Author reissues book on faith in uncertain times – The Suffolk News-Herald

By James W. Robinson

Contributing author

Amy Shearer celebrates the re-release of her book about her journey with God. Originally published in December 2002, “GOD, Mom & Rock and Roll” is Shearer’s personal story of how God helped her through the challenges and obstacles in her life. In a recent interview, she talks about the meaning of the title, why she wrote the book, and her hopes for everyone who reads it.

Shearer, both mother and grandmother, lived in Suffolk from January to June this year. Currently, she resides in Ashland as the manager of Goodwill, but plans to return to the city in the near future to be closer to her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

The title of Shearer’s book is tied to her upbringing, she explained.

“I’m a 60s baby, so I grew up in the 70s listening to 70s rock and roll. So our motto is ‘Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll.’ So, forget about sex and drugs, right? What I liked was the music. If you’re from that particular era, you’d see every song, every title, every album in the book… We’ve all tried sex, drugs and rock and roll. Why not try God?

She said that was really what the book was about. “If you don’t know anything about God it would be, especially if you’re a non-believer, that’s the whole point of the book,” Shearer said.

Although it was published in 2002, the problems with Shearer’s book still ring true today. She explained how the words she wrote remain relevant to the issues of today’s society.

“The book is a premonition… 20 years ago when I wrote these words, gun control was important, mental health – no one was talking about mental health, race – I was in a relationship interracial in the 90s when it was ‘that’s cool. I talked about voting, standing up for what you believe in… World, we need to be nicer to each other, we’re all different, unique , special. God created each person. He loves each person. Each person matters to Him.

Shearer talked about what people can expect from reading the book. She also focused on how it was written for a universal audience so anyone could pick it up and read it.

“If you notice that when you first open the book, the font size is large. Because it’s supposed to be a really easy quick read,” she said. week to read a book. So I wanted it for the younger ones who are like my grandson who will be seven at the end of the month. But it’s also for older people like me who have trouble reading the fine print. So I wanted it for everyone.

Likewise, Shearer talks about how she uses her life and her challenges in the book to show God’s handiwork and show others that they are not alone in their struggles.

“I put personal stories in there about my life and my situations to get the point across. I use myself and all of these situations, that I put myself in and honestly, I try not to but it just happens. When I had nobody, God was there for me. And even now, it’s been 21 years since I finished writing the book… In fact, people say ‘you’re going to write a sequel to 2001 now ?’ And I was like, ‘Oh Lord, there are so many situations I could tell you over the past 20 years where God has been there for me… And He will be there for you, because I’m just like you. I’m not rich, I’m not six figures, I’m a single person.

One of those personal stories is Shearer’s divorce, the heartbreak that followed, and the challenge of being a single parent.

“The biggest was when I got divorced. When I realized my marriage was over and I was devastated because we didn’t survive,” she said. . I was mortified. My son was going to have to share his parents.

Shearer said it was devastating, because she made this promise to God that I couldn’t keep. “And the reason I couldn’t was because the ex-husband didn’t keep his promise and it’s happened so many times where someone says ‘I promise’ and then the promise is broken…I was crying out to God, ‘Please, please help me.'”

Then came the challenges of learning to navigate as a single parent.

“It’s a huge adjustment when you think the dad is going to be there for their kids and they’re not,” Shearer said. “And you, as a mom, have to be both mom and dad, and the breadwinner, and everything.”

She said one in two marriages in the country now ends in divorce, meaning many people have found themselves in the same situation.

Shearer also wants people to understand that while she uses a personal journey in the book, the focus is on God rather than her.

“I want you to see God in the book and unfortunately a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, that’s pretty much your life.’ Well, no, you don’t and I’m so sorry, but you didn’t understand the purpose of the book… You should see God, that’s why his name is big, in capitals because he is the person. I’m just his humble servant. That’s who I am.

Finally, Shearer gives one last inspiring and heartfelt message.

“God loves everyone,” she said. “He loves us all equally. That’s the most important thing is to try God, to trust God, to see what he can do. Because he can do so much more. than us as humans. I love rock and roll, but God is my rock.