunkered down in the wine cellar. When they came up out of it, everything was gone. It was totally destroyed. Sometimes I write about an incident and it's almost like God gives it to me before it happens.”
I understand that her literary characters, summarized, may amount to a collage of thoughts and ideas displaying humanity. I thought perhaps also they may be a place of focus to hear God’s voice contrasted against traditions and bias. So, I wanted to know if perhaps Vannessa’s fictional, but living characters, ever gave her prophetic insight for the real world or the church.
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“One of the things we already know," shared Vanessa. "God is telling us time is winding up. Jesus said he was coming back again. Now there are certain things that we know would have to line up. We also know that nobody knows that day or time. Not even Jesus, he's like hey I'm right there on the right hand, but we know it is at some point.
"Branson went into that wine cellar that is made out of concrete. He and his family decided they were going to stay on the island. They were bunkered down in the wine cellar. When they came up out of it, everything was gone. It was totally destroyed. Sometimes I write about an incident and it's almost like God gives it to me before it happens.”
I understand that her literary characters, summarized, may amount to a collage of thoughts and ideas displaying humanity. I thought perhaps also they may be a place of focus to hear God’s voice contrasted against traditions and bias. So, I wanted to know if perhaps Vannessa’s fictional, but living characters, ever gave her prophetic insight for the real world or the church.
.
“One of the things we already know," shared Vanessa. "God is telling us time is winding up. Jesus said he was coming back again. Now there are certain things that we know would have to line up. We also know that nobody knows that day or time. Not even Jesus, he's like hey I'm right there on the right hand, but we know it is at some point.
"Even if, the world does not come to the end right now, we’re only here for a certain amount of time. So, God told us to work while it is day. So while we're here on this earth looking at the things that are happening in the world, I do believe God when he said John 3:16 ---For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten Son. It means God loved the world. He really does want everybody to be saved.
"He's really given us the opportunity. Some of the preachers and folks have played around. You have folks who are all about the money. We’re not caring about people. It bothers me that sometimes we don't care about the poor. We really don't care about the fact that we're talking about health care. Right now, they're talking about all we want is to repeal health care. They don't really want to repeal health care. What they want is the tax cut. So they're looking for the money so that they can use it to give to the people who already have money. So what they're almost saying is---I don't care anything about all of you people.
"All we care about is let me keep more of my money. But the truth is ‘naked I came into this world and naked I'm going to leave.’ You’re not taking any of this stuff with you. But the truth is you have people who have money and want more money. So we continue to destroy, try to horde, and just get in. We don't care about other people.
'Now I do believe that God does care about your needs. He does care about things that you really do want in life. But the idea of some time ago, I don't care if you have health care because I got mine. Hey, you know it doesn't matter if you get something and you die because we got no money in the end. That's not right.”
"He's really given us the opportunity. Some of the preachers and folks have played around. You have folks who are all about the money. We’re not caring about people. It bothers me that sometimes we don't care about the poor. We really don't care about the fact that we're talking about health care. Right now, they're talking about all we want is to repeal health care. They don't really want to repeal health care. What they want is the tax cut. So they're looking for the money so that they can use it to give to the people who already have money. So what they're almost saying is---I don't care anything about all of you people.
"All we care about is let me keep more of my money. But the truth is ‘naked I came into this world and naked I'm going to leave.’ You’re not taking any of this stuff with you. But the truth is you have people who have money and want more money. So we continue to destroy, try to horde, and just get in. We don't care about other people.
'Now I do believe that God does care about your needs. He does care about things that you really do want in life. But the idea of some time ago, I don't care if you have health care because I got mine. Hey, you know it doesn't matter if you get something and you die because we got no money in the end. That's not right.”
So why are you so passionate about writing? I know people who write. I write. Everybody’s not passionate. Some people write because they have to do. You’re passionate about it...why?
“Mostly because I love God, the author continued, I remember one time I told him. You know there are a lot of people who make a lot of money doing this and it is not necessarily Christian folks all the time. So there's not even a case. I remember telling God one time.
"God if I wanted to write for the world, I could, you know. I could make it doing that. And this is what God said to me. And, It wasn’t that I was going to do it. I was just trying to tell him---I'm here doing what he would have me to do. What he said to me was ‘how does that uplift the kingdom.’
"So for me, the passion is a gift God gave me. He gave me the gift of encouragement. He gave me a mouth. He gave me that where I'm not scared. I don't care who you are. I can talk to you. I don't mind talking and getting excited because this is what God gave me to do---to encourage you. I know sometimes you get beat down. And, I know sometimes things hurt. I know sometimes you want to quit.
God’s Cheerleader
"I wrote that one time, they call me God's cheerleader. God told me that. He gave me that one time. I was saying, Lord, I remember when we integrated. I was trying to be a cheerleader. They said I was too dark. They didn’t want a black cheerleader. So I never got to be a cheerleader. Although I was good and I really could have done it. One day I was doing a writer's conference. It was a Southern Christian writer's conference in Tuscaloosa. Probably about 290 people attended. About 280 of them were white and the rest were black. So that's about maybe ten people that were black. God tells me, on this particular day, before I go out there, I was the keynote speaker that day.
“Mostly because I love God, the author continued, I remember one time I told him. You know there are a lot of people who make a lot of money doing this and it is not necessarily Christian folks all the time. So there's not even a case. I remember telling God one time.
"God if I wanted to write for the world, I could, you know. I could make it doing that. And this is what God said to me. And, It wasn’t that I was going to do it. I was just trying to tell him---I'm here doing what he would have me to do. What he said to me was ‘how does that uplift the kingdom.’
"So for me, the passion is a gift God gave me. He gave me the gift of encouragement. He gave me a mouth. He gave me that where I'm not scared. I don't care who you are. I can talk to you. I don't mind talking and getting excited because this is what God gave me to do---to encourage you. I know sometimes you get beat down. And, I know sometimes things hurt. I know sometimes you want to quit.
God’s Cheerleader
"I wrote that one time, they call me God's cheerleader. God told me that. He gave me that one time. I was saying, Lord, I remember when we integrated. I was trying to be a cheerleader. They said I was too dark. They didn’t want a black cheerleader. So I never got to be a cheerleader. Although I was good and I really could have done it. One day I was doing a writer's conference. It was a Southern Christian writer's conference in Tuscaloosa. Probably about 290 people attended. About 280 of them were white and the rest were black. So that's about maybe ten people that were black. God tells me, on this particular day, before I go out there, I was the keynote speaker that day.
"So for me, the passion is a gift God gave me. He gave me the gift of encouragement. He gave me a mouth. He gave me that where I'm not scared. I don't care who you are. I can talk to you. I don't mind talking and getting excited because this is what God gave me to do---to encourage you. I know sometimes you get beat down. And, I know sometimes things hurt. I know sometimes you want to quit."
"He said you may not have ever been a cheerleader with them. He said you’re my cheerleader. So it’s for me, to being able to come out and say to you---you can do it. You can do it. You can. You can. You know it. You can do all things through Christ which strengthens you.
"I say either you believe there is a God or you don't. There is no in-between way. Either you do or you don't. Either you believe God loves you or you don't. Now, if you believe God loves you, you have to say even the stuff that's happening around me. I can say he does. He knows what's going on here. Does he love me? Well, then I know, he can work that out.
"So the passion for me is to have the gift that God gave me. It’s knowing that I'm reaching people that I may never see. He’s taken my books to places that I can't go. When you hear a young girl, who's 16 years old. A white girl, out of New Zealand, who writes, asking me to be a friend on Facebook. I accept. As I look and say a minute, she has all of the Harry Potter stuff. She has some vampire stuff. She sent me a request to add her. I'm saying okay, what's going on with that? If she starts something, I say, I’m going to unfriend her. So anyway I added her. She sent me a message. She said, ‘you wrote a book called Ray of Hope.’ She said, ‘that book blessed me.’
"It touched my heart in such a way. She said, I just wanted to thank you and let you know how much that book meant to me. So, in New Zealand, a white girl, blond hair created a Facebook group and she calls it---I wish I had a grandma like Ma Rae. And, I'm thinking, this is my fault. Here I am in Birmingham, Alabama, with black friends who sometimes don't even read my stuff. And then, on top of that, this girl goes out and creates a page saying, I wish I had a grandma like Ma Rae. To this day, from ten years ago, she and I still talk. She’ll send me a note. ‘She says you are so beautiful. I love you so much.' I'm still posting encouraging words on my Facebook page.
"I say either you believe there is a God or you don't. There is no in-between way. Either you do or you don't. Either you believe God loves you or you don't. Now, if you believe God loves you, you have to say even the stuff that's happening around me. I can say he does. He knows what's going on here. Does he love me? Well, then I know, he can work that out.
"So the passion for me is to have the gift that God gave me. It’s knowing that I'm reaching people that I may never see. He’s taken my books to places that I can't go. When you hear a young girl, who's 16 years old. A white girl, out of New Zealand, who writes, asking me to be a friend on Facebook. I accept. As I look and say a minute, she has all of the Harry Potter stuff. She has some vampire stuff. She sent me a request to add her. I'm saying okay, what's going on with that? If she starts something, I say, I’m going to unfriend her. So anyway I added her. She sent me a message. She said, ‘you wrote a book called Ray of Hope.’ She said, ‘that book blessed me.’
"It touched my heart in such a way. She said, I just wanted to thank you and let you know how much that book meant to me. So, in New Zealand, a white girl, blond hair created a Facebook group and she calls it---I wish I had a grandma like Ma Rae. And, I'm thinking, this is my fault. Here I am in Birmingham, Alabama, with black friends who sometimes don't even read my stuff. And then, on top of that, this girl goes out and creates a page saying, I wish I had a grandma like Ma Rae. To this day, from ten years ago, she and I still talk. She’ll send me a note. ‘She says you are so beautiful. I love you so much.' I'm still posting encouraging words on my Facebook page.
"So for me, when you say it's my passion. It awesome that God chose me to do this. He gave it to me to do. How can I not be passionate? I mean God gave me this and he gave me the fire to go along with it.”
I believed I already knew the answer but asked Vanessa the question anyway. How would you categorize your writing and yourself as a writer? Would you categorize it as a ministry, a career, or a hobby?
“We already know the answer it is definitely ministry, replied Vannessa. People sometimes tell me if they hear me speak. You’re a minister. I say the word minister means to serve. And my thing, I'm here to serve you. There’s an adage that says---but by any means necessary. The truth is---right now, I'm trying to reach some people with my Christian fiction writing, which I basically looked at as fiction.”
Vanessa shared that although her works are categorized Christian fiction, they deal with real experiences and the bring salvation into the lives of real people.
“To have a people to write me and say, Because of that book I gave my life to the Lord. They told me I grew up in church. I was a preacher’s son. I went away. But when I read your book, it was something in it that resonated with me, and then I rededicated my life to the Lord. I thank the Lord for choosing me to do this. And, I tell him.
"I mean I'm in this 'weird place' right now. The 'weird place' is a place where you say---God, I don’t understand what this has to do. But, I know that because God sees more than what we see, He's doing something with it. So I praise him in season. I praise him out of season. I praise Him when things look good. I praise him when things look bad. I praise him because of who he is. He's God...”
I believed I already knew the answer but asked Vanessa the question anyway. How would you categorize your writing and yourself as a writer? Would you categorize it as a ministry, a career, or a hobby?
“We already know the answer it is definitely ministry, replied Vannessa. People sometimes tell me if they hear me speak. You’re a minister. I say the word minister means to serve. And my thing, I'm here to serve you. There’s an adage that says---but by any means necessary. The truth is---right now, I'm trying to reach some people with my Christian fiction writing, which I basically looked at as fiction.”
Vanessa shared that although her works are categorized Christian fiction, they deal with real experiences and the bring salvation into the lives of real people.
“To have a people to write me and say, Because of that book I gave my life to the Lord. They told me I grew up in church. I was a preacher’s son. I went away. But when I read your book, it was something in it that resonated with me, and then I rededicated my life to the Lord. I thank the Lord for choosing me to do this. And, I tell him.
"I mean I'm in this 'weird place' right now. The 'weird place' is a place where you say---God, I don’t understand what this has to do. But, I know that because God sees more than what we see, He's doing something with it. So I praise him in season. I praise him out of season. I praise Him when things look good. I praise him when things look bad. I praise him because of who he is. He's God...”
Unbeknownst to her, Vannessa’s last comment took us to our last question. I had two more. I asked the Voice of One question of who was Jesus to and in the life of Vannessa Davis Briggs.
The Jesus Question
“He is my Savior," quickly replied the author and minister. She paused a few moments as the tears began to roll. The passion took another form.
“Goodness, said Vanesa attempting to regain composure, this is a good question. He loves me so much that he gave me his life. There’s no greater love. People say sometimes, 'nobody loves me.' It's just knowing that somebody loved you. He didn't even know you and he gave his life. Who would not serve somebody who loves you that much? He is the son of the Living God. Now we've become heirs and joint heirs. So I am in the family.”
I interrupted her tears and infectious joy to sneak in a final question for the day’s interview. Out of all the books you've written, which one speaks to you the most, I asked?
“Oh. It’s funny. I don't know why. I probably would say Ray of Hope mostly because I like older people. If you were a teenager, you have thought it was written specifically for you. If you were middle-aged, you would have thought this specifically for you. And, if you were a senior citizen you would have thought it was specifically for you. In it, you’ll see the love of grandmothers who say, ‘I'm not going to lose my grandchild.’ Although they see them going down a wrong path, they just know.
The Jesus Question
“He is my Savior," quickly replied the author and minister. She paused a few moments as the tears began to roll. The passion took another form.
“Goodness, said Vanesa attempting to regain composure, this is a good question. He loves me so much that he gave me his life. There’s no greater love. People say sometimes, 'nobody loves me.' It's just knowing that somebody loved you. He didn't even know you and he gave his life. Who would not serve somebody who loves you that much? He is the son of the Living God. Now we've become heirs and joint heirs. So I am in the family.”
I interrupted her tears and infectious joy to sneak in a final question for the day’s interview. Out of all the books you've written, which one speaks to you the most, I asked?
“Oh. It’s funny. I don't know why. I probably would say Ray of Hope mostly because I like older people. If you were a teenager, you have thought it was written specifically for you. If you were middle-aged, you would have thought this specifically for you. And, if you were a senior citizen you would have thought it was specifically for you. In it, you’ll see the love of grandmothers who say, ‘I'm not going to lose my grandchild.’ Although they see them going down a wrong path, they just know.
"I tell people all of my books have a purpose. I love all of them because they serve their purpose. Destiny Unlimited---is a book that gives you all the keys to success and making things happen. It's the book that when I have sometimes felt like quitting or when I felt like things weren't working, encouraged me to keep going. In Goodness and Mercy---as I said, just the fact of writing a character who I didn’t know, but the Lord knows.
"I like Redeeming Waters---this book is inspired by the story of David and Bathsheba. But it's a contemporary story. I have a mega-gospel recording artist whose name is King David that’s 'd.Avid'. He meets a girl named Brianna.
"I was writing a story, based on a story, that people know, but not doing the easy way out. Most of the time if you're going to do something with David and Bathsheba, you would say, Oh let’s put them in the army. My thing was God what do I do to make this different? Also, the reason I wrote that book because everybody's always talking about David and Bathsheba from the perspective of who was wrong. Like was it really David’s fault or was it really Bathsheba’s fault? After all, she was so conniving. Why was she doing…whatever?
"I said, God, you know because you were there. So tell me, tell me. And, he started giving me information. He said, go back and look at the Jewish customs. The customs tell you why she was outside bathing in the first place. There's a Jewish reason why. Most people don't know that. So it was asking God to direct me and then having him do that. So I love this book. It’s also one of my mother’s favorite books.”
"I like Redeeming Waters---this book is inspired by the story of David and Bathsheba. But it's a contemporary story. I have a mega-gospel recording artist whose name is King David that’s 'd.Avid'. He meets a girl named Brianna.
"I was writing a story, based on a story, that people know, but not doing the easy way out. Most of the time if you're going to do something with David and Bathsheba, you would say, Oh let’s put them in the army. My thing was God what do I do to make this different? Also, the reason I wrote that book because everybody's always talking about David and Bathsheba from the perspective of who was wrong. Like was it really David’s fault or was it really Bathsheba’s fault? After all, she was so conniving. Why was she doing…whatever?
"I said, God, you know because you were there. So tell me, tell me. And, he started giving me information. He said, go back and look at the Jewish customs. The customs tell you why she was outside bathing in the first place. There's a Jewish reason why. Most people don't know that. So it was asking God to direct me and then having him do that. So I love this book. It’s also one of my mother’s favorite books.”
Books To Movies
Have you written any screenplays for any of your books, I asked.
“I have done screenplays," responded Vanessa. "People always asked me that. But, things are not as easy as people think. I mean you want to do it, but you really need to be hooked up with somebody who really does do movies.
"Sometimes producers say they’ll produce your script but it doesn't mean they'll still do it. They can do an option for and never do the movie. Interestingly, about three years ago, there was this lady, who lives in California, who read my books. She was saying your books really need to be movies. It just so happens, she also went to church with a guy named DeVon Franklin. DeVon Franklin, Franklin Entertainment was the executive producer, working with Sony Pictures Entertainment, who produced Heaven Is For Real (2014). He's also done a lot of things with TD Jakes such as---Jumping the Broom.
"The producer told her to have me send a copy of one of my books for review. He told me how to do it so that he would surely get it. Well, I did do that. But, I sent three books and it was at the same time, he was about to get married. Somebody from Sony contacted me and said, ‘You sent three books. Select one, because he doesn’t have time right now to do that.
"I have written the screenplay for a particular book. My hope was at some point it will become a movie.”
To contact Vanessa and obtain her books visit---www.vanessadavisgriggs.com
Have you written any screenplays for any of your books, I asked.
“I have done screenplays," responded Vanessa. "People always asked me that. But, things are not as easy as people think. I mean you want to do it, but you really need to be hooked up with somebody who really does do movies.
"Sometimes producers say they’ll produce your script but it doesn't mean they'll still do it. They can do an option for and never do the movie. Interestingly, about three years ago, there was this lady, who lives in California, who read my books. She was saying your books really need to be movies. It just so happens, she also went to church with a guy named DeVon Franklin. DeVon Franklin, Franklin Entertainment was the executive producer, working with Sony Pictures Entertainment, who produced Heaven Is For Real (2014). He's also done a lot of things with TD Jakes such as---Jumping the Broom.
"The producer told her to have me send a copy of one of my books for review. He told me how to do it so that he would surely get it. Well, I did do that. But, I sent three books and it was at the same time, he was about to get married. Somebody from Sony contacted me and said, ‘You sent three books. Select one, because he doesn’t have time right now to do that.
"I have written the screenplay for a particular book. My hope was at some point it will become a movie.”
To contact Vanessa and obtain her books visit---www.vanessadavisgriggs.com