Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I just published my first book. Over the years I have written many short stories and started writing other novels and never finished them. Now that I finally bit the bullet and self-published, I’m in the mode. I’m going to start knocking these puppies out.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My book is entitled “Abusing His Grace”. The inspiration behind it is pretty simple–as a Christian, I am dismayed at how my faith is being abused by people who have either intentionally or not misconstrued what it means to be a Christian. I have decided to use my writing (in part–not all of my manuscripts revolve around Christianity) to confront incorrect doctrine. “Abusing His Grace” is about an issue that is often poorly handled, if not rugswept, in Christian churches–domestic violence. I’ve met survivors of domestic violence who said their faith is what kept them in their abusive relationships for as long as they stayed. I don’t think that is what God would want.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t always write a story in order.
You know how when a movie is being filmed, the scenes are not filmed consecutively? Well, I don’t write consecutively. I start with an outline, but I don’t always write chapter one, then chapter two, then chapter three. Sometimes an idea pops into my head for something and even if I haven’t written the information leading up to it, I flesh it out anyway and merge everything together. I’m not sure if other authors do that or not.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by everything from Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck to Black Boy by Richard Wright to To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine by Bebe Moore Campbell to The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I love to read great books and hope to write some of my own. Those people have created story art and I aspire to do the same.
What are you working on now?
I am working on a follow-up novel to “Abusing His Grace” as well as a spin-off novel that revolves around the main character’s teenage daughter, Eve. I am excited about both of them, but particularly that which involves Eve. She is a Christian teenager and I haven’t really found many works of fiction that would engage that particular group of people.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
You tell me!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make like Nike and JUST.DO.IT. I wasted a lot of time trying to get published the traditional route. And for what? They would have put out the same book I did on my own. The only difference I see so far is that I put in a lot of work myself that they would have probably done for me but that is part of the joy–being able to claim this process as my own.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My dearly departed Dad always told me that here in America I have two strikes going against me–being Black and being a woman–so that I have to work twice as hard. He was right.
What are you reading now?
“Death by Honeymoon” by Jaden Skye and “That There Las Vegas!” by Clyde Dowell.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Fame and fortune, hopefully.
On a serious note, I am simply looking forward to publishing more of my works. I have received my rewards already from this first publication. I have had more people than I ever could have imagined tell me about their own stories of survivorhood, and thank me for writing my book. It doesn’t get any better than that.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My study Bible, my own book “Abusing His Grace”, a cookbook (wink) and one of my Garfield collections (I’d need some laughs if I was stranded on a desert island).
Author Websites and Profiles
Stephanie Gridley Gridley Website
Stephanie Gridley Gridley Amazon Profile
Stephanie Gridley Gridley’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile