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Do you ever feel heavy, like deep down in your soul? Life can start to pile up. It’s during these times that hope seems almost impossible to grasp. I know I’ve been there, a lot. Especially over the last year. I started counseling recently and it’s shed light on a lot of places I’ve purposely tried to leave in the dark. As cliche as it sounds, life is a long journey. To go on any journey, we must fill our tool belt with things that will help us along the way. Just this week my business coach and two of her author friends released a devotional called Hope Is…
Just reading the dedication pulled at my heart. “To all those searching for hope. May you find it in these pages. Most importantly, may you find it in the One who is our greatest source of hope.”
Order your copy on Amazon by clicking here.
Who are the authors?
Hope Is… was written by good friends Kristy Ensor, Sue Mohr, and DeAnn Starling. The authors created a group called The Crooked Crown Writing Society in a small town outside of Nashville, Tennessee. They offer support by straightening on another’s crowns when they begin to fall. They wear proverbial crowns because they are daughters of the King of Kings, the Most High God. The group’s primary purpose is to foster creativity and provide accountability for their various writing projects while glorifying God and inspiring others.
I hopped on a zoom with them Tuesday morning to chat more about how this devotional came about. We met for brunch last week on their launch day. It was an honor to spend time with them on their book launch day! Amongst a lot of fun stories and laughter what shined through the most is their passion for sharing a message of hope. This past year they merged their talents together as writers to write a book called Hope is. Written during the pandemic, these ladies just knew if they dug deep enough, they could find HOPE in the midst of chaos. And they did –
Abigail: What past times do you enjoy outside of writing?
DeAnn: I love to travel. None of our family is here, so my husband and I love to do road trips to see them all. Most of my spare time is spent planning how we will get to see all of them. I also love painting. My desire is to do that more!
Sue: I love to read. I have 5 books going right now. I can never get enough of them. Fiction and fact. They inspire me. Take me to far away places. I’ve actually lived out bucket lists that I’ve traveled to, because I read about them in a book. My other favorite thing to do is playing with my 3 grand-littles and hanging out with my girls. They bring me joy and are many times, the inspiration behind so much of my writing.
Abigail: I know you guys love writing. What is your favorite thing to write about?
Kristy: I love fiction, although I’ve written mostly non-fiction for Lifeway, have penned a piece called Monday Motivations since 2013, and the blog for my church. In my heart of hearts, though, I’m a fiction writer, a novelist. I’ve been working on my first novel and have a short story collection called Beneath the Southern Sunrise. I already have a publisher for that. I’ve got them started, I just need to finish! Build some courage + consistency.
Abigail: What do you guys love most about writing?
Sue: There is a story within a story within a story within a story. I love the journey. The challenge to create the characters and flesh out how the story weaves and then ends is so much fun.
Abigail: What do you want to tell your readers?
DeAnn: If you are going to write a book about hope, you better buckle up, hahaha! In the midst of all of this, we have experienced, Covid, the flu, multiple hospital visits, surgeries, births and so much more!
Sue: Yes, God was definitely the author of our lives in this entire journey.
Kristy: Writing this book has been like riding a rollercoaster, filled with highs and lows—just like life. We’ve also had LOTS of laughs along the way. So, I encourage readers to hold onto faith and humor. God and laughter are key in getting you through your circumstances.
“Hope collects the tattered pieces of our lives, stitching them into something beautiful. It gives us courage and strength, lifting us up to a place where we can soar.”
~The Crooked Crown Writing Society
Order your copy on Amazon by clicking here.
What others are saying about HOPE IS…
“Insightful and inspiring, Kristy, Sue, and DeAnn take the reader on an often witty yet always poignant tour of hope.”
~Donna VanLiere, NY Times best-selling author and speaker
“Wow… such a breath of fresh air! Incredibly anointed authors coming together to point us toward a victorious biblical mindset for so many of our real life tensions. This book inspires us to have a mindset saturated in Jesus who is the only hope; a confident expectation of a better tomorrow based on the characters and promises of Jesus. Dive in. Be empowered. Be equipped. Be encouraged.”
~Chris & Holly Brown, Speakers/Authors/Pastors of The Well Church, Columbia, TN/ Radio Host
“Hope comes in many shapes and sizes, too many to count and certainly no one-size-fits all. In the lovely new devotional, from authors Kristy Ensor, Sue Mohr, and DeAnn Starling, hope is served up in all its various expanses. Whether you’re married or single, with children or without, this collection will encourage each woman who reads it to fix her eyes on the only one who provides true hope, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
~Katie Battistelli, Author of The God Dare and Growing Great Kids
“Hope is… an encouraging breath of fresh air during what can be described as a turbulent season for us all. The honest, raw, and gritty real-life stories of endurance and trust in the Lord will indeed bring you hope and lead you to the true source of peace that passes understanding. These gifted ladies will have you crying one moment and belly laughing the next. The perfect devotional for anyone who could use a deep dose of hope.”
~Lyn Carr, MAR/Hospice Chaplain
“Life can be hard, and hope can feel so far away at times. Hope is… offers us reminders that, even in the midst of uncertainty, fear, doubt, and the unknown, we can find peace and comfort in God and the hope He offers. Through sharing their own stories and experiences, our mom, Sue Mohr, and her friends, Kristy and DeAnn, have written a roadmap to search for the hope of Jesus in all circumstances. We are so lucky to have grown up hearing and applying these encouraging words and stories from our mama and can’t wait for the rest of the world to experience her creative wisdom.”
~Amber/Sarah/Julia, EVERLIFE
“A guiding light that illuminates the path through life’s challenges. Messages of real-life experiences that inspire one to hold on to the hope that brings forth the desires of our hearts. Readers feel understood, courageous, and equipped for battle. The writers are real hope dealers.”
~Krista Anderson, Founder & CEO of Healthy On The Go/ESSTAR - esstar.us
Recent Accolades
Number 2 on Amazon in New Releases for Devotionals
Number 15 on Amazon for New Releases for Christian Living
The devotional reached the Top 100 on Amazon in Christian Personal Growth and Christian Devotionals!