Pat G’Orge (pronounced Gee-or-jay) Walker is in a league of her own. This accomplished Christian author and comedienne has an amazing mind and talent for turning her observations of church and black church life, in particular, into gems of sidesplitting humor. It is her own special gift from God that enables G’Orge-Walker to depict the often ridiculous antics of church folk. She does it without subverting the Good News or watering down the potency of its message. Pat G’Orge-Walker has led a colorful life professionally, to say the least. She is a former music industry veteran who has worked for several major labels including Epic, Def Jam and Columbia. She cut her chops as a singer by performing with the legendary 60s girl group, Arlene Smith and the Chantels (“Maybe”) as well as with the gospel groups The Spiritualettes and The Heavenly Two. And she has written as well as acted in stage presentations.
In the 1970s G’Orge-Walker began penning short stories featuring a main character that has an intimate and impacting encounter with God Almighty on the telephone, the now infamous Sister Betty. But it wasn’t until 1997 that she actually self-published the first in a series of books and that book – Sister Betty God is Calling! – is now being sold on Amazon.com as a collector’s item.
“The fact that there has never been anything like my gospel comedy stories never crossed my mind until I was presented with the BWA 2000 Golden Pen Award for creating a new genre in fiction—gospel comedy.”
God called Sister Betty once more in 2003 and G’Orge-Walker released Sister Betty God’s Calling You, Again! (Kensington Books) thus marking another first for both the author and the publishing house that launched an inspirational department, a result of signing G’Orge-Walker. And G’Orge-Walker was thrust onto the scene in a rocket as a much sought after and highly acclaimed speaker and stand up comedian with her one-woman shows.
Kensington followed its endorsement of G’Orge-Walker with the commission of another novel featuring Sister Betty, “Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin’ is Dead,” which was released in 2004. If the author pushed the envelope with Sister Betty God’s Calling Again! then she mailed the letter with Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin’ is Dead.
“Some people thought I went too far in exposing some of the spiritual flaws of the church by giving the characters names such as a Sister Ima Hellraiser or Bishop Was Nevercalled. Unfortunately, these characters exist and any resemblance to these characters, whether dead or alive, is a doggone shame.”
The characters still exist and G’Orge-Walker continues to pull from a seemingly inexhaustible pool of material to create more novels and build her comedy routine. In between the laughs, Pat G’Orge-Walker the wife, mother and church deaconess is deadly serious about serving God. Some consider comedy to be entertainment first but not G’Orge-Walker who views it as ministry first.
“Promoting books and performing comedy are very arduous tasks particularly when you are trying to expose the church to a new method of bringing people to Christ. No matter how funny my routines or stories may be there will always be a message of God’s love and redemption.”
-From Sister Betty
Q: When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I can barely remember NOT wanting to write. As far back as perhaps the second grade I remember reading and trying to write dialogue for cartoons from the newspapers. According to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Bobbie Madison-Mackey, “I’m not surprised Patricia became a writer. She was the biggest liar I had in the third grade.”
I still keep in touch with Mrs. Mackey and she’s been to several of my shows. It’s now 2009, and she’s still living in Williamston, SC; playing the piano at Prospect Baptist church on Sundays.
Q: Describe the genre in which you do most of your writing.
I write primarily in the Inspirational and Christian Fiction and humor genre. My next book, “Somebody’s Sinning in My Bed” due out in September 2009 is a departure but not an extreme one. There’s still the humor but with a more adult-related topic. I based this story upon the Biblical situation of the woman caught in the act of adultery and the outcry that followed along with Jesus’ forgiveness. And, whatever happened to the guy in the bed? Hmmmm…did he get away with it?
Q: What motivated you to become a writer?
I was always making up stories or re-inventing the world as I wanted it to be.
Q: Who has influenced your writing the most?
I would have to say Dr. Maya Angelou and Zora Neal Hurston.
Q: How have any of your personal experiences influenced the direction of your writing?
My experiences living in South Carolina with my maternal grandmother, Ma Cile, played a major role in the direction of my writing. The Southern culture and all of its complexities have always dominated my thinking. In addition, being a PK (Preacher’s Kid) definitely influenced the ‘churchy’ aspects of my story telling. My mother was a Pentecostal Evangelist/preacher and my father was a Baptist pastor. Ultimately it was to write humor, or relate my problems from a prone position on a professional couch
Q: What sets you apart from other authors in your genre?
Since the 1990’s, I’ve been credited with creating the gospel comedy genre. To create a niche and thrive in it is a blessing. Also having Kensington begin their Dafina Line with Inspirational and Christian Fiction based upon my first Sister Betty book is amazing.
To find out more about this amazing author, visit The Official Sister Betty website or The Official Pat G'Orge Walker website
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