Derrich would have turned 34 last month, but that wasn’t the plan God had for his life. Instead, it’s been 34 years ago that his short 12 hours and 31 minutes on earth changed his mother’s life forever! You can even say that his tiny lifespan of only half a day changed the course of history, depending on which book you read.
Angel in My Room
You won’t find Derrich Hopkins mentioned in any history book. However, he is the focus of my second book, Angel in My Room. This heart wrenching yet uplifting story is just as factual as any history book. Actually it’s probably even more factual as it was told by someone who was there to witness the entire journey for herself, his mother – Lillie Hopkins.
As the author, I interviewed Lillie and gathered all the details of her story which she had kept quiet for over 30 years. It was simply too painful for her to discuss, but she knew her story had to be told. It’s a beautiful story of love, compassion, and forgiveness. What surprised me was the different reactions from people. I never thought my book would have received such mixed emotions because I naively assumed people would simply believe what I wrote.
Readers’ Favorite Book Reviewer Molly Edwards said “Angel in My Room is a heartwarming, emotionally moving story of hope and life. Ms. Collier’s ability to take profound moments in reality and put them into such emotionally packed words is absolutely incredible. She takes an incident in life and turns it into a testimony. It’s a testimony that in tragic times there is still something that can move you, something that can give you hope and faith. A strong message of pushing forward and moving on is superbly evident in the writing of Ms. Collier. I can definitely say that this is one of the best written memoir stories I’ve read to date.”
Undoubtedly, she is a believer, both of hope in Christ, and in what I wrote.
Thomas Nelson Book Reviewer D. Kinney said “Another thing that bothered me about the book was the mention of the angel in her room. She writes that Lillie’s baby in the form of an angel appeared to her in her hospital room. There is no mention of the possible side-effects to the heavy dose of painkillers she was on or the unbiblical description of a baby with wings. Angels are described as heavenly beings, not as babies with wings. That cherubic depiction is man made. This makes me question the authenticity of the angel Lillie saw.”
Undoubtedly, she doesn’t believe what I wrote.
Why should I be hurt, surprised, or offended if everyone does not accept the book as a true story? It’s Lillie Hopkins’ inspirational story of love, compassion, and forgiveness. All I wanted to do was tell her story to help others struggling with those same issues in life. I never imagined anyone who chose to read it would be skeptical.
However, after I thought about it, I realized that I shouldn’t be surprise. People question The Bible all the time. Some believe while others don’t. Some call it the greatest book ever written. (YES, it absolutely is!!!) Others say it’s just a farce, and we shouldn’t believe anything written in the bible. As a Christian and born-again believer, I believe by faith. It’s just that simple. So why should I wonder why some may not believe what I wrote when they don’t even believe what the bible says.
In this modern world, it just proves that skeptics are everyone. Perhaps people tend to be naysayers more frequently than they tend to be optimistic and supportive. What I have learned is that should not stop me from writing. By sharing my insecurities about my writing with you, I hope you learn not to be swayed by the opinion that others may have about you. Be encouraged to do what you feel passionate about even if that means accepting criticism. Everyone will not be supportive of you or your ideas, but that doesn’t make them any less valid. The truth is the truth whether anyone accepts it or not. Don’t wonder why everyone does not support your ideas and ambitions. If you believe in what you are doing, then it shouldn’t matter if others are supportive or not. I write because God gave me the passion for it, and by His grace, I will continue being a storyteller until He is through with me. I write for Him, not myself, so I proclaim this day that I will no longer wonder.
For more information about Angel in My Room, please visit my website:
Click here to listen to the talk show interview which prompted this book.
I am looking for honest opinions and critiques of my writing. I learn how to reach an audience by listening to readers. If you have already read Angel in My Room, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.com at this link. You can leave a review even if you didn’t purchase the book on Amazon. Just click here to post a review.
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Lillie Hopkins and Betty at a book signing