We sat down with best-selling author Bonita Fahy to discuss her novel Guilty: The inside Truth. She has a beautiful testimony that she shares in hopes to inspire, encourage, and transform others. Mrs. Fahy will take you through a journey of forgiveness and second chances.
Tell us about your novel Guilty: The inside Truth
Guilty: The Inside Truth is a journey that is actually based off my life. I give the reader a window seat as I become a first time offender in the Wisconsin prison system facing 80 years for a murder that I did not commit. The reader is actually beside me as I first become injured, not able to work, to me struggling trying to take care of my family, to me becoming addicted to prescription pain pills, marijuana, and alcohol. They get to see what ultimately lead to my decision to sell marijuana and how I became involved in the murder of my friend.
The next leg of the journey with the reader I actually loose my home, I loose custody of my children, and I loose my freedom. I actually loose my mind as I struggled to find the inside truth. I just really had to pray during all of this. First, the reader will see me kind of like begging God to please get me out of all of this. You know how we go through that God get me out of this. Then, I bargained with him and I promised God I won’t do this anymore. I was still not getting an answer from God.
I finally came to him, Lord what do you want me to do? And the answer that he gave me Letrise just knocked me off my feet deep. The answer I got back was pleaded guilty. I was like no wait. I lost my mind and you lost your mind. That’s not the answer and that’s not how this goes. No one pleads guilty when you are facing 80 years for murder. So the reader has to read the book to find out what happens when I plead guilty.
I did as I was told and I was obedient. The next day, I did end up pleading guilty. From there, I began to get my sanity back after which was the most important thing. I gain some direction in my life. While I began to work on my life I realized the inside truth was bigger than me. I thought I had to focus on me, but it was so much bigger than me. It’s a step by step journey for the reader.
What inspired you to write Guilty: The Inside Truth?
As I began to get focused and make positive changes in my life while I was incarcerated. God spoke to me again and he told me I was going to write a book and he gave me the name Guilty: The Inside Truth. I knew that from the very beginning. I begin meeting women and hearing their stories and it was so compelling. I asked them if I can share their pain and heartache. So the readers get to meet some of the women along my journey. These women actually became the inside truth for me.
What is the message that you want your readers to take away after reading your latest novel?
I think the most important message that I want readers to know is that , sometimes you need to loose everything so that you can start over to become who you are destined to be. I want the readers to know that yes bad decisions did lead me to prison and I accept that. However, certain systems failed me and my family along the way along with these other women that I met. So my decision to sell drugs was not about harming anyone else. It was about survival and dealing with the drug addiction, prescription pills, alcohol, and the marijuana. When your back is against the wall that is when we make our worst decisions. We just need hope. So right now I can say, I am not a victim. My journey has lead me to become a victim advocate, a community change agent, and a mentor in my community .
What is on the horizon for you in 2015?
There is definitely going to be a sequel to Guilty: the Inside Truth. I kind of left the readers hanging. I have some book signing scheduled and a few speaking engagements. But, ultimately I am going to be working to get a Life Time movie or some kind short movie because I believe I can create a greater impact in my community. And ultimately affect change for future generations. This story needs to be told and it needs to be shared. So that others don’t make the same mistakes I made and some of the other women made. This cycle has to stop. If us older ones are not talking then the younger ones are not listening.
You can read more about Bonita Fahy by visiting her social media and following her at the links below.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/GuiltyTheInsideTruth
Photo Credits: Photo courtesy of Bonita Fahy