Through the Valley Love Endures
What if death came for you today? Would you be ready?
Forced to face his own mortality, Eddie Santiago fought to stay alive in a broken world. His incredible journey through heartbreak, abuse, and adversity left him with one truth: every life makes a difference.
This is the true and compelling story of his supernatural quest through the valley of death, doubt, and darkness. Eddie provides a passionate story that will capture the attention of even the toughest skeptics.
Angels, demons, heaven, hell, Jesus and the devil: are they fiction, or are they more real than anything else in the world?
Buy Links for Through the Valley
Kindle
Interview:
1. Share a little bit about yourself. Did you always see yourself as a writer?
I have been working in counseling related fields since I was 18 years old. I was able to start in a two year program in human services with a substance abuse counseling concentration and I never looked back as I continued on with my education and helping people. I stared an outreach organization called L.E.A.D. (Love Endures And Delivers), which offers an array of counseling related services and trainings. People can read more by visiting my organization page: https://www.facebook.com/LoveEnduresAndDelivers
As for being a writer, writing has always been a release for me. It helped me to escape the pressures of everyday life and enter into a realm of hope. Writing is a gateway to see into one’s soul, so I started writing at an early age to help get me through the hard times. Writing also gave me a voice, which I hope to help inspire others to find theirs.
2. I finished Through The Valley Love Enduresrecently and I know you express what your hopes are for those who read the book. Can you share a little about that today?
When death came for me I wasn’t ready. I feel God gave me yet another chance to tell my story and that final confirmation came for me when an angel visited me in a dream. The beginning chapter of my book highlights the innocent lives that are taken from us every day, the ones with no voice, so I reach out to them to come out from the darkness and back into the light. There are also the bystanders who don’t know what to say or do, so I pray my book inspires them to take action and help those who are hurting, but also to remember the power of loving all people through their valley.
In addition, I really want to encourage the reader to endure to the end of my book. If you can endure through the valley with me, then you will know why I wrote it. Even when all feels lost, there is always hope. I ask that you share in the love that has saved me over and over again, so that we can stand together with one hope, one dream, and one voice. I stress this to the reader because every day people are faced with two options. To either love them or become them. To ignore them because they’re difficult to love; is like expecting the world to get better while remaining part of the problem. You start to love them, then God will find them and transform everyone; love causes you to get out of the way of that life changing reality! Why would you ever want to stand in the way of that? Revival means restoration not retaliation.
3. I imagine writing some parts of your story was cathartic but also difficult. What was the most challenging thing to confront about writing this book?
Writing my book allowed me to grow spiritually by letting go and letting God. I was able to finally allow God to fully heal me. I started to walk in serenity, but also the unmistakable love that can only be given from the Father to love those who have wronged you. I am finally living my faith with no guilt nor condemnation because Christ’s blood washed over all my sins. I am a free man.
However, I do understand the depths of your question because I had to face everything that kept my heart away from God. This means I had to find peace and strength to tell my story while facing the fear I dealt with all my life, that no other person would stand with me, thus having me feel like that little boy all again, alone. I found the strength when an angel visited me in a dream to come forward and shortly after, Hayson publishing came into my life. God put a publishing company in my path that not only would love me like family, but were divinely put in my path to help see me through. As a result, I continue to be blessed by people coming forward to stand with me in love. It was also a great awakening for me because part of sharing my story, is recognizing the people God divinely placed in my path. I want to help people who are hurting to understand that they’re not alone, none of us are. I pray they step in this life changing reality and keep reaching out to discover the ones God put in their path ready to stand with them in God’s love. My life has prepared me for this moment to stand against the darkness, I’m ready.
4. What do you do when you’re not writing?
I spend time with my precious wife and kids. There doesn’t seem like enough time in a day, but we must always remind ourselves to love those who are closest to us because we are just passing through and we must cherish every moment. I also spend time counseling clients and assist with leading worship at my church.
5. So what book is on your nightstand or on your e-reader right now?
I currently have two books on my e-reader by a group of amazing authors. First is: Once Upon a Midnight Dreary-A Collection of Short Stories. The second is: Fearless (King Series).
6. Do you have plans to write other books in the future?
I do, but I am not exactly sure what direction I feel pulled in just yet. In the meantime, I am working on getting my book into prisons. It is my desire that no one shall perish without knowing the hope I write about in my book. I am looking for people to team up with me to help me do that. Right now I am working with Hayson Publishing with how to setup the best avenue to do that. People can stay up to date with this information by visiting my facebook page or website: https://www.facebook.com/EddieDavidSantiago OR http://www.eddiedavidsantiago.com/
7. JUST FOR FUN: I’m from the Gulf Coast and we have a thing called hurricane parties. The idea is to hunker down all together with friends and family to weather the storm. If you were going to host a hurricane party, who would you want to be there and why? (Note: This can be anyone… real people, fictional people, etc. The sky’s the limit!)
Too funny! I’ve been begging my wife that we should all move somewhere around the Gulf Coast, but if she ever found out about these hurricane parties, then I think that would give her more reasons as to why she wouldn’t want to move, LOL. I guess symbolically, I would invite anyone who would be willing to come with me. I would invite anyone and everyone who is willing to stand by my side. You see, if we can’t co-labor together, then we will never be able to make it out as one body through the storms of life. I say, let’s throw these parties, but let’s not leave anyone behind and prepare by living out one hope, one dream, and one voice. To God be the glory!
Review:
I’m going to go about this review a little differently, but then this book is special so I suppose that makes sense. One of my top 10 favorite books is one called House of Gold by Bud MacFarlane. It’s a Christian, and specifically Catholic novel told around the premise of a Y2K apocalyptic scenario and the struggle of good against evil, light against dark. Through the Valley Love Endures is reminiscent of this novel to me, except that it is all the more exceptional because it is Eddie’s own personal story and not a work of Fiction. (Also, I normally refer to authors by their last names in my reviews, but if you read Eddie’s book you’ll feel like you know him so personally that it only makes sense to call him by his first name.)
In Eddie’s book he relates to us his life-long struggles, his journey of faith and the means by which God called upon him and continues to lead him. It is inspiring, haunting, humbling and just overall heartening. I appreciate the bold way in which Eddie shared the manner in which his faith changed and grew throughout his life. I have, over recent years had my own experiences and transitions and it is always good to touch base with others, to know you are not alone and to be reminded of the goodness of people, of God and of the love we can have for others.
In the days after I finished this book, I was considering how I could word my review when something happened in my life that connected me to the book in a way that is too close to be coincidence. I won’t delve into the specifics, but let me just say that there are times in our lives when things or people are placed before us for a reason and sometimes that reason is just a simple reminder that everything must come in its own time and to be patient and of course, as Eddie explains… to love.
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