LaToya Murchison was born and raised in Southern Pines, NC and started writing poetry as a junior in high school. LaToya found that writing allowed her to be creative and eventually discovered her interest in becoming a published author. After graduating from high school and uncertain of her career path, she attended and received an Associate Degree In Office Systems Technology from
LaToya’s life has been filled with very colorful people and
experiences. With the stress of battling health issues and the loss of loved
ones in her life, LaToya found writing provided her with a source of therapy
and healing. LaToya serves as Media Director and Children’s Ministry Assistant
at Love Grove Free Will Baptist Church.
courtesy of www.latoyamurchison.com
Imani: Welcome to
the Lounge. Let's start off with a simple icebreaker and begin with your
story, just who is LaToya Murchison?
LaToya: Hi Imani
and thank you for having me as a guest in your Lounge. I would describe myself
as being seasoned and I say that because I am a mixture of many different
things. I am a woman of God, a daughter, sister, author, poet,friend, aunt, and caregiver to
many.My passion is helping to build up and inspire others in everything that I
do. My life has not been easy and I have
experience a lot of hurt, lost, pain, and sickness. The one thing that remined
the same is God’s love for me. For most of my life dating back to when I was a
young child I spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals and doctors offices.
They never were really able to tell my parents what was wrong with me. At the
age of 18 the doctors gave me what they thought was a death sentence and stated
that I would not live to be 25 years of age. Little did they know God turned
that death sentence into a life that I am still living almost 20 years
later. My hope is that God continues to
use me as one of his chosen vessels to speak to his people about how good he
is, and that he allows my life to be a living testimony.
Tell us
more about your latest project. What's the inspiration behind this book?
My latest
project is called Poetic Expressions which is a collection of poems that I have
written over the years. Some of the poems are from my own personal experience
and the rest family and friends asked me to write. For example the poem called
Grandma was written on behalf of my sister after her grandma passed a few years
ago. She asked me to write something that showed how much she loved and missed
her. My sister is actually the one that pushed me into publishing this project
because she said they needed to be shared with the world. She tells me all the
time that my heart come out and shines through everything that I write.
Briefly,
explain what makes your book different from the vast choices in the same
genre?
What makes
my book differentbfrom others in this genre is simple. They are my personal
experiences and conservations that I had with others. My inspirational poems
are my personal consetvations with God.
What were
the challenges of writing this book?
The only
challenge with writing my latest book was choosing which poems I wanted to
include in the book. It was important
tomake sure that each poem fix my message and there was something
everyone could relate too.
Everyone has a
testimony and usually, that testimony is linked to some type hope. So, what’s
your definition of this beautiful word?
At the age of 18 doctors stated that I would not live to see
the age of 25. With God’s continue grace and mercy over my life I will turn 37
years old on August 2. Over the past few weeks my health has fallen but the
hope that I have in God is what keeps me going. Hope is knowing that God has
not given up on me and he has allowed me to live far longer than the doctors
quoted to me. Hope is knowing this is just the beginning and not the end. Hope
is knowing that though God’s I am healed and delivered because of his love,
daily grace and mercy.
Tell me your hope in
a few sentences.
My hope is that through sharing my past and present with
others will encourage them to stand tall and walk into their futures knowing
the best is yet to come. My hope is to be able to keep smiling and trusting in
God no matter what I may face. My hope is to keep standing and shining when
others say I should just give up.
Professionally or
personally, where do you see yourself in five years?
In the next 5 year I see myself finally having my non-profit
organization up and running which is called REACH Community Services. REACH
Community Services is a organization that offers help to all persons in need.
It was established with caring people, with innovative programs to empower men,
women and children. We strive to inspire, enable and educate young people from
all backgrounds and circumstances to realize their full potential as
productive, responsible and caring citizens. REACH stands for (Respect*Encourage*Assist*Commit*Hope).
I also see myself as a nationally known author who travels the world empowering
and encouraging others.
Share with us, your
motivating song that gets you going?
I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Kelly Price
A Praying Heart
Excerpt:
Jesus
You woke me up this morning to have a better
day. Instead of praising you I disobeyed you and at times I am not
sure what I am supposed to do. The sound of your name rings in my heart
and I hope that it never stops.
Lord I pray that you forgive me for all my
sins. Forgive me for passing judgement on others. Teach me to have
forgiveness in my heart for those who have mistreated me. As you lead me
to the riverside to leave all of my trouble behind. I look to the future instead
of my past. Thank you for blessing me with the talent to express my
feelings through your loving words. Lord it took me a long time to realize
my gift now that I have I promise to use it to uplift your people. Thank
you for teaching me that I had to fall before I would be able to walk and stand
tall. Lord thank you for being the lover of my soul and the joy in my
life. When I was down you allowed me to sit on your shoulders until I was
able to get up and stand on my own. Lord with all that I am I offer up
this prayer today and every day to come in. You precious name. Amen
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