About the Book
Book: Sermons from a Soapbox, Messages of Hope and Encouragement
Author: Ladonna Shanks
Genre: Devotional, based on personal experience; Memoir; Adult Nonfiction; “Life Lesson Essays”
Release Date: April 8, 2025
“What is God like?
Does He even exist, other than as a figment of the imagination?
Or is He real, a part of daily life and our world?
In Sermons from a Soapbox, Ladonna Shanks shares her personal spiritual journey of more than seventy-five years. “I cannot write what I have not experienced,” serves as the base of her easy-to-read, anecdotal essays. The short “sermons” challenge the reader to think, question, search, and consider living where God is . . . in the spiritual, long-term, instead of humankind’s physical, short-term.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Ladonna Shanks was born and raised in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. During her several decades of life, she has been an entrepreneur, a small business owner, and, most recently, a writer. Her first book, Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God was published in 2019. Ladonna’s family, including five grandgirls, and her commitment to God serve as her priorities.
More from Ladonna
The desire and passion to share God’s quest for friendship with humankind has driven me to write of my personal experiences with Him. “I cannot write what I have not experienced” is my mantra.
The easy-to-read anecdotal essays make up both of my books: Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God and my newly published Sermons from a Soapbox, Messages of Hope and Encouragement. (My editor calls them “Life’s Lessons Essays.)
I never preach, but I share my life. My desire is to challenge the reader to consider life in the long-term, eternal instead of the short-term, physical. I want them to think.
I am open, honest, and transparent as I present my weaknesses, failures, and inadequacies in contrast to God’s faithfulness, care, and love.
Interview with the Author
1)What does success as an author look like to you?
I don’t view success in the number of books sold. When I wrote my first book “Tidbits and Pearls, A Book of Essays on Living Everyday Life with God,” God gave me the charge “for the sake of one . . .” If my writing encourages only one reader to turn to God or to consider Him in a new and better way, that is success to me—making an eternal difference.
2)What inspired this book?
The inspiration for this book is a “who,” not “what.” A lovely woman in Ohio contacted me after reading “Tidbits and Pearls.” She wanted to know how many books I had sold. I told her of God’s charge “for the sake of one,” and that I honestly didn’t track the sales. She responded, “I am that one.” She began encouraging me to write another one. She provided motivation and encouragement, often when I was stuck in a rut. In fact, I dedicated this book to her.
3)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
I’m not sure I would call this my favorite, but it is one I’m reminded of often. 😊
“You are not your own. You were bought with a price.“ I Cor. 6: 19, 20
4)What would you like your readers to get out of this book?
I would like my readers to know and understand I am cut from the same cloth as they are and, in honesty and transparency I, too, struggle in my faith walk with God. But God is faithful. And He is worth it.
5)Why write nonfiction?
I can do no other. I could not make up a story if my life depended on it. I cannot write what I have not experienced, so I am a nonfiction writer. I’m eighty-one years old. I’ve only been writing for ten years or so. God gives me the opening thought or sentence, typically based on a recent experience. And so the essay begins. I guess you could say I write nonfiction, because that is what God has called me to do. Yes. That is why I write nonfiction. It’s real and personal, as I lay out my life before God and the world.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 13
Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, November 15
Artistic Nobody, November 16 (Author Interview)
Guild Master, November 17 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 17
The Sacred Line, November 18
Lots of Helpers, November 19
Fiction Book Lover, November 20 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 21
Vicky Sluiter, November 22 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 23
For the Love of Literature, November 24 (Author Interview)
Because I said So, November 24
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 25 (Author Interview)
Girls in White Dresses, November 26
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Ladonna is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, copy of my book, and a set of 6 blank note cards created by myself using floral photos!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/3d5a0/sermons-from-a-soapbox-celebration-tour-giveaway