Author Profile: Sally Meadows
Today I’d like to introduce you to another InScribe friend, Sally Meadows, who is an author and recording artist:
Sally Meadows is a two-time national award nominated singer/songwriter and author. In 2015, she released two children’s books, Beneath That Star and The Two Trees. In addition to 7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers (2015), she is a contributing author to Hot Apple Cider With Cinnamon (2015), Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas in Canada (2014), and Organized Obstacles: An Underdog Anthology. Her two CDs, Turn the Page (2012) and Red & White (2013) each include a song shortlisted for the Canadian national The Word Awards. Sally is a recent empty nester and lives in beautiful Saskatchewan, Canada. You can connect with Sally at sallymeadows.com and https://www.facebook.com/SallyMeadowsMusic.”
Tell us about your upbringing and early memories.
I was born in England to Canadian parents; my father was an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces. I was about 15 months old when we came to Canada. I was the youngest of four for 6 1/2 years until my little brother came along. I have few memories of when I was young, but my strongest impressions are of being much loved by my mother, to whom I was especially close. In turn, I was close to, and took care of, my little brother. I am incredibly proud that my father was in the military, but it was not an easy life for my family; we moved frequently and my father was gone for long stretches of time. My life growing up was definitely tough at times. But it did make me resilient.
Describe what led you to accept God’s gift of salvation. How old were you?
My mother taught me to pray every night before I went to bed, and I intuitively had a personal relationship with Jesus from an early age. But in my teens and early 20s I stopped going to church. Yet God still had a hold of me. During our engagement, my fiancee (now husband) and I started attending a Spirit-filled church which brought me back into the body of Christ. I would say my most defining moment was finally fully giving myself to Christ while pregnant with my first son.
When did you first become interested in writing?
Writing was a passion and strength from when I was a little girl. I won the English award in high school and decided that I wanted to become a science writer, opting to get a science degree rather than going into journalism. My first job after graduating with an MSc was as a scientific editor. After successively running a home-based science education business and then teaching, I decided in 2006 that it was time to do something with my writing. I started with occasional freelance writing while holding down a professional job, then finally left the corporate world in 2013 to focus full time on my writing and music ministry.
How would you define a successful writer?
It doesn’t really matter if you are a bestselling author or write in your own personal journal: As long as you are writing to, about, or giving the glory to God, He is pleased.
What advice would you give a beginning writer?
Start small. Set goals. Don’t look at anyone else’s journey but keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. I have full confidence you will find your own pathway.
Tell us about your current work in progress.
On October 1, 2015, I released my second children’s book, Beneath That Star, about a young Jewish girl who longs to be a shepherdess. When God speaks to her in a dream to look out for and follow that star, what she finds underneath it is of far greater value than anything she could ever have imagined.
I am also working on several short stories as well as two more children’s books. In the midst of all that, I am trying to find time to write songs for my next CD!
How has being a Christian impacted your life path?
Accepting Christ fully, and then moving to Saskatoon, dramatically changed our lives. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be doing the things I am today if those two life-altering events hadn’t happened.
What epitaph would you like on your tombstone?
That I lived and loved well. “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)
If you’d like your own copy of 7 Essential Habits of Christian Writers, you can purchase it at http://mybook.to/ChristianWriters1. Many of the contributing authors are currently participating in a blog hop. I invite you to follow along:
Ruth L. Snyder http://ruthlsnyder.com/blog/ Monday, September 14th
Brenda Wood http://heartfeltdevotionals.com Wednesday, September 16th
Janet Sketchley http://janetsketchley.ca/tenacity-blog/ Friday, September 18th
Jack Popjes http://www.jackpopjes.com/category/blog/ Monday, September 21st
Kimberley Payne http://kimpayne.wordpress.com Wednesday, September 23rd
Marcia Laycock http://www.writer-lee.blogspot.ca/ Friday, September 24th
Steph Nickel https://stephseclecticinterests.wordpress.com Monday, September 28th
Sally Meadows http://sallymeadows.com/blog Wednesday, September 30th
Tracy Krauss http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com Friday, October 2nd
Glynis Belec http://www.glynisbelec.com/blog.html Monday, October 5th