Y. Deonna Interview Published on: 04, Aug 2023
What was that one moment in your life when you realized that you wanted to write?
There really was not a moment. Writing is part of who I am. I’ve always loved words and storytelling.
Can you tell us about your journey as an author and how you discovered your passion for writing?I’ve always loved reading, but the characters didn’t reflect me. They didn’t tell my story, so I started writing the kinds of books I wanted to read.
What inspired you to become a victim advocate and incorporate that into your writing?I’m now a clinical social worker studying to get my doctorate. I’ve always wanted to help people. I’m a carer and a nurturer. It is important to me to bring attention to the trials and triumphs of survivors. It is my ministry and my way to bring attention and awareness. I use fiction as a way to help others heal.
How do you incorporate your faith into your fiction writing? Can you give us an example from one of your books?My faith is everything to me. I want
What role does scripture play in your writing process, and how do you ensure it remains relatable to readers of different backgrounds?Sometimes the scripture comes first and I write a story based on it. Other times the scripture comes after, but it just works out so well.
Could you share a personal experience where your writing has had a positive impact on a survivor?I get emails from readers who share it’s help them with their faith.
How do you approach the delicate balance between addressing difficult topics and providing hope and healing for your readers?As a social worker and Christian it just comes as second nature to me.
What challenges have you faced as an author writing in the faith-based fiction genre, and how have you overcome them?It’s hard because we live in a secular world and I’ve gotten negative reviews. Sometimes readers want clean but I remind them that the Bible isn’t clean it’s real. I write real, relatable stories that talk about challenging topics. I always look at a challenge as an opportunity to learn and to teach.
How do you approach the process of creating relatable and God-focused characters in your stories? Are they based on real-life experiences or people you've encountered?God speaks to me. I get inspiration from every where. It can be a news story, an article or even an assignment for school. There’s a story in everything.
As a victim advocate, what steps did you take to raise awareness about the issues you address in your book, Her Mistake, His Masterpiece: A Standalone Novel?I love that story. She went through it but God is good. This particular story was created to bring awareness to sexual assault and why women don’t tell.
Can you share any upcoming projects or works-in-progress that readers can look forward to?I have about nine to finish. There are two stand-alone novels that are almost ready for editing. Then there’s the rest of the Goode Love series. I have some spend offs.
What has your AllAuthor experience been like so far? What are some highlights?Great. Battle Scarred Love has the most reviews of any book I wrote due to using your services.
