5 Questions with Author John Herrick

A graduate of the University of Missouri—Columbia, John Herrick explores themes of spiritual journey and the human heart in his works. Herrick’s debut novel, From the Dead,which was hailed as “a solid debut novel” by the Akron Beacon Journal, achieved Amazon best-seller status. Herrick’s second novel, The Landing, was named a semifinalist in the inaugural Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. Herrick’s nonfiction eBook, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters, received over 100,000 downloads and landed at #1 on Amazon’s Motivational Self-Help and Christian Inspiration best-seller lists.  John Herrick is a native of St. Louis.

Connect with the author on the web:

http://johnherrick.net/

http://johnherrick.net/interact.htm

https://www.facebook.com/johnherrickbooks

https://twitter.com/johnherrick



Q: What’s inside the mind of a mainstream fiction author who incorporates faith into his books?

A: “This is going to be uncomfortable.” That’s the thought that runs through my mind as I prepare my books! I gravitate toward characters who struggle, and many of those struggles are the type we don’t like to discuss. Taken one step farther, I believe in the power of the heart, in removing boundaries and making myself vulnerable as a writer. If my work is effective, the characters become so genuine that some readers say, “There’s no way he could write that without having lived it firsthand.” I’m aware that, every time I write a novel, it might ignite a series of questions about my personal life among people who know me or don’t know me. That said, I’ve grown less fearful to explore whatever characters or topics burn in my heart. If a character arises within me and won’t let go, I consider it a prompt from God that someone needs a book written for them, someone who will relate to that character. And ultimately, that’s what resides in my mind as a writer: “Will this novel make a difference in someone’s life?”

Q: Tell us why readers should buy Between These Walls.

A: We tend to see a gay man’s experience from the external. In the news, we hear people argue for and against gay marriage, gay rights, or gay adoption. We see people in parades and picket lines; we hear derogatory comments based on personal perceptions. But we seldom hear about the emotional, spiritual or social aspects that roil within a gay individual. Between These Walls offers readers a rare glimpse into the internal, psychological struggle of Hunter Carlisle, a gay main character, from his youth to adulthood. Between These Walls takes readers “between the walls” of Hunter’s heart and mind, and then places his journey in the context of his faith and church, which exposes another layer of insecurity in his life. Regardless of what we see on the surface, a story or heartache might bubble underneath.

Q: What makes a good faith fiction novel?

A: I believe realistic characters and scenarios are a key component. On one hand, it means your books won’t appear in a Christian bookstore, so you lose some exposure. Some readers will disagree with your approach—some won’t like the faith element, others won’t like particular words in a novel of faith. I understand and respect those opinions. But if your goal is to do your characters justice and shape them in a manner to which your readers can relate, then it’s necessary to allow your characters to be themselves. That means highlighting their admirable qualities, but also giving them the freedom to speak and act without unnecessary filters, quoting them verbatim. As a reader, I crave believable characters. If someone were to quote me or write the story of my life, I wouldn’t want them to polish me until I’m pristine, so I try to offer my readers and characters that same degree of respect. For many readers, the books hit that sweet spot of balance, and those are the readers for whom the novel was created.

Q: What is a regular writing day like for you?

A: I’d like to say my sales are so huge, I dedicate each day to my books! However, like many writers, my book work operates alongside another career. So each morning, I start writing around 5:30 or 6 a.m. and plug away until 8 a.m., when my desk job begins. Sometimes I’ll wrap up details or tackle some additional book work in the evenings too, but my early rise time doesn’t leave me with much time in the evenings. By nature, I’m a night owl and used to write at night, as I mentioned in my nonfiction book, 8 Reasons Your Life Matters. Eventually, I found myself more and more exhausted at night, forcing myself to write rather than savoring the miracle of characters coming to life. So I rearranged my schedule. Now I  give the books my first and best in the morning, which has made such a difference. Plus, I get to watch the sun rise as I write—a rare occasion for me in the past! One day, I hope to shift my attention to my creative projects full-time, with several projects in different phases at once—and regain my leisure time!

Q: What do you find most rewarding about being an author?

A: The impact your words can make upon the souls of your readers! I love to write, and the finished product is its own reward. But the privilege of hearing from a reader who says your book has encouraged him or given her a reason to hang on one more day—the rewards don’t get better than that. That counts in life. You can’t buy it, yet it’s worth more than gold.