Author Spotlight: Laurie Haughton
By Laurie Haughton
We are pleased to introduce Laurie Haughton. Laurie has recently published Through the Lens of Motherhood with us, which is now available for pre-order through the Word Alive Press Bookstore, and everywhere fine Christian books are sold. We asked Laurie to share a little bit about her writing, and her new book. But first, a little bit about her.
About
Laurie Haughton is a photographer by trade and artist at heart. She travelled the world capturing the beauty in the brokenness before finally settling down in Toronto with her husband. She’d spent many years writing blogs but now focuses on her personal blog called Through the Lens of Motherhood. She has written guests posts for many blogs, including the Context blog for Lorna Dueck, and the Cardiac Kids’ blog. In her blog she has married her love of looking through the camera lens with her gift of writing, and she tells a story of parenting, life, faith, illness, and mental health that is honest and leaves her refreshingly vulnerable. Laurie is the wife of a pastor, the mother of two boys, and an artist in her own right.
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Q & A
Q:What is the greatest lesson you have learned on your journey?
A:Trust. Trust and believe. He is a loving Father not a dictator. I can always trust that he will work all things for the good of the Kingdom. Sometimes that means we lose, sometimes that means pain on this side but thankfully this isn’t where we spend eternity. We have hope in a future without pain and brokenness. I have learned that pain will come, and that God will walk me through it. I can trust him. I can believe in the promises he gives.
Q:What are you hoping readers gain from this story?
A:I put this story out there because God asked me too, it’s as simple as that. I have no hopes for it other than God using it to speak to someone. Even one person finding hope or comfort would be worth it.
Q:Will Joshua ever be cured?
A:No. There are well over forty known CHD’s (Congenital Heart Defects) and each one has it’s own unique mix and variations. They are not curable, they are treatable with interventions ranging from a one time surgical fix or catheterization right up to multiple surgeries through out the life of the child. The numbers for survival have risen astronomically but still, more kids die every year from a congenital heart defect than all childhood cancers combined.
In terms of Joshua, he’s followed closely (every six to nine months)and he will require surgeries in his future. He knows this and accepts it for what it is.
Q:What made you decide to write your story down?
A:I get asked this a lot, and honestly it makes me smile because this book was never supposed to see the light of day. I wrote things down to process them and sort out my feelings about it all, a cheap form of therapy. I also wanted a record of it for the boys to have. I never expected to edit and publish, that was God’s idea.
Q:What would you tell a writer who is thinking of publishing?
A:I think I would say that it’s scary; you are putting your heart out there for the world to see and judge; however you are putting your heart out there to be seen and that’s the most important part. People want to see your beautiful heart so walk through the scary bit, trudge through the editing bit and leap into the excitement. There is nothing quite like holding your book in your hand for the first time and feeling the weight and joy of that accomplishment.
The writing process is so different for everyone, so I am not really feeling qualified to answer questions here about that but I will say this. I wrote in fits and bursts. I wrote the first eight chapters (unedited of course) in one day, then I didn’t write for weeks. It was literally a process, a birthing if you will. It was painful at times, but also healing and a way for God to use my own experiences to speak into things I was going through now. Everyone is different so embrace your ‘process’ and go with it. You will great!
Speaking Engagements
Through the Lens of Motherhood wasn’t released until the end of March, therefore we were mid lockdown and unable to really launch the book yet so I have no dates set up yet. My blog is still updating and though with two kids its not as often as I would like it still gets done. That is where you will find more details about the book as things start to open up again post COVID-19.
The one amazing thing that I have noticed this far is how similar my feelings are around the COVID-19 pandemic and the first few weeks of Joshua’s life. The unknowns, the unanswered whys and the dark clouds overhead all bring me back to that time. I find the book is really resonating with people right now as they struggle with this strange time we find ourselves in and as they read I get texts and emails telling me something that has encouraged them or helped them. God’s timing is pretty amazing.
About this Contributor:
Laurie Haughton is a photographer by trade and artist at heart. She’d spent many years writing blogs but now focuses on her personal blog called Through the Lens of Motherhood. Laurie is the wife of a pastor, the mother of two boys, and an artist in her own right.