Interview with Biblical Fiction Author Donna K. Stearns and a Giveaway!

Welcome to Readers Write to Know! I asked you, my readers, what questions they would ask their favorite authors if given the chance, and the authors visiting my blog answered them. Thus, Readers Write to Know was born! As someone who has been involved with the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference for many years (and whose husband Gregg is the director this year), I was tickled to discover during this interview that Donna K. Stearns publishing journey is directly related to KCWC! I hope you enjoy her interview as much as I did. Read on to see how you can win an ebook bundle of both of her books!

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I am a follower of Jesus Christ. We began our journey together when I was ten. He has been teaching and growing me ever since. During the years of our journey, I’ve been blessed with a godly husband, three children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The Lord has called me to participate with him in reaching others through directing a summer day camp for children, leading teen groups and adult Precept Bible studies. I love studying the word of God.

My writing life grew out my studying God’s word. I write, as the apostle John stated in John 20: 30-31, so others might come to believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God—and through believing have eternal life.

I enjoy flowers, although my allergies don’t, taking morning walks, and playing with my great-grandchildren. I enjoy my family, friends, life, and a good book.”

Tell us about your book: Cost & Crown is the sequel to The Nazarene’s Price. Both are biblical fiction. The Nazarene’s Price deals with the pursuing love of Christ for the rich young ruler. Cost & Crown continues Matthias’s story but features Rebekah, Peter’s daughter. After the ascension of Christ, she struggles with faith when faced with the trials and persecutions the early church faced—the cost exacted as a follower of Christ, especially when those trials come to her doorstep.

If you knew ahead of time your book would benefit only one person on their spiritual journey, would you still write it? That is why I write—for the one—if more then the more the merrier.

Do you feel pressured to compromise your standards in order to reach a larger audience or be more successful? No. I do struggle to keep a balance of knowing how much I’m to do and how much is the Lord’s work. I pray for his leading in writing, marketing, and in interviews.

What do you think is lacking in Christian Fiction? Although, I believe in the happy-ever-ending because, Christ has won that for us, I would say being honest with our readers about the struggles of life, and how we can have victory, joy, and peace each day.

How did you determine whether to self-publish or seek a traditional publisher? A major concern was money. I prayed for the Lord to show me where to send my first novel. Through Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, I sat under Deb Haggerty, online during covid. I felt the still small voice tell me this is the one. I knew the Lord had to provide either the money or the publisher. He gave me the publisher at Elk Lake Publishing.

What made you take the plunge and finally do it? Two things moved me forward, no three. One was my daughter’s success in having her book published. Second, when I read the account of the rich young ruler in Mark’s gospel, the line, “Jesus loved him,” struck a chord. I knew there was a story. Third, I had written several teen short stories for then Standard Publishing S. S. curriculum, Salvation Army, Harold & Banner press, a few other things. I realized writing a novel was like writing several short stories. Each chapter being a short story connected to the next. So I began.

Find Donna online:

Website
Facebook

Find Donna’s book online:

Cost & Crown

Price: $8.99

1 used & new available from $8.99

nter to win an ebook bundle of Cost & Crown and The Nazarene’s Price!

3 comments

  1. Thank you for this opportunity. I don’t believe I signed up for your newsletter. So now, I am.
    God bless you in your continued writing journey. May his peace and strength be very near you.

    1. Thank you so much for being my guest! I enjoyed having you.

  2. Funny I am a Christian and started my writing journey back on February 6, 2019 and it really started as a fluke because I wasn’t trying to write a book just a short poem and have been writing books ever since right now I am writing a book series and I just let God help me with my writing journey by giving me the words because I don’t write it down first then go and write it but write it down right away writing by the seat of my pants I have heard different authors call it and although I’m unpublished I dream about the day I will be published but until then I will continue to write for fun.

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