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| "I had a very hard time as a child, but I believe that it only made me the strong person that I am today ." |
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Patreesse Jones~ a 37 year old Christian author and publisher, is a new writer to the
Christian fiction stage. She has multiple novels under her belt along with a great number
of other published works. Her writing style has been described by many as a fresh
assemble of depth and encouragement.
But who is she really? At Dirt Road Promises we wanted to know. We wanted to
understand how this young sister journeyed from an abusive childhood to a place where
she now desires to serve the Lord uninterrupted by her past Holding nothing back, she
spoke boldly about life and the consequences of trying to do everything on her own. This
is her story, this is her journey...
As she arrived for the interview, there was such an anticipation in the air. There was no
doubt that God was really going to speak during this appointed time. We both just knew it.
Even before the tea was poured; before the questions began, the conversation ensued.
Yes, He was there and here’s what was said...
Christian fiction stage. She has multiple novels under her belt along with a great number
of other published works. Her writing style has been described by many as a fresh
assemble of depth and encouragement.
But who is she really? At Dirt Road Promises we wanted to know. We wanted to
understand how this young sister journeyed from an abusive childhood to a place where
she now desires to serve the Lord uninterrupted by her past Holding nothing back, she
spoke boldly about life and the consequences of trying to do everything on her own. This
is her story, this is her journey...
As she arrived for the interview, there was such an anticipation in the air. There was no
doubt that God was really going to speak during this appointed time. We both just knew it.
Even before the tea was poured; before the questions began, the conversation ensued.
Yes, He was there and here’s what was said...
"God can take the
worst situation and
make greatness out of
it..."
worst situation and
make greatness out of
it..."
I've heard you say that your childhood was less
than stellar. Tell us about that part of your life. What
was it like?
Patreesse. Well, I grew up in a very poor area of Detroit
Michigan and as a child, I endured a lot abuse. But it didn't
stop there, the abuse and it's effects continued through
my teenager years and even into my young adult years. It
wasn't until I came to know Jesus that I was able to move
beyond the abuse. Not that my coming through makes me
a spectacular person or anything, but I have to admit that
God has bought me from a long way and that he has
blessed me. Even the things that I had to go through have
made me a stronger and better person today.
DRP. You hear people talk all the time about having to
overcome an abusive childhood and yet they find it
difficult to talk open and honest about what happen.
Has it been difficult for you?
Patreesse. No, it hasn't been difficult. And for those that
have been or are going through an abusive situation, I
extend this to them: seek God and He will make things
better. He did it for me...And I'm here to tell you that It
was my only way out...
DRP. It was your only way out. Tell us about that?
Patreesse. Absolutely, you know as a child their was a
time I wished I wasn't even born. Not, just because of
the abuse and things like that, but also because I found
out early on in life that I was born because of a lie.
How crazy is that. To tell your daughter that she was
born because of lie. So, I have always felt inferior.
DRP. Praise God that you didn't allow the lie to lead
you. Sometimes that seems to be the easiest way out.
Did you ever feel that way?
Patreesse. Of course I did. And not only did I feel that
way, but I acted out because of how I felt. When my
mom was young she got pregnant with me and the
parents of the boy whom she got pregnant by sent him
off into army. Now, here's where the lie comes in, she
told another boy that he was the father. His parents
made him marry her and then I became the product of
that marriage. They had more children, but the
marriage didn't last long. My father left the marriage
early on. He made it known to me in many ways that
he didn't appreciate being in that marriage. But, let me
tell you how God will turn to good what the enemy
means for bad...
than stellar. Tell us about that part of your life. What
was it like?
Patreesse. Well, I grew up in a very poor area of Detroit
Michigan and as a child, I endured a lot abuse. But it didn't
stop there, the abuse and it's effects continued through
my teenager years and even into my young adult years. It
wasn't until I came to know Jesus that I was able to move
beyond the abuse. Not that my coming through makes me
a spectacular person or anything, but I have to admit that
God has bought me from a long way and that he has
blessed me. Even the things that I had to go through have
made me a stronger and better person today.
DRP. You hear people talk all the time about having to
overcome an abusive childhood and yet they find it
difficult to talk open and honest about what happen.
Has it been difficult for you?
Patreesse. No, it hasn't been difficult. And for those that
have been or are going through an abusive situation, I
extend this to them: seek God and He will make things
better. He did it for me...And I'm here to tell you that It
was my only way out...
DRP. It was your only way out. Tell us about that?
Patreesse. Absolutely, you know as a child their was a
time I wished I wasn't even born. Not, just because of
the abuse and things like that, but also because I found
out early on in life that I was born because of a lie.
How crazy is that. To tell your daughter that she was
born because of lie. So, I have always felt inferior.
DRP. Praise God that you didn't allow the lie to lead
you. Sometimes that seems to be the easiest way out.
Did you ever feel that way?
Patreesse. Of course I did. And not only did I feel that
way, but I acted out because of how I felt. When my
mom was young she got pregnant with me and the
parents of the boy whom she got pregnant by sent him
off into army. Now, here's where the lie comes in, she
told another boy that he was the father. His parents
made him marry her and then I became the product of
that marriage. They had more children, but the
marriage didn't last long. My father left the marriage
early on. He made it known to me in many ways that
he didn't appreciate being in that marriage. But, let me
tell you how God will turn to good what the enemy
means for bad...
Patreesse. My father remarried and had more
children. He never really concerned himself with
my brother nor with me. I think there was a time
he even regretted us ever being born. Because of
the lies and the child support and things like that.
But here's the good of God, through all of that I
children. He never really concerned himself with
my brother nor with me. I think there was a time
he even regretted us ever being born. Because of
the lies and the child support and things like that.
But here's the good of God, through all of that I
still loved my father and as we've both have grown
older, God has brought us back together. My father
had some trouble with his spine and is now unable to
walk. Even though there was a time that he left me,
God has me now being there for him. One day he
told me that if anyone every asked if their was ever
any good that came from him. He would have to say
that it was me. That made me feel so good. I mean
all those years I felt so bad that I was even born and
now here he is telling me that he was so happy that I
was born. God changes situations; I know he does.
DRP. Look at God. So, Patreese I guess your
journey, as with all of our journeys, began with a
splash. When was it that you began to write?
Patreesse. Two things happened to me the year
that I began to write. I was 14. And I was
introduced to basketball and to writing. The abuse
I experience as a child drew me in to a place of
silence. I was always looking for something that
would allow me to go off and get away from my
situation. Basketball and writing seemed to
provided that for me. It was then that I wrote my
first book and it was called, "the Adventure of
Kevin Carr".
DRP. That must of been exciting to have written
your first book at such an young age.
Patreesse. It was exciting, but then I had an adult
read it and she told me that I had plagiarized it..
Not because she had read anything like it before,
but because she didn't believe that a child could
have thought of it. I was so discouraged and I
didn't write again until 2005.
older, God has brought us back together. My father
had some trouble with his spine and is now unable to
walk. Even though there was a time that he left me,
God has me now being there for him. One day he
told me that if anyone every asked if their was ever
any good that came from him. He would have to say
that it was me. That made me feel so good. I mean
all those years I felt so bad that I was even born and
now here he is telling me that he was so happy that I
was born. God changes situations; I know he does.
DRP. Look at God. So, Patreese I guess your
journey, as with all of our journeys, began with a
splash. When was it that you began to write?
Patreesse. Two things happened to me the year
that I began to write. I was 14. And I was
introduced to basketball and to writing. The abuse
I experience as a child drew me in to a place of
silence. I was always looking for something that
would allow me to go off and get away from my
situation. Basketball and writing seemed to
provided that for me. It was then that I wrote my
first book and it was called, "the Adventure of
Kevin Carr".
DRP. That must of been exciting to have written
your first book at such an young age.
Patreesse. It was exciting, but then I had an adult
read it and she told me that I had plagiarized it..
Not because she had read anything like it before,
but because she didn't believe that a child could
have thought of it. I was so discouraged and I
didn't write again until 2005.
DRP. So a person that should have validated your
achievement of writing a book, simply discouraged you.
And it wasn't until 2005 before you began to again. So I
guess the question begs to be asked, did you ever find the
validation that you were looking for?
Patreesse. No, and in my home validation was just not
something that you were going to get. No matter what you
did right: from playing basket to playing an instrument in the
band. So, I told myself that I didn't need to be validated. I can
do this on my own. Then by the time I was sixteen the first
thing I do is go out and get involved with the first guy that
comes along to make me feel validated. And to be honest, he
was the most unattractive guy that I had ever seen in my life,
but because he kept pursuing and giving me the attention that I
was not getting at home; I thought that maybe wasn't so bad.
Can you imagine that, being with some one just because
they're giving you the attention that you're not getting at home.
See you have to understand I grew up in a very dysfunctional
family and so dysfunctional behavior was what I thought to be
normal. Sex, drugs, abortion, and everything else, I thought it
was just how things were done. How we lived.
DRP. Isn't that the story of many young women who are
looking for validation. How did you ever see God in all of
this?
Patreesse. When I was six, fourteen, and sixteen, I felt what
I knew to be God tugging on my heart. At the age of six;
my Father introduced me to Christ, but my mother was
very much against the Christian lifestyle. So it didn't last
long. Then at the age of fourteen, I wanted desperately to
live for Him, but again my mother's lifestyle made it hard for
me to make that choice. Then when I was sixteen, I felt
God tug on my heart again, but by that time I was involved
in a crazy relationship. But around the age of eighteen, I
knew I needed something better. I remember telling the guy
that I was involved with that I wanted to be a Christian. His
reply, "We are Christians." Read More...
achievement of writing a book, simply discouraged you.
And it wasn't until 2005 before you began to again. So I
guess the question begs to be asked, did you ever find the
validation that you were looking for?
Patreesse. No, and in my home validation was just not
something that you were going to get. No matter what you
did right: from playing basket to playing an instrument in the
band. So, I told myself that I didn't need to be validated. I can
do this on my own. Then by the time I was sixteen the first
thing I do is go out and get involved with the first guy that
comes along to make me feel validated. And to be honest, he
was the most unattractive guy that I had ever seen in my life,
but because he kept pursuing and giving me the attention that I
was not getting at home; I thought that maybe wasn't so bad.
Can you imagine that, being with some one just because
they're giving you the attention that you're not getting at home.
See you have to understand I grew up in a very dysfunctional
family and so dysfunctional behavior was what I thought to be
normal. Sex, drugs, abortion, and everything else, I thought it
was just how things were done. How we lived.
DRP. Isn't that the story of many young women who are
looking for validation. How did you ever see God in all of
this?
Patreesse. When I was six, fourteen, and sixteen, I felt what
I knew to be God tugging on my heart. At the age of six;
my Father introduced me to Christ, but my mother was
very much against the Christian lifestyle. So it didn't last
long. Then at the age of fourteen, I wanted desperately to
live for Him, but again my mother's lifestyle made it hard for
me to make that choice. Then when I was sixteen, I felt
God tug on my heart again, but by that time I was involved
in a crazy relationship. But around the age of eighteen, I
knew I needed something better. I remember telling the guy
that I was involved with that I wanted to be a Christian. His
reply, "We are Christians." Read More...
| "I grew up in a very dysfunctional family and so a lot of dysfunction I thought was normal" |
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