The Prearranged Plan
Written by Alyssa McBath
Book Synopsis
Elisa McVeigh is no stranger to pain. She has endured brutality from the hands of her own parents and other family members from a young age and has taken on great responsibilities, including taking on the role of caretaker to her younger half-siblings.
Elisa has always been an overachiever in order to feel accepted and loved. She is slow to trust anyone, only relying on herself due to her past trauma. However, she learns that doing everything alone is not easy, so she turns to God for help. Slowly and steadily, Elisa strengthens her bond with the Holy Spirit through prayer and reading Scripture as she grows in her relationship.
The Prearranged Plan takes place in England and Scotland around the 1100s. Elisa, the wife of a laird, learns to be obedient to him. This way of life is completely new to her, as she always had to survive on her own, along with ensuring the survival of her half-siblings. Her independent nature is challenged through various obstacles, and she discovers the meaning of unconditional love.
Events
Frankfort Book Fair 2025
About the Author
I grew up in an abusive home. Our parents were physically and verbally abusive. We were beat daily because we sinned at some point during the day. We were constantly criticized and nothing was ever good enough because we are sinners and none are good. We went to church, I would say from conception. Thankfully, I came to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was eight. He carried me through some really tough situations, like my brother molesting me and my father beating me for lying about it. In high school, my mother tried to sell me for a bottle of whiskey every week. It was so hard to say no to someone offering affection after what I grew up with but I couldn’t allow that. I tried to really focus on my faith, reading my Bible and praying constantly. I found out shortly before my father passed away, through a really difficult conversation with him that he felt his oldest son was his namesake and so he wouldn’t blame him or punish him. Being around my family is always difficult because it constantly brings up these issues from my past. It’s hard to maintain safe boundaries. From that conversation with my father, I started writing and in just a couple months, I wrote about 1,600 pages and then edited it and separated it into 4 books. I know God saved me and carried me through my childhood. I could not have survived it on my own. I know He loves me, even though it is hard to view Him as a loving Father after all I endured. I continue to grow in my faith and I’m learning to accept that He is sovereign and working for His good purpose through even these difficult situations.
Author Interview
Testimonials
I gave my life to Christ when I was eight after realizing that our parents didn’t really want us children or care about us. Our mother admitted that she only had children so she wouldn’t have to do housework or cook. She was verbally abusive, always criticizing us. Our father was physically abusive. My oldest brother abused me. Later in life, I confronted my father about it and he said that he wasn’t going to beat his namesake, so he allowed it. Through a classmate, I went to a church camp and was led to ask Jesus to come and live in my heart. I know that each of my brothers attempted to take their life, but because of my faith, I never felt that was an option. I read my Bible frequently as a child; something I know none of my classmates did; so, I know that I was led to do that because of my faith and the Holy Spirit working in me.
I continue to read my Bible and study the Scriptures. I pray all throughout the day because I need God’s help every single day, all throughout the day. I also listen to a few pastors’ messages online every day. I can’t stress enough how important my faith is to me. I don’t think I would have survived my childhood without my faith. I am not a perfect person and won’t be this side of heaven, but I want to walk with God, serve Him and help people. I really hope reading my books (I hope to publish more books that I have written) helps people who have been abused to realize that God is there. He is waiting for us to seek Him and we will find Him if we truly seek Him. The deep pain I endured can be healed with God’s help. His love, mercy, forgiveness and healing is why I am where I am today. He has helped me to survive, to forgive, to move on to better things, to serve Him by helping others.
I am so grateful and thankful that I have a good relationship with my children because I know that my great-grandparents disowned my grandmother after she married my grandfather. My grandmother and mother didn’t get along. My mother and I didn’t get along. I strongly believe that God’s work in me is what broke those generational curses for me and my children. It is really hard work to choose not to follow in those footsteps, but God’s will for my life is so much better. The relationship I have with my children is so rewarding.
I know that my grandmother married at fifteen and my mother married at sixteen. I am confident that the only reason I didn’t follow in those footsteps was because the Holy Spirit was working in me to prevent me from continuing those generational curses.