About the Book
Book: She Seems So Normal
Author: Leigh Mackenzie
Genre: Nonfiction, documentary narrative on biblical trauma healing
Release date: November 15, 2022
In She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith (Brookstone Creative Group, 2022), author Leigh Mackenzie draws from scriptural expertise as a former Bible research assistant for megachurch preachers and personal experiences as a childhood sexual abuse (CSA) trauma and military rape assault survivor to speak openly and courageously about biblical trauma healing.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
As a sermon research assistant at a multisite midwestern megachurch, Leigh Mackenzie shared her love and talent to delve deeply in Scripture and extract original perspectives on teaching and personal application for her preaching team.
Known as “The Church Girl Writes” (one of 2017’s Pureflix’s Top Christian Mommy Bloggers), her professional work regularly appeared in Christian Standard magazine on subjects ranging from child trafficking and church core values to thrift store ministry and the attributes of Hannah. Her Bible study questions for The Lookout magazine, one of the nation’s oldest Bible study guides for adults, and online communion meditations for Christian Standard equipped leaders for ministry. She also has written devotional material for The Upper Room.
Catch Leigh (rhymes with “bee”) narrating “She Seems So Normal” on her podcast, reflecting on her own trauma healing journey, shattering the plastic princess, and embracing authentic faith. Follow her on IG xoxo_leighmackenzie and FB @LeighMackenzie.
Loving audiobooks and sunshine, Leigh and husband Christopher passionately explore the world, eating ethnic food, and enjoying good wine together. With a son in computer sciences at UIC and an Ethiopian daughter attending high school, the Mackenzies delight to reside in Chicago, IL with rescue dogs, Scout Charles and Louie Vuitton.
Leigh’s Superpowers: Vulnerable Honesty, Biblical Knowledge, Trustworthiness
Ministry Goals: Embrace, Encourage, and Empower trauma survivors to heal biblically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
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And now an interview with author Leigh Mackenzie. Thank you Leigh for your willingness to answer my questions.
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1. What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
#1: It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus and a message of HOPE:
Believe: Jesus heals our emotional, spiritual, physical, and relational brokenness.
Embrace: Messy stories of Church people to point them to the Savior.
Encourage: Survivors, their families, and trauma supporters to use every resource available to move forward in healing.
Empower: One another with a practical coping mechanisms toolbox for PTSD, anxiety, and depression along with de-escalation techniques through books or online resources.
Challenge: Existing views on mental health and healing as Christians.
2. What book you have read has most influenced your life?
Other than the Bible, Andy Stanley’s “How Good is Good Enough?” was a foundational work along with “Case for Christ” by Less Strobel and the “Beloved Disciple” Bible study by Beth Moore, who was my very first Bible teacher. I recently listened to Andy Stanley’s “Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World” on the recommendation of the co-author of my next book, “Stories Not Shared on Sundays: Why We Feel Like Imposters In Church.” Stanley’s ideas floored me and made me think differently about the New and Old Testaments.
3. Who is your favorite author?
My former spiritual mentor, Francine Rivers, though we write in completely different genres, is a a role model with the utmost integrity and incredible insight on relevant modern issues. Everything you think you know about Frani, you’re right. She’s absolutely amazing and above reproach, a Christian woman whose faith and life I hope to emulate one day.
I also adore Amor Towles for his incredible historical fiction novels, Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time series), and the incomparable Corrie ten Boom. #micdrops
Because of my PTSD and abuse, I am hypersensitive and hypervigilant, so I prefer silence. Living in Chicago, I sometimes have to use noise-cancelling headphones. 🙂 However, I also have been working and writing with ambient Christian music a lot lately. William Augusto’s “Soaking in His Presence” is one of my recent favorites.
5. If I review one of your books, what do you want to read from me?
Joy, if you reviewed one of my books, I pray you would tell people it made a monumental difference in your life to read what I’ve written, that it pointed you (or others!) to JESUS in the compassion you felt for yourself or others who struggle, seeing Jesus as the answer to every believer’s problems and questions, and, that WE AS THE CHURCH–the emissaries of Christ in a broken and deperate world–are the plan to help rescue others from the enemy and triumph by the Blood of the Lamb and the WORD of our testimony, to share the goodness of God in the land of the living. (Revelation 12:11, Psalm 23:13)
Sorry, just a little passionate! It’s not about me; it’s always about Jesus. I am simply a servant of the Most High God.
6. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Ohhhhh, I always wanted to be a singer. That dream started and ended when I was five (you’ll hae to read the book to understand why!), though I’ve gone on in later years to lead worship onstage.
7. Give us 6 things your readers may not know about you?
–I’m horrifically introverted, but became a “high-functioning introvert” to survive early abusers.
–My happiest spaces are harmonizing with my favorite singers (onstage with my BFF, Worship Leader Amanda Wollbrink or at home with my son Julian), snuggling with my husband’s arms around me, or when deeply connecting with my teen daughter, Bella.
–My favorite coffee drink is a Venti Blonde Latte with 2% milk, sugar-free vanilla, and whipped cream. *wink, wink*
–Jesus called to me as a little girl, but I wasn’t baptized until my early 30s after our biological son, Julian, was born in 2002. His birth, innocence, and perfection 100% brought me to Christ, as I asked how such a lovely baby could ever be born to such a wretched woman as me…
–When I look at myself, I often hate what I see, hearing the words of abusers long dead spewing lies from the pits of hell instead of believing what Jesus sees in me. Trauma healing is a lifelong process. We get closer as we fall upon the mercy of the Cross, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorification of our Messiah.
–I’ve taught all over the world leading missionary trips to Ethiopia, India, Brazil, and Ecuador. My passion is for people of the world to know Jesus, no matter what our history is (every nation, tribe and tongue… Revelation 7:9).
8. Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Many times while writing “She Seems So Normal,” I wanted to scrap the entire manuscript and simply delete it all. At times, I begged the Lord to release me to just be a stay-at-home mom, a wife, a regular “Plastic Princess Church Girl” and not put this book out into the world. Couldn’t I just go through trauma therapy, act “normal”, and no one had to know the dirty little secrets of my past, my struggles with faith, marriage, and parenting, or as a survivor of repeated childhood sexual abuse? Yet, I was never released…
These aren’t “popular” Christian issues (predatory grooming, abuse, neglect, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, dysfunctional relationships, PTSD) and long ago they would labeled it a “brown bag book”–if you purchased it in Christian bookstores, the clerk would give you a bag to hide the fact that you bought it.
However, in December 2021, I knew God was pressing it upon my heart to publish. Though other publishers were interested a few years back, long before Epstein/Weinstein/Cosby/Nasser/Lauer, it was probably “too heavy” in pre-pandemic 2019. With the Lord’s leading and many confirmations, my husband and I decided to independently publish this work NOW.
Readers, YOU are the reason for my writing, for sharing the “hard things” I’ve endured. I’ve done my absolute best to protect you from getting triggered or having shame, trying to provide you or your loved ones resources so you won’t struggle like I did for so long.
My “fans” (?I don’t know about that word!) and readers push me to become better because I love them and the authentic Leigh Mackenzie is what they deserve… but even more than that, Friends, CHRIST loves you.
Readers, I hope you read these wonderful questions and answers from Leigh. What wonderful, profound answers she gives us. I am reading these answers over again, and will read this book. Leigh truly has a heart for our Lord, and is excited about reaching others for Him!
More from Leigh
What inspired you to start a podcast and publish a book on biblical trauma healing? Why now?
I held my breath watching the Olympic gymnasts’ abuse testimony before Congress, bracing myself against a PTSD episode of my own in response.
Epstein, Cosby, McCarrick, R. Kelley… names representing mankind’s disturbing sin reverberated within me. Many survivor stories remain deeply hidden, scarring the souls of the abused and their abusers. Questions arise: How could this happen? Where was God? Is Jesus enough?
At the time, I felt like there weren’t a lot of hopeful, non-triggering stories containing solid answers from a biblical, medical, or community standpoint of healing. It was frustrating, so in December 2021, I began my indie-publishing odyssey.
She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith is a documentary narrative of a journey to unearth long-hidden, heinous childhood sexual abuse. As a megachurch biblical researcher for preachers, I was the picture of “put together, Plastic Princess” on the outside, but inside I was dying, believing the enemy’s lies, and wondering what’s wrong with my faith. When I stepped away from the grave of fearful rule-following legalism and into the gardens to embrace authentic faith, I found avenues of recovery and restoration for anxiety, trauma, and shame with Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists, and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Can we start a church movement of welcoming messy stories and accepting transparent instead of perfect so you can feel free to #ShowYourCrown, too? I think we can.
Who supported you through your valley of trauma therapy?
There were so many who prayed and supported me in this process, giving me courage and hope and, at times, a swift kick in the fanny to keep me going. I can’t name them all, but you’ll see how Dr. Michele Novotni, my family, and Allison Harris rallied around me through the horrors of the cemetery to bring me into the gardens of God’s delight and rest.
Friend and mentor Dr. Michele Novotni was my “old ox” leading, encouraging, and energizing me throughout EMDR therapy, helping me process post-session, developing coping strategies, and grounding me in faith with prayerful intercession.
Then there was my unbelievable little family… my faithful husband, Christopher, and our incredible kids, who unreservedly offered pickle jars, lullaby songs, and cooking lessons on clarifying butter for baklava… but you’ll have to read the book to understand.
Another friend in church leadership, my magazine publisher’s wife, Allison Harris, told me to write through this season (this is all her fault!) and supported me through prayer as I courageously marched into the trauma therapy that helped resolve my underlying issues for long-term PTSD, panic attacks, nightmares, suicidal ideations, and eating disorders (all of which are common symptoms as a result of sexual abuse).
Wait, do you have a legit recipe for Baklava?
Yes, but you’d have to torture me to give up our friend’s family recipe! It’s SOOOO good. And I’ve suffered enough trying to make it… ha-ha.
No, seriously.
Tell us about some cool extra features you included in She Seems So Normal.
Writing a sensitive book about sensitive subject matter, I passionately wanted to provide more multimedia resources for getting the help, support, or knowledge survivors, family, friends, or pastoral staff might need while reading. So I’ve sprinkled QR Codes throughout the book instantaneously linking people to online sites. You’ll also see little crowns with numbers corresponding to 60 podcast episodes where I’ve narrated and commentated my post-writing thoughts. BONUS: I included interviews with a couple key players you’ll not get inside the book because I wanted you to hear other voices of my champions, not just mine.
Isn’t it enough to just pray and have faith that Jesus will heal you? What role did the medical community play in your journey?
When I accepted Jesus Christ, I tried my best to clean up my act. Heck, I even stopped cussing and getting drunk! From Bible study and praying to leading small groups and serving funeral dinners, everything I saw other respectable Christians doing I began copying to act normal, becoming like a “Plastic Princess.” I served till the cows came home; I was just so thankful Jesus saved my soul from hell.
You can put lipstick on a pig, but that doesn’t make her a lady. For years I wondered what was wrong with me, why I didn’t always have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I begged Jesus to forgive me, to heal me, to rescue me from myself, wondering secretly, Was I even saved?
Severely traumatized and needing professional medical help, my therapist and other doctors helped me find peace with my past abuse by unravelling abusive grooming cycles to reveal my true identity in Jesus Christ. Along with the glorious work of the Holy Spirit, they played a valuable part in sweeping up the shattered pieces of Little Me, Middle Me, and Teen Me to make me whole and serve the Lord once again.
Who should listen to the podcast or read “She Seems So Normal”?
Many women silently endure the after-effects of trauma, so I am writing
for the 1 in 3 women in the U. S. who have experienced “sexual violence.”
(https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/sexual-violence/index.html) This book is
for the suffering Christian who may question her salvation or be losing
hope that Jesus is big enough to heal her, who has limited outlets to begin exploring
these topics (mental health wellness, predatory grooming, suicidal ideation, sexual abuse) except between the covers of a book. She may look the picture of “put together”
on the outside but on the inside, she is dying, believing the enemy’s lies, and
wondering what’s wrong with her faith.
The podcast and book are also for FAMILY, FRIENDS, and CHURCH STAFF looking for ways to support and understand those in their lives who have been traumatized.
Are you working on other projects?
Yeah, I’m jazzed and honored to be co-authoring with the amazing Randy Petersen on two projects. The first, Stories Not Shared on Sundays (and Why We Feel Like Imposters In Church), will combine modern stories of Church people with many lesser-known, uncomfortable Bible stories (and their messy characters!) not normally preached in a 52-week sermon schedule to help churches create more authentic, transparent environments with a broader acceptance and understanding of those who aren’t “perfect” for them to encounter a Savior who is.
As an extension of his work for the American Bible Society’s State of the Bible in America, we are also in the beginning planning stages for The Five Major Cultural Shifts the Church Has To Make To Be Relevant based on research and statistics over the last ten years by ABS about the state of faith, the church, and Christian culture in America.
There are a few other books in the works, too, about parenting across two generations written with my Gen Z son; a few evangelistic death stories; and “The Rest of the 23rd” as well.
Stay tuned.
Blog Stops
Texas Book-aholic, December 9
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 10
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 11
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 12
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 13
Inklings and notions, December 14
An Author’s Take, December 15
Cover Lover Book Review, December 16
Splashes of Joy , December 17 (Author Interview)
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 17
deb’s Book Review, December 18
Guild Master, December 19 (Author Interview)
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 20
Spoken from the Heart, December 21 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, December 21
Rebecca Tews, December 22
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Leigh is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card along with a “She Seems So Normal” #showyourcrown pin and sticker along with a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/23057/she-seems-so-normal-celebration-tour-giveaway
splashesofjoy 