Hey readers! Today I’m excited to welcome author Stephanie Daniels to my blog! Stephanie writes YA Christian Historical Fiction, and I just recently made her acquaintance.
LB: You are sufficiently busy between homeschooling your family and your involvement in church, and currently, preparing to move. In your downtime, it would be easier to chill for a few minutes. Can you share your why with us? Why do you write?
SD: Thanks so much for inviting me to share about my writing journey. Answering this question ended up being more difficult than I thought. The answer most authors will probably give is that we’re called to it. I’m not an author that has ever felt “called” to write, which may seem very strange. My readers and supporters would probably disagree with me there (and honestly, I wrestle with a lot of self-doubt so they’re probably right.) When I was younger, I always kept a diary or journal and my family moved around a lot. Making friends was always hard for me, so I think writing became my friend. It was a steady companion when life was changing. It still can be, but I write because I express myself better on paper, and even the truths that God teaches me I’m better able to process and share through written word.
LB: Interesting! I also love the written word for everything from making lists to having big conversations. What impact does fiction have in a Christian’s life?
SD: Believe it or not, I read very little Christian fiction when I was a teen. But I know how impactful stories are, how even secular fiction or classic literature impacted me and shaped my mindset. Jane Eyre is my favorite book, and even though it isn’t a specifically Christian book, the main character wrestles with great temptation and resists. Her determination to not go against God’s law as she terms it, was inspirational to me as a young person. It showed me that the greatest thing we love can be used to turn us from God, but we can still say no. We can live for Him even when faced with hard choices. If a secular book can do that, how much more can Christian literature make an impact and challenge a young person in their faith walk, or in even determining that they don’t have one to begin with?
LB: Stories can make a huge impression. I’ve always said that I remember more history from historical fiction than from history textbooks. How do you do most of your research?
SD: I spend a lot of time researching in the beginning, and often along the way. I prefer primary resources, because nothing shows you the mindset of the times than reading books/newspapers/journals written by the people living in that era. I spend a lot of time on the Library of Congress Chronicling America website browsing newspaper articles for the town(s) and dates I’m researching. That also gives me a lot of great material to incorporate into my stories because much of the news/events/places are real. I also scour digital archives. Lots of digital books from the era. And I need a sense of place so I look at old maps, print them, and write all over them detailing where my fictional characters live and work. The internet is an amazing resource. For this second story, I couldn’t go to Tucson, Arizona, so I used Google Earth and located several places from my old maps. That was a fun virtual trip and hopefully enriched my story. I always visit when possible.
LB: Sounds like you’re very thorough in your research, and that’s a great gift to your readers! Can you give us a glimpse of what you’re working on now?
SD: Right now with moving, my brain has had to silence the fictional voices wanting attention. My second story is published on Kindle Vella which is closing in a few weeks. I don’t have a release date for it in paperback and ebook due to some financial hiccups. God knows, and I’m trying to keep the faith that I’ll be able to publish it this year. There’s a different opportunity for publishing episodically again this year that I’m praying about and deciding on. I’m undecided if I’ll transfer An Unconfirmed Report there, or work on a different story for that. Three projects are fighting for attention. The first is a prequel novella for The Uncertainty of Fire which is pre-Chicago fire and again from Whimsy’s viewpoint, the second is the third book in the Uncertain Riches series, tentatively titled A Certain Type and follows a new main character readers haven’t really been acquainted with yet, but will also bring back at least one side character from Uncertainty, and the third is a completely unrelated book set in 1883 Eureka Springs, Arkansas called The Miracle Girl of Basin Spring. It’s a departure from my typical writing in that it’s in third person point of view, something I’ve not done in a long while.
LB: These all sound great! I can relate to having some of the best fiction inspiration at the busiest, most inconvenient time! Hopefully God will provide you with the time to pen them and the guidance for where to take An Unconfirmed Report when Kindle Vella closes. Where can readers find you?
SD: My website needs some attention, and that’s something I’m trying to make a priority in 2025. The blog has kind of fallen by the wayside, but I hope after moving, I can start posting regularly there again. Joining my newsletter will keep readers informed of any publishing news I have and I try to recommend at least one clean/Christian fiction book for teens and young adults in every edition. (I occasionally have recommendations for adult reads too). Following me on my socials is another great way to keep in touch and in my private reader group on Facebook called Dare to Read a Daniels.
LB: Thank you so much for carving out time for this interview, Stephanie! Readers, be sure to follow Stephanie and check out her books and book recommendations!
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Stephanie Daniels is a Christian wife and mother who lives in the present but dreams in the past. Her debut novel, The Uncertainty of Fire, first appeared as an episodic story on Amazon’s Kindle Vella.
In between chauffeuring her homeschooled sons to extracurricular activities, supporting her very understanding lives-with-a-writer husband, teaching Sunday school, singing in the church choir, and attending events of her large extended family, she slips away and attempts to bring past worlds to life.
She writes historical fiction with strong faith themes and often romance, targeted for teens/young adults.
She loves clean period dramas, touring historical sites, drinking a large cup of coffee in the morning, and delving into research. And she is always up for a conversation about books and writing.
Chicago, 1871. Sixteen-year-old Whimsy Greathart would rather fight against Chicago’s child labor practices than attend her privileged family’s high society events. And a very public social blunder only strengthens her resolve to use her influence for good.
On the night of the Great Chicago Fire, her tenderhearted choice leads her into danger and results in life-changing consequences.
With her world turned to ash, she must rely on the mercy of poor relations to rebuild her future and is forced into the very labor system she wished to fight against. As Whimsy staggers under the weight of street gang violence and hazardous working conditions, a chance at deliverance persuades her to make a promise. One she intends to keep. But now she must determine whether it’s God’s heart she’s following or her own.
M Liz Boyle 