Interview & Giveaway with Brave Author D.T. Powell

Today on the Brave Blog, we have an interview and giveaway with Brave Author D.T. Powell.

Be sure to read until the end of the interview for a chance to win a free copy of her new novel, With
Mercy’s Eyes. There will be one paperback winner and one ebook winner.
Both giveaways run from 7/15-8/1. Winners will be announced via her Instagram (@dtill359) and email
newsletter.

Let’s jump in!

Sarah: What is a topic you feel is underrepresented in Christian Fiction?

D.T. : Homosexuality and same-sex attraction. In addition to my novel, With Mercy’s Eyes, I’ve seen
these subjects dealt with in Christian fiction twice and heard about a third book that also
addresses it. Usually, if these subjects are dealt with at all in Christian circles, it’s through non-
fiction. And while non-fiction is a wonderful and much-needed sphere for addressing difficult
subjects, I find it’s fiction that reaches me and many others most effectively.

Sarah: Do you plot before embarking on a new WIP? What is your process like?

D.T. : Some people thrive on plotting. I, however, am deathly allergic to it. I tell people I tried it once,
and it was the singularly most miserable experience of my life.

When I start work on a story, I know a handful of things: the main character’s name, the story’s
title, the genre, and maybe one significant scene. That’s it. The rest, I discover as I go. For me,
this allows a lot of getting to know the characters and letting them tell me what needs to happen
instead of me trying to make them follow a set course. It also allows me to use the editing phase
to refine what I know about the people and places I’m writing about.

Sarah: Haha! That’s one definitive answer. I’m glad you’ve found what works best for you.

Do you have a main Scripture for your WIP or your writing in general?

D.T. : My new release, With Mercy’s Eyes is built on I John 4:10 (KJV), “Herein is love, not that we
loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Sarah: Wonderful. How long does it take you to write a book?

D.T.: I write both original fiction and fanfiction, novel-length and short form, so my start-to-finish
times are all over the place. The quickest I’ve ever fully written and edited a short story was three
days, although I can do a shorter flash fiction piece in a few hours. On the other hand, there are
short stories that have taken me six weeks. For longer work, I finished drafting With Mercy’s Eyes
in a total of nine months. Some of my longer fanfiction work, however, takes three or more years.
It just depends on the story and whether I’ve become the person it needs me to be in order to
write it.

Sarah: What makes you unique as a writer?

D.T.: I have a widely varied background when it comes to writing, and that’s something I’m finding to be less common among writers my age. I’ve written across multiple genres, in multiple formats (flash fiction, short story, novella, novel, etc.), both fiction and non-fiction, original work and fanfiction. I’ve written anything from epic-length fiction to book reviews. Sometimes I’m on a deadline, other times I’m not. I’ve also spent time learning different disciplines from multiple mentors across a ten-year span.

Whatever the case, every experience has taught me a host of invaluable things.

Sarah: What do you hope readers will take away from your latest/featured book?

D.T. : Christian fiction dealing with homosexuality and same-sex attraction is overwhelmingly rare. For With Mercy’s Eyes, the thing I’d love most for readers to understand because of this book is that there is only one eternally significant differentiating factor between people. Whether we’ve chosen to accept Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Too many Christians look at others—especially LGBTQ groups—with an attitude of “well, at least I don’t do that.” But how we’ve sinned doesn’t matter. The important part is that we have sinned. Romans 3:23 (KJV) says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

If only one person comes away from this book with the ability to see same sex attracted people just a little differently, it will have been a success worthy of celebration.

Sarah: Your passion for this topic shines through. What did you go to school for (or what do you have a degree in)? Have you incorporated your education or profession into your books? How so?

D.T. : I actually have a Bachelor’s degree in business. I took two years of Graphic Design classes but didn’t pass my evaluation sophomore year, so I switched to Business. And that combination of knowledge and skills has proven helpful on a daily basis. As for incorporating that knowledge into my books, it hasn’t come up yet, but it might.

Something that has made it into my work, however, is the eight years I spent in retail. The novella I’m currently working on features a main character who works in a big-box store, and many of her experiences are similar to things I’ve seen or experienced.

Sarah: Do you read your reviews? Why or why not?

D.T.: Every single one.

My writing journey began in fanfiction, so that means I look at reviews a bit differently than an original-fiction-only writer.

In a fanfiction setting, reviews are sometimes the sole avenue through which many writers receive feedback. If I wanted to get better, I had to read my reviews to know what was and wasn’t working, what people liked or disliked, what areas my knowledge was lacking in, and where my weak spots were. And all of this happened in a public setting. Literally anyone from anywhere could say anything about me or my work. Their words would be accessible to anybody with an internet connection—and they could even leave their feedback anonymously, if they wanted. This helped me grow thick skin and nerves of steel pretty quickly, and that has served me incredibly well over the years.

Because my writing experience has the foundation it does, I’m not as affected by reviews as some writers. Positive reviews on my original work are great, and I’ll never turn them down, but I’ve spent years in the fanfiction sphere writing to lurkers who never say a word. They keep coming back every time I post something new, though, and that means a lot to me.

On the other hand, I also don’t view negative reviews on my original work as world-ending. They’re just another note to consider, and I believe everyone should be able to voice their opinion, regardless of whether I agree with it. Sometimes a negative review can be the clearest communication to potential readers whether my book is for them, and I highly value that.

I also find certain reviews to be very helpful for marketing purposes, so I’m always on the lookout for great review quotes.

Sarah: That’s a great perspective. Who’s your latest book dedicated to? Why?

D.T. : The dedication for my new release, With Mercy’s Eyes, reads, “For two men named John. The first, God used to teach me how to go to war. The second, He used to teach me how to live in peace.”

Both these men were incredible forces in my life. One man intended good for me. The other intended evil. Regardless of their intentions, God used them in my life to shape me into a stronger, more confident, and more knowledgeable person who’s comfortable with the gifts God gave me and knows, above all, that He is in control. If it weren’t for both these men, With Mercy’s Eyes likely never would have come to be.

Sarah: What are you working on now?

D.T.: I am almost finished with a Contemporary Christian fiction novella about church hurt. It centers around a woman who’s just left her long-time church because the pastor and her fellow members spread lies about her. During this woman’s search for another congregation, she encounters a pastor who’s just accepted a new church. But not everyone is happy about him being there.

This novella explores the sovereignty of God, individual responsibility, and the complexities of being part of the Body of Christ.

Sarah: Thanks so much for sharing with us. It was a pleasure learning more about your writing process and your book. Now, what are the giveaway details?

D.T.: To enter the giveaway for a paperback or ebook copy of my new release, With Mercy’s Eyes, use one of the links below, and come back to the giveaway page every day between now and 11:59 on July 31st to get a free daily entry.

With Mercy’s Eyes is a Contemporary Christian fiction novel that addresses homosexuality and same-sex attraction from a Biblical worldview. This book contains NO swearing, excessive gore, or explicit sexual content. However, due to the subjects discussed and the intensity of some scenes, the author recommends this book for readers 25+.

Links for giveaways:

Paperback (U.S. Only, 18+) – http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/71c3c6d91/?

Ebook (U.S. or International, 18+) – http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/71c3c6d92/?

About the Author

D. T. Powell has loved stories since before she can remember, and it was one of those stories that God used to change her life and prompt her to start writing. In addition to writing original contemporary and speculative fiction as well as book review for a magazine, she has actively contributed to the fanfiction community since 2013. Her original work has been published by Writers Digest, Clean Fiction Magazine, Twenty Hills Publishing, The Order of the Pen Press, Worldsmyths, and Cadence Writing. She enjoys reading, playing pickleball, and the occasional video game. You can find her online as dtill359. Her favorite verse is Psalm 126:5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”

Check out and follow her here:

Websites:

https://www.dtpowellwrites.com

https://www.withmercyseyes.com

Newsletter sign-up (2 free short stories, 2 author resources, and 1 non-fiction essay): https://www.dtpowellwrites.com/sign-up-landing-page

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dtill359

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100039385217526

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/D.-T.-Powell/author/B0BRNVYD31Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/25468801.D_T_Powell