C. David Moody Jr. with Charles W. Cherry II penned Fighting Through the Fear: My Journey of Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I was inspired because I wanted to help others heal and not feel alone on the journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse. I want to show other childhood sexual abuse survivors that we can do some incredible things, regardless of our pasts.
Do you have a specific writing style?
My writing style is to write from the heart and be transparent. I want to take a reader on a journey like I do with my photography, found at https://davemoodyphotography.com/.
What books have most impacted your life (or life as an author)?
Nonfiction books that tell about people overcoming challenges in life have the greatest impact on me.
What books are you currently reading? Why this author?
I am reading Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy, as well as books on photography and ancient architecture.
What new authors have piqued your interest?
I don’t focus on authors as much as I do the quality of the written word.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything about your latest work?
I wouldn’t change a thing. The feedback about “Fighting Through the Fear” has been great.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing or coming up with a concept for your book?
The challenging part of writing Fighting Through the Fear was reliving the specific occurrences of childhood sexual abuse. I was able to punch through because of my faith and my knowledge that Fighting Through the Fear can help others heal.
What was the hardest part of completing this project?
The hardest part was making sure even though this is a tough topic to discuss, I didn’t want to miss anything important that would help others heal and give them hope for healing.
What advice would you give other writers?
Write from the heart and never give up on your dreams.
Describe the process of getting published.
It was actually easier than I thought it would be. I had a great co-author, Charles W. Cherry II, who is a published author and provided a great road map on the process. Technology makes it very easy, too.
What were the literary, psychological and/or logistical challenges in bringing your work to life?
It was tough at times going back in time and reliving the childhood sexual abuse and how it affected me before I began the process of getting proper counseling and healing.
Everyone’s process for writing is different. Explain yours.
I was fortunate that I started the moodyspeaks.com blog and had written many posts on my journey. With Charles Cherry’s help, we used the blog as our start and as our base for the narrative of “Fighting Through the Fear.”
What are five of your favorite books and why?
The Bible has incredible info about successful living; “Building Atlanta” by Herman J. Russell; “Mandela’s Way: Lessons on Life, Love and Courage,” by Richard Stengel, which told the story of Nelson Mandela; “Integrity: The Courage to Face the Demands of Reality,” by Henry Cloud, a great book on leadership and integrity; and numerous autobiographies in which people overcame obstacles of life.
Please provide three “good to know” fact about you.
Be creative. Tell us about your first job or the inspiration behind your writing. I had a summer job as a MARTA bus driver in 1977 as 21-year-old college student. I want to be an archeologist (the original Indiana Jones) in the 1960s. I wanted to sing on Broadway.
What is the mission you set out to accomplish with your voice in this book?
I want others to know that they are not alone, and that they can heal from childhood sexual abuse and do some incredible things with their lives – regardless of the challenges in life.
Who are the authors you read and why?
I don’t have particular authors I read because I only read nonfiction.
A great book has what?
A great book to me takes you on a journey and makes you feel like you are actually in the book.
You develop character and ideas by…. “Fighting Through the Fear” is nonfiction, so all the people and the stories are real.
Where would you travel if you could to write your next book? I would go up in the mountains with a great running stream nearby.
What is the gift of reading and how does it open up a new world? How has reading opened up your world?
Reading fuels intelligence and imagination…and it has allowed me to see the world through my imagination. Reading allows me to dream and learn. It has improved so many things in life: my faith, my leadership ability, my capacity to help others. Reading also helped me understand why love of people is important.
C.D. Moody Website and blog can be found here: https://moodyspeaks.com/
The book can be purchased here: https://moodyspeaks.myshopify.com/
