♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> AS 2021 DRAWS TO CLOSE, WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS A YEAR OF PROMISE, OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERSTY 2022.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, BOARD, STAFF OR ♫♫ ♫♫ >> WELCOME TO THE BOOK CASE I´M SHAWNA RICHARDS, A SOME TIME WRITER AND LONGTIME READER.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE EXPLORE THE TALENTS AND AUTHORS AND WE WILL INTRODUCE TO LOCAL AUTHORS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORY TELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US.

I´M EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOME GROWN STORY TELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION FROM THE BOOK CASE IS PACK FAITH FIRST, SUITCASES SECOND.

I´M EXCITED TO WELCOME THE AUTHOR, AECHL ROSE HERRICK TO THE BOOK CASE.

WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> MANY OF OUR AUDIENCE KNOW YOU AS A FINANCIAL EDUCATOR, REALLY AN ADVOCATE FOR FINANCIAL LITERACY.

THIS MAY BE THEIR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO YOU AS A WRITER.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WRITING?

>> I HAVE BEEN WRITING FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

I WOULD SAY THAT GOES BACK AS EARLY AS 1991.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN´T KNOW ABOUT.

BUT THERE WAS A WRITERS BLOCK GROUP I DID STATESIDE.

SO VERY -- QUITE A FEW VOLUMES WE DID IN THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF A WRITERS GROUP.

AND THOSE WERE ALL VERY SHORT STORIES.

THAT WAS SOMETHING I STARTED LONG AGO AND I DID COLUMNS FOR PUBLICATIONS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO MY WRITING MASS EVOLVED FROM LITTLE SNIPPETS AND PROFESSIONAL ARTICLES INTO BOOKS.

>> SO IT´S BEEN A PROGRESSION.

>> SO IT´S FAITH PACK FAITH FIRST -- I LOVE THE TITLE.

PACK FAITH FIRST YOUR SUITCASES SECOND.

>> IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK.

>> NO, I BELIEVE IT´S THE SFNG OR EIGHTH ONE.

THE FIRST ONE TO BE A NUMBER ONE BEST SELLER I´M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> AND I ALSO DID TWO COLLABORATIVE BOOKS WHERE I PUT THOSE TOGETHER AND THERE WERE 12 OF US EACH SUBMITTING A CHAPTER.

I GOT QUITE A FEW UNDER MY BELT.

AND I HAVE 11 MORE I WILL BE RELEASING AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR I´VE BEEN WORKING AT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SO TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO THIS TITLE.

PACK FAITH FIRST, SUITCASES SECOND, A DECADE OF MIRACLES AFTER 50.

>> THAT.

>> THE SUBTITLE SAYS A LOT.

TELL US HOW YOU GOT THE TITLE ANT EVOLUTION OF THE BOOK.

>> THE BOOK REALLY TELLS THE SCORE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO US.

WE RIVARD IN THE MIDWEST AND HAD A PASTOR THAT HAD A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE YOU ALL HAVE THE FAITH WALK.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN WE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

THIS STEPPED US OFF ON A JOURNEY OF FAITH THAT ELEVATED ME SEVERAL LEVELS FROM WHERE I WAS.

AND WHAT IT CAME DOWN TO WHEN IT WAS PACK FAITH FIRST BECAUSE WE SOLD OR GAVE AWAY PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING WHEN WE BROUGHT OUR FOUR CHILDREN, THE FIREMAN DOG AND THE VAN HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WE DIDN´T KNOW ANYONE, DIDN´T HAVE JOBS TO COME TO.

NO FAMILY.

AND SO WE REALLY DID PACK FAITH FIRST AND THEN OUR SUITCASES SECOND, BECAUSE WE BROUGHT VERY LITTLE WITH US.

>> SO WOULD YOU DESCRIBE -- AND I LOVE YOUR BOOKS.

I READ IT COVER TO COVER IN ONE SITTING.

AND I´M A VORACIOUS READER SO IN ONE SITTING I LOVED IT.

AND I FOUND IT TO BE BOTH A MEMOIR BUT ALSO BOTH INSPIRATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL.

SO FOR THE PERSON READING THIS BOOK OR WHO IS LOOKING AT THIS EPISODE OF THE BOOK CASE AND SAYS I´D LIKE TO CHECK OUT THE BOOK, WHAT IS THE KEY MESSAGE THEY WOULD GET FROM THIS BOOK?

>> THE KEY MESSAGE IS BUILDING YOUR FAITH.

AND IT DOESN´T MATTER WHAT FAITH THAT YOU WOULD PROGRESS UPON.

YOU´RE NOT GOING TO FIND A LOT OF SCRIPTURE IN THIS BOOK.

YOU´RE NOT FINDING ANYTHING THAT WOULD STEER NEW ONE DIRECTION.

BUT I WROTE THAT TO BE A FAITH BUILDER.

I BELIEVE THERE IS A HIGHER POWER.

AND WITH THAT THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE ALL NEED HOPE.

YOU ALSO NEED TO KNOW SOMETIMES THAT PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED.

>> UM-HUM.

>> MAYBE NOT THE WAY YOU EXPECTED.

AND THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO YOU IN LIFE.

AND YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU FOCUS.

BECAUSE I COULD WRITE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BOOK OF ALL OF THE AWFUL THINGS OR THINGS THAT WEREN´T SO HAPPY IN TEN YEARS.

BUT I CHOSE TO WRITE THE ONES THAT WERE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BUILD YOU UP AND ALSO HOPEFULLY INSPIRE OTHERS.

>> SO WHEN I WAS READING YOUR BOOK AND YOU -- THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS YOU ASKED AT THE END OF EACH CHAPTER.

YOU SAY, WELL TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND WRITE THIS DOWN, OR DO THIS OR DO THAT.

WHEN YOU WERE WRITING, DID YOU REALLY SEE THE BOOK AS BEING A REALLY -- THAT LEVEL OF INTERACTION WITH THE READER IN.

>> NO, WHEN I FIRST SAT DOWN AND STARTED TO WRITING IT I WENT WITH A GROUP, AND WE MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OUR BOOK OUTLINES AND THINGS DONE WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND IN SETTING DOWN IT WAS FIRST DOING SOME OUTLINES AND THEN STARTING TO WRITE.

AND I DICTATED AND DID THINGS THAT MADE IT REALLY MUCH QUICKER.

BUT AS I WENT BACK THROUGH IN SOME OF THE EDITING PROCESS I DIDN´T FEEL LIKE I WANTED TO END THE CHAPTERS WHERE THEY WERE ENDING.

I WANTED TO ADD TO THAT AND ALSO WANTED TO GIVE THE READER A REASON TO TURN THE PAGE.

IT MUST HAVE WORKED.

>> IT DID.

>> BECAUSE I HEARD SEVERAL THAT SAID I COULDN´T PUT IT DOWN.

IT MADE ME WANT TO SEE WHAT WAS NEXT.

SO THAT CAME IN AS PART OF THE EDITING PROCESS BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADD ANOTHER LEVEL TO IT.

>> WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WRITING PROCESS?

YOU SAY YOU WORK WITH A GROUP.

BUT ARE YOU A PEN AND PAPER, LONGHAND PERSON, ARE YOU A SIT AT THE LAPTOP PERSON, MAYBE HYBRID, WHAT WAS YOUR PROCESS LOOK LIKE, AMY.

>> I WOULD SAY A MIXTURE.

BECAUSE IF I´M OUT AND ABOUT AND DOING SOMETHING, IF I DIDN´T HAVE CELL SERVICE AND COULD JOT A FEW NOTES BECAUSE SO MANY THINGS CAME TO MIND AND THOSE ARE WHAT I PUT IN THE BOOK, THERE WERE THINGS I DECIDED NOT TO PUT IN THE BOOK.

>> UM-HUM.

>> I HAVE A DICTATION SERVICE THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE.

SO THERE WERE MANY TIMES I WOULD DO THE DICTATION WHICH SAVED ME TYPING BECAUSE I CAN TYPE -- I´M SORRY, I CAN SPEAK MUCH FASTER THANKY TYPE AND I DON´T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PUNCTUATION.

IT´S JUST GETTING IT OUT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> NOW FOR SOME OF IF YOU HAVE MICROSOFT WORD AND YOU´RE LIKE, I´M NOT A GOOD TYPIST OR DON´T WANT TO HANDWRITING THIS ON THE MICROSOFT WORD THERE IS A LITTLE MICROPHONE.

AND YOU CAN DICTATE A LOT THAT WILL SPEED THE PROCESS UP.

AND I THINK PART OF IT IS JUST GETTING IT OUT AND THEN YOU CAN FRAME IT AND CHANGE IT A LITTLE.

>> AFTERWARDS.

>> YEAH BUT IT´S GETTING OUT.

BECAUSE SO MUCH ONCE YOU START WRITING, I FIND THAT IT´S JUST LIKE A FOUNTAIN.

ONCE YOU TURN IT ON IT JUST POURS AND POURS.

>> UM-HUM.

UM-HUM.

SO THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO LITERALLY THE FIRST CHAPTER OF YOUR BOOK, WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT INSPIRED, WHICH WAS A HUGE TRANSITION, BECAUSE YOU CAME FROM THE MIDWEST.

AND HERE WE ARE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

TELL US ABOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS WHEN YOU STARTED WRITING THIS BOOK, WHAT LED YOU BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL CONVERSATION?

>> IT HAD BEEN IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, BECAUSE I HAVE WRITTEN OTHER THINGS.

AND WAS KIND OF IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, KIND OF NEED TO DO THIS.

AND THEN I WAS NEARING THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OR THE FIRST DECADE HERE.

AND IN MANY WAYS IT PASSED VERY QUICKLY.

AND THEN THE OPPORTUNITY WENT WITH KELLY AND HER GROUP TO SAY, WELL WHY DON´T YOU JOIN US AND SEE.

WHAT WOULD YOU WRITE?

I SAID I ALREADY KNOW WHAT I´M GOING TO WRITE.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THEN THAT REALLY TOOK OFF FROM THERE.

AND IT MAY BE A LITTLE SURPRISING, BUT I STARTED THE BOOK THANKSGIVING OF LAST YEAR.

AND I FINISHED THAT BOOK THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS.

>> THAT´S PRETTY QUICK.

>> AND WENT THROUGH BECAUSE ONCE IT STARTED POURING OUT AND WHAT TO PUT IN IT AND DOING A LITTLE BIT OF THE EDITING IT JUST WENT VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

AND THEN WE HAD THE COVER DONE.

WE HAD THE PROOF READING, EDITING, FORMATTING, ALL THE OTHER LITTLE PIECES YOU NEED TO DO.

AND IT WAS UP FOR SALE I BELIEVE BY THE FIRST PART OF FEBRUARY.

>> SO ARE YOU SELF-PUBLISHED.

>> YES.

>> OR DO YOU WORK WITH A PUBLISHER.

>> I HAD WORKED WITH A PUBLISHER BEFORE AND I DECIDED I DID NOT WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN.

ONE OF THE FREEDOMS THAT I HAVE AS A SELF-PUBLISHER IS THAT I CAN UPDATE MY CONTENT LIKE I´VE DONE WITH SOME OTHER BOOKS, AND I ALSO CAN CONTROL MY CONTENT.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT SOUNDS VERY SILLY BUT I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE AUTHORS, IF I WANT TO CHANGE MY HAIR STYLE I CAN.

BUT SOME OF THEM ARE REALLY ROOTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD PICTURES TAKEN AND PROMOTIONS AND THEY HAVE TO CONTRACTUALLY AGREE NOT TO CHANGE CERTAIN THINGS.

>> OH, WOW.

>> AND IT SOUNDS SILLY BUT I WANTED MORE FREEDOM.

>> SO IN YOUR BOOK YOU TELL A LOT OF REALLY RELATABLE STORIES.

>> UM-HUM.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT SELLING ALL OF YOUR POSSESSIONS, AND SO MANY FULL-CIRCLE MOMENTS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> WHEN THINGS AND EXPERIENCES REALLY JUST CAME RIGHT BACK TO YOU.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT JUST THE GENEROSITY OF COMMUNITY.

>> OH.

>> PERIOD.

WERE THERE -- DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME NARROWING DOWN THE STORIES YOU WANTED TO TELL?

>> ON SOME OF THEM, YES.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND THERE WERE SOME STORIES THAT HAD OTHER PERSONAL ELEMENTS IN THEM THAT I DID NOT WANT TO BETRAY SOME CONFIDENCES OR I DIDN´T WANT TO PUBLISH SOME THINGS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WOULD GO, I BET THAT´S SO AND SO.

SO THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO KEEP PRIVATE THAT WERE JUST AS MARVELOUS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LINE ON WHAT WE DO WHEN WE RESPECT EACH OTHER.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

SO IN MY INTRO I SAID THERE IS A STORY TELLER IN EACH OF US.

SO WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG GIRL, GOING TO SCHOOL, GROWING UP, DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD BE AN AUTHOR?

>> I WAS HOPING, BECAUSE CLEAR BACK IN GRADE SCHOOL I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS IN THE LIBRARY SHELVING THE BOOKS, AND I HAD THE AGREEMENT THAT EVERY TIME A NEW BOOK CAME IN I READ IT.

IT WAS MINE.

SHE GAVE IT TO ME FIRST.

AND I READ EVERYTHING IN THE LIBRARY THAT WE HAD.

AND THAT CONTINUED TO JUNIOR HIGH.

I ENDED UP GRADUATING EARLY IN HIGH SCHOOL SO DIDN´T CONTINUE THERE.

BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT AUTHORS WERE THE MOST AMAZING THING.

I ENJOYED WRITING.

I DON´T HAVE A PROBLEM BEING UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

AND IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, AS OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED ITSELF, I THINK I COULD TRY THIS.

>> SO IN ALL OF THE TITLES THAT YOU HAVE.

>> UM-HUM.

>> YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL, I THINK FINANCIAL ANALYST, ALL OF THE TITLES YOU HAVE, WHERE WOULD WRITER, IF YOU WERE TO SAY, OKAY OF THE FIVE -- OF THE FIVE THINGS I DEFINE MYSELF HAVE, WHERE DOES WRITER FALL IN THERE.

>> I THINK WRITER ITO IS REAL CLOSE TO ARTIST.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE I ENJOY THAT CREATIVE PROCESS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND I LIKE SOMETHING TANGIBLE AT THE END.

>> UM-HUM.

>> NOW WHETHER EVERYBODY ELSE IS HAPPY WITH IT OR NOT DOESN´T MATTER.

>> UM-HUM.

>> IT´S THAT IT MATTERS TO ME.

AND THAT I HOPE THAT IT IS A BLESSING TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY VIEW IT OR WHEN THEY ARE READING IT.

AND, AGAIN, IT´S MORE TO UPLIFT, NOT TO TEAR DOWN.

>> UM-HUM.

>> THAT´S ONE OF MY GOALS.

>> WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

>> EVERY MONTH I´M PRETTY FAITHFUL.

I´VE BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS BEHIND.

I LOVE THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICS, READ THEM SINCE I WAS A KID, FAITHFUL, FAITHFUL.

I ENJOY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HISTORY, AND I´M LEARNING SO MANY THINGS I DIDN´T KNOW WE WEREN´T NECESSARILY TAUGHT IN BOOKS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> HASN´T BEEN WON FOR A WHILE.

CLIVE CAUSE LETTER, ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT BECAUSE IT TIES HISTORY IN.

PATERSON, ENJOY THAT, EVEN MITCH THEY ARE NOW AND THEN.

BUT NOW MOST ARE HORT SHORTER READS BECAUSE OF TIME.

IT´S HARD TO GET THROUGH A MITCH THEY ARE BOOK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> IT IS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT A LONG PROJECT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I LIKE A VARIETY OF AUTHORS.

IT´S JUST DEPENDING.

AND BECAUSE I HAVE FRIENDS NOW IN THE -- THE WRITING COMMUNITY SOME OF THOSE I´VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING TO SEE CHAPTERS OR BOOKS OR PARTS OF THEM, THEY´RE ASKING FOR FEEDBACK, OR THAT, AND SO I´VE GOTTEN THINGS, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> ARE YOU A FULL-TIME WRITER?

>> NO.

NOT YET.

NOT YET.

>> OKAY.

>> MAYBE NEXT WEEK, MAYBE NEXT YEAR BUT NOT AT THIS TIME.

MY WORLD DOESN´T ALLOW THAT AT PRESENT.

BUT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IT.

>> SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING?

HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING, YOUR WRITING YOUR WORK?

HOW DO YOU BALANCE?

WHERE DO YOU MAKE THAT TIME TO -- TO FEED THE ART?

HOW DO YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING.

>> YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE IT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> THAT´S ABOUT THE ONLY WAY I CAN MAKE IT WORK.

AND WHEN I SAY SCHEDULE IT -- >> YOU´RE NOT WAITING FOR THE MUSE -- >> IT WON´T HAPPEN.

YOU SCHEDULE DENTAL APPOINTMENTS.

YOU KNOW, YOU SCHEDULE VACATIONS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> THEY EVEN SCHEDULE BALL GAMES.

IT´S OKAY TO SCHEDULE WRITING TIME.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND FOR SOME OF YOU THAT MIGHT BE 15 MINUTES A DAY, BECAUSE THAT´S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

>> UM-HUM.

>> MAYBE YOU´LL STRETCH IT A LITTLE.

MAYBE IT´S EVERY FRIDAY IN THE EVENING.

I´M GOING TO DO MY WRITING.

BUT IF YOU SCHEDULE IT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> THEN IT HAPPENS.

AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU WRITE IN THE CAR -- LIKE I SAID I HAVE A REAL LOW COST DICTATION SERVICE.

MAYBE YOU´RE SOMEONE IN BETWEEN AND YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> IF YOU CAN GET THIS THEM OUT OR RECORD THEM ON YOUR PHONE -- WE HAVE A RECORD FEATURE.

MOST OF US HAVE CELL PHONES >> RIGHT.

>> SOMETIMES YOU GET THE SNIPPETS THAT YOU CAN ADD IN AND IT STRETCHES THE TIME.

IF YOU WANT IT TO.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> SO WHEN YOU SET OUT TO WRITE PACK FAITH FIRST SUITCASES SECOND.

DID YOU GIVE YOURSELF A PAGE LIMIT?

DID YOU SAY EVERY DAY I´M GOING TO WRITE, YOU KNOW, A CHAPTER?

WHAT WAS YOUR PROCESS IN BRINGING THIS BOOK FROM THE PAGE OR FROM YOUR HEAD TO PUBLICATION?

>> WELL, WITH THE GROUP I WAS IN, EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS WE WOULD GET BACK TOGETHER FOR PROGRESS.

AND IT WOULD BE, ALL RIGHT, YOU NEED TO -- YOU NEED TO FLESHED OUT CHAPTER ONE AND CHAPTER TWO.

YOU NEED TO TO HAVE FLESHED OUT WHERE ARE YOU AT?

OUR GOAL THROUGH THE GROUP WAS REALLY ONLY TEN CHAPTERS.

I HAD MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

PART OF IT WAS WORKING WITH THE GROUP SO WE ENCOURAGE AND RAH, RAH TO EVERYONE.

ALSO I MADE THE TIME.

AND THE THING IS I DIDN´T TELL MY FAMILY I WAS WRITING THIS.

THEY HAD NO IDEA.

AND I HADN´T PLANNED ON TELLING THEM UNTIL MY COPIES OF THE BOOK SHOWED UP.

ONLY ONE PROBLEM WITH THAT, I HAD ORDERED THE BOOKS AND THEN IT CAME OUT, AND KELLY HAD REACHED OUT AND SAID, AMY YOU´VE GOT TO GO LOOK AT THE COMPUTER.

THIS WAS AT 11:00 AT NIGHT.

AND I SAID, WHY, SHE SAID JUST GET IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER.

THAT´S WHEN KELLY SAID, AMY, YOU´RE A NUMBER ONE.

THEN I HAD TO TELL MY FAMILY BECAUSE THE PHONE STARTED RINGING AND THINGS STARTED HAPPENING.

I SAID, WELL I WAS GOING TO SAVE THIS UNTIL I COULD SHOW YOU THE BOOK.

>> THE BIG REVEAL.

>> BY THE WAY -- >> YOUR BOOK YOU TALK A LOT ABOUT SIGNS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT YOUR BOOK, JUSTIN -- EVERYONE IS WALKING THEIR OWN JOURNEY.

BUT THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF SIGNS.

AND WHAT WAS IN -- IN JUST ALL THE DIFFERENT CHAPTERS?

TALK ABOUT LIKE ONE -- ONE SIGN THAT REALLY STOOD OUT FOR YOU.

>> WELL WE VISITED THIS -- ABOUT THIS RIGHT BEFORE WE STARTED RECORDING.

ONE OF THEM HAD TO HAVE BEEN THE CHECKS AND THE CHECKBOOK THAT I HAD HAD OVER A DAEK.

AND I HAD NO IDEA I WAS LOOKING AT THE VIEW FROM THE FIRST HOUSE THAT I RENTED HERE ON ST. CROIX.

>> SO YOUR BOOK IS TITLED PACK FAITH FIRST, SUITCASES SECOND.

YOU PACKED YOUR FAITH, SUITCASE.

HOW DID YOU END UP ON ST. CROIX.

>> WE SOLD A HOUSE THAT WASN´T UP FOR SALE WITH SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE FRIENDS OF MY DAUGHTERS.

WE LITERALLY SOLD, GAVE UP EVERYTHING.

WE STARTED GIVING IT AWAY BY TRUCKS AND VANLOADS TO RELINQUISH.

BOOKED AIRLINE TICKETS.

MY HUSBAND WENT AHEAD AND PACKED THE THE VAN WITH BOXES WE HAD PLANNED FOR AND BROUGHT THE DOGS TO FLORIDA AND SO THEY COULD FLY OUT FIRST AND WE ARRIVED THE NEXT DAY.

>> COULD YOU READ A CHAPTER, A PASSAGE.

>> I´LL READ.

>> BECAUSE IT FOUND THAT TO BE SO PROFOUND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SIGNS.

>> YEAH.

HERE WE GO FRAME IT A LITTLE BIT.

AFTER I RETURNED TO HOME IN TOPEKA, KANSAS, I WAS WRITING MY TITHE CHECK IN CHURCH.

I LOOKED DOWN AT THE CHECKS.

AND I GOT THIS REALLIZATION THAT I HAD SEEN THAT VIEW BEFORE.

THE NAME OF THE CHECKS I ORDER IS THE GOOD LIFE.

THE GOOD LIFE IS REPRESENTED BY A PENGUIN LYING ON A TOWELL ON A BEACH WITH THE WAVES LAPPING UP AGAINST HIM.

YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURE I´M REFERENCING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CHAPTER.

THE GOOD LIFE IS A PENGUIN LYING ON A BEACH TOWELL ON A BEACH WITH WAVES LAPPING UP AGAINST HIM?

THE SECOND CHECK SHOWS A PENGUIN THAT IS LYING IN A HAM OKAY BETWEEN TWO PALM TREES.

YOU CAN SEE THE EDGE OF AN ISLAND IN THE PACK RIGHT SIDE.

YOU CAN SEE THE CURVE OF THE SHORE THAT GOES AROUND TO THE LEFT AND IT HAS PALM FRONTED.

AS I LOOK AT THE CHECK I´M WRITING FOR TITHE -- BOIGT FOLKS I´M GETTING GOOSE BUMPS.

I DON´T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THAT OR NOT BUT I THINK YOU CAN.

I´M LOOKING AT THE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE I JUST RENTED IF YOU WERE STANDING ON THE POOL DECK.

I QUESTIONED MYSELF.

IS THAT THE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE WSH SURELY THAT CANNOT IN FACT BE THE VIEW FROM THE HOUSE.

OR COULD IT?

I HAVE BEEN WRITING AND USING THESE CHECKS PROBABLY TEN YEARS.

AND GOD HAS BEEN LAUGHING AT ME THE WHOLE TIME.

THE NEXT DAY MY ASSISTANT DEE ANNE CAME FLEW WORK.

SHE ALSO WENT TO CHURCH WITH ME.

I ASKED HER TO PULL UP THE PICTURES FROM WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT HOUSES AND SHE HAD BEEN ON ISLAND WITH ME.

I KNEW SHE HAD TAKEN A PICTURE FROM OUT ON THE POOL DECK OF THE ONE I RENTED.

SHE PULLED OUT THE PICTURES FOR US TO REVIEW AND I LAID THE OPEN CHECKBOOK BESIDE IT FOR CHARZ COMPARISON.

I REMEMBERED DEE ANNE AND I LOOKING AT THE PICTURES AND LOOKING AT THE CHECK BECOME.

I WAS DUMBFOUNDED.

IN THE PICTURE YOU COULD SEE THE TWO PALM TREES WHERE THE HAM OKAY WAS TIED UP.

RIGHT AT THE WATER.

SEE THE PALM FRONDS AND A BIT OF THE PICTURE.

BUCK ISLAND WAS IN THE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

THE BEACH AND THE CURVE OF THE LAND ON THE LEFT SIDE WAS WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.

I WAS GOING TO LIVE IN THE HOUSE WITH A VIEW THAT GOD HAD BEEN SHOWING ME ON THAT CHECK I HAD BEEN USING FOR PERHAPS TEN YEARS AND I DIDN´T KNOW WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

>> WOW.

>> AND I TOOK THAT CHECKBOOK AND I STILL USE THOSE CHECKS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> OUT ON TO THE PORCH.

AND SHOWED THAT TO MANY PEOPLE WHEN THEY ASKED WHY DID YOU COME HERE IF YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS, NO FAMILY, AND YOU HAD NEVER STEPPED FOOT ON ST. CROIX BEFORE?

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND THAT WAS WHY.

>> AND THAT I THOUGHT WAS A THEME THROUGHOUT YOUR BOOK.

>> UM-HUM.

>> THAT THERE ARE SIGNS.

>> YES.

>> AND HIDING -- I GUESS HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT.

>> UM-HUM.

>> IS HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE IT.

AND IT´S JUST BEING OPENED, OPENED TO WHATEVER THOSE SIGNS ARE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MAY NOT GET IT RIGHT AWAY.

>> HUM-UM.

>> BUT AT SOME POINT HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING -- EVERYTHING WILL CLICK.

>> IT MAKES SENSE.

AND THE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFE I´M SURE THAT AT THE TIME IT DIDN´T MAKE ANY SENSE BUT LATER ON YOU LOOK BACK AND THE TIMING OR, LIKE, OH, NOW I UNDERSTAND.

>> UM-HUM, UM-HUM.

>> AND SO THERE WERE MANY THINGS.

AND A LOT OF THEM CAME BACK TO THINGS THAT I HAD PRAYED AND I HAD ASKED FOR.

AND PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED, NOT ALWAYS THE WAY I EXPECTED.

>> UM-HUM.

>> BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS ANSWERED BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE, I HAD ANOTHER HOUSE RENTED.

IT FELL THROUGH.

I HAD THREE DAYS ON ISLAND TO FIND NEW DWELLING THAT WE HAD TO MOVE OUR FAMILY INTO.

>> AND SO THAT IS THE PACK FAITH FIRST, BECAUSE YOU -- THIS BOOK REALLY TALKS.

>> IT DOES.

>> TALKS ABOUT A LEAP OF FAITH.

>> A LEAP AND I PRAYED AND SAID LORD.

>> A REALLY BIG LEAP.

>> HAVE A HOUSE WITHIN THREE DAYS BEFORE I LEAVE.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE LEAST EXPENSIVE HOUSE.

BUT WE DECIDED, ALL RIGHT WE´RE GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, THIS WAS IT.

THE FAMILY VOTED AND SAID, PICK THAT ONE MOM, PICK THAT ONE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS.

AND WE DID.

IT WAS LATER THAT, OH MY, I´M LOOKING AT THE HOUSE.

THIS IS THE VIEW.

>> SO IS THIS A STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY?

IS IT A STORY ABOUT TRUSTING YOURSELF?

OR TRUSTING A HIGHER POWER OR BOTH.

>> TRUSTING A HIGHER POWER.

BUT ALSO IT HAS BEEN SO REWARDING COMING INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND THE V.I.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THE WAY WE WERE WELCOMED AND THE GIFTS WE WERE GIVEN, PEOPLE WHO LEFT THE IRELAND EISLAND LITERALLY BROUGHT TRUCK LOADS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE SAYING I HAVE AN EXTRA LEAD ARE.

YOU NEED THIS.

WE FOUND A COMMUNITY HERE THAT WAS SO GIVING THAT I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYWHERE ELSE BEFORE.

AND I´VE LIVED IN SMALL TOWNS.

WE HAVE SOMETHING SO SPECIAL HERE AND MAYBE IT´S BECAUSE WE´RE AN ISLAND, AND WE HELP EACH OTHER.

BUT IT´S UNIQUE HERE THAT I HAVE NEVER FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE I´VE EVER BEEN.

>> SO IT´S ALMOST A -- A LOVE LETTER.

>> IT´S A LOVE LETTER IN THE COMMUNITY TOO.

>> UM-HUM.

>> LIKE I SAID, IF YOU READ THE BOOK, J.C., YOU KNOW OH DARK ROAD ONE NIGHT, SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND NEEDS MET, THINGS MET BEFORE THEY EVEN ASKED FOR.

AND OUR FAMILY, IF YOU KNOW US ON ISLAND, WE CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK AND TO HELP AND TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE THIS IS A MAGICAL PLACE IN MANY WAYS.

WE HAVE SOME WARTS.

EVERY COMMUNITY DOES.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT THE PEOPLE ARE THE MAGIC HERE.

>> AND SO IN TALKING ABOUT -- IN TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND I THINK IT´S -- IT´S -- I GUESS READING YOUR BOOK, PACK FAITH FIRST, SUITCASES SECOND, IT´S SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU THINK.

IT´S SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU SMILE.

IT´S SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH.

AND SO FOREPERSONS WHO ARE GOING OUT AND SAYING WELL, LET ME CHECK THIS OUT, OR WHO MAY BE ON THEIR OWN JOURNEY OF FINDING THEMSELVES AS A WRITER, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THAT PERSON?

>> THIS IS ALSO REALLY THE TELLING OF A LIFE DO-OVER.

BECAUSE WE DID A COMPLETE LIFE DO-OVER FROM LIVING IN THE MIDWEST TO THE CARIBBEANS.

I THINK YOU CAN DO A LIFE DO-OVER ANYWHERE.

WHETHER IT´S A SMALL PIECE OF YOUR LIFE OR YOU DO A HUGE TRANSFORMATION LIKE WE DID.

AND WHEN YOU START LOOKING AT THE STORY THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN, THIS IS ONE OF THE STORIES THAT I HAD.

BUT EVERYBODY HAS A STORY.

AND I HAVE A SPECIAL PASSION FOR SOME OF OUR SENIORS AND OUR ELDERS.

THEY HAVE FABULOUS STORIES THAT ARE GOING TO PASS AWAY WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY´RE NOT WRITTEN DOWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THERE ARE SOME MECHANISM WE CAN DO WITH DICTATIONS EVEN A PHONE CALL OR WHATEVER TO CAPTURE THE STORIES.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.

IF I DON´T TELL MY STORY, NOBODY IS GOING TO KNOW THAT STORY.

AND EVEN IN GENERATIONS FROM NOW, I BELIEVE AT SOME POINT MY GRAND CHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO PICK THAT UP, AND KNOW PART OF MY STORY THAT HELPS MAKE THEM WHO THEY ARE.

>> THERE IS A STORY TELLER IN EACH OF US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO FOR THE PERSON OUT THERE WHO IS THINKING, I HAVE MY OWN STORY TO TELL, WOULD YOU SAY QB JUST START?

>> JUST START.

>> JUST DO IT.

>> HERE IS A VERY EASY ASSIGNMENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO YOU THINK ABOUT ANY TOPIC THAT IS NEAR AND DEERO DEAR TO YOU.

I´D LIKE TO YOU TAKE OUT A PIECE OF PAPER OR DO IT ON A COMPUTER, TYPE IF THAT´S WHAT YOU WANT.

AND I WANT TO YOU WRITE DOWN TEN THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> IN YOUR EXPERIENCE.

>> NOW WITH THOSE TEN THINGS YOU HAVE NOW GOT THE BEGINNING FOR THE FIRST TEN CHAPTERS OF YOUR BOOK OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE INTERESTING TO YOU AND SPARK YOUR INTEREST BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT EACH ONE OF THEM.

>> SO WITH OUR TEN THINGS -- IT´S A GREAT IDEA -- I´M READY TO GO NOW FIND A PIECE OF PAPER AND START WRITING THINGS DOWN.

>> THOSE ARE YOUR BEGINNING CHAPTERS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> YOU CAN EXPAND FROM THERE.

OR YOU COULD CONTRACT, MAYBE COMBINE A COUPLE.

>> UM-HUM.

>> BUT THOSE WILL BE SOME OF YOUR KEY ELEMENTS TO GET YOU STARTED, INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE BLANK PIECE OF PAPER, GOING, I DON´T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE, I DON´T KNOW WHERE TO START.

JUST THE FIRST TEN THINGS THAT COME TO MIND, MAYBE YOU HAVE 15.

AND THEN YOU CAN PICK ONE AND TELL YOUR STORY.

AND THEN PICK THE NEXT ONE AND TELL YOUR STORY.

YOU DON´T EVEN HAVE TO DO THEM IN ORDER.

>> JUST PICK ONE.

>> PICK ONE, TELL THE STORY.

>> PICK ONE TELL THE STORY.

>> AND PRETTY SOON YOU HAVE QUITE A STORY TO BEGIN WITH, WHEREVER YOU ARE STARTING.

>> SO NOW THAT YOU HAVE A BEST SELLER.

>> UM-HUM.

>> IN A PACK FAITH FIRST, SUITCASES SECOND UNDER YOUR BELT, WHAT´S NEXT?

>> WHAT´S NEXT IS "I" WORKING ON 11 BOOKS ILL HAVE RELEASED AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.

I´M DOING THOSE AS PART OF A SERIES, SO I´M WORKING ON COHESIVE COVERS AND HAVE THOSE OUT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR BRAERL ON FINANCIAL TOPICS.

THERE IS ANOTHER PERSONAL BOOK I´VE DONE THAT STARTED OUT BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS IN A NURSING HOME BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY.

WE TOOK A TRIP ON A KATAMARAN AND I WENT TO THE BBIs AND I WROTE HAIKU.

I TOOK PICTURES AND THE STAFF THERE ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THEY SAID PLEASE PUT THIS IN A BOOK.

AND SO I AM ALSO LOOKING AS I GO, ARE THERE THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE GREAT HUGE LONG LITERARY WORKS BUT THEY´RE ANOTHER BOOK AND TELL ANOTHER STORY?

AND SO I´LL BE LOOKING FOR OTHER THINGS THAT I´VE GOT ABOUT 100 DIFFERENT IDEAS.

I DON´T HAVE TIME TO DO THEM ALL YET.

>> AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT WORK, WHICH AS WE SAID WILL FOCUS MORE ON A FINANCIAL LITERACY AND GOAL.

BUT ANOTHER STORY IN THE EVOLUTION OF AMY ROSE HERRICK.

AS A WRITER.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AMAZING.

>> HOPE THEY ARE A BLESSING AND QUICK ENJOYABLE READ.

>> WE CAN EXPECT NO LESS.

SO IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE, AMY, TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT, AMY ROSE HERRICK.

AND FOR ANY OF THE BOOKS FEATURED ON THE BOOK CASE, VISIT OUR WEBSITE, WWW .WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORS AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK WE TAKE ANOTHER BOOK FROM THE BOOK CASE.

♫♫ >> Announcer: THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, IT´S BOARD WHERE STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> AS 2021 DRAWS TO CLOSE WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH THE VURJEN ISLANDS A YEAR OF PROMISE, OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERSTY, 2022.

>> AND VIEWERS LIKE ♫♫ ♫♫ >> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

THE VIEW EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR ♫♫