Today we’d like to introduce you to Honeliz Perales
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The journey to writing began this summer but it really began before my daughter Heidi was born in 2014. We went through a lot with the pregnancy and with her delivery. She was born at 29 weeks, and before she was born she was given less than a 50 percent chance of survival. Both my husband and I knew our God was greater than that. She spent 84 days in the NICU at Baptist downtown and continued to show us how miraculous God truly is. She had surgery before she was a month old and since then she has had over 30 surgeries and procedures. Heidi and her brother both have a rare genetic disorder called Bardet Biedl Syndrome and it affects several different organ systems including visual impairment, obesity, kidney problems, and cardiac issues. Thankfully, Samuel doesn’t have as many complications as Heidi but there are some delays. Throughout these ten years we have seen miracle after miracle with her. She praises the Lord like no one is watching and she has a heart after God. Every time someone has told us she isn’t capable of something we know God is greater. It doesn’t matter if it’s regarding medical complexities or with school, she always proves everyone wrong.
Heidi had a kidney transplant this past June in Minnesota and we spent four months up there for follow ups and recovery. Throughout that time, I decided to write Strawberry Falls. The character of Rose is based on my sweet Heidi. The different is, Rose is 29 and Heidi is 9. I wanted to give her a future, I wanted to see my sweet and sassy girl as an adult and find love while navigating the complications that come with Bardet Biedl Syndrome.
I have always wanted to write, I used to write short stories in middle school but I never showed them to anyone. Over the years I have written stories here and there but they just ended up in a shelf in my closet where they still reside. This summer though, I wanted to give myself some hope that my daughter would make it to adulthood, I needed to see a visual of that happening, and I could only make that happen by writing.
I’m hoping to continue writing and share my testimony and what God has done through my writing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are definitely outside factors that affect my creativity. Sometimes I will try and sit down and write but if I’m not in the right headspace nothing comes out, but if that happens I’ll try and write in a notebook to see if an idea comes to mind or I outline a chapters and the creative juices start flowing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love being creative, I started off with an Etsy store selling my crochet pieces and some faux leather keychains and earrings. I taught myself how to sew and was making headbands for a while and attended a couple markets. But keeping up with demand and the rising cost of supplies made things a little more difficult. With writing, I’ve found that it’s on my own timeline, I set the deadline, and I create the story and pray that people like it and want to read it.
I put my heart and soul into everything that I do especially with my writing. It’s kind of like my love letter to whoever is reading it.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I tried so many writing apps it’s kind of crazy. I use Scrivener, just write, word and kindle create. Kindle create helps make sure that the pages start where I want them to.
Pricing:
- Kindle Ebook 9.99
- Paperback book 14.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Honeliz-Perales/author/B0DH5W5KFK
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honelizbookcorner/profilecard/
- Facebook: https://www.tiktok.com/@honeliz
