Author Liisa Grace
Author of Out of the Cold and stories of faith, hope and transformation
I believe every person carries a story, and that stories have the power to connect us. Through my writing, I hope to encourage others, offer hope and remind people that their circumstances and past do not have to define their future.
A life shaped by grace, love and hope
I was born in Finland and came to Australia at the age of five. My early years shaped much of who I became, but they no longer define me.
My journey through adversity, faith and healing ultimately led me to write Out of the Cold, a story I had carried for most of my life.
Today, I am married to my wonderful American husband, Dave. I’m a proud mum of four adult children and a Nana to seven precious grandchildren. Family is one of God’s greatest gifts to me.
I love meaningful conversations, spending time with family and friends, and being outdoors. Hiking, cycling, gardening and travelling are some of the things that bring me joy, along with quieter moments spent in prayer and reflection.
When I was asked at my book launch how I thought God would describe my life, the answer came naturally:
“A life that was broken, then redeemed and filled with grace and love.”
I am deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness throughout every chapter of my life and for the opportunity to share what I have learnt along the way.
The book Out of the Cold
A memoir of survival, faith and transformation
Out of the Cold takes readers into the realities of a childhood shaped by abandonment and trauma, the destructive years that followed, and the long journey that ultimately led me towards freedom and a new life.
This is not a story of an overnight transformation. It is a story of the long road to healing.
In the depths of my brokenness, I encountered not judgement, but a love strong enough to reach me and a God who refused to let me go. Through faith, forgiveness and surrender, I began to discover that the past did not have to determine the rest of my life.
I have always imagined Out of the Cold reaching people who are broken, struggling with addiction, feeling unseen, losing hope or carrying the effects of trauma. My hope is that somewhere within my story, a reader will find something that speaks into their own.
Above all, Out of the Cold is a story of God’s grace and a reminder that no life is beyond redemption.
Testimonial
“Everybody has a story to tell, but not everyone is willing to tell it. Liisa's story includes the pain of abandonment, rejection, abuse, etc., and it leads her to stability and triumph. The lesson is always in the journey.
Learn from hers.”
Joseph Wooten
Three-time Grammy-nominated musician
Keyboardist, Steve Miller Band
Founder, Joseph Wooten & The Hands of Soul
Member of the Wooten brothers
Testimonial
“Liisa's story is one of raw honesty, unimaginable pain, and breathtaking redemption. With remarkable courage, she invites us into the darkest corners of her past - abandonment, abuse, family violence, rebellion, and homelessness — and then points us toward the light that changed everything. Through the kindness of a stranger, Liisa met the Saviour who rescued, redeemed, and restored her life. Her willingness to share her journey with such vulnerability and grace is an act of profound bravery. This book is not just a testimony of survival, but of divine transformation — a story that will move you deeply and remind you that no life is ever too broken for hope.”
Nicole Partridge
Journalist and Writer
Why I write
My love of reading first inspired me to write when I was a child. I loved escaping into my imagination, creating characters and stories of my own.
As an adult, writing returned to my life in a very different way. Instead of creating fictional worlds, I found myself putting real experiences, memories and reflections into words.
Today, I am inspired by the possibility that words can offer hope or help someone feel less alone.
I believe our experiences can have purpose. Sometimes the very things we have walked through can eventually become a source of encouragement for someone else.
Honesty and vulnerability are extremely important to me. When I write about real experiences, I want to be authentic and truthful, even when that means sharing uncomfortable or deeply personal parts of a story.
For me, writing is ultimately about connection and using words with purpose.
“A life that was broken, then redeemed and filled with grace and love.”
I am deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness throughout every chapter of my life and for the opportunity to share what I have learnt along the way.
My writing journey
From a wrinkled writing pad to a published book
I first began writing Out of the Cold in my early twenties with a pen and paper.
I started with my earliest memories, putting experiences that had been locked away in my mind onto the pages of a writing pad. I had no idea then that the journey to publication would take almost forty years.
Life happened around the manuscript. There were times when I wrote for days or weeks and other times when it was put aside for years. I raised four children, learnt to use a computer, lost 40,000 words when a laptop died and started again.
Along the way, I studied creative writing at Tabor College, attended an Omega Writers Conference, worked through many rounds of editing and had eight short stories published in the Stories of Life anthologies.
My writing changed as I changed.
Today, I understand my voice and purpose much more clearly. I would describe my writing voice as honest, open and unafraid to leave no stone unturned. I want to tell stories that draw readers in, resonate emotionally and leave them with something meaningful.
After almost forty years of writing, rewriting, learning, editing, waiting and persevering, Out of the Cold was published by Ark House Press.
Holding the finished book in my hands for the first time was surreal.
More of my writing
Out of the Cold is not the only story I have had the privilege of sharing.
Since 2017, eight of my short non-fiction stories have been published in the Stories of Life anthologies.
These stories, along with my other published work, have helped me grow in confidence as a writer and encouraged me to keep going.
We Met on Strava
A story about finding love when neither of us expected it, beginning with two cyclists following each other on Strava while living 10,000 miles apart.
The Circle of Love
A reflection on the final years of my mother’s life, unconditional love, forgiveness and the moment we were finally able to say “I love you” to each other.
The Long Road
An honest account of my struggle with alcohol, the conflict of living with addiction while holding onto my Christian faith, and the journey that eventually led to freedom.
Where my writing is taking me next
I feel there will always be more stories and reflections connected to Out of the Cold, and I continue to enjoy writing short non-fiction drawn from real-life experiences.
There are also new directions I want to explore.
Over the past couple of years, I have increasingly felt drawn to writing about grief. I do not yet know what form that writing will take, but I feel there is more for me to discover in that subject.
I am also looking forward to stepping outside my usual style and stretching my imagination through children’s fiction. I hope to begin exploring a children’s story and see where it takes me.
My future readers may be varied, but the purpose behind my non-fiction remains the same. I hope people find something they can relate to, see their own circumstances from a different perspective and be reminded that even through difficult seasons, there can be hope.
More than anything, I would like readers to associate the name Liisa Grace with captivating storytelling. Stories that draw them in, resonate emotionally and linger long after they finish reading.
Interviews, conversations and events
Since the publication of Out of the Cold, I have had opportunities to talk more openly about my story, my faith and the experiences behind my writing.
I did not deliberately set out to become a speaker or pursue interviews. It seems to be a direction that is naturally unfolding.
I have already had the privilege of sharing through interviews, my book launch and invitations to speak with groups and churches. I love encouraging people, and if opportunities continue to arise where I can share my experiences and a message of hope, I am happy to embrace them.
Frequently asked questions about Author Liisa Grace and the book Out of the Cold
Who is Liisa Grace?
Liisa Grace is an author whose writing is shaped by real-life experiences, faith, resilience and hope. Her work includes the memoir Out of the Cold as well as published short stories, with future writing projects also taking shape.
What is Out of the Cold about?
Out of the Cold is Liisa Grace’s memoir of abandonment, trauma, addiction, faith, forgiveness and the long road towards healing. At its heart, it is a story of grace, redemption and hope.
Where can I buy Out of the Cold?
Out of the Cold is available through a range of booksellers and online retailers in Australia and overseas. The book is not sold directly through this website.
Does Liisa Grace write anything other than memoir?
Yes. Liisa has had eight short non-fiction stories published in the Stories of Life anthologies and continues to write short non-fiction. She is also interested in exploring children’s fiction and other future writing projects.
Is Liisa Grace available for interviews or speaking opportunities?
Liisa is open to interviews, podcasts, church gatherings, group conversations and other speaking opportunities where she can share her experiences and encourage others.
Thank you for being here
This space holds more than words. It carries my story, my faith, my writing and the life I am grateful to live today.
I hope that something you read here encourages you, gives you hope or simply reminds you that you are not alone.
There are more stories still to be written, and I look forward to sharing them as the journey continues.
Blessings,
Liisa