About Liisa Grace
The person behind the stories
I was born in Finland and came to Australia at the age of five. My early years were marked by abandonment, trauma and instability, and those experiences shaped much of who I became.
Over time, through faith, healing and the people God placed in my life, I came to understand that my past did not have to define my future.
Today, I am grateful for the life I have, the people I share it with, and the many ways my story has continued to unfold.
The life I am grateful to live today
I am married to my wonderful American husband, Dave. We met in a rather unexpected way through the fitness app Strava while living on opposite sides of the world.
What began with an interest in each other’s cycling soon developed into daily phone calls and long Skype conversations. Dave eventually proposed, arrived in Adelaide just four days before our wedding, and after a period of travelling between Australia and America, made Australia home.
I’m also a proud mum of four adult children and a Nana to seven precious grandchildren.
Growing up, I dreamed of one day having a large family. Today, when I look at my children, grandchildren and the life we share, I feel incredibly blessed.
Family is one of God’s greatest gifts to me.
Relationships and the people in my life
I’m very much a one-on-one person. I love quality time with people and the kind of conversations where you can really sit, listen, laugh and connect.
Some of my favourite moments are spent catching up with a friend over coffee or dinner, going for a walk together or simply having a meaningful conversation.
I also love to laugh. The kind of laughter that leaves your ribs hurting is even better.
Encouraging others and giving where I can bring me great joy. I believe small acts of kindness can make a lasting difference, and I have experienced in my own life just how powerful it can be when someone gives their time, care and encouragement freely.
Faith at the centre of my life
My faith is at the heart of who I am today.
There were many years when my relationship with God was complicated by anger, hurt and questions. Looking back, I can now see that even during some of the hardest seasons of my life, there was still hope, even when I did not recognise it at the time.
Faith has become part of how I understand my experiences, relationships and the life I have been given.
Some of my most treasured moments are the quiet ones spent in prayer and reflection. I am deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness throughout every chapter of my life and for the people He has placed along the way.
The things that bring me joy
When I’m not writing or working, I love being outdoors.
Cycling has been a big part of my life, and it even played a rather important role in how I met Dave. I also love hiking, gardening and travelling, and I enjoy spending time immersed in God’s creation.
There is something about being outside that gives me room to think, reflect and simply appreciate where I am.
I also value the quieter things in life: time with family, a good conversation, laughter with friends, prayer, reflection, and the chance to encourage someone whenever I can.
For me, many of the most meaningful moments are often the simplest ones.
What life has taught me
My life has not followed a straight or easy path, but it has taught me a great deal about love, forgiveness, grace and the importance of hope.
I have learnt that healing takes time. I have learnt that people can surprise us with kindness. I have learnt that forgiveness can bring freedom, and that some of the experiences we would never have chosen can eventually become part of how we encourage others.
I have also learnt that a difficult beginning does not have to determine the rest of a life.
Those lessons are part of who I am today, and they shape the way I write, the stories I am drawn to, and the hope I want to share with others.
From life experience to writing
Writing has become one of the ways I make sense of experiences and share what I have learnt.
My journey eventually led me to write Out of the Cold, a deeply personal memoir that I had carried with me for most of my life. But writing is becoming much more than the story of one book.
I continue to write about real experiences, faith, hope, and what we learn through difficult seasons. I am also looking forward to exploring new directions and discovering where writing takes me next.
For me, stories are ultimately about connection.
If something I write helps another person feel understood, offers encouragement or reminds them that their circumstances do not have to define their future, then sharing the story has been worthwhile.
Looking back with gratitude
When I look at my life today, I see so much to be grateful for.
My story includes difficult chapters, but it also includes faith, family, friendship, healing, laughter and a great deal of love. I do not take any of that for granted.
I hope that the life I live and the stories I share can encourage others to believe that change is possible, that hope can remain even in difficult seasons, and that our past does not have to define where we go next.