Sisters in Christ ~ Kassie A. ~ March 2019
Happy Saturday, readers! As a special treat today, I bring to you a Sisters in Christ chat. This month's guest is Kassie from Soldier Girl Stories. Kick back and enjoy—this gal's a treat!
Welcome to the blog, Kassie! Go ahead and introduce yourself. :D
Well, I’m an almost-18-year-old homeschooled Army girl, the oldest sister of three younger brothers, and of course a writer! I have a tabby rescue cat and a therapy-dog-in-training. We’ve lived all over with the Army, but Texas is definitely home!
So since you're fairly new to the blogging community... What inspired you to start a blog?
My mom, really. As my book continued to make its way around and I started interacting a lot more with other indie authors, my mom thought a blog would be a good platform for me. Believe it or not, I actually feel really vulnerable whenever I share my writing, so I didn’t want to at first, but I eventually gave in and I’m so glad I did!!
I'm glad you did too! ^_^ Did you read other blogs before starting your own, or was starting a blog what thrust you into this amazing world we call The Blogosphere?
Besides Ryana Lynn’s blog, I hadn’t really explored other blogs at all—I sort of grew along with my blog in that aspect. I’m learning there’s other Christian writer girls out there—it and my book have opened up an amazing new world to me!
How did you find my blog(s)?
Ryana Lynn’s. 😉 She linked back to Stories by Firefly during the “12 Days of Christmas” blog party and once I read your short stories, I was hooked!
This is a series dedicated to getting to know more about our sisters in Christ, so let's hop over to that aspect. First off, what's your favorite Bible verse, chapter, and book? Why?
My life verse is Luke 10:37: “Go and do thou likewise.” It’s Jesus’ command at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan—He commands us to go and be Good Samaritans. My life dream is to be a medic and I feel like that verse (and parable in general) really speaks to that.
Chapter...probably Romans 8. I memorized it on my own just for fun when I was 13 and looking back I am so glad I did.
Book...it’s so hard to choose! I think I’d have to say Psalms, though. Seeing David pouring out his heart is a good reminder that God wants us to do the same.
What Bible verse(s) have really helped you through some rough times?
Romans 8. 😉 Like I said, I’m really glad I memorized it. It has some really powerful verses all in one chapter—NOTHING can separate us from our Lord and His love. Nothing!
What is one event in your life that really strengthened your Christian walk?
My dad’s last deployment, although I wouldn’t‘ve told you that then. We always say that everything that can possibly go wrong will do so, but only during a deployment, and that was so painfully true this last time. Everything from getting stitches to losing loved ones. We’d only been back in the States for two months after being stationed in Japan, and he wasn’t supposed to be able to deploy from that post, but he did. We were the odd ones out and didn’t have the support group we were used to during deployments, and we were the only military family in the church we were attending. In the midst of it all I sort of said, I thought God was good but this doesn’t look like it. I didn’t want to, but I did. But in spite of myself, God really came through for me and proved to me that He can be trusted, and I love Him for it!
Oh, wow. That's an amazing story. <3
Any Bible reading tips?
Read first thing in the morning or you’ll probably forget—at least in my case. 😉 Also, don’t just read to check a box. If you have a long chapter on a busy day and you’re trying to read fast just to say you’ve read, stop and read a shorter chapter that you can pay attention to and appreciate. It’s better to have read less and have something to carry away than to check a box and have it go in one ear and out the other.
And, of course, the reading and writing segment! On a scale of 1-10, how much of a reader would you consider yourself?
Probably 10!! I’m always reading. I’m the girl who will bring two books somewhere in case I finish the first one!
Same though! What about a writer?
Can I say 10 on both? I don’t think I could live if I couldn’t write. For as long as I can remember I’ve always written in my head, even if I can’t be at the computer at the moment. We all still laugh about the time when I was about 8, we were all in the truck coming back from church, passed a skunk dead on the side of the road, and I yelled out, “‘A skunk!’ she said!” 😂 When I was little I was huge on imaginary friends; I’d be the first to tell you my story characters are some of my best friends!
Where's your favorite place to read and/or write?
On my bed or on our front porch swing, it just depends!
Ahhh, I adore porch swings... What's your favorite author(s)? Favorite books by them?
Way to torture a reader! 😉 Corrie ten Boom (The Hiding Place), Douglas Bond (War in the Wasteland and Hammer of the Huguenots), the Castleberry Family (the Farm Mystery Series)...that’s only a few...how do I pick?
What are some books that really impacted your young life?
Now that one I do know! Pilgrim’s Progress, The Hiding Place, Janet and Geoff Benge’s book on Nate Saint, and End of the Spear. Pilgrim’s Progress was the first “real” chapter book our mom read to us and that’s a story all its own. My brother says that my heart for heroes who are killed for their cause comes from loving Faithful so much as a little kid. My mom read The Hiding Place aloud to the whole family in one night while we were traveling, and it encouraged and moved us in so many ways. And Nate Saint and Mincaye (the Indian who killed him who later became a Christian) are honestly one of the main reasons I want to be a missionary, especially to the hard places of the world. My mom says she should’ve expected it, reading us all those books growing up!
Nate Saint! We read several of the Benge books for school readalouds, and we were all crying by the end of that one...
Alrighty, a few final random questions... If you had to use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?
Army. 😉 Does that count? The Army has shaped who I am in so very many ways; I forget that some things I do are so Army-ish. I can’t imagine who I would’ve been outside of an Army environment.
Any pet peeves?
Likewise, Army-related things! Mostly folks who don’t understand and/or don’t respect our military or our country as much as they should; flags flown at the same height as the American flag (except for Texas’s flag, which is allowed to—in that case, people who fly the TX flag lower than the American!), people who treat Memorial Day as any other day, stuff like that.
Favorite songs?
My all-time favorite song is “Where Joy and Sorrow Meet.” I don’t know who wrote it; it was made popular by Avalon, but I don’t like their arrangement because they make it sound too contemporary for me. 😉 However, my favorite genres are country and country gospel, and within those my favorite songs are “Travelin’ Soldier” and “July in Cheyenne” for country, "Blood Bought my Freedom” and Brad Paisley’s “When We All Get to Heaven.”” for country gospel. (I should caveat that I do not agree with the ideals of the Dixie Chicks, who sing “Travelin’ Soldier,” but they’re the only ones who sing it, and the song itself is beautiful and spot-on...)
Anything else to add? Goals for the rest of this year?
Definitely to make significant progress on my WIP, Tattered Wings. If I write a thousand words each week, I’ll have it finished early next year! Otherwise, to continue volunteer work at the hospital, take a missions trip, get our local bookstore to sell O to be Like Thee, and maybe ride in our rodeo (it’s a collegiate rodeo, so we’ll see if they’ll let me in since I’m not a college student...pray for me 😉).
Also, today is Texas Independence Day!! *huge round of applause for the Lone Star State* Don’t mess with Texas!!
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
Welcome to the blog, Kassie! Go ahead and introduce yourself. :D
Well, I’m an almost-18-year-old homeschooled Army girl, the oldest sister of three younger brothers, and of course a writer! I have a tabby rescue cat and a therapy-dog-in-training. We’ve lived all over with the Army, but Texas is definitely home!
So since you're fairly new to the blogging community... What inspired you to start a blog?
My mom, really. As my book continued to make its way around and I started interacting a lot more with other indie authors, my mom thought a blog would be a good platform for me. Believe it or not, I actually feel really vulnerable whenever I share my writing, so I didn’t want to at first, but I eventually gave in and I’m so glad I did!!
I'm glad you did too! ^_^ Did you read other blogs before starting your own, or was starting a blog what thrust you into this amazing world we call The Blogosphere?
Besides Ryana Lynn’s blog, I hadn’t really explored other blogs at all—I sort of grew along with my blog in that aspect. I’m learning there’s other Christian writer girls out there—it and my book have opened up an amazing new world to me!
How did you find my blog(s)?
Ryana Lynn’s. 😉 She linked back to Stories by Firefly during the “12 Days of Christmas” blog party and once I read your short stories, I was hooked!
This is a series dedicated to getting to know more about our sisters in Christ, so let's hop over to that aspect. First off, what's your favorite Bible verse, chapter, and book? Why?
My life verse is Luke 10:37: “Go and do thou likewise.” It’s Jesus’ command at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan—He commands us to go and be Good Samaritans. My life dream is to be a medic and I feel like that verse (and parable in general) really speaks to that.
Chapter...probably Romans 8. I memorized it on my own just for fun when I was 13 and looking back I am so glad I did.
Book...it’s so hard to choose! I think I’d have to say Psalms, though. Seeing David pouring out his heart is a good reminder that God wants us to do the same.
What Bible verse(s) have really helped you through some rough times?
Romans 8. 😉 Like I said, I’m really glad I memorized it. It has some really powerful verses all in one chapter—NOTHING can separate us from our Lord and His love. Nothing!
What is one event in your life that really strengthened your Christian walk?
My dad’s last deployment, although I wouldn’t‘ve told you that then. We always say that everything that can possibly go wrong will do so, but only during a deployment, and that was so painfully true this last time. Everything from getting stitches to losing loved ones. We’d only been back in the States for two months after being stationed in Japan, and he wasn’t supposed to be able to deploy from that post, but he did. We were the odd ones out and didn’t have the support group we were used to during deployments, and we were the only military family in the church we were attending. In the midst of it all I sort of said, I thought God was good but this doesn’t look like it. I didn’t want to, but I did. But in spite of myself, God really came through for me and proved to me that He can be trusted, and I love Him for it!
Oh, wow. That's an amazing story. <3
Any Bible reading tips?
Read first thing in the morning or you’ll probably forget—at least in my case. 😉 Also, don’t just read to check a box. If you have a long chapter on a busy day and you’re trying to read fast just to say you’ve read, stop and read a shorter chapter that you can pay attention to and appreciate. It’s better to have read less and have something to carry away than to check a box and have it go in one ear and out the other.
And, of course, the reading and writing segment! On a scale of 1-10, how much of a reader would you consider yourself?
Probably 10!! I’m always reading. I’m the girl who will bring two books somewhere in case I finish the first one!
Same though! What about a writer?
Can I say 10 on both? I don’t think I could live if I couldn’t write. For as long as I can remember I’ve always written in my head, even if I can’t be at the computer at the moment. We all still laugh about the time when I was about 8, we were all in the truck coming back from church, passed a skunk dead on the side of the road, and I yelled out, “‘A skunk!’ she said!” 😂 When I was little I was huge on imaginary friends; I’d be the first to tell you my story characters are some of my best friends!
Where's your favorite place to read and/or write?
On my bed or on our front porch swing, it just depends!
Ahhh, I adore porch swings... What's your favorite author(s)? Favorite books by them?
Way to torture a reader! 😉 Corrie ten Boom (The Hiding Place), Douglas Bond (War in the Wasteland and Hammer of the Huguenots), the Castleberry Family (the Farm Mystery Series)...that’s only a few...how do I pick?
What are some books that really impacted your young life?
Now that one I do know! Pilgrim’s Progress, The Hiding Place, Janet and Geoff Benge’s book on Nate Saint, and End of the Spear. Pilgrim’s Progress was the first “real” chapter book our mom read to us and that’s a story all its own. My brother says that my heart for heroes who are killed for their cause comes from loving Faithful so much as a little kid. My mom read The Hiding Place aloud to the whole family in one night while we were traveling, and it encouraged and moved us in so many ways. And Nate Saint and Mincaye (the Indian who killed him who later became a Christian) are honestly one of the main reasons I want to be a missionary, especially to the hard places of the world. My mom says she should’ve expected it, reading us all those books growing up!
Nate Saint! We read several of the Benge books for school readalouds, and we were all crying by the end of that one...
Alrighty, a few final random questions... If you had to use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?
Army. 😉 Does that count? The Army has shaped who I am in so very many ways; I forget that some things I do are so Army-ish. I can’t imagine who I would’ve been outside of an Army environment.
Any pet peeves?
Likewise, Army-related things! Mostly folks who don’t understand and/or don’t respect our military or our country as much as they should; flags flown at the same height as the American flag (except for Texas’s flag, which is allowed to—in that case, people who fly the TX flag lower than the American!), people who treat Memorial Day as any other day, stuff like that.
Favorite songs?
My all-time favorite song is “Where Joy and Sorrow Meet.” I don’t know who wrote it; it was made popular by Avalon, but I don’t like their arrangement because they make it sound too contemporary for me. 😉 However, my favorite genres are country and country gospel, and within those my favorite songs are “Travelin’ Soldier” and “July in Cheyenne” for country, "Blood Bought my Freedom” and Brad Paisley’s “When We All Get to Heaven.”” for country gospel. (I should caveat that I do not agree with the ideals of the Dixie Chicks, who sing “Travelin’ Soldier,” but they’re the only ones who sing it, and the song itself is beautiful and spot-on...)
Anything else to add? Goals for the rest of this year?
Definitely to make significant progress on my WIP, Tattered Wings. If I write a thousand words each week, I’ll have it finished early next year! Otherwise, to continue volunteer work at the hospital, take a missions trip, get our local bookstore to sell O to be Like Thee, and maybe ride in our rodeo (it’s a collegiate rodeo, so we’ll see if they’ll let me in since I’m not a college student...pray for me 😉).
Also, today is Texas Independence Day!! *huge round of applause for the Lone Star State* Don’t mess with Texas!!
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
Thank you so much for having me, Faith!! �� I had a ton of fun!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over! :)
Deletethis was so fun to read ^.^
ReplyDeleteWe're glad you enjoyed!!
DeleteLove these Sister in Christ posts! Welcome to the blogging world, Kassie!
ReplyDelete-Brooklyne
Thank you, Brooklyne! ��
DeleteNice to meet you, Kassie, and welcome to the "blogosphere"! That's so neat that you're an Army girl! Looking forward to checking out your blog. :) God bless!
ReplyDelete~Faith
Thank you, Faith! Hope you enjoy it! ;)
DeleteWelcome to the blogging world, Kassie! Nice to meet you! Loved this post!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Molly!!
DeleteLoved this interview so much! Even though I'm only an army "grandbrat" lol, I felt I could identify with a lot of what you said, dear. I love military culture and I miss living amid the bases so much!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've joined us in the blogosphere!
Thank you so much, Ryana Lynn!! *hugs* Yeah, it’s definitely been a transition...
Delete