Interview With Author Lois Requist

  

 

1.      What inspired you to write this book? I’d already written much of my memoir when I began to hear news reports about White Supremist rallies with marchers chanting “Jews will not replace us” and the Christian Identity movement. I grew up in a church that was part of those beliefs. Though I’d left those teachings behind, I was appalled to learn how many people have
bought into these ideas. As a child I didn’t know; as an adult I learned how racist the movement was. The influence on our federal government is alarming, just one of many actions that have severely divided the country and caused many to fear for the survival of democracy. Americans need to understand what the white supremacists and the Christian Identity Movement are and their influence upon our government.

 

2.      What exactly is it about and who is it written for? It is about my life—growing up, first in a hell-bent religion and then in a Christian Identity group—and where I went from there. How I questioned these beliefs. How writing enabled me to understand and express my feelings. I chose to leave the church, but I didn’t want to leave my family, so it is also about maintaining
relationships with people I love but don’t agree with. It’s for anyone interested in the impact of religious views on current politics and how to maneuver in this divided world.

 

3.      What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? That faith is a choice, one that everyone should be free to make for themselves. Everyone should learn what my mother taught me: basic goodness, kindness, and respect for oneself and others.

 

4.      How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? That was easy. I asked a local artist to draw a picture of a young woman walking away from a church.

 

5.      What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!? Whether you are writing for money or fulfillment or both, keep on keeping on. Join writing groups. Other writers are often excellent editors and supporters.

 

6.      What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? It’s easier than ever to get published but harder to get people to read what you’ve written. I expect that situation to persist. Still, book clubs proliferate around the country. That’s a good sign.

 

7.      Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? My book is about my life, so all the experiences I wrote about made me what I am today. I’m 87 and I have many friends and family with whom I have good relationships. I enjoy life! I’m heathy, active, and want to share that, leaving my faith expanded my horizons.

 

8.      How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to? My writing style is direct, down-to-earth, and easily accessible. I don’t write about faith from as theology, but simply, what happened in my life.

 

9.      What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book? My sister is a preacher in a Christian Identity group. I worried about her reading it and being upset, but when I gave her the manuscript, she read it, she didn’t argue. She just said it reflected my viewpoint. Getting published is always challenging, unless you are one of those selected by the few top publishers. I had a publisher but eventually broke the contract and chose to publish it myself. 

 

10.  If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? It’s relevant to what is happening in the United States right now! The book speaks of challenges with beliefs, with family relationships, with my own understanding of the world. It is hopeful and not judgmental. As I mentioned before, people need to understand the goals of the White Supremicists and the Christian Identity Movement. They would like a Christian nation without any place for anyone who isn’t Christian. The separation of church and state is extremely important! Wikipedia has quite a
good, historical account of the Christian Identity Movement. Leaving the Faith of our Fathers doesn’t dodge reality! It provides hope in a divided world. 

 

About The Author: Requist received her BA and MA in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Her four published books are Where Lilacs Bloom, RVing Solo Across America, without a cat, dog, man, or gun, Late Harvest Green, and Leaving the Faith of our Fathers. She is a founder of Benicia Literary Arts, a nonprofit which promotes writing and publishing in the community. She’s published many articles for magazines and regional newspapers including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Benicia Herald. She was poet laureate of Benicia, California
from 2012-2014. For more info, please see: www.loisrequist.com.         

 

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About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2026, 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum