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Soul Pitt Writers Spotlight Shines on
Patrice Wade-Johnson
author of “Wisdom Seeds”
Participant in the Evening with the Authors at Dowe’s
- by Bonita Lee Penn
Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing a local author, Patrice Wade-Johnson. Her smile was welcoming, as I immediately felt as though I was in the presence of a long-time friend. One I could be at ease with, share my fears and dreams. A friend who would look into my eyes and see through to my heart. It was as though I was in the presence of a supportive force, all I had to do, was to reach out, and accept her friendship.
SP: Your novel is focused around the sowing of four wisdom seeds: JOY - LOVE - HAPPINESS and PEACE. In the book these were handed down from the grandmother, Nana, to the granddaughter, Danielle. Were these seeds handed down to you? How did you choose these particular wisdom seeds?
Patrice: They were handed down to me but not as seeds. I never had the opportunity to know either of my grandmothers. However, Mrs. Ida Hall was the mother of my mom’s best friend, Marion Lawrence. Marion was more like a sister to my mother, so Ms. Ida took in my mother as a daughter and when she had children, she also took us in as her grandchildren. Even though I grew up in New York City, I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with their family when we would come back for visits during the summer and holidays. When I returned to attend the University of Pittsburgh, they wrapped their arms around me as family. Grandma Hall, knowing I didn’t have a grandmother, would spend time with me, talking about different things in life. The essence of the wisdom seeds were gathered from our conversations.
SP: I loved reading your book, it was filled with familiar locations throughout the surrounding areas of Pittsburgh and Ohio. Through this familiarity it brought me closer to the characters, as they could've been people I met, or I walked past on the street, or sat next to on the bus. I also noticed the career path of the main character, Danielle, somewhat parallels with your choice of career. Is this a coincidence or is your book based loosely on events in your life, or someone close?
Patrice: Some of the incidents are based on my own life. My intentions were to create believable characters, people that could be your family and friends. I have read books about women who didn’t have to work and were able to take off and travel around the world without a care or worry. Well, that’s not the experience of my friends and I – we have to go to work. I wanted the characters to be every day, ordinary people that everyone could identify with.
I also intentionally used personal experiences to bring in life’s realities. I have two brothers, one of which is musically talented, and I understand being the only girl. Like the character Danielle, I had my son before I was married. I especially wanted my young adult readers to get a glimpse of single parenting and the stress it adds to starting your adult life. Even though my dad wasn’t a preacher, his profession made our lives public and I empathize with all children growing up in a ‘glass house’. My insight on being a preacher’s daughter is from having a best friend (when I was growing up) who was the pastor’s daughter.
SP: Your novel’s genre can be categorized as “Christian Fiction.” Through your writing have you found a large reader base for this genre?
Patrice: Actually I have – so far, my largest reader base is Christian women. I’ve been so blessed with being involved and invited by local women’s ministries to present book talks. I also have a growing secular reading base – it’s the story that grabs them. Most women have been or known a Danielle and everyone can relate to family dysfunction.
SP: I read in your bio that you are a founding member of the Sanctuary of Praise and you are involved in women’s ministry. Was it your work with this ministry that inspired you to write the book? What audience base are you are hoping to reach? What would you like the reader to come away with when they read your book?
Patrice: It has a lot to do with my work in the ministry. In getting to know Christian women and the strength that we bring because of the bridges that we have crossed, I learned of many great stories of triumph. People weren’t hearing these and I thought the best way to share them would be to include them in my novel. The journey of all women includes a path where we struggle, hurt, make mistakes, love too much too soon – Christian women travel these same roads. I hope that Wisdom Seeds gives inspiration and lets women know that although we may struggle, faith enables us to persevere.
I’d like the reader to have a picture of this woman who grew up living under the perceptions of being a preacher’s child. Preacher’s children live with the assumption that they must be perfect, they have everything, and they never want for anything. Unfortunately, people often look at them and say, “I wish that was me.” But no one knows what goes on behind closed doors in any family. We don’t know what lies behind the smiles. Everyone has something they are striving towards, everyone has skeletons in the closet, and everyone has something they wish they could change about their family. As the preacher’s daughter, Danielle had to learn how to rise above the pretense, have a real relationship with Christ and learn to grow in faith. She had to learn the significance of the four wisdom seeds her grandmother embedded in her, to carry her through all the things life was going to throw at her down the road. I hope it’s an inspirational story for people – no matter how adversity comes at you, with faith the Christian will persevere.
SP: Also, included in your book, you have several inspirational and positive scriptures from the Bible that interweave with each seed of wisdom. What inspired you to add these verses to the story? What did you hope these scriptures would bring to the story?
Patrice: I wanted to add scriptures that were somewhat common and familiar to the readers even if they weren’t well versed with the Bible so they would be able to receive the principle message from Christ. For instance, I used John 3:16 when talking about love because I want the reader to understand Christ’s love. The scriptures are also strategically placed. My personal testimony begins with Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” When Jason, a character in the book, doesn’t know what to do or where to turn, he turns to God. Most Christians meet Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior when their backs are up against the wall and there’s no where else to turn except to Him.
Matthew 11:28 was the scripture from the sermon Reverend Manual Dillingham preached when I gave my life to Christ at Mt. Ararat years ago. At that time, I felt as though I had everything – I had graduated from college, had a good job and was doing well. But, there were so many other things going on outside of all those great things. My accomplishments did not fill the void. There were things that I just couldn’t pull together no matter how hard I tried. It was that Sunday sermon that changed my life. I knew that the only way I could go on with the struggle of being a single mom, being away from my family and trying to make it through graduate school was to reach for something greater than myself. I felt overwhelmed and Matthew 11:28 drew me in.
SP: The cover of your book, there is a picture which looks like a grandmother and her granddaughter, is this photo from your family album?
Patrice: Yes, the woman is the mother of my best friend, we call her Nana. After I was divorced I moved into the house across the street from her. She was wonderful to me and my children. She would often bake cakes and cook wonderful dinners (beef stew, lasagna, fried chicken) and make breakfast for us on Saturday mornings. It was a real blessing living across the street from Nana. When I worked late, she would be there when my children got home from school and they knew that if they needed anything they could go right across the street. The little girl, Michaela, is the God-sister of my children. Before Nana moved to North Carolina, we went to her house and I asked her if my niece could take some pictures for the cover of my book. I wanted a photo that represented the theme of the book as well as piqued the curiosity of everyone who saw the cover.
SP: Are you working on another book?
Patrice: I’m writing my second novel, it’s another Christian Fiction novel. I hope to have it completed by early Spring. The main character is a Christian woman struggling through the issues of growing up in foster care.
SP: Did you self-publish?
Patrice: Yes and I’m really pleased with the outcome. Initially, I sent it out to some of the big publishers, you know everyone has the dream of being picked up by a large house, but the realty of their business is to go with the latest trend. The current trends are urban fiction and sorcery. My book is meant to be inspirational – a book that leaves you feeling good. My son calls Wisdom Seeds a good ‘chick flick’ (I take that as a compliment) and my daughter and her friends enjoyed the book. My intention was to cross age spans. I want the young adult to read it and say “wow!” and to glean something from the wisdom of the elders. I want my generation to read it and say “Yes I remember when.” I want the elders to appreciate the fact that the positive outcome for Danielle is based on what the grandmother took time to sow in to her. I want to engage everyone from a different perspective, and at the same time I want everyone to appreciate the process or sowing and reaping.
SP: I would like to thank you Patrice, for presenting me with a gift of your book. I finished it within a weekend. The character’s story grabbed me from the very start. Within the first few pages I was crying. It felt as though you were looking through my window and pulling private hidden emotions out of me, that I thought no one else felt. Some times we as black women feel so alone in our struggle, this book shows me I’m not alone. It helped me realized I didn’t have to always be strong, I could get down on my knees and pray and He would bring me through the midnight hour.
I instantly connected with Danielle. I recommend that every woman pick up a copy of your book, no matter their age. I’m positive they will connect with Danielle and her family’s story. I won’t spoil the book by saying any more. After reading your book I felt a kind of spiritual release, that yes, even through all my struggles, God will make it right. As Pastor Curtis said a few Sundays ago, “rest in your faith.” Your faith will carry you through.
Thank you again, Patrice for taking the time to share your new book, “Wisdom Seeds” with the Soul Pitt readers. We will be looking forward to your new book.
www.patricewadejohnson.com
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