Author and Advocate Sandra Felecia Aims to Inspire Hope and Self-Love in New Novel, "The Affirmation of Me"

On January 22, 2013, Sandra Felecia received the worst news of her life. Her sister and best friend, Laletha, died from cancer. It was the second cancer death in her family, arriving just months after a bitter divorce from her husband. Hurt and questioning the value of her own life,Felecia prayed for direction – and shortly after her plea for help, a dream surfaced that not only would bring her clarity, but ultimately save her life. That moment birthed the publication of her first novel, “The Affirmation of Me,” available now on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble.

“The Affirmation of Me” is a captivating and intimate story that delves into Felecia’s personal journey through adversity and self-doubt to uncover God’s love and intentions for her life. It contains candid accounts of her exposure to drug abuse and her experiences with rape, violence and death. The main message however, is that despite her obstacles, an unwavering faith and belief in God helped her to develop an appreciation for life and her place in it. That is a message she feels compelled to share with the public.

“Many of us have a tendency to seek affirmation and confirmation from others when it comes to our value as individuals,” Felecia said. “We let people and events define us and that can lead to us feeling inadequate. My book is symbolic of my path to discovering my true value and purpose and it points out that the affirmation you have been seeking can only be given by one person, God. He wants you to see Him through His eyes – eyes of love.”

Today, as a mother of four, Felecia’s focus is on being a source of love, giving back to her community and using her testimony to uplift others. A former Miami-Dade County Public Schools teacher and an ordained minister, she used her experience to start Abundant Life Ministries-Hope House, Inc., an organization that supports teenage boys who have been abandoned, abused, orphaned or neglected. She also is a member of the advisory council at two schools in her district and supports the education committee at the Flagler chapter of the NAACP.

“My soft spot really is the youth, especially young men since I am a mother to four boys,” Felecia said. “Education is also extremely important to me. I want to do everything I can to help young people realize their potential and become productive members of society.”

Another priority of hers is helping people to recognize that building a relationship with God is the key to learning to love themselves and others. That relationship, she says, can also reveal to people their true purpose – because after all, it is everyone’s duty to give back and contribute to society in some way. It took her years to understand what she had to offer the world, but she learned that even a little can go a long way.

“It’s not about the quantity of time,” she said. “It’s what you do with the time that you’ve been given.”

Sandra Felecia’s book “The Affirmation of Me” can be purchased at Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble. To learn more about Sandra Felecia, visit www.sandrafelecia.me. To secure an interview or to book her for a speaking engagement, contact intriguemg@gmail.com