My Journey into Freedom Series
I had been online since 1999, occasionally writing whenever I felt led by the Holy Spirit. I was always searching for ways and opportunities to use the creativity I already knew God had placed within me. At that time, my only online experience had been creating and managing a Yahoo group. When the opportunity to begin blogging presented itself, I eagerly stepped into this new virtual adventure.
I had no formal writing experience or education in writing. However, I had been journaling since I was eighteen years old. Journaling gave me a place to express what was in my heart, even before I realized that writing would eventually become such an important part of my life and ministry.
My first actual blog post was only one paragraph. I simply wrote what I sensed God was telling me to write. I do not remember exactly what I said in that first post, but I knew I had tapped into something I truly enjoyed. I do remember that my first blog was called God’s Zone. The name of my blog evolved several times over the years, just as my writing and personal journey continued to evolve.
Today, my blog is called Writings from Richard T.
I began writing and publishing one post a day. From there, my passion for writing continued to grow.
At some point during that journey, I sensed that the Lord wanted me to write and publish a book. I had absolutely no idea how to make that happen. I only knew that the desire had been placed in my heart, and I trusted that God would show me the way forward.
During those years, the Lord Jesus was also progressively bringing healing into my life. I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in January 2002. By 2013, I was able to write out my testimony and share what God had done for me. The voices and paranoia that had once controlled so much of my life were gone.
From 2013 through 2017, the number of posts on my blog skyrocketed. I remember telling people online that if I had been a pastor, those writings would have been my sermons. My blog became the place where I shared my testimony, my faith, and the lessons God was teaching me throughout my recovery.
Toward the end of 2017, I connected online with a young couple, Matthew and Traci Elliott. They worked with me to transform a collection of my blog posts into a manuscript. In May 2018, my first book, From Recovery to Freedom, was published through CreateSpace. It was later transferred to Kindle Direct Publishing.
I was both excited and overwhelmed when I held the first copy in my hands. Matthew and Traci had done a beautiful job of helping me bring the manuscript together. Something that had once seemed impossible had become a reality.
However, there was an important gap in that first manuscript. I left out a painful part of my life because it involved childhood trauma. Out of respect for my parents, who were both still living at the time, I decided not to write publicly about those experiences.
Until around this time last year, I had not explored that part of my story on my blog, even though the desire to write about it had remained with me. Something began to shift after I joined and attempted to participate in mental health group therapy sessions. Gradually, some of my blog posts began reflecting upon the childhood abuse and trauma I had experienced.
In February 2026, I began researching how to publish a sequel by once again transforming selected blog posts into a manuscript. That manuscript became Petals on the Pavement, the next part of my journey into freedom.
I am continuing to work on the manuscript, with publication currently planned for November 2026 through Kindle Direct Publishing. This book represents more than another collection of writings. It reflects the difficult places I have walked through, the truths I have discovered, and the healing I have received along the way.
What initially began as one book will soon become two, but I do not believe the journey will end there. I have increasingly felt that these books will become a series. Within the next six to eight years, I believe there will be another book telling the next part of the story God is still writing through my life.
I also believe this ministry will eventually become much more than writing books and publishing blog posts. I do not yet know everything it will include or exactly what it will look like, but I trust that God will continue opening doors and revealing each step at the proper time.
Only through the grace and mercy of my great and mighty God have I come this far. I once lived under the debilitating effects of mental illness, but my story did not end with a diagnosis. Through every season, God has continued leading me from recovery toward freedom—and my writing has become one of the ways I share that journey with others.
Richard Hicks is a Christian author and writer based in El Dorado, Arkansas.
His faith has been central to his life for more than four decades.
He began writing in 2012 and published his first book, From Recovery to Freedom, in 2018.
His 2024 titles, Rivers of Grace and Your Abiding Presence, are two prose collections that reflect on faith, God's presence, and his spiritual journey.
Through his writing, Richard shares honestly about faith, recovery, and personal growth, in hopes of encouraging others on their own journeys.
"Richard is also the founder of Journey to Share, a Christ-centered community encouraging people to share their journeys through writing, journaling, and meaningful conversation, while growing in faith."
"He is currently working on a new book project."
"At the heart of his writing is a desire to encourage others through honest storytelling and faith."
Feel free to go to follow my website below to get updates and follow future book releases:
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“Get From Recovery to Freedom free on Kindle, October 9–13”
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