The convent has arranged for me to go to the island accompanied by the reader who the email.  I believe that long before I finished the book, God had already granted me favor and assigned people to me and the book.  What a blessing it is to be sent to the Island by God.  It is truly a privilege and a honor to serve Him in this way and I pray that God will use us mightily there.

Where are you from?

Born and raised in Washington, DC.

When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing when I was about 8 years old.  I wrote out of necessity to survive emotionally.  It was a way of getting my thoughts and feelings out because there was no one I could tell what I was experiencing.  So, I wrote and tore up a lot of stuff--for fear of someone finding out exactly who I was.  A young girl lost and without a clue as to how I would get through my childhood.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? 

Funny but a wee bit sad...my family, friends, and teachers considered me a writer about 35 years before I did.  I was about 46 years old that I even considered the possibility that I, Stanice Anderson, am a writer--always have been--always will be.  Then, to write something that would allow God to get some glory out my life and get it published in spite of my age, became my quest.  My first book, 12-Step Programs: A Resource Guide for Helping Professionals was published when I was 49 years old.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life? 

To answer this question, first I share with you a Webster-based definition.  : tes·ti·mo·ny ; Pronunciation: 'tes-t&-"mO-nE 2 a : firsthand authentication of a fact : EVIDENCE b : an outward sign 3 a : an open acknowledgment b : a public profession of religious experience.  My books, thus far, are my testimony. 

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Creative Nonfiction

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

Tom Fuller and my son, Mike Tucker, Jr.  Tom taught me the importance of story...the craft of story...to show and not tell.  He also reiterated, "Stanice, your readers come to know your characters by what they do.  Teaching me that gave me the creative room that I needed to execute my true life stories.  Mike Tucker, Jr.'s unconditional love and belief in me was like the defibrillator that helped me want to breathe life into my stories; so that the readers could experience the stories for themselves and extract their own conclusions, thoughts, and messages and hopefully pass the experience on to others."

What books have most influenced your life? 

The Holy Bible and Patrice Gaines' book, Laughing in the Dark.  The first helped change my eternal destiny, develop a personal and intimate relationship and daily walk with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  The latter book by my now, friend and publishing coach, Patrice, was given to me by my friend, Tanya, while I was in North Carolina in 1995 with a challenge, "If this sistah can write a book, so can you.  You definitely have a story that needs to be told."

What are you reading now?

Finding Fish by Antwone Fisher.  I chose the book because I found myself announcing during a book signing in front of the Medu Bookstore in Greenbrier Mall in Atlanta, "This could possibly be the female version of Antwone Fisher's story...women overcome too!"  I figured out, "like duh, Stanice, perhaps you should break down buy the book and read it."

What are your current projects? 

Speaking engagements and I Say A Prayer for Me Workshops handled exclusively by Speakers Unlimited (suivance@aol.com), and growing the national 12-Steppers for Jesus! meetings.  More books, upon God's leading.  I don't want to write something just to be writing...it must be God-inspired and Spirit-led. 

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. 

God.  For without God I can do nothing; but with my personal and intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ--all things are possible.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything?  

Yes.  Perhaps two out of the 40 plus stories in the book reveal a decision that I wish to God I could take back.  After reading the book, send me an email at stanice@stanice.com, if you think you know what that might be.  But bottom line, I can't undo what has already been done thus I so glad that even still God, through me telling my story, God has turned it around for my good and those who can relate and thus we all can be the recipients of His forgiveness and healing of the gaping wounds left by such decisions.  Out of the pain came praise and out of the pain came power. What God has done for me--He will do for you--if you but ask--say a prayer for yourself.

--Stanice Anderson