entertainment | BOOKS
STRENGTH &SUPPORT FOR THE YOUNG MOM by e va h e a d l e y
author tricia goyer’s new book seeks to help encourage teenage mothers Tricia Goyer knows what it’s like to be a teenage mother, and she’s using her wisdom to share with women facing the challenges she once overcame. Goyer is an award-winning author who has published more than 30 books, fiction and non-fiction. She has chosen to use her literary gifts to inspire and encourage families and women by opening up her own life to reach out to others. Goyer’s newest release, Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think, is a book of encouragement to young teen mothers who need guidance and wisdom in parenthood. Through Goyer’s personal experience of being a teen mom, she presents inspirational but practical advice that can extend to mothers of all ages. Hope for Women celebrates Goyer’s new release and finds out more about this gift to the literary industry. When did you realize you had the gift to write? When I was 22 years old and pregnant with my third baby, a friend told me that she was writing a novel—this made something spark inside of me. Even though the desire was there, the “gift” took a long time to develop. I attended writers’ conferences and started writing for magazines. I worked on various novels that didn’t really go anywhere, but in 2001 I received my first contract with a publisher. Tell us about your new title , Teen Mom: You ’re Stronger Than You Think. There aren’t many resources out there for teenage mothers, and I wanted to offer one from a Biblical perspective. Personally, my life was changed as a teen mom when a group of women reached out to help and encourage me, and I wanted to do this through the pages of a book. In it, I remind young moms that their love will mold their child’s tomorrows, and they can overcome many challenges when they strive to better themselves, seek support and turn to God. As a former teen mom and mentor to teenage mothers, I’m passionate about this book. I took the nine needs of every teen mom and wrote practical and spiritual advice on how to have their needs met. The needs are Importance, Identity, Growth, Intimacy, Instruction, Help, Recreation, Perspective and Hope. All moms need these things, and often teen moms don’t know how to get them. 34 HOPE | Q1 2015
What is your message to women, (single women, mothers, wives)? Teen Mom: You’re Stronger Than You Think is written specifically for teenage mothers, and I highly recommend it for youth pastors, pregnancy care centers and teenage mother support groups who will find this a great resource. I also encourage women to pick up a copy for the young mothers they know. I guarantee if you have this book on hand, God will bring a young mom into your life to give it to.