About the Book

Book: Far From Home

Author: Mabel Ninan

Genre: Christian / Non-Fiction / Spiritual Growth

Release date: July 12, 2022

What is my purpose? Why do I exist? A sense of self and belonging are two questions many of us struggle to answer.

And what if you are a foreigner in another land?

How does one adjust to a new culture? Discover their place in a new society?

For Mabel Ninan, born and raised in India and an immigrant in America shortly after marriage, the search for those answers sent her on a journey that led to an unexpected and exciting discovery.

God revealed she was not only an earthly immigrant but also a spiritual one, created with a unique calling to impact His kingdom. Mabel’s renewed perspective imbued her with joy and hope, urging her to share the message with others.

Drawing from her personal experiences and by examining the lives of biblical heroes, Mabel sheds light on what it means to live as a citizen of Heaven on earth. Far from Home will inspire you to:

• Embrace your identity as a foreigner on earth.
• Make your home with God.
• Find community and common purpose with fellow sojourners.

Explore the intersection between culture, identity, and faith in this new release from an earthly immigrant who gained a spiritual perspective.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Born and raised in the minority Christian community in India, Mabel moved to the US in 2008 shortly after getting married. In nearly thirteen years of her marriage, her family has called ten different places across two continents and seven cities home. The challenges Mabel faced as an immigrant on the move led to a spiritual crisis that drew her nearer to God’s side where she learned valuable lessons about how to live as a citizen of heaven. Her mission is to inspire believers to embrace their pilgrim journey on earth and boldly pursue their heavenly calling.

A contributor to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures: Daily Devotions for Animal Lovers 2022, Mabel’s writings have appeared in The Upper Room, CBN.com, Leading Hearts Magazine, and (in)courage.me. She hosts a YouTube podcast called Immigrant Faith Stories where she shares testimonies of immigrants, refugees, missionaries, and cross-cultural ministry leaders. She has been serving in various roles in women’s ministry for almost a decade.

Mabel enjoys reading, traveling, and dancing, but nothing gives her more joy than having conversations about the Bible.

Mabel is pursuing M.A. in Theological Studies from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. She lives with her husband, son, and Maltese pup in Northern California.

More from Mabel

When the idea of this book was birthed in 2018, I wanted to publish a collection of letters to my son. I wanted to keep a record of God’s faithfulness to me in a foreign country. How He became my all in all when I had nobody to call my own. How He gave me His all when I was empty. I hoped my stories and learnings would strengthen not only my son’s faith but also other immigrants like me. But God had a different plan for this book.

By 2019, the book underwent a complete change in its content and organization. It also targeted a different group of readers. I wrote for those who were coping with changes, those who wanted a deeper walk with God, those who found it difficult to belong or cling to hope in the midst of suffering, and those who were tired of going through the motions. My agent and I replaced the title of the book from This is not Home to Far from Home.

After facing rejecting from almost eight publishers, Far from Home found its home in Harambee Press, an imprint of Iron Stream Media that publishes ethnic writers. I was thrilled!

Far from Home is a nonfiction book but it is also part memoir. I’ve described what life was like growing up in India and I also recount a few experiences as an immigrant in the U.S. What makes Far from Home unique is also that the book introduces the reader to another culture, the Indian/South Asian culture. Some parts of the book read like a devotional while others are rich in biblical character studies and teaching.

Overall, I feel the book reflects who I am—an Indian, an America, an Indian-American, a storyteller, an immigrant, and a Bible teacher—though that was not my aim. I find it fascinating that I could be myself and tell my stories and use all aspects of my identity to declare the goodness and greatness of God.

There is a need for more diversity in our stories. I’m not saying this because diversity is the new buzz world these days. We need diverse voices and ways of worship because they reveal God’s power, beauty, and creativity. Testimonies from other cultures can open our eyes to a new way of experiencing God and His Word. They engage our brains and touch our hearts in a unique way. Reading books by diverse authors can enlarge our capacity for empathy, push back our defenses, and even turn our fear of the unknown into appreciation.

I hope my writing helps you see God from a different lens, a different angle. I hope it makes you want to read books by authors from varied cultures, races, and ethnicities.

And my desire, more than anything else, is that Far from Home convinces you that you’re never really far from home. In the triune God, you always have a home here on earth while you await a better one in heaven. A home that will be shared with people from all nations, tongues, and tribes.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, September 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 3

A Reader’s Brain, September 4

Beauty in the Binding, September 5 (Author Interview)

Boondock Ramblings, September 5

Inklings and notions, September 6

deb’s Book Review, September 7

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 8

Simple Harvest Reads, September 9 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, September 11

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 12

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 13

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, September 14 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, September 14

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mabel is giving away the grand prize package of a Paperback copy of book, customized notepad and bookmark (these eco-friendly products made by rural artisans in India help sustain endangered art forms and secure livelihoods), access to digital resources (recipe booklet, teaching videos, and audio prayers), and a $30 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/21362/far-from-home-celebration-tour-giveaway

Interview with Mabel

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I love gazing at the full moon. Whe I was teenager, I wrote a poem about the moon. I also wrote an essay on whales. Nature, or God’s creation, draws out the best of my emotions and connects me to God in an inexplicable, supernatural way. One of my most fulfilling writing projects is to contribute devotions to Guideposts’ annual daily devotional for animal lovers, “All God’s Creatures.”

My favorite thing to do is read a good book on the beach and then take a nap, letting the waves sing their lullaby and the sand warm by body.

I also love to travel and explore not just different places but also cultures. I wonder how people from different cultures arrange furniture in their homes, what beverage they drink in the morning, how they say, “I love you,” and how they express themselves through art. 

I married my best friend and we have a ten-year-old son who shares our passion for God and books. What keeps me up at night is the fear that my son will stop loving God.

I’m also deeply attached to my family and friends in India and this has made me, I feel, has made me somewhat of a reluctant expert in long-distance relationships.

You could call me an extrovert, because I enjoy social interactions. But from time to time I retreat into isolation for short periods of time. I need to go to my shell often. 

My spiritual gifts are intercession, hospitality, giving, and teaching. I’m grateful that God allows me to get to know Him, participate in His kingdom-building plans, and make an eternal impact. I want to love Him more with each passing day.

When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I enjoyed writing, poems, prose/essays, and letters to friends far away as a child. I never thought I would write a book but I knew that I expressed myself best through the written word.

How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

I cannot compartmentalize my faith to certain areas of my life. It permeates every sphere of my being. I cannot help talking about God when I write about my personal struggles or wins because my faith intersects with my life at every point. My spirituality cannot be separate from writing because it defines me and gives my life meaning.

When it comes to publishing, I bathe my projects in prayer. I pray for God to open the right doors. I pray for perspective when I face rejection. I pray for patience to wait after I submit articles to publications or book proposals to publishers. I’m also continually talking with God as I write, leaning on Him for creativity, wisdom, and motivation,

I’m a nonfiction writer who teaches the word of God. I write about what I’m learning from God as I study His Word, interact with people, and live my day-to-day life. I see myself as an instrument in God’s hand–to convey His message to the world. My calling is to proclaim the gospel through everything I do, especially with the gift of writing.

How much time do you spend researching before you write?

My research consists of digging deeper into the Bible, reading commentaries and  reading other books on a particular topic. For Far from Home, I spent a lot of time studying the lives of biblical immigrants like Moses, Abraham, Joseph, and Daniel. I also read essays by other authors on their immigrant experiences. Since this was my first book, I took notes from other nonfiction books on how to keep readers engaged, how to structure chapters, and how to transition from story to biblical truth.

What advice would you give to new authors?

Do not be in a hurry to get your book published. Depend on God for His timing. Stay teachable. Connect with other authors and industry professionals on a regular basis.