WoF:     You’ve written a number of books over the years.  Was it hard to come up with yet another book idea?

Patsy:     Actually, I have more ideas than brains.  I have so many ideas that I don’t know if in my lifetime I could take advantage of them all. I like to come up with ideas for other people; it helps me get some of the ideas out of my head.

WoF:    If you had to boil down the message of All Cracked Up into one or two sentences, what would they be?

Patsy:     Hmmmm . . . I would say that the book is several things.  It’s a conversation starter, for one thing.  It’s written in teeny-tiny form to help kickstart our brains.  The heartbeat of the book is being reminded page after page that no matter how broken something is, God says that it has value

WoF:     Why is that so important?

Patsy:     Because I don’t know anyone who isn’t broken, who isn’t all cracked up in one way or another.  We’re all in need of hope. I don’t think there’s anything more hope-giving than redemption.

WoF:    The book is divided into three main sections (with terrific names). 
What’s the significance of “Cracked Pots”, “Wisecrackers”, and “Going Crackers”?

Patsy:     Cracked pots: Here again we’re back to defining humanity. We are broken vessels and we wonder, how can we possibly have any value with all our frailty?

Wisecrackers: It’s not only the element of fun, but also our need for truth.  Truth helps fill in some of the fissures of our soul.

Going Crackers:  That’s me on a daily basis. I am always just one step away from a little rubber room. I’m very grateful to know I’m not alone! The joy of the journey is in learning to laugh about yourself. We are intense people because we have big troubles . . . big, big troubles.  Every once in a while a good hearty laugh at ourselves and the rest of world helps put things back in perspective

WoF:     Within each section you have a lot of bite-sized chapters.  What prompted you to choose that format?

Patsy:      Several things. I’m only 5 feet tall, so I’m given to short, though it might be repetitious for both me and the book to be short (chapter-wise). I find that most people are busy and they don’t feel that they have a great deal of time to give to reading War and Peace. So a little cracked-up chapter tends to be a little more appealing. Also, moms don’t have a whole lot of time because they’re busy chasing their young ‘uns.  This format gives people the opportunity to dip in and out quickly. I have passion for reading but I know there are many people out there who genuinely don’t like to read. I’m hoping that the short chapters will invite them in and feel more hospitable than longer ones would.

WoF:     Why is it so difficult to change?

Patsy:  It requires something of us ― and sometimes we don’t know if we have anything left to give. Also, sometimes the thing that needs to be changed feels risky, because change not only impacts us, but the way we relate to others.  What will that mean in our relationship with someone else?  Will it be a threat?  Will we live with their displeasure or feel their judgment? Change is a big deal. There’s always an element that leaves us kinda shaky when we have to make a change.

It’s also thrilling, because that’s when we see progress. I don’t want to die where I’m at―I always want to take the next step. I don’t want to look back a year from now and say, “I’m no different.” It’s my belief that as long as there’s breath in my body there’s an opportunity to grow―and you can’t grow if you don’t change.

WoF:    We know you’re a lover of books; tell us what you’ve been reading lately.

Patsy:     Come Away My Beloved by Frances Roberts, in an updated language version. It’s deeply convicting, absolutely inspiring, and it quietens my soul. Lord knows, if there’s anything I need it’s a little quiet for my soul!

There’s a children’s author I’ve been reading, Kate Dicamillo. She’s written The Tale of Despereaux about a little mouse who falls in love with a princess and gets thrown down into a basement where he faces intimidation and the threat of rats getting him. I’m amazed that it’s a children’s story ― it looks to me like a child’s bad dream.  Her style of writing amazes me. As I’m turning the pages I’m thinking, “You can’t say that to a child, you’re scaring me!”  She also wrote The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, which was given to me as gift from Sheila. It’s the story of a big porcelain rabbit. He has quite a time . . . he’s very full of himself and has to go through a number of adventures to grow a heart.

I’ve also spent a lot of time in the book of Judges, in the story of Gideon.  I’m teaching about Gideon this year and I keep going back and re-immersing myself in his story in Judges Chapters 6-8.

And I’ve been reading Why Birds Sing: A Journey into the Mystery of Bird Song by David Rothenberg. He teaches and reminds you of the beauty God has placed in nature (but it’s not written from a Christian perspective). He is a musician who goes to bird sanctuaries to listen to bird songs and play with the birds. He studied them for years. There’s a CD in the back of book of him playing with the birds.

WoF:    You and Sandi Patty are doing the 2006 Pre-conference, which is based on your book. What has that been like for you?

Patsy:  It has been absolutely thrilling. I feel, and Sandi does as well, that it has been an unexpected gift to our lives. God keeps unwrapping it and the present is stunning. It’s a thrill and a privilege to work with Sandi and get to know her at a deeper level. The camaraderie has been sweet and we’ve just been floored by the goodness of God. We’re already grieving that it’s gonna end.

WoF:    We enjoyed reading about your granddog Cody.  How’s he doing?

Patsy:     Cody has decided that he really does not need me to come and see him, but that if I choose to, he will abide me for moments at a time and then be totally over me. I hate it when he’s so obvious at being over me.

WoF:     One final question:  Do you really call your PT Cruiser “Babycakes”?

Patsy:  I do. I feel that cars operate better if they have a name.