Tell us about yourself.
I am married to Marty J Griffin, for 40+ years. We have two daughters and seven grandchildren. I have a PhD in Philosophy with a specialty in Human Services. I have owned a consulting company for small business startups and nonprofits. I love true stories and history. I've written several financial books from a Christian perspective aligned with the word of God. My current book "The Truth – A Christian Catechism" is my first Christian book that discusses the word of God, religion, believers of Christ, and churchgoers. I love studying and sharing the word of God to discover new rich insights to elevate my faith.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana as a Catholic. Between the ages of 18 and 32, I switched between Catholic and Baptist faiths twice. Thereafter, I became a believer in the Full Gospel Baptist faith from ages 32 to 60. I believe God called me out of Full Gospel Baptist for a dessert experience, which then led me to become non-denominational. After experiencing so much serving in different religious backgrounds and my dessert experience, I felt the Lord pulling on me to write my current book to enlighten humankind of the truth of God's word compared to synthetic religion. Thus, "The Truth" was born.
What was your journey to getting published like?
My journey to getting published was a great challenge. I tried to get published by known publishers but to no avail. I then decided to self-publish. I have paid for a professional editor and bible literate leaders as editors, which took a while. Setting my book on Amazon was a challenge, but I got it done. Through my research and diligence, I discovered the difference between Kindle eBook format versus ePub. In addition, I have learned the difference in the cost of self-publishing and using a publisher, as well as the benefits received. Self-publishers earn more, but the work is exasperating.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
The best feedback I've received is how strong I am in my faith and persistence when I believe God is directing my steps. To hear one of my mentors who is very astute in bible literacy say to me, "this book, "The Truth" is a God thing, and you have truly put the work in it."
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
My advice to aspiring writers would be to put a plan in place for the entire book-writing process from beginning to end. Know how and when the book is expected to be finished. Hire a successful published author as a coach or mentor. Ninety days out before publishing, hire an honest and good marketing/public relations firm with a clear plan for the money with projected outcomes. Make sure the firm can share proven results from other authors.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I love challenging fun stuff like skydiving, and water raft racing through rushing water. Scary high theme park rides.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
I love true stories, especially faith-driven ones. I love history.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{"Just write".
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Watching movies, and reading biblical stories.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The best story I have ever read, that had an impact on my life is Drew Brees book titled "Coming Back Stronger". He shared his life story from boyhood to becoming a champion quarterback. Drew's book encouraged me to keep moving forward after experiencing church hurt and disappointment. His book also taught me much about leadership, patience, teamwork, and handling being the underdog.
What has inspired you and your writing style? How did you choose the Christian genre?
As I stated previously, my dessert experience drew me closer to God. I received an enlightenment of God's love, and just want to run and tell the world. I thought "What better way to share my God-given insights than writing?" The Bible is a good example of writings that have held it own for centuries. Literate work never had to die, and there is no better way to witness than to share your personal God experiences.
How do you deal with negative reviews?
I have learned to embrace my critics with a grand of salt. I understand no one is flawless, therefore there is always room to grow. Take nothing for granted or personally; leave emotions at the door.
How do you connect with your readers?
I believe I connect with my readers by sharing my life experiences speaking the truth, and holding nothing back. People are looking for genuine truth. So many Christian leaders have put on a display that they are sinless, only to be exposed as sinners. I strive to walk and write the truth sharing my ups, downs, and disappointments in life. I share my faith and faithless experiences; I'm authentic. I give authenticity to my readers.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My next steps are to expand my knowledge of what it takes to become a highly sought author and how to be successful in that light. While I'm learning how to evolve as an author, I will be writing my next book — Eat or Die.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
I don't think there are any hidden messages in my work. I believe I do my due diligence as a writer researcher to ensure the final presentation is worth the readers' time.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
My dialogue dissects the good, the bad, and the ugly of bible characters. I write it as I understand and see the character of the subject. I don't provide any fiction to my Christian writing; I write as I see it.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
If I could share one thing with fans, it would be to be true to God and oneself. Know God for oneself. Don't believe everything that is said, do the research and learn for yourself.
Yulonda Griffin’s Author Websites and Profiles
Website
Amazon Profile
Yulonda Griffin’s Social Media Links
Facebook Page
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube Account
Threads
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
