by Ruth Gordon, author of Children of Darkness

Two years after Mark and I left the Children of God, we were approached by an American publisher attending the English-speaking evangelical church we had been attending in Brazil. He had taken the liberty to- query Tyndale House Publishers in the U.S. regarding their possible interest in publishing our experience in the COG and our dramatic deliverance from it. The day we returned to the U.S. he handed us a letter from the publisher expressing interest, stating I would need to prepare some sample chapters and a resume of the rest of the book.

Adapting to life in the U.S. was very traumatic after eight years abroad and many months passed before I even thought about the publisher's offer. As time went on and God's healing became more apparent in our lives, we began to share a little about our past with selected members of the church we were attending. As word got around, we were invited to speak to youth groups, Sunday school classes, churches, etc. People responded warmly. I began to toy with the idea of writing the book and for the next two years made several feeble attempts at some sample chapters.

Finally, with the stalwart encouragement of Mark and a close friend, I worked up the courage to contact the publisher to see if he was still interested in our story (by now five years had passed since his letter!). We talked over the phone and his response was positive. A final decision and publishing contract could not be offered without some sample chapters and a summary for the rest, so the painstaking process began.

By nature I am not a disciplined person, so it was a great struggle to sit at the computer daily and write. I called a very small, select circle of friends who I knew I could rely on for intercessory prayer.

With four children ages 6-10, it wasn't like I had a lot of uninterrupted hours. But once I began and found a starting point, it was easier. I never made my writing time a priority over the children's needs, and I didn't write during the summer, just during their school hours. That helped the project not to be too much of a strain.

After three months, I had a rough draft of a few chapters and sent it in with ideas for the rest of the book. That was toward the end of 1985. By the time the contract was actually issued it was March 1986.

Warning: Writing a book will not make you rich (unless you have a "bestseller" on your hands). But my intention in writing it was never for fame or fortune, so I was not devastated to learn I would not get any money up front but that a year after the book's release I would receive a royalty from copies sold.

The process of editing and rewriting took many months. The publisher sent out a free-lancer for a few days to help with rewriting and an editor for a week to help with the final draft prior to publication. They also took care of the initial promotional copies sent out to bookstores, etc. With their publicist's assistance I was able to help map out a plan of radio and TV interviews, but the only expenses paid for were telephone, mail and promotional copies of the book. All travel expenses were paid for by myself, so really, I just about broke even financially.

The reward comes in knowing that we risked the vulnerability of the exposure of intimate details of our past so others can reap the benefits of learning from our mistakes. It was all worth it. Now, if only I can get a film producer to make a movie of it!

As you may know, Ruth is also a talented songwriter and singer. Now you can enjoy ten of her best tunes on a new ...Well-produced collection of GREATEST HITS & new compositions

by RUTH GORDON
- A clear voice
- A clear message
Simply ... Beautiful

Both cassette & book are available direct from Ruth for $5.00 each.

Sterling Productions
P. O. Box 590093
Birmingham, AL 35259-0093

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