A Chat with Laurie Salisbury 

In the middle of a major snow storm on November 21st, 2015, I met an amazing person whom I had only known through an indie-author group on Facebook. Amazingly, we only lived fifteen minutes from each other. We were doing a vendor event at a beautiful bed & breakfast here in my hometown (I have since made that b&b “famous” in I Know The Plans). While we mingled in the beautiful living room, marveling over the amount of snow falling outside, she and I became fast friends. Now, we both serve as president and secretary of our local writers group, called Shiawassee Area Writers. 

Years ago, I featured one of her children’s stories from her He Reigns series in a review. I figured it was time I formally introduce you to the kind, giving, and talented author, Laurie Salisbury. She has written seven beautiful stories about two children and horses. 

So, curl up in your favorite cozy spot with your warm beverage and join the chat with Laurie and myself. 

Welcome, at last, to the Back Porch, Laurie. I am beyond excited to share your writing journey and book series with the Back Porch Readers. 

First, share with us a little bit about your writing journey. 

I believe that writers are born writers. It’s a gift from God. It’s something that grows inside a person until they have to write to get it out. I can’t remember not writing!

 I started my first novel in junior high. Also around that time, my Dad was being cranky while we decorated the Christmas tree. I suspect one of the eight of us kids broke an ornament. That led me to write this: “A Christmas tree put together with glee is the happy home and family.” Not a great start for a writing career, I know, but it was enough to encourage me to keep writing!

It may not sound great to you, but it rings true. And I think you might be right, we writers were born with a story in our hearts like singers are born with a song on their hearts. I never thought of it that way.

I knew I wanted to publish when I was a young teen. While I was raising my family, I wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I wrote stories for my kids, I wrote dramas for church, I wrote church curriculum and policy manuals. I practiced my craft and waited for the right story and the right time.
Reins of Love was accepted by a small publishing house in 2013 and published in 2014. I learned everything I could while I was with them. Shortly after I published  book two, Forever Settled in My Heart, with them in 2016, they went out of business. Thankfully my contract allowed me to take the books back and self publish second editions. I have been happily self published ever since.

Keep this in mind—He Reigns. As you allow Him to reign in your life, He will direct your path.

Amen to that!

Now, lets talk about He Reigns. 

The He Reigns series got its start at Vacation Bible School. He Reigns Riding Camp was Vacation Bible School extreme! Cowboys for Christ came in with real live horses for the kids, and I wrote stories for sanctuary time. The books feature a Bible verse focus for each chapter.

I think that is the most wonderful inspiration.  

 What message do you hope your book conveys to readers?

He Reigns uses horses to deal with heart attitudes. While readers are enjoying a good horse story they will learn about love, forgiveness, hope, and much more. There is an anonymous quote, in the form of a prayer, that encapsulates the He Reigns series.  It goes like this:

“Lord, since you made me, I reckon you can do a better job running my life than me so I’m giving you the reins.”

My heart and my life are dedicated to teaching children to serve the Lord.

Absolitly beautiful. I admit that I am beyond blessed to have a fellow “God seeking mom” like myself to walk this writing journey with. 

Thank you so much for sharing He Reigns with my readers, Laurie. I think there are several who will enjoy them for their children or grandchildren children. 

Readers, please be sure to read more about Laurie and the He Reigns series, then be sure to comment below to be entered in a giveaway to receive a special gift from Laurie Salisbury. 

About the Series

He Reigns

by Laurie Salisbury

Genre: Children’s/Chapter Books for young readers Ages 7-11

From Book 1: Nine-year-old twins Beth and Ben Chamberlain are moving to a home in the country. Beth’s dream of owning a horse could finally be coming true. For Beth, moving is everything she has ever wanted.Ben might be a twin, but his feelings about the move couldn’t be more mixed. Sure, there’s a big yard and a barn, with all kinds of exciting possibilities. But, what if all of Beth’s dreams come true, and the only thing he gets is the short end of the stick? Bad moods turn into bad attitudes and threaten to ruin both of their dreams. The siblings must learn to let God take control of the reins of their hearts before everything is lost.

About the Author

Award-winning author, Laurie Salisbury, lives down a quiet country road in the tiny town of Ovid, Michigan. She lives with her husband Larry and a dog named Spock (a.k.a. Spockie). When Laurie was only sixteen, God called her to be a stay-at-home Mom. She is the mother of nine children, a Nana, and Nana-Great.

Laurie loves to teach children about Jesus. Teaching children to love and serve the Lord is her passion. She was a Sunday School Teacher for more than thirty years and a Children’s Pastor for over ten years. She started teaching Sunday school at the age of sixteen. She continued to teach for over thirty years, teaching infants through sixth grade. During that time she moved from teacher to Children’s Church Director and Children’s Pastor.

There are many ways to serve the Lord, and Laurie and her family have served as a Foster Family as well. They considered it a privilege to share the good news of Jesus Christ with twenty-eight foster children.

Laurie is also an adoptive parent. She adopted three boys through the foster care system.

Laurie also serves the Lord with her writing. She has written Church Dramas, Children’s Stories, Song lyrics, Children’s Church Curriculum, and Church Policy Manuals. She only writes Christian material. Her heart’s desire is to encourage other believers and to introduce anyone she can to her friend Jesus.

Miscellaneous things about Laurie (in no particular order): She loves Opera, especially Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. She hates peas. She loves reading! She reads books, magazines, newspapers, and even cereal boxes, but mostly she reads her Bible. She has read it over and over!

Her favorite book is now, and always will be, the Bible.

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31

Come and let Jesus take the reins of your life. It is an amazing ride! Will you receive him today?

Giveaway