Speaking Topics

Writer’s Focus:

A Road Map to Research: Researching that WIP doesn’t have to be a drag, it should be the most exciting thing about writing, second only to a contract. In this talk, Valerie outlines the key steps toward sorting though this information age to find the tidbits you need to make that WIP ready to drive toward publication. This talk is geared for all writing genres with a focus toward fiction or non-fiction upon request.

Women’s Focus:

Forgive Yourself: Often the word forgiveness makes us roll our eyes and cross our arms. Sometimes asking ourselves, ‘Why do I have to forgive first?’ In this talk, Valerie highlights the importance of forgiveness to a woman’s spiritual journey, and how in order to release the pain and bitterness the first person we have to forgive is US.  Because without forgiving ourselves we make it harder to recieve forgiveness even the forgiveness of our Heavenly Father. This topic can be geared toward both Christian and non-Christian groups upon request.

God’s Healing Grace: Sometimes the pain is too deep. Sometimes the pain has been there for too long, and the healing process seems too hard. But God is the great physician and can heal your wounds no matter how long you have tried to keep them from His eyes.  This encouraging talk focuses on having the courage and faith to dig out the old scabs and let the healing power of God’s grace and love healing you from the inside out.

Children/Teen Topics

Digging Up Jesus: Jesus is old. Jesus is boring. Who talks like that anymore. Many times this is what teens have to say about Jesus, Christianity, and the Bible, even if they’ve grown up in the church. But there’s no reason reading the Bible and discovering a teens faith can’t be like Indiana Jones or National Treasure. Many times teens attend church and claim Christianity, because that’s where their parents drag them every Sunday, but the way to make Christianity stick is for a teen to be able to make their own decision about Christ. This talk focuses on what is cool and mind blowing about Christ, the Bible, and Christianity, so that your teen will want to pull out their own shovel and dig up the truth.

The Monster in the Closet: Who wants to talk to their kids about sex? Did you just blush? Why? Sex is everywhere, sex is biblical, and your teens probably know more than they should. This talk encourages parents and teens to communicate with one another, as well as talking about what the Bible and God has to say about sex.  This topic can be geared toward parents, teens, or for youth conferences upon request.

How to Help Children Grieve: Sometimes the hardest thing for kids is to deal with feelings and emotions they don’t understand. This talk goes over the five steps of grief and what that means for children, whether it’s a death in the family, sickness, or divorce. In each of these children can sense the pain of their parents and need help understanding what that means for their own security and lives.