Write Now Literary is pleased to be organizing a
one-month book tour and book giveaway for Naked & Not Ashamed: The
Transformational Devotional Experience by Chanelle Coleman. The book tour will
run May 2- 27, 2022.ISBN: 979-8985407600
Genre:
Spiritual
ABOUT THE AUTHOR...
Chanelle Coleman Wesley is a native of Milwaukee Wisconsin. She is the
creative powerhouse of CeCi’s Ink, an innovative storytelling company that
conveys stories through poetry, books, playwrights, blogs, fashion, and
motivational speaking. Chanelle is significantly inspired by her late mother,
Brenda J. Coleman, penchant for prolific storytelling and developing a strong
sense of faith. As a survivor of abuse, Wesley believes in passing on the
communication skills she developed to cope in those environments. She is also
an accomplished playwright with her latest project, a gospel stage play
entitled The Beautiful Truth About an Ugly Lie to be released soon. She strives
to empower individuals who have lost their ability to advocate for themselves
by challenging them to recognize the power of their voice. Her greatest
accomplishment, however, forever remains becoming a mother to her six beautiful
children and “GiGi” to her two adorable grandchildren.
ABOUT THE BOOK...
Naked
& Not Ashamed is a transparent conversation between Sisters. One that
allows both the writer and reader to expose themselves without fear or sense of
condemnation. It’s a journey towards healing that allows us to dialogue without
masks, charades, or pretense. We explore familiar stories of women in the
Bible. These powerful narratives of trial, triumph, failures, and flaws show
the resiliency, redemptive and transformative power of encountering Christ. I
also reveal personal experiences of my own Christian walk with all its ups,
downs, twists, and turns. But the most amazing part of these chronicles is you!
Right now, you are writing your story. Are you living with pain, grief, and
regret that needs to be released? This book is designed to help you see your
own undeniably powerful narrative. I want to challenge you to see the hand of
God in your life and urge you to find the ability to tell your story. We
accomplish this through journal prompts, activities, prayer, etc.
EXCERPTS...
Tony
instantly began screaming and yelling. I continued to bite down harder. I
continued biting and grinding my teeth until I couldn’t bite anymore. I let go.
He fell back onto the bed. I jumped up out of the bed, my heart was pounding,
terrified I opened the door, and I was met with darkness. Hurriedly I ran out
past the dining room, through the hallway to the kitchen. Panicked, I reached
the back door. I began pulling on the door, but it was locked. Fear seized me
as I began fumbling with the knob trying to unlock the door. The latch finally
twisted up and I raced up the back-hallway stairs. At last, there was light. I
ran as fast as I could through the open kitchen door. The light continued to
welcome me as I forged ahead running through the hallway past the bathroom and
my aunt’s and grandparent’s bedrooms, the dining room, and into the living room
to the couch where my grandmother was sitting. I distinctly remember her
shocked expression as I pounded towards her as she sat there speechless, on the
couch holding my baby brother. I felt relieved and a sense of security
momentarily came over me until my grandmother spoke. She stared at me, with her
mouth opened in shock. She screamed, “Chanelle, you’re naked! Where are your
clothes?” Momentarily, I had forgotten that I was naked, but the awful
realization of my nakedness began to cover me like a garment. It was the
evidence of my pain, humiliation, and fear. I stood there breathlessly as I
gasped, panting for air, naked and ashamed, I told her my story.
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Tour organized by Write Now Literary Book Tours
Why Writing Is A Personal Form of Therapy
Writing a story is an undeniably powerful act.
Narratives can transcend biases, bring light to a struggle, create laughter,
invoke strong emotions, and provide inspiration. Stories are necessary. They
expose to us both the issues and solutions of life. I love writing for its
ability to transform lives.
My first encounter with sexual abuse happened at
the age of 4 or 5 years old. This incident helped me to acquire a mindset that
allowed me to be abused throughout my adolescent years. The abuse made me feel
powerless, insignificant, fearful, and ashamed and it took away my ability to find
my voice. I saw myself as a victim of sexual abuse and incest. But as the abuse
stole these things, writing empowered me by creating a world where I could
control the narrative and it gave me back my voice. I now understand that I am
not a victim — I am a survivor.
Writing is something that has always provided a
space for healing. I’ve known since I was 7 or 8 years old that this is
something that ministers to me. It is my gift and it was given to me to share
with others. When I was a child, I saw stories in anything and everything
around me. As an adult, stories remain intertwined within my spirit.
The ability to create and tell a story
is what inspires me to write. I imagine creation, which is an incredibly
powerful achievement, and the act of communicating an account are irrevocably
transformative concepts because of my past. I recognize that I struggle with
managing control. Not control of others but of myself and my children. As a
survivor, I was unable to control or convey what was happening to me. I was
robbed of these things during this period of my life. Writing has allowed me to
reclaim my broken pieces. Every time I sit down to write about my experience, I
emerge as a conqueror. Writing is the balm that God has equipped and empowered
me to utilize to become whole again. Each time I communicate my narrative, I
become more powerful, immovable, and unstoppable. I challenge myself to produce
stories that inspire others to find their powerful narrative.
Writing for me is one of the purest forms of
self-expression. It’s something about it that’s medicinal to me; it is
therapeutic in many ways. It gives me unspeakable joy. When the pen hits the
paper I am instantly transported into a world of my choosing. The storylines
are influenced by my thoughts or moods, knowing this gives me a sense of
security.
Writing fulfills my wildest dreams and it
can provide similar tools for you too. I'd like to encourage you to begin journaling.
You are writing chapters in your life's story at this very moment. What are you
writing? Whatever it is, I pray it’s amazing!
Although I'm sure my early years were filled
with memorable events and wonderful experiences, the earliest memory I possess
is the sexual abuse I encountered at the age of 4 or 5 years old. In the
women's devotional, Naked & Not Ashamed, I shared this story because
I believed it would create a safe space for women to express their innermost
feelings, struggles, secrets, successes, and triumphs. The book explores my walk
with Christ as I made my journey to find healing. This path I have taken has
been filled with its ups, downs, twists, and turns. We also delve into a list of
stories of various women in the Bible and see their battles, both wins, and
losses. We discover how these women experienced Christ for themselves, forever
changing their narratives. My challenge to the reader is to begin her pursuit
to discover restoration as she meets with the Savior. Encountering Jesus has
unquestionably changed my life. Engaging in a transparent relationship with Him
will irrevocably change the reader’s life too.
Abuse has become so common. Unfortunately, many
people have experienced something similar to the stories shared in this
devotional. Assault can provide the illusion that you are eternally powerless,
make you feel incapable of utilizing your voice and it may convince you to
erect walls in your relationships to keep yourself safe. Those walls keep the
idea of danger out, but they also prevent you from experiencing all the amazing
opportunities offered by life. Assault can sentence you to a life of silence
and self-imposed seclusion if you allow it. A perception is a powerful tool. Be
mindful of how you use it.
Incidents like these undoubtedly can become
defining moments. The effects of abuse can haunt a survivor for a lifetime. I
shared my story because there are people in the world who are experiencing
varying stages of healing. Individuals who are uncertain if they will
experience feeling whole again. To the person who has survived abuse, you need
to know that not only has someone dealt with similar pain and trauma, but this
same person is walking powerfully within their God-given purpose. You need to
know that you can do the same.
No words can aptly describe
the power exchange that happens between the teller and receiver when one walks into the truth.
Telling my story has been one of the most liberating things I have ever done.
It gives me back my power, transforming me from a victim into a survivor
instantly. I wrote this book to encourage, motivate and inspire you. You have a
story. One that's filled with mountain tops, valleys, twists, and turns yet you
too can emerge as a conqueror through Christ.
The blessing of overcoming your most difficult
moments is not exclusive to you. The world benefits when we share our
experiences of triumph; when we encounter hell and rise, by the grace of God,
and come forth victorious. Through Him, you are an overcomer. You have a
responsibility to share your testimony with the countless boys, girls, men, and
women who are desperate to hear what it feels like to emerge on the other side
of pain. If our stories can turn one soul to hope, then our suffering was not
in vain. I want to challenge you to become Naked & Not Ashamed.
THE POWER OF 10
10 things You didn’t know about Naked & Not
Ashamed.
- I started writing the book a few years ago. But life
became incredibly challenging and I abruptly stopped. I began writing again
while grieving over the sudden loss of my beautiful daughter Taniyah. It
created an opportunity to begin the healing process.
- Writing challenged me to process her death on a
different level. It helped to change my perspective and allowed me to see
the hand of God throughout her life. Her premature birth and subsequent
contraction of RSV threatened to take her within her first months of life.
As the shock of her passing gradually started to subside, bitterness and
resentment took their place. Writing challenged me to begin to humbly
acknowledge all that God had gifted me. Death had aggressively watched over
her demanding her life. But God extended to me 16 years with this amazing
being. For this, I will forever remain eternally grateful.
- Writing about my sexual assault as a child was one of
the easiest stories to write. Sexual abuse is a space that was incredibly
familiar to me. When I thought about sharing my story, I thought it was
necessary for me to start at the beginning— with an incident that became a
defining moment for me.
The concept of writing the
book began years before I sat down to write it.
4. The concept of writing the book began years before I
sat down to write it.
5. Most of these stories were picked because they are some
of my favorite accounts in the Bible.
6. I didn’t know Ezekiel had a wife until I prepared to
write her story. I searched a list of women in the Bible and she was
mentioned there. Although the account was brief, I concentrated on the
details that were readily available and explored the information that was inferred.
7. Because most of these stories are familiar biblical
narratives, I was very intentional about creating an experience for the
reader. Although these stories can easily be seen as oldies but goodies, I
wanted them to feel brand new to the reader.
8. Writing about the various
chapters of my life helped me come to terms with many of the decisions, I’ve made throughout my life both good
and bad.
9. It’s a very exhilarating and frightening thing to
totally unmask yourself before the eyes of the world. I guess it’s because
we all seek the acceptance of others to a degree. To give people the
ability to see your good, your bad, and your ugly can be a difficult thing
to do. This experience has taught me to love myself completely. Not
because of anything that I’ve done but because of the height, depth, and
breadth of God’s love for me despite my flaws. This lesson has become
incredibly empowering to me. I’m learning to trust that He is working
within me both to will and do His will.
10. Writing this book has helped me to discover there are
stories about other women of faith that I’d love to tell. By God’s grace, there will be a Naked & Not Ashamed: The Transformational Devotional
Experience Vol II.
