I grew up on the graffiti lined streets of Detroit, Michigan. I had a hard life but lived harder. In many ways, I live through every character I create. I love writing. It has long been “the great escape” for me.
I am a mess, my hair is dirty, but I love the Lord. If you want to know more about me, feel free to visit @PaulaMarieJoseph on Instagram, or email me
Paula@Paula-Joseph.com
I had a career with one of the largest companies in the United States at the time but found out that I wanted to use every part of my broken past to help others. Before I knew it, I began working on Chene Street in Detroit for an inner-city mission church. I felt complete until I didn’t. I fell, and that fall led me into dancing in a ‘gentleman’s club.’ I loved the darkness, the hustle, and the compliments, but more importantly, I felt at home. I felt like I belonged to a huge family, one that accepted me, the real me, or so I thought. I still prayed, but church was the furthest thing from my heart. I didn’t want to darken the doorstep of another church as long as I lived. I felt like no one made room for me at the cross, and I went with that until I met a woman who spearheaded an organization for women like me. I met genuine women of God who loved me in spite of my profession.
God yoked me to Kirsten Voorhees, who, at times, if I’m being honest, I wanted to smack rather than greet with a hug. She knew the Word of God, and when things were too hard for me to face, she’d challenge me, but what a blessing that turned out to be. God brought other beautiful, godly women into my life, all encouragers, all faithful to Jesus, all who walked in steadfast and unwavering love. I pray you are so blessed to meet women like these. I stopped dancing just shortly before I began writing this book, and now, my life couldn’t be more peaceful.
I have a beautiful family in real life, and a beautiful spiritual family from where I sit who opened their home to me, the dancer, the Jezebel. I literally had no money to offer, and when I did, they wouldn’t take it. I call Kirsten’s parents my parents, her sisters, my sisters, her brother, Keith, my brother, her children my nieces and nephews, and her husband, outside of being an amazing editor, my brother. I am seriously blessed.
None of my actual brothers and sisters have had easy lives, but I pray this book inspires them to reach for God. To know the love of God and to know that God loves us all through anyone He can. I can’t express my gratefulness for all my friends, those who ‘loved me always and not if,’ that would be an entirely different book, but I can say, “I love you all.” Remember, everyone has a story. Stand on it, not behind it. God will bring many colorful characters into your life that you may see the true hope of his calling. Thank you for purchasing this book, for sharing this book, and for sharing your heart with me in the journey of life no matter where we started from.