Today, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Wanda Luthman. Let’s get started!

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What is your name and where are you from?

Wanda Luthman. I grew up in St. Louis, MO but was born in NC, spent a few years in Florida, and two beautiful years in Hawaii, and now I’m back in Florida.

Hawaii. Okkaay. Are you employed outside of writing?

I’m a High School Guidance Counselor. I have 350 students that I track for graduation and help them with emotional issues as well as career advice throughout their high school years. I love my job, my school, my co-workers, and most especially the children/young adults.

I love it. Any siblings?

I have two siblings—a brother and a sister. I’m the baby of the three of us.

In your own words, what is love?

Love is magic. Whenever you think of love, you know something magical is there. Whether it’s between husband and wife or parent and child, you feel something extra there that is indescribable. And when you see a tragedy and then you see the helpers, you know there is love and those people are working miracles in the lives of others. That’s what love is. It’s powerful and changes lives.

I love what you said about tragedies and seeing helpers and knowing there’s love there! Wanda, what’s your favorite color?

My favorite color is blue or purple. I love them both equally! And they’re related on the color wheel.

Who is your favorite writer?

My favorite writer is Dr. Seuss.

What kind of music do you like?

I love country music because it tells a story but I love all kinds of music from classical (I used to play the piano) to Gospel to Rock ‘n Roll.

Let’s talk about writing some more. When did you publish your first book? What was that like?

I published my first book in October 2014. I used a service that cost a lot of money to publish but it was worth it to see my dream become a reality!!

I can definitely understand the feeling of seeing your dream come true for sure. Don’t pay a lot of money to get your book published again though! It shouldn’t cost you anything to publish your book. If it does, run. Are you married Wanda? How long?

Yes, I have been married for 23 wonderful years.

Wonderful! Do you have children?

Yes, I have 5 children. 1 that is my own biological child and 4 that are step-children.

Awesome. Are you a spiritual person?

I am a deeply spiritual person. I grew up in a Christian home and was a very concrete thinker so I tried to do everything perfectly. I quickly realized I couldn’t be perfect. I gave that up and had a few tumultuous years of experimenting. But, then, I came back around and married someone I thought was also a Christian. It turns out, he wasn’t a very nice person. I went against my beliefs and filed for a divorce and felt incredibly liberated. I then went on a spiritual journey and read all kinds of spiritual books from all different kinds of religions and attended several different types of churches. I then realized I still believed in my Christian faith but I wasn’t going to follow rules just to follow rules. I was going to be true to myself. As I became more real, I encountered God on a whole new level. I learned to meditate and I do what I do because it’s who I am not because I “should.” This is what being spiritual is to me, it’s about a relationship with a living God that lives in, through, and around me. Religion to me is more about a set of rules and trying to live up to those rules. No one can be perfect. That’s why we need Jesus and forgiveness. We need to forgive ourselves as much as we need to forgive others. And love is the key to everything.

I agree that love is the key to everything.

Thank you Wanda for spending this time with us. We enjoyed you!

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Bio.

Wanda Luthman has her Masters of Arts in both Mental Health Counseling and Guidance Counseling from Rollins College located in beautiful Winter Park, Florida. She has worked as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Adjunct Professor, and Hospice Counselor for teens. She’s currently a Guidance Counselor at a local High School. She is an award-winning, best-selling, international author who has self-published 5 children’s books (The Lilac Princess, A Turtle’s Magical Adventure, Gloria and the Unicorn, Little Birdie, and Franky the Finicky Flamingo). She is a former National Pen Women of Cape Canaveral. She belongs to the Florida’s Writers Association; Space Coast Authors; and Brevard Authors Forum. She presently resides in Brevard County Florida with her husband of 23 years and 2 dogs. Her daughter is away at college, like Little Birdie, she has left the nest.

Be Sure to Follow Wanda Online!

Website/blog: https://wandaluthman.wordpress.com

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/wluthman/

https://www.facebook.com/wanda.luthman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wandalu64

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCskx2N_lGOY9ZHwkb46BHaA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wandalu64

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+WandaLuthman

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/wandaluthman

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wluthman/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wandaluthman/

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