Allen Steadham is a Christian, author, husband, father, and Information Technology professional in Texas. He has authored multiple books across a few different genres including The Former Things, which I reviewed last week (spoiler: it’s a must read for fans of contemporary romance). I’m so excited to learn more about Allen and his writing in today’s interview!
In his spare time, Allen enjoys spending time with his wife and children. He and his wife are involved in their church’s music ministries including a Christian band called First Light. Before he started writing novels, Allen wrote and illustrated his own webcomics. Let’s welcome Allen now!
Welcome, Allen Steadham!
Q) Thank you for joining us today! To start, please describe yourself in 3 words.
A) Creative. Compassionate. Intense.
Q) What was your most recent 5-star read and why?
A) Mission Hollywood by Michelle Keener. It’s a solid Christian romance with a strong message, good writing, and likeable characters.
Q) You’re throwing a literary dinner party where you can invite 3 authors, living or not. Who is invited and why?
A) That’s a tough one. I’d say Parker J. Cole (living), Daphne Self (living), and Ben Franklin (not living). Parker is a great friend and prolific author, Daphne was the editor on several of my books and another friend. And I’m distantly related to Ben Franklin (on my mother’s side of the family) and people say I’m a lot like him, so it would be interesting (if it were possible).
Q) If you had a theme song for your life, what would it be and why?
A) Provider by Rivers & Robots—because it’s all about God and how he makes everything in my life possible, and how I feel about Him.
Allen’s Writing
Q) Describe your writing in 5, or less, words.
A) Fiction for the soul.
Q) How does your faith intersect with your writing?
A) My faith is my writing. Before I began my first novel (Mindfire), I prayed and submitted all my creativity to the Lord and asked for His help. And God has blessed me in my writing every since.
Q) What is your favorite Bible verse?
A) John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Q) What do you hope readers of your novel, or any of your works, walk away feeling and or thinking?
A) I hope they walk away with the understanding that God loves everyone, even atheists, and that Jesus is the answer to all of life’s problems.
The Former Things
Q) What can you tell us about The Former Things?
A) The Former Things is a Christian Fiction romance told from the first-person perspective of a 24-year-old male atheist named Sean Winter. He has a troubled past but is trying to make a good life for himself after graduating college, securing a customer service job and his first apartment. Can two Christians—a past love interest and a current co-worker—make a difference in the life of an atheist?
Q) What was the inspiration behind The Former Things?
A) The Lord Himself gave me the story for The Former Things while I was praying one afternoon during the Covid-19 lockdown. And I was compelled to write it.
Q) In your own words, what type of reader will Sean’s story resonate with?
A) The New Adult demographic (18 – 30 year old males and females), non-believers (primarily) as well as believers.
More from Allen Steadham
Q) In addition to The Former Things, can you tell us about other books you have available to readers?
A) I have also written a Christian Fiction superhero thriller called Mindfire, a Christian science-fantasy trilogy called The Jordan of Algoran Series, and a short story in a Christian sci-fi anthology called Into the Unknown: Seven Short Stories of Faith and Bravery.
Q) Can you tell us about your current writing projects?
A) I have two Christian fiction series I’m working on, and both involve alternate Earths and alternate histories. One is a steampunk trilogy set in the present day. And the other is a dystopian sci-fi series.
Allen’s Advice
Q) If you could give your younger self any advice, in terms of writing or something else, what would it be?
A) Strive to get even closer to the Lord than you think you are, so He can show you even more and let it influence your writing.
Q) What advice can you share with other authors?
A) For Christian authors, seek God for your inspiration. Don’t depend on yourself, don’t use worldly entertainment as inspiration, and don’t be like anyone else. Be unique. The Lord can help you do that.
Closing and Ways to Connect
Q) Thank you, Allen, for being here today! Is there anything else you would like to add for our readers?
A) Please visit my author website. It will give you information on all my books, book, series, and story trailers (including upcoming works); a blog on a variety of topics; book and story excerpts; links to past interviews; a videos section; and my Christian testimony (the Bio page).
Readers, thank you for joining us today! In addition to learning more about Allen Steadham and his writing through his website, you can also connect with him through Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads.
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