Ask the Author: Stephanie Daniels
Answered Questions (6)
Stephanie Daniels
Hi Vic,
What a great question! Thanks so much for reading my books and I'm glad you enjoyed the faith messages in them. Being compared to Francine Rivers is very high praise.
I have LOTS of recs, maybe not space enough for them all here. If you narrow down what genres you're looking for, it might help me to give better suggestions.
So how to make it organic? That's a tough one, but I think what I always aim to do is create circumstances that will cause the character to have to learn the faith lesson God has impressed on me to include (and guess what? I'm usually learning the lesson too.) When we make our characters uncomfortable by putting obstacles in their path, they react. Isn't that what we also do in real life? As far as the romance aspect of my stories, my first principle is that the Bible is clear we aren't to be equally unyoked. One character in one of my books came to this realization slowly, but I didn't want to spell it out for the reader. Some readers still insist she made the wrong choice in the end--that's their right to think that, and maybe I could have delivered it better, though I tried to make the path of breadcrumbs along the way so readers wouldn't be shocked, but it's my hope, somewhere along the way as we all grow and learn in our faith, that instead of riding our emotions, that we'll go back to what the Word of God says. In my other book, the girl isn't as strong in her faith, and she doesn't even think about this principle until the very end. I wanted to represent the girls who've not had a good example to follow and wouldn't naturally come to this conclusion. Fortunately, other things prevented her from giving her heart right away, until that feller yielded. But let me tell you, he didn't want to. It took throwing a lot in his path to get him to listen to the Lord.
So I guess the long-winded answer to your question is--it comes down to the characters. Get to know them. Sometimes that's only by writing a lot of scenes that maybe won't even make it in your book. (I could publish a book of only deleted scenes at this point). Once you know them, and how they'll react, you can devise (aren't we crafty?) situations and scenes that will help them realize their love for someone or what they need to realize about God.
Thanks so much for the question and your kind words. It always means the world to me when a reader (and writer) reaches out. Let me know about genres for book recs and I'll be happy to supply you with some suggestions. God bless!
What a great question! Thanks so much for reading my books and I'm glad you enjoyed the faith messages in them. Being compared to Francine Rivers is very high praise.
I have LOTS of recs, maybe not space enough for them all here. If you narrow down what genres you're looking for, it might help me to give better suggestions.
So how to make it organic? That's a tough one, but I think what I always aim to do is create circumstances that will cause the character to have to learn the faith lesson God has impressed on me to include (and guess what? I'm usually learning the lesson too.) When we make our characters uncomfortable by putting obstacles in their path, they react. Isn't that what we also do in real life? As far as the romance aspect of my stories, my first principle is that the Bible is clear we aren't to be equally unyoked. One character in one of my books came to this realization slowly, but I didn't want to spell it out for the reader. Some readers still insist she made the wrong choice in the end--that's their right to think that, and maybe I could have delivered it better, though I tried to make the path of breadcrumbs along the way so readers wouldn't be shocked, but it's my hope, somewhere along the way as we all grow and learn in our faith, that instead of riding our emotions, that we'll go back to what the Word of God says. In my other book, the girl isn't as strong in her faith, and she doesn't even think about this principle until the very end. I wanted to represent the girls who've not had a good example to follow and wouldn't naturally come to this conclusion. Fortunately, other things prevented her from giving her heart right away, until that feller yielded. But let me tell you, he didn't want to. It took throwing a lot in his path to get him to listen to the Lord.
So I guess the long-winded answer to your question is--it comes down to the characters. Get to know them. Sometimes that's only by writing a lot of scenes that maybe won't even make it in your book. (I could publish a book of only deleted scenes at this point). Once you know them, and how they'll react, you can devise (aren't we crafty?) situations and scenes that will help them realize their love for someone or what they need to realize about God.
Thanks so much for the question and your kind words. It always means the world to me when a reader (and writer) reaches out. Let me know about genres for book recs and I'll be happy to supply you with some suggestions. God bless!
Stephanie Daniels
All readers of Christian YA fiction are welcome
https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...?
https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...?
Stephanie Daniels
Hi Emerson!
Thanks so much for your eagerness. It really brings me joy that you’re awaiting the story. I wish I had a date set but since I’m an indie author I fund all the costs for publishing (well, God does). I’ve paid for my editing and have mostly worked through those notes but have not been able to send to my proofreader yet. I published An Unconfirmed Report on Kindle Vella this past fall which is how I first published Uncertainty, but then Amazon announced in October the platform was closing. Publishing there the first time was the financial means to publish Uncertainty in paperback and ebook. I’d thought it would supply me with the means to publish again. So I’m quite literally waiting on God. I always let my newsletter subscribers know first when I have any news, and of course on my social media pages. And you’re always welcome to message me on those or at my email at stephanie@authorstephaniedaniels.com. If you’d be interested in being a beta reader or joining my launch team, please send me a message and I’ll put you on my list. Thanks so much for reaching out and I hope to have news for you soon! Pray for me about this.
Thanks so much for your eagerness. It really brings me joy that you’re awaiting the story. I wish I had a date set but since I’m an indie author I fund all the costs for publishing (well, God does). I’ve paid for my editing and have mostly worked through those notes but have not been able to send to my proofreader yet. I published An Unconfirmed Report on Kindle Vella this past fall which is how I first published Uncertainty, but then Amazon announced in October the platform was closing. Publishing there the first time was the financial means to publish Uncertainty in paperback and ebook. I’d thought it would supply me with the means to publish again. So I’m quite literally waiting on God. I always let my newsletter subscribers know first when I have any news, and of course on my social media pages. And you’re always welcome to message me on those or at my email at stephanie@authorstephaniedaniels.com. If you’d be interested in being a beta reader or joining my launch team, please send me a message and I’ll put you on my list. Thanks so much for reaching out and I hope to have news for you soon! Pray for me about this.
Stephanie Daniels
Hi Judith,
Thanks for asking. Are you signed up for my monthly newsletter which is where subscribers get updates on all my publishing news? I’ve been working hard on this second book. I’m releasing An Unconfirmed Report on Kindle Vella over the next few months while I simultaneously send to my editing team. If that interests you at all, you can read the first ten episodes for free there soon. (If all goes as planned, the first episode will go live today) and I hope to have the first ten posted in the coming weeks. If you’re following me on social media, I’ll be posting about when it goes live. And then the rest of the episodes as I have them ready. My plan is to release in paperback and ebook sometime in November (if God allows). Thanks so much for asking and your interest. I try not to pay too much attention to reviews but see now that you’ve left one (Thank you so much for that and the kind words!) In answer to your question there about Bessie…it’s my plan for her to show up in Book Three as a side character (she will not be in Book Two) and then as the main character in Book Four. Besides Keller, she is the story many readers have asked about a story for—which wasn’t in my original plans but now feel led that she needs one of her own.
Thanks for asking. Are you signed up for my monthly newsletter which is where subscribers get updates on all my publishing news? I’ve been working hard on this second book. I’m releasing An Unconfirmed Report on Kindle Vella over the next few months while I simultaneously send to my editing team. If that interests you at all, you can read the first ten episodes for free there soon. (If all goes as planned, the first episode will go live today) and I hope to have the first ten posted in the coming weeks. If you’re following me on social media, I’ll be posting about when it goes live. And then the rest of the episodes as I have them ready. My plan is to release in paperback and ebook sometime in November (if God allows). Thanks so much for asking and your interest. I try not to pay too much attention to reviews but see now that you’ve left one (Thank you so much for that and the kind words!) In answer to your question there about Bessie…it’s my plan for her to show up in Book Three as a side character (she will not be in Book Two) and then as the main character in Book Four. Besides Keller, she is the story many readers have asked about a story for—which wasn’t in my original plans but now feel led that she needs one of her own.
Stephanie Daniels
Every writer experiences the highs and lows between thinking their work is amazing and horrible. Don't let either emotion derail you. We should continually keep learning and perfecting our craft, but also not allow doubt and comparison rob us of creating something new.
Stephanie Daniels
I am currently drafting the second story/book in my Uncertain Riches series. Some of the characters from The Uncertainty of Fire play a featured role.
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