How did you become a Christian author?
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an author. I was shy and introverted, and writing stories was a way for me to escape into imaginary worlds. But then along came junior high, and my ego became attached to my writing dreams.
Writing became a way for me to gain recognition among my peers or gather accolades from teachers. A lot of pride needed to die in me before I was ready to take up the pen again as an adult.
I was in my late thirties when I sensed God saying, “This is who I’ve created you to be. It’s time to say yes to writing as part of your call to ministry.” By then I had spent many years as a pastor, and that work has deeply impacted the way I write.
As a Christian author I shepherd my characters toward spiritual growth and transformation. I hope readers experience some of that pastoral shepherding through my books as well.
When you craft your stories are you focusing on an ideal reader? Who is that to you?
When I’m writing, I focus on the characters. I’m listening intently to their stories and to how the Spirit might be working with them. I don’t write with particular kinds of readers in mind because I think that would distract me from the listening process. I might try to make a character say or do something in order to reach a reader, and then the character’s arc would be manipulated.
But an ideal reader for me is someone who is longing for more of God or someone who feels stuck or weary or discouraged and is open to some gentle modeling about how to be attentive to the presence of God in the midst of daily life. That’s what the characters are learning, and I invite my readers into that process of discovery and transformation.
What spiritual themes tend to come up in your work?
Each of my characters is struggling with common issues like letting go of control, perfectionism, shame, regret, fear, people-pleasing, and hiding behind roles and busyness. Each of them is invited to travel deeper into the heart of God and to discover the height and depth, length and breadth of his love.
They’re invited to know God and know themselves more intimately. And they’re invited to say yes to the gift of community.
My books are about lament and hope, fear and faith, wrestling and rest. At the heart of each of them is the call to know ourselves as God knows and names us: beloved.
Click through to discover Sharon’s favorite thing about writing Christian fiction…