Dr. Velma Baby

Dr. Velma Bagby Author’s Corner Spotlight

Interview by Angela Anderson

Love…Relationship…Faith

Dr. Velma Bagby is making her mark and legacy as an award-winning author, certified dating and relationship coach, minister, and inspirational speaker.

She retired from the State government after a 38-year career as a California state Deputy Administrator. Since then, she has been busy sharing her stories and platform to change the lives of others through her work. Fast forward, post retirement, she has written books, excelled as a coach, and started her own publishing company, Adoni Publishing LLC.

There is no putting Dr. Velma Bagby in a box. She is spreading her wings and gifts as she writes nonfiction and fiction novels relating to Christian living, women’s fiction about relationships, and contemporary fiction addressing dating habits. Her first book was inspired by her daughters, who wanted to help other Christian single women. After watching the downward pattern of the dating culture and a lack of training in the church, they saw a need for this information. In 2020, she published her first fiction book entitled A Place Called Down-Why Christians Suffer. She deviated from a relationship-focused topic to bring people into her testimony of tests, trials, and tribulations to offer insight into a place of suffering common to us all.

She recently released her latest fiction title, The Catch No One Wants. The Heat Seekers Magazine had an opportunity to catch up with Dr. Velma Bagby.

Angela Anderson: When did you start your writing journey?

Dr. Velma Bagby: My writing journey began in 2018, at 64 years old. Writing had been part of my life growing up in church, writing skits for youth, as a Bible teacher writing content for classes, and in my work life, when working on training and program development projects. I retired from my job as a Deputy Administrator in State government in 2012. It was during that time that my adult daughters and I began conversations around a specific question they asked, “Mom, why are men so slow?” It took some time to dig a little deeper into the scriptures for answers. We began having regular conversations about God’s process of presenting their mates with a focus on working on themselves. As ourconversations progressed, they shared with their friends, and those friends wanted to know more. My daughters saw the need and encouraged me to put our conversations concerning men and marriage in a book.

Although I began writing and capturing our discussions, I was unsure if this was my assignment. I performed a test at two speaking engagements to see if there was an audience for the topic. During one event, I saw something surprising. In the middle of talking, I watched as many of the young adults ran toward the front of the church and placed their cell phones on the first bench to record my message. At my second event, with a mix of older and young adults, I received a positive response, and they expressed how excited they were to get the book. These events confirmed my assignment to write about “date with intent to marry” principles, preparation before meeting your mate, and more.

AA: What do you enjoy about being an author?

VB: I love helping, giving, and sharing in my storytelling— using my imagination to present an important message. My heart settled on writing fiction once I realized Jesus was a master storyteller, where he took common everyday items familiar to his audience to share a topic with deeper meaning and in a way that was non-threatening or non-condemning.

I enjoy hearing responses from the readers, especially when they express something profound or unique they took away after reading my stories. That says to me, job well done.

AA: What do you need in your writing space to stay focused?

VB: I hear a lot of authors who enjoy music play. I enjoy the peace and quiet and a hot cup of citrus mint tea. My most creative space is very early in the morning when the world is quiet outside and inside my home as well. Sitting beside me is my writing buddy, my German Shepherd, Gracie.

AA: You recently released a contemporary fiction novel, The Catch No One Wants. Share with us what this book is about?

VB: Yes, it is Christian Contemporary Fiction. Veronica, a PK (pastor’s kid), frantically searches for potential husbands in all the wrong places—a successful millennial who is obsessed with getting married because she has already missed her original goal… to be a wife by thirty. Her father, Greyson, watches those men mistreat his daughter; frustrated, he seeks God’s direction. Greyson’s answered prayers prompt him to use what he knows as an expert fisher.

He invites Veronica on a two-day fishing trip to plan a oneon-one intervention. She does not know that her dad is on a mission to rescue her through their Christian faith and teaching about dating with the intent to marry.

There is also the CATCH Homework Basket—study guide, which provides details from the actual wicker basket of books and reading material the father provides his daughter to study after their trip.

AA: What inspired this story?

VB: This book is for single women who are interested in discovering their husbands, God’s way. I believe the stories in this book will open the eyes of single women who have faced similar challenges in their dating lives and will give them better tools to use. Dating for marriage changes the strategies, the goal, the questions, and the approach to dating.

Besides researching the scripture, during my 30+ years of counseling singles and married couples, over time, I saw a pattern. They could have avoided or minimized most of their problems had there been proper training or preparation for marriage.

A year before I began crafting this book, I recall when my husband was in the pulpit speaking a message. He paused THE HEAT SEEKERS MAGAZINE and spoke to the single women. He said, “If the fish aren’t biting ladies, it’s time to change the bait.” I knew immediately upon hearing his words that God was showing me what would become the focus of my next dating-focused book.

Since fish was the topic of the book, I conducted research and called the only fishing expert I knew—my brother. I asked about the fish he loved to catch, and as he provided the details about his favorites, he described their mannerisms, personalities, bait, fishing methods, etc. Immediately, I envisioned men with the same behaviors as the fish and created the five metaphorical stories based on them.

AA: This is the month we celebrate Mother’s Day in the US. What does being a mother mean to you?

VB: I am grateful for the memories I have with my mother, who was a picture of strength, love, and faith—and a creative person who could sew and design clothing without patterns. I am fortunate to pass on those traits to my family as well. My husband and I feel blessed to have two strong, successful women of faith. But what is even more exciting is the gift of my three precious grandchildren—which is a whole new level of preciousness—to be called Mom by the two eldest and Nanny by the youngest (grandson cannot say granny) is a gift.

AA: What is next for Dr. Velma Bagby?

VB: I am taking part in podcasts and literary interviews and marketing my book. I hope to participate in speaking engagements on the topic soon.

Some readers have asked if there will be another CATCH book, and I am considering it. However, I have begun working on my next book project entitled, “The Women Who Tear Down The House” based on Proverbs 14:1b, which says, “(a) A wise woman builds her house, (b) while the foolish woman tears it down.” I have discussed women making wrong choices. This time we will see stories about men who did not use wisdom in their choice of a wife and how it spells trouble for them.

AA: How can people stay connected with you?

VB: You can connect with me on social media. You can also subscribe to my newsletter on my website at: https://drvelma.com

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/DrVelmaB Instagram/Author: https://www.instagram.com/drvelmabagby_author Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BagbyVelma LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-velma-bagby-85b476125 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/ show/18185844.Velma_Bagby