Today is MY book birthday (yay!!), so we have a two-fer going on!!
I’m also welcoming author Allen Steadham! Allen writes Christian Speculative (which includes Fantasy and Science fiction), and he’s a big fan of one of my favorite franchises . . . STAR TREK! Check out Allen’s website to learn more about him. His testimony will bless you!
And a bonus – one winner (must comment to win!) will receive PDF copies of Allen’s first AND second books, Jordan’s World and Jordan’s Arrow!
Whether or not you’re a Trekkie, I think you’ll enjoy Allen’s interview, and his desire to show that God’s love has no limits!
The Interview
What inspired you to write, initially, and what encouraged you to continue?
I began writing homemade comic books as a ten-year old boy and continued that for decades. I finally jumped into novel writing with National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) in 2013. I prayed and handed over all my creativity to the Lord, asking Him to inspire my book. He blessed me to complete the first draft of that book, my debut Christian superhero thriller called Mindfire, in three weeks. I spent a couple of years editing it to make it manuscript-ready before initially self-publishing it on Amazon. Once I accomplished that, I wanted to write something completely different. With the Lord’s help, I wrote a Christian Science-Fantasy book called Jordan’s World, which is the first book in a trilogy called the Jordan of Algoran series.
In 2018, I was signed by my current publisher, Ambassador International, after participating in a Twitter event called #FaithPitch. They published Mindfire in April 2019 and Jordan’s World in July 2019. In February this year, they published book the sequel, Jordan’s Arrow. The third book (Jordan’s Deliverance) will be released on October 13, 2020.
I will continue to write as long as the Lord inspires me.
Amen! I love that you started at such a young age, and I totally understand – did you hear that I tried to write the sequel to Gone With the Wind? LOL! I didn’t make it past the prologue, but I totally fixed the “happily ever after” that was missing in the first one!
Do you look on writing as a “calling?”
Yes, I do. When I submitted my creativity to the Lord, I committed to writing only Christian works, and primarily fiction. It’s all for His glory and to point people towards Jesus Christ. I will do that for however long the Lord wants and I am prepared to do so for the rest of my life.
I think God calls us for so many things, don’t you? Whether it’s our craft of writing, music (something you and I have in common!), or anything we do, it’s for HIS glory, not ours!
What is your favorite Bible verse, and why?
John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I love this verse because it sums up the Gospel so eloquently. It is the hope we all have, should we choose to accept it.
The Gospel in a nutshell! When we know this verse, we have no excuse for not sharing it!
What is your favorite movie and why?
I’m a big Trek fan, so Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan is my favorite movie. (YES!!) It has some powerful themes regarding life and death, the futility of revenge, and the value of a friend’s sacrifice to save many (very reminiscent of John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”) It’s also an exceptional science fiction action movie.
I still cry during the “needs of the many” scene . . . I think speculative has so many opportunities to share the Gospel. Not to get off subject, but have you watched “Star Trek: Discovery?” 😉
A lot of interviewers ask for your favorite book. That’s just not fair! What has been the most recent book you’ve read that excited you or moved you in some way? Why?
I’ve been reading The Rose Queen by Allison McBain. It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but gender-swapped so the princess is transformed by an evil sorcerer and has three years to find love or perish. I generally don’t like fairytale retellings, but this one is character-rich, especially the main character. It has pulled me in and held my attention. It’s not taking the Disney movie or even the original literature and changing the genders. These are completely new characters and circumstances that fulfill the original premise of the tale. So in a way, that makes it fresh and new. I admire when an author can put a new spin on a classic and make it their own, so to speak.
Being a fairy tale geek from way back, I definitely need to read this!
Is there someone, alive or dead, who had a major influence on your writing life, or on your life in general?
My wife, Angel. She is the first person to read all my fiction and she is my first editor. She is the one person who can be completely candid with me, because she loves me and sincerely wants to aid me in what I do. As a result, she has been a major influence on my writing life.
Beautiful, and after reading your bio on your website, I would definitely like to meet her!
Blessings, Allen. I can’t wait to see where God leads you next!
About Jordan’s Arrow
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die . . . A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
War has come to Algoran. The Gulstaa nation is determined to expand their territory with merciless resolve. Their end goal is revenge for a past defeat — they want to conquer the Mountain Mokta and anyone else in their way.
Jordan SnowFire is now the Mokta Chieftess. She has the daunting task of stopping a conflict she never asked for. Will she seek the wisdom of God or the wisdom of her tribe? What impact will the blood of SnowFire flowing through her veins have on the way she conducts this war? How far will she go to protect her family and the Mokta people?
Meanwhile, Erica Melendez finds herself trapped in the middle of the hostilities. Tragedy forces her away from the Ullvarr village and into circumstances she never imagined when she came to this world. Can she survive long enough to be reunited with Jordan?
Loyalties are tested. Decisions are made. And Algoran will never be the same after Jordan’s Arrow finds its target.
About Allen
Allen Steadham created comic books and webcomics before he started writing novels. He has been married to his wife, Angel, since 1995 and they have two sons and a daughter. When not writing stories, Allen and his wife are singers, songwriters, and musicians. They have been in a Christian band together since 1997. They live in Central Texas.
Connect With Allen
Website – https://allensteadham.com
Facebook – https://facebook.com/jaspecfiction
Twitter – https://twitter.com/Mindfirenovel
Instagram – https://instagram.com/allensteadham
GoodReads – https://goodreads.com/allensteadham
Bookbub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/allen-steadham
Purchase Links for Jordan’s Arrow
Thanks so much for joining us today, Allen!
Readers, be sure to comment below – Are you team Star Trek, or team Star Wars, or neither? Me? I like it all! 🙂
Happy Wednesday, and stay tuned for Heart Restoration birthday info!!!
I’m a total Trekkie — except that I detest William Shatner. Always have, always will. I think he reminds me of a mean, very grouchy old school-bus driver we had for third grade. With that exception, I’m a great fan of all the television shows and movies. One thing I never understood though, and they all seem to do it: Why do the captain and first officer undertake so many dangerous missions together, when they’re the two people the ship/mission/station could least afford to lose. Dramatically it makes sense, of course, but practically it’s a dreadful strategic and tactical move.
I haven’t seen much of Discovery yet, and none of Picard. I keep waiting for my life to slow down a little so that I can sign up for a free trial of Disney Plus and binge-watch them.
I guess I am neither LOL but don’t tell it to my kiddos.
Re book – It would be a new genre to me but I’m willing to try 😉
My brother was the diehard sci-fi fan in my house.