Germaine Copeland has a story to tell, but it's not the "great American novel" she once dreamed she would write. The author, who has sold more than 3 million copies of her "Prayers That Avail Much" book series, began her faith journey years ago when she was a homemaker on the verge of taking her life. "I had a problem with depression and had come to the place where I didn't want to live," recalled Copeland. As she was sitting at her kitchen table, a light flooded the room and she knew that it was God.

"My yellow kitchen became a yellow I'd never seen before. The grass outside was a green I'd never seen before," said Copeland." It was as though old things passed away and all things became new. I didn't want that time to be over, but when it was, I was left with this joyous ecstasy."

The experience gave her motivation for living and a hunger to know the Scriptures - "I couldn't read the Bible fast enough." She invited friends to study with her and after several years began to focus on prayer. "Prayer struggles are common among Christians," she said. "Sometimes it's a simple thing of how do I start, and that's really why I started writing my prayers. I never had prayed except when I was in trouble but I began to write the prayers and read them back."

Friends noticed the changes in her life and asked her to intercede for them. She began taking requests and writing specialized prayers. 

"I wanted them to know they could go to God for themselves. I liked for them to know they could go to God for themselves," she said." I liked to put something in their hands."

One day, a friend suggested she compile her prayers into a book to share with her study group. It was a big hit. "I was surprised when I got a letter from someone asking for an order. I wasn't set up at all," she said. "I was just a housewife who wanted to know God."