Ross tells story of faith and hope in “Sandy’s Path of Faith”

BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com

Artists never know when inspiration is going to hit.

But Mahomet-area resident Rose Ross doesn’t wait.

Instead, she just sits down at her computer and looks to God to guide her.

“I am the type when I sit down to do something and I’m not sure about myself, I pray about it,” Ross said. “God is the center of my life, I ask him everything.

“When I wanted to write, I sat down and asked Him to show me the path. And the next thing I know, the keyboard was flying.”

The product of her time in front of the screen is “Sandy’s Path of Faith,” Ross’ first published book about a 26-year old millionaire who leads a regular life until an accident sparks a desire to take over her mother and grandmother’s project, The Underground Ladies.

Sandy ends up opening her home, a mansion with a barn, to women and animals who have been battered and abused.

A representation of many women in Rose Ross’ life, Sandy wants to give the women a place to recover and to know that someone is there for them.

“I know a few women who have been battered and abused over the years,” she said. “It is something important to me that they get help; a chance to get out of their situation.”

Ross, who will move to Iowa in a few weeks, has spent hours at Kaffee, located in Mahomet IGA, writing. Before her husband Gary passed away, Ross did not like to be at home alone as he worked long hours in the fields.

Going to Kaffee gave her a place to be with her friends, Lutz and Deb Braunig.

Since her husband’s passing, Ross is spending more time with her friends, Jim and Kathy Neidel. She said Kathy has been her muse.

“Whenever I get stuck or need her to read something, she’ll look at it,” Ross said.

Ross said her grandchildren also gave her encouragement as they were growing up.

When her grandson, Braxton, was born, Ross wrote a children’s book that she gifted to him.

The story follows a five-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy who have to take refuge in a church during a storm. As they emerge from the church, they sort through the wreckage to find their parents with the help of the pastor. The girl’s father has passed away, and she and her mother begin on a journey of new relationships and rebuilding their lives.

“It’s a good kids’ book,” Ross said.

Ross is now following two other stories: one that stems from Sandy’s life and another original piece.

After spending most of her life wishing she could write, Ross has advice for anyone who shares her dream.

“If you wake up and you’ve got a story in your mind, then you need to be a writer, ’cause that’s what God’s given you,” she said.