Y'all remember R. M. Peterson...one of the two authors behind October's #WriteforLife tour! I didn't get a chance to have her on for an interview last month, so I decided to have her on today! I hope y'all enjoy learning more about this amazing pro-life Christian writer!
Everyone has a Heritage. Something that makes them who they are. Your family history determines a lot of that for you. Mine is simple: I am a Christian. I am an American. I am from the South. And I am an Author. I will leave that legacy behind one day.
Here at Life of Heritage, my goal is to share my Heritage with others. To make an eternal difference in future generations with compassion. I hope that as you look through my blog posts, my books and my pictures, that you may be inspired to share your heritage with others! But most importantly, I hope that everything I do here will bring Glory and Honor to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Ryana Lynn, Author
When did you first feel God calling you to write? Hmmm. Probably about halfway through my first draft of my first book. I loved writing and making up stories, but I never really thought God would actually want me to do it for anything other than a hobby. It was my mom who told me I should pray about it. I took her advice and with much fear and uncertainty, in 2011, I announced to my family that I wanted to pursue self publication.
How has He guided you along the way? Oh there are too many ways to list! From laying scripture on my heart to guiding me into the right relationships, God has been there for every step. When I feel lost in the story, He has given me ideas to run with either through a brainstorming session with family and friends or that perfect verse popping up in my devotions. I couldn't do it without Him!
What inspires you the most?
The Unsung Heroes of the past and present. Or people that aren't perceived as heroes any more because it doesn't fit the narrative. I'm not ashamed of being from a long line of freedom loving North Carolinians. I'm not ashamed of supporting the police. I'm not ashamed to be pro-life. And I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is the hardest part of writing Christian fiction?
Finding the fine line between being too “preachy” and being just another clean book. People’s opinions vary and that makes it frustrating. But I happen to be of the opinion that just having a character pray or mentioning church doesn't constitute a Christian book. But I also know I don't have to say “Thank God,” and “Lord willing,” in every other sentence. My mom has helped me a lot with this, balancing the story with the Christian values I want to share; it's more than just talk. It's also the walk.
Have you ever endured any discouragement for writing Christian fiction? Not from Christian fiction specifically. But I've had several people discourage me from writing in general. Telling me some day I won't have time, or that it's a phase or that I'm a bigot for writing what I write. It all hurts and yes it's made me angry, but I know at the end of the day, I don't answer to them. I answer to God, the One Who called me to write in the first place. And His opinion is all that matters. Am I a perfect writer? No way. But through His guidance, I hope I'm a better writer than when I started. I never want to get to the point where I think I'm good at what I do. Because then I'm trusting in my ability and not God’s enabling.
What Christian books have impacted your life? Ooh this is a fun one! I'll only list three, but there are many. Ester Reid by Isabella Alden, The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin and Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle.
What advice do you have for aspiring Christian writers? Never underestimate the importance of a good editor. You are already under scrutiny because of your Faith in Jesus. Make sure you represent Him well by giving your best. Like I said, I am not a perfect writer and never will be. But I can say some of my older works make me cringe because I needed to put more time and effort into them. We write for the King! So write your very best for Him!
Your latest novel is releasing soon! Can you tell me a little bit about To Save a Life and what inspired it? To Save a Life is probably my favorite book of my printed works. I've cried over this book, prayed over this book and dreamed over this book. It's a story of hope, not despair; of forgiveness, not condemnation; of love and not hate. Amber could be the girl you go to college with. Chad could be the guy at your local grocery store. Cammie could be that woman you passed at the coffee shop on your way home. Just think about that as you read the story...
To Save a Life was inspired of course by my love for the preborn. But it was a short clip from the film Unplanned that planted the story seed. Watching the baby on the screen fight the abortion doctor...seeing how it wanted to live! It shook me. I couldn't unsee it. I had to write about it. And after much begging and demanding from my writing circle (love y'all btw!) To Save a Life was born.
I hope y'all enjoyed learning more about the lovely Mrs. Peterson! If you're interested in connecting with her, check out her website LifeofHeritage.com, and if you'd like to learn more about her latest release, To Save a Life, read over my spotlight here!
Which of R. M. Peterson's answers spoke to you the most? Let me know in the comments below!
With love and blessings always,
Grace
Romans 1:16
Great interview!!