I'm here today with Lucy Irving, author of the best selling true story of her life, My Cry to God.
Maria: 1: Welcome, Lucy! Tell me a little about yourself and your childhood?
Lucy: My name is Lucy Irving and I'm 38 years old. I'm from a little town called Minden, Louisiana. I'm a wife, mom, best selling author, podcaster, youtuber, and an advocate. Since a child, I have been a victim of abuse, both physical and mental. The first time I remember my head being thrown into a window I was 5 years old. At 14 years old, my 26 year old brother stripped my clothes and beat me with a wire clothes hanger. I could go on and on about the abuse I suffered as there was an enormous amount. I was taught at a young age that love hurts. As I became an adult, I assumed that all relationships were full of abuse. I was taught that it was normal, but now I know that's a lie. Today, I focus on teaching others who have been deceived like me that love does not hurt!
Maria: That's a great ministry. You can help many people get out of abusive relationships.
Maria: 2: Tell me about your new book?
Lucy: My new book is the true story about my life. My Cry to God details the child and spousal abuse that I've suffered through. The deaths of three of my precious children, five miscarriages, cervical cancer cell surgeries twice, addiction, over dose, mental health and more. It tells the world about the horrible trauma that I've lived through and details the pain. It shows others that God can give you the strength to live through anything and that you have the strength inside of you to make it!
Maria: I can imagine how hard it must have been to relive all that horror while writing your story.
Maria: 3: What do you focus on most about your story?
Lucy: My oldest child, my only daughter, died during one of the attacks on me from my abusive ex-husband. Since everything in my story starts with domestic violence, I tend to focus on the abuse part of my story the most.
Maria: I'm deeply sorry for your loss. How tragic.
Maria: 4: Give me an example of the abuse in your life?
Lucy: Many people in my life who I loved with all of my heart have beat me throughout my life. Most people deal with one abuser, but for me abuse has followed me my entire life. To this very day I still deal with it, but as an adult, I refuse to allow the abuser to take over my life and ever get away with it again. Just two years ago my much older brother attempted to attack me by hitting me in the head with a metal car jack as I ran. I locked myself in the house and called the police. I have been beat with wire clothes hangers, extension cords, backed into by a car, and much more. The day that I finally had the strength to get out of my abusive marriage, my former husband beat me severely with a golf club and I thank God I made it out alive.
Maria: You have suffered so much physical abuse that I can only imagine the damage it did to you emotionally. However, you were able to overcome a tremendous amount and it sounds like you got your strength from God.
Maria: 5: Tell me more about what your story has done and what you want to accomplish with it?
Lucy: My Cry to God has taken me to California. It has touched people all over the world. My story made it to Australia and has literally been a hope to people all over the world. My goal is to give people hope, uplift them, encourage them to keep going, and to show them how good God is. After everything I've been through, I am able to be a voice to others when they feel that they don't have one.
Maria: How amazing it is that your story has reached across the globe enabling you to make an even bigger impact than you probably ever imagined. Spreading the news that God is good is a powerful message.
Maria: 6: Tell me more about the things you do with your story?
Lucy: I know that my story is meant for more than just social media, so I am patiently awaiting many other things happening for my story. In the meantime, I have the hashtag #choosinghappinessaftertrauma. I am now doing a podcast and YouTube under this name along with groups and pages everywhere through social media. I believe that happiness is a choice that God gives us. Is it easy? Never. I have struggled my entire life with my faith yet refuse to ever let it go.
Maria: You sound like a very busy woman! Keep up the faith!
Maria: 7: Tell me how big My Cry to God has gotten?
Lucy: I have had the honor of being a blessing to others and helping them through their trauma. Nothing feels better, but I have done so many interviews, podcasts, blogs and magazines. In February, I was blessed to be on the Something Good's About to Happen TV show in Houston and now I'm waiting for it to air. I'm extremely excited that My Cry to God is now on the Amazon best seller list. I have always wanted to do more, but I never truly imagined that it would become a best seller.
Maria: Congratulations to all your successes!
Maria: 8: Who is Lucy as a person?
Lucy: Beyond strong! Determination is my middle name! I never give up. I never stop, and I will never give up on my dream of being part of changing the world for the better.
Maria: You go, girl!
Maria: 9: If you could go back in time and tell young Lucy anything, what would it be?
Lucy: I would say to young Lucy, "You are not a punching bag, or a door mat, and love does not hurt. On the days you feel down, the days that you feel like you're all alone, you need to know that is God with you. He never leaves you and will carry you when you don't have the strength to crawl. There are so many people in the world that are also going through so much trauma. There is nothing to be afraid of. Your story will one day change people's lives, so you should never be afraid to tell your story!"
Maria: I'm glad you're able to make a difference in people's lives!
Maria: 10: How can people connect with you, and follow your journey, and your story?
Lucy: Facebook Personal Page: Lucy Irving
Facebook Book Group: (Book) My Cry to God The true story
Facebook Podcast Group: The "Choosing Happiness After Trauma" with Lucy Irving Podcast
Facebook Author Page: Lucy Irving (Author)
YouTube Page: Choosing Happiness After Trauma show
Tumblr: Lucy Irving
Linkedln: Lucy Irving
Instagram: lucyirvingauthor
lucyirving97@yahoo.com
Podbean.com: Choosing Happiness After Trauma with Lucy Irving
Maria: Lucy, thank you for joining me on my blog and taking the time to interview. May you continue to make this world a better place.
I agree completely Maria...more women need to speak up!!
Reena, Lucy's story is heartbreaking and we only know a portion of it from the interview. Hopefully, this "Close-to-the-Heart" type of topic can offer hope to even more people from this interview.
This interview breaks my heart for Lucy...she is one courageous woman to talk about the abuse she had to endure. Thanks for this interview Maria❤️
Maria,you're welcome! Lucy's story is very powerful. You helped her to bring awareness to an extremely tough issue.
Lori, thank you! This was the first interview on my blog. I hope to do more. Lucy has a powerful story to tell, so I'm glad I'm able to help put it out there.