Meet Lisa Dorsey
I love getting the chance to meet new-to-me authors. This interview was one such blessing. Not only does Dr. Lisa L Dorsey have a thrilling split-time debut releasing this month, but she also has a Bible study in the works called The Making of Deborah. I encourage you to check out her website to find out more. Today we’re focusing on her and Petra: An Unbroken Legacy. If you order your copy of her book from www.petraanunbrokenlegacy.com, you will get a personalized signed copy of the book and a free bookmark.
Now allow me to introduce you to this woman who is passionate about God’s word and the stories He’s given her to write.
Dr. Lisa L. Dorsey has extensive experience in business and ministry and is accomplished in academia with two earned doctorates. She developed a passion for reading, writing, theater, and the arts in early childhood. She now combines her expertise, experience, and passions to write compelling stories that reveal the saving grace of Jesus Christ, building a spiritual legacy grounded in God’s Love, Word, and Wisdom. She resides in California with her husband and has four children, one daughter-in-law, and four adorable grandchildren.
Connect with her: Book Website | Author Webite | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Lisa with rapid-fire.
CC: Pineapple pizza or candy corn?
DrLD: PIneapple Pizza
CC: Test the waters or dive in the deep end?
DrLD: Test the Waters
CC: Guacamole or salsa?
DrLD: Guac
CC: Silly hats or silly socks?
DrLD: Silly Socks
CC: Passwords or secret handshakes?
DrLD: Secret Handshakes
I see we have a lot in common. I’d answer nearly identically.
What book has most impacted you?
DrLD: Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar. This was one of the first biblical fiction books I read that impacted me to the point that I became obsessed with this genre. At the time, there were not enough books in this genre for me to devour. I would have to wait months before the next book came out. I would search hours on Amazon and other book sites for similar books. As a result, I now write in the genre I have come to love so dearly. I read voraciously because, at the time, it was my escape from a very demanding life. I would get lost in the biblical stories and characters and learn ways to navigate the stress in my life. It also fueled my love of the Bible, and I found myself fact-checking everything, and as a result, I became a self-made historian.
CC: I love how fiction can really change the direction of our lives. It’s such a beautiful ministry, and how cool that Tessa Afshar’s book was that for you.
What is one book you think everyone should read (aside from the Bible)?
DrLD: A Tale of Two Cities. I fell in love with this book in middle school because of the paradoxes it portrayed. It fueled my love of reading and thinking outside the box and beyond the mundane. Life is not always linear. It’s messy, chaotic, convoluted, and everything is not always as it appears. I began to formulate this concept of multiple perspectives and the best way to describe this is by quoting the Apostle Paul, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. We are each created uniquely in the image of God and I strive to see the good parts of people that show glimpses of our Heavenly Father, even when outwardly they show us their worst.
CC: That is beautiful, and you are so right. Life is not linear, and it can be soo hard. I love that you practice seeing the good parts of people as a reflection of our Heavenly Father.
How have you seen God work through your writing journey?
DrLD: When I retired from the business world I planned to travel the world and enjoy the latter years of my life in retirement. The Lord had other plans. I received the first ten thousand words of my manuscript for “Petra: An Unbroken Legacy” in a series of dreams right down to the names of key characters. There was an overarching theme, or more like a clarion call to bring to the forefront the importance of building a spiritual legacy for our families grounded in God’s Love, Word, and Wisdom. There was a second call to the care of the human soul.
At first, I had difficulty finding the connections to my writing fiction. Over time the connection came like an “Ah ha” moment. I began to formulate character profiles and take key characters through a journey of healing or “soul care” tending to the issues of their heart, mind, and will or decision-making based on the issues that flowed from their heart and thought life. This has been an amazing process because I believe the novel will draw the reader into the narrative and the biblical stories, bringing the Bible alive and off the pages and into the minds and hearts of the readers. The personal trials and journeys of the characters will resonate with the reader’s own experiences of adversity, disappointment, resilience, and hope.
CC: It sounds like God has gifted you not only with a powerful story, but the journey in writing it that has drawn you closer to Him and deeper in understanding.
Let’s go ahead and talk about Petra: An Unbroken Legacy.
“Petra: An Unbroken Legacy” is a gripping tale of intrigue, adventure, and romance, set in a dual timeline that transports you to a realm where history and destiny collide in the heart of Petra. Follow the compelling journey of Kasim and Issa as they navigate a world of ancient secrets, where faith, love, and legacy intertwine to create an epic saga with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Kasim, the inheritor of a profound heritage steeped in first-century Christian tradition, holds the keys to ancient secrets that need protecting. Issa, a renowned archeologist, joins Kasim on a quest to unveil centuries-old mysteries.
Kasim bears the weight of his family’s destiny, wrestling with the conflicting demands of duty, faith, and love. Issa grapples with loss, loneliness, and insecurity and struggles to find her place in Kasim’s world of wealth, power, and prestige. Some in Kasim’s family see Issa as a threat, yet they need her expertise to unearth the lost letters written by the Apostle Paul to the Arab Christians to validate their legacy.
As their journey unfolds, danger and hardships test their love and faith. Issa must have faith in God’s love to sustain her and trust His will for her life. Kasim must learn that trusting in the Lord means leaving Issa in God’s care, even if it means losing her. Together, their journey through biblical narratives and personal trials will resonate with the reader’s own experiences of adversity, disappointment, resilience, and hope.
Purchase your copy at Amazon | Book Website
CC: What about this story drew you to it?
DrLD: There were two interesting historical facts I discovered. The first is the findings at Tel Dan that were made by Dr. Avraham, whose name I maintained as a charcter in the book. There was a stela found during an archeological dig revealing the first evidence of the house of King David from the Bible. Second was the differing scholarly views of what the Apostle Paul did during his time in Arabia. The Bible only states he spent time in Arabia but we do not know what he exactly did during that time. I chose to align with the theory of Dr. Ben Witherington III that Paul had a life in Arabia.