I have interviewed many authors in the last year, from award-winning traditional authors to teenage self-published authors...but out of all of these interviews, all of these writers, and all of these questions, I think my first Book Nations interview with Erika Mathews is by-far my favorite! All of her answers are so powerful and true, resonating within me, and I think y'all will find her advice and her writing to be extremely inspiring!
Erika is an amazing example of how God uses those who are willing! She has followed His calling to write Christian fantasy that honors and glorifies Him, and she is a true blessing to the industry!
So, without further ado, let me introduce y'all to Erika!
Erika Mathews writes Christian living books, both fiction and non-fiction, that
demonstrate the power of God in the life of a believer, transforming daily life into His resting life. Her kingdom adventure novel series Truth from Taerna features spiritually challenging and refreshing adventure and unique Christian twists on cliched plots. She’s a homeschool graduate with a Bachelor’s in Communications, a Master’s in Biblical Ministries, and a passion for sharing Jesus Christ and His truth. Outside of writing, she spends time with her husband Josh, mothers her little ones, reads, edits, enjoys the great Minnesota outdoors, plays piano and violin, makes heroic ventures into minimalism, clean eating, and gardening, and uses the Oxford comma. You can connect with Erika at restinglife.com.
When did you first feel God calling you to write?
I loved books from the time I learned to read at age 5, and I started writing stories and poems around the same time. An agreement with a friend to both write a story with characters that had the same last name spurred me into writing my first full-length book when I was ten. But it wasn’t until I was thirteen that I first felt God’s call to write. One night He spoke to me and told me I’d write many books that glorified Him. From that moment, I haven’t doubted His calling to write and publish.
How has He guided you along the way?
In so many ways. He always is faithful to teach me what He wants me to know and to shape my thoughts and words as they become books. He revealed to me the depths of the truth that for me to live is Christ and Christ is my life. He guided me to an amazing Bible school focused on deepening my relationship with God and really getting into His Word through writing a commentary on the Bible and spending two hours daily in meditation on Scripture, alone with God. He provided the foundation from which all my books flow, and He’s with me every step of the way during writing, editing, and publishing.
What inspires you the most?
God, through Scripture. The theme of my books is almost always directly from something God has taught me. I also receive inspiration when I’m alone outside in nature, enjoying the beauties of creation.
What is the hardest part of writing Christian fiction?
For me, the hardest part of writing Christian fiction making sure that I’m telling exactly the story God wants me to tell and communicating Biblical truths clearly and precisely. The hardest part of writing fiction in general (though I only write Christian books) for me is plotting.
Have you ever endured any discouragement for writing Christian fiction?
One of the biggest discouragements is the prevailing mindset among successful author groups that in order to sell books and grow your author business, you have to “write to market”—that is, write what people want to read. While there is an element of truth to that, that isn’t the primary reason that I or other Christian authors should write. I write the messages God lays on my heart, even if no one else—or almost no one else—wants to read them. Truth isn’t popular. Lies sell. So the challenge is to remain steadfast and true to God’s calling in writing His words, even if I never sell enough books to live on.
What Christian books have impacted your life?
Non-fiction:
The Power of the Blood Covenant by Malcolm Smith – the best book I’ve ever read on what covenant means in Scripture and how prevalent and deep the understanding of covenant was in Bible times. Blood covenant is literally on every page of the Bible and understanding it transforms our relationship with God!
How I Learned to Meditate by Malcolm Smith – learning what Biblical meditation is and applying it changed my life. God says if we meditate on His Word day and night, we will have success. This book is Biblical and practical!
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence – what if we could truly live in God’s presence every moment of every day? That’s His design for us! This book is so full of rich spiritual truth on this topic as well as practical advice on how to practice His presence in our lives. This book is transformational!
Thy Face, Lord, I Will Seek by Dr. Michael Davis – SO much Biblical truth in this book that isn’t preached by the church today! Straightforward and to the point, this book doesn’t mince words.
Humility by Andrew Murray – this book is amazing in our walk with God.
One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven by Mark Cahill – very inspirational for evangelism and interacting with those who don’t know God
The Kneeling Christian by An Unknown Christian – this book should be read by every believer. Prayer is the power connection of the Christian; it’s our connection to the God of the universe!
Fiction:
Ishmael and Self Raised by E.D.E.N. Southworth – Ishmael’s steadfast dedication to God is so inspiring!
The Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight – adventurous fiction with unapologetically Christian characters in an anti-God culture
Elsie Dinsmore series by Martha Finley – Elsie and her family are so devoted to God and seeking to follow Him in all things, and their cheerfulness and quiet faithfulness has been continually inspiring to me
The Lost Clue by Mrs. O.F. Walton – Here’s where spunky characters in adverse circumstances learn to walk faithfully in the calling wherein they were called – and God rewards the faithful.
What advice do you have for aspiring Christian writers?
Three interconnected pieces of advice come to mind:
(3) write a lot. Practice writing whenever you can, whether you feel like your work is a masterpiece or garbage. The more you write, the more your skills improve.
(2) read a lot. Read books in your genre. Read books outside of your genre. Read books by authors you want to emulate. Notice how they write, what words they choose, how they structure their sentences, how they describe things, how they handle narration. Notice everything. You’ll learn so much about writing by reading quality books.
(1) Pray and meditate on God’s Word day and night. Let God write the book through you. As you seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things shall be added unto you.
Your latest novel releases today! Can you tell me a little bit about Sustainer’s Smile and what inspired it?
Sustainer’s Smile is book four in Truth from Taerna, but it can be read as a standalone. Truth from Taerna is a six-book kingdom adventure fiction series born from a heart to communicate the truths of God’s kingdom—the spiritual realm hidden from our physical senses—in an engaging story format. Each book focuses on an aspect of spiritual truth that today’s church often downplays. Each book follows a sibling of the family as they learn and grow closer to Adon Olam (God). These books have no violence, no magic, no fantasy, no language, and minimal squeaky-clean romance.
In Sustainer’s Smile, twenty-four-year-old Liliora Ellith makes peace with her past and discovers her future among the cradles of Taerna's unwanted babies as her present reality meets tears, heartbreak, smiles, and the sustaining hand of Adon Olam.
The moment I knew Liliora would have a book, I knew babies both born and unborn would play a key role in the story. Sustainer’s Smile was written as my own heart-cry to God for those who are too small and defenseless to speak up for themselves. With this book, I yearn to bring to the forefront of readers’ mind the horrors of treating the unborn as valueless and kindle the desire to pray, work, and speak fervently for them. I pray that through this book, readers might find God’s hand in whatever struggles they are facing. My prayer is that each reader discovers that He is indeed carrying them. Even when trials seem pointless and purposeless, too intense to accept or move past, may He prove to be your sustainer, and may He grant that you too find the smile in the storm.
I hope y'all enjoyed this interview! I know I have! What about Erika's answers spoke to you?
If you're interested in connecting with Erika, you can check out her website RestingLife.com or her writing blog WrittenRest.wordpress.com! And if you'd like to check out her latest novel (which releases today, by the way), sign copies are offered here and you can view the book on Amazon here!
I sincerely hope you'll take the time to learn more about Erika, Sustainer's Smile, and the #WriteforLife tour! You can do so by going here and reading the intro post! Erika, Ryana, and thirty-some other bloggers have poured a lot of their hearts into putting pro-life, Christian content out into the world, as well as showing their support for the God-ordained sanctity of life! Won't you join us?
With love and blessings always,
Grace
Romans 1:16
What a great interview!
Great interview, Grace and Erika!!