"Q&A With Leah Hernandez"

July 28, 2017

Book: Try God

Photos Courtesy of Leah Hernandez

Author: Leah Hernandez

Author Bio:

Leah Hernandez is a sophomore Business Administration major at Clark Atlanta University. Born and raised in Fontana, California. Leah is CEO and Founder of Purposeful Millennials Publishing Company. She made this business to empower and develop a clientele of millennial best-selling authors.

In a society that believes the millennial generation has gone through life aimlessly, she wants to promote and prove just how purposeful this generation can be. Leah lives her life by the quote “love is the regulating factor”- Martin Luther King Jr. Leah’s purpose is to love others and to allow God’s light to shine through her.

She plans to continuously outpour all the knowledge and wisdom that has been outpoured to her, to ensure that everyone is given the same and equal opportunities to excel.

1. What made you write this book? Why should people read this book?

I was on a cultural trip in China and one of the students, Auston Pratt, had wrote a book titled Psych Ward Genius. After reading his book, God spoke so clearly and told me to write a book about my experience with obtaining a relationship with Him. After trying to deny it for all 5 minutes I then gave in and wrote my preface in Shanghai, China.

People should read this book because often times religion does not teach people how to have a relationship with God and that's really all God wants everything else will fall into place once a relationship is established.

I not only want people to have a relationship with God but an authentic relationship with God. The objective of this book is for readers to move out of a complacent relationship with God and give people the tools to keep a relationship with God instead of falling off.

2. Being a first-time author, what were some publication issues you dealt with?

I knew initially I wanted to self-publish, however, I didn't know many people who had written books. So the biggest challenge was researching and learning about the book publishing industry.

3. How has putting God first in your life, been transformational and what are some steps people can take to do this?

Placing God at the center of my life has helped my insecurities, enhanced my relationships with family and friends, broadened my goals, established my business and most importantly my relationship with God has shown me what my purpose is. Anyone wanting a relationship with God should seek God with all of their heart. And seeking God with all of your heart means being real with God letting Him into your heart whether it's broken or damaged.

4. How did you balance school and writing a book?

I had a lot of sleepless nights! Lol, But ultimately writing a book was something I was committed to so because I was so committed I found the time in between classes, after work, and on the weekends. I had to sacrifice but it was all worth it.

5. What is the best book you have read in 2017?

Doing Business By The Good Book by David L.Steward

"Placing God at the center of my life has helped my insecurities, enhanced my relationships with family and friends, broadened my goals, established my business and most importantly my relationship with God has shown me what my purpose is."

6. What is the best advice you have received on happiness?

Not to have happiness, because happiness is a reaction to a feeling you get when something good happens. But instead, have joy because nobody can take your joy away. Joy last during the good and bad times.

7. What was your writing process like for this book?

Prayer and fasting. When I came back from China I had two months of summer vacation so I fasted from sweets and eating meat. I did this because I knew this book was bigger than me and I wanted to ensure I was hearing God clearly. I was working full time as well so I would write after 8-9 hour shifts and even wake up early to write before I went in for work.

8. What is your best advice for getting through writer’s block?

To go back to the reason why you said yes to writing the book in the first place. What was the purpose of the book? Who was it for? And why did your audience need to read your book? Answering those three questions lights the fire back inside of you to finish writing.

9. Do you plan on writing more books in the future?

Of course! I already have 5 more books on my list to write lol