Meet Quiniece Sheppard

Meet Quiniece Sheppard, author, motivational speaker and founder of I am the Chase Ministries and founder of Chasing Books Christian book Club. 

My journey in becoming an author has been challenging, yet rewarding.  It has taken me places where I've never been before, caused me great pain and sadness and also joy and tribulation. I guess you can say I've had a rollercoaster experience where one minute I was filled with jubilation and excitement and the next I was filled with fear and anxiety.  I wrote my first book "The Seven Deadly Sexual Sins" in 2009 out of the calling God placed on my life to minister his word. God called me into ministry in 2006.  Writing the book also birthed the idea to start a single women's ministry called " I am the Chase Ministries," whose mission is to promote abstinence and celibacy.  So, writing is ministry. It's my passion and the purpose God called me into.  It's an avenue God has allowed me to use to share his word.  I am also a motivational speaker and that has given me a platform to minister as well. 

I've been rejected by churches and bookstores who refuse my book. That deeply saddens me because I'm a Christian who's being turned away not only by the world, but by church as well. Just when I thought that the church was going to support me, it didn't. Well, at least some of them didn't.  Some people refer to this as church hurt and many people have experienced this type of hurt so bad that they leave church.  Thankfully, my foot is planted on Christ the solid rock and I'm not going anywhere. So, as many say no, I know there is a yes for me.  This is why I started a book club for African American self publishers and independent authors to help support them because I know about the challenges and difficulties of getting into bookstores as I am a self published author as well.  I started Chasing Books Christian Book Club in March 2011 and so far, I have over 100 members and we are currently reading our second quarterly book.  I believe in giving back and helping others. God called me for a purpose and I'm going to do everything I can to fulfill it. I admit I had no idea that the roads would be as difficult as they have been, but it has definitely made me stronger and have brought me closer to God.  

Writing is a new thing for me.  When I published my first book, I did it on my own with little finances and no resources.  I didn't have any help because I'm the first person in my family to publish a book. As you can imagine,I did have quite a few trials and errors with my first book because I had to learn the publishing industry on my own, but at least I'm learning it and the things I know, I know.  

Because of my ministry and books, I have spoken at several women's conferences, been a guest at over ten blog talk radio shows, had two live radio interviews, participated in numerous book signings, started my own book club, and even held my own seminar and women's conference.   My first women's conference in April 2011 had about 60 participants.  I am thankful that I get to share my books through my women's ministry. I am also thankful for sharing my ministry through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  God has truly blessed me on this journey and I know there is so much more ahead of me.

I will continue reaching out to colleges, book clubs, churches, schools, and organizations to spread God's message of sexual purity around the world. Even though the road is never, ever easy, I know it is worth it because I'm finally doing what God wants me to do and not what I want to do.

When you learn to accept God's will over your own, then that's when you have matured in the things of God. When you finally get that it's not all about you, then that's when God will open so many doors for you that you could have never imagined being able to enter.  I encourage every aspiring writer to continue seeking their passion. If writing is your passion, then pursue it with every zeal in your body.  It will not be easy in the beginning, but if you follow the path and stay focused, then you will eventually get to where God wants to take you.  Never, ever give up or quit.  My parents taught me to finish what I start and that's what I want to encourage all of you to do. Be finishers, not quitters.  God bless you.

Visit her website at www.iamthechase.com

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