7 in Seven with Yolonda Sanders
Yolonda Sanders is the author of Soul Matters, a Christian fiction novel from Walk Worthy Press. BlackLiterature caught up with Yolonda for an extended question and answer session.
Q. Soul Matters is your first novel. Can you give us a brief synopsis of the book
Yes, Soul Matters is my first novel. It’s a story about faith, family, and love, and centers around the life of Wendy, a school teacher, who has a lot to learn about all three. Used to living a life of perfection, Wendy receives some news that shakes her world a quite a bit. Refusing to listen to any type of sound advice, she ultimately makes the situation more complicated than what it needs to be and in the process, damages her relationships with everyone around her.
Q. What is the writing process like for you?
It varies. The hardest part of writing for me is the first half of the book because I’m still laying the foundation and setting up the story. Once I get the first half of the book done, it usually takes me no time at all to finish.
Q. How did you become interested in writing fiction? Christian Fiction? Was there an event(s) in your life that told you this was your calling?
I’ve always loved to write, in general, since I was young. Mainly I wrote poetry, songs, and I’ve even written a couple of short plays. Soul Matters was when I first became interested in writing Christian fiction. I was looking for a way to share a message about God in a realistic, but entertaining way. Soul Matters gave me the chance to do that.
Q. On the surface, one of your characters appears to have a “perfect” life(Wendy). She has her degree, has married a successful man, is active in church and is expecting her first child, yet things are not as they seem. What were you trying to say to your readers about their walk with God?
Wendy’s biggest mistake was trying so hard to maintain an image of perfection that she began to lose sight on what was most important. I just want readers to always remember that our lives will never reach the point where we won’t have room for spiritual growth.
Q. Have you seen your book on the shelf yet??
Good question. No! It's been out for two days now, and I have been too busy to go to the store. I got another call today from a friend who was actually in Waldenbooks in Texas, and she said, "Guess what I just bought!"
Q.Tell me what’s next to your night stand or in your to be read pile. What books or authors are there that you’re reading?
Things on my night stand – My bible and Stormie Omartian’s Power of a Praying Wife and Parent books, which I try to go through every year. I have a couple of books on my “to read” list that I won’t get to until I finish the manuscript I’m currently working on.
Q. Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If so, please share it with us.
There is one scripture that I quote to myself quite often. It’s Romans 8:28, which says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I actually used this scripture in Soul Matters, also. Sometimes the storms in my life can get pretty overwhelming and there are times when I feel like giving up hope. This scripture reminds me that no matter what, a particular situation will ultimately end up working out for my good. I don’t know how God is going to do it, but I have confidence that He will because of two things that I do know for sure: a) I love God; b) I’m called according to His purpose.
Q. Besides promoting your book, what are you working on next?
A novel that is no where near being finished yet!!! I wish I could tell you more about it, but I’m still laying the foundation so anything I would say right now would be subject to change. It’s definitely going to be a Christian novel, though.
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