For a writer, the journey to publication is often long and arduous, but when “the call” comes, the struggle pales in comparison with the joy. That’s why it’s always a pleasure to introduce you to an author who has reached that point and is about to be published. Today, my guest is Yvonne Anderson, whose debut novel,
The Story In The Stars, will release this month. I think you’ll enjoy getting to know her.
RM: How long have you been writing, and what made you choose the genre of speculative Christian fiction as your vehicle?
YA: Like most writers, I played around with putting words together almost from the time I could hold a pencil, but I didn’t get serious about it until about 2002. Until then, life kept getting in the way of any buried aspirations I may have had. But one day, realizing I had a story to tell as well as the motive and opportunity to commit it to words, I felt compelled to take advantage of the situation. So that’s when this journey began.

Four long years later, I got frustrated. Very frustrated. So much so, in fact, that I swore off writing altogether. Drowning my sorrows in some heavy non-fiction reading, I found a little book called The Gospel in the Stars, which premised that God proclaims the Gospel to the world through the constellations. Originally written in 1882, the book’s language was archaic and difficult, and I thought it might be fun to translate it into something more modern. About ten minutes into that endeavor I could see it wasn’t working, so I decided instead to write a fictional story that incorporated the concepts. I never had any intention of showing it to anyone, I just wanted to do it for fun. I’m not sure what possessed me to give the story a setting in space, because until then, that was never my thing.
RM: What was your biggest disappointment along your road to publication? What was the nicest thing you discovered?
YA: At first, the biggest disappointment was realizing how little I knew about writing.
Probably the nicest aspect is the many wonderful, supportive people I’ve met along the way.
RM: Tell us about your experience getting “the call.”
YA: I’d drafted
Story in the Stars in 2006 and pitched an early version, rather half-heartedly, at the first writers conference I ever went to, in 2007. I was completely green, had no idea what I was doing, but I made an appointment with Andy Meisenheimer, who was then acquisitions editor for Zondervan. To my surprise, he seemed rather intrigued with everything I told him, asked several questions and nodded with interest at my answers. Then he asked, “Do you see yourself as a sci fi writer, or is this a one-shot deal?” I didn’t even read sci fi then, let alone have a hankering to write it, and being the honest sort, I told him that. And that was all he needed to hear – he was no longer interested.
Fast-forward to December, 2010. By then I’d not only revised Stars a couple of times but had also drafted a sequel, because I’d found so many cool things on the planet Gannah that I couldn’t include them all in one book. I sent a proposal for Stars to Risen Books, they asked for the complete MS, and early in January they contacted me again and asked, among other things, “What is your vision for the series?” Remembering my conversation with Andy, I laughed. Series? I had no vision for a series, I was just having fun. But once I started thinking about it, I came up with six story lines sprouting from Stars. Which, of course, I was happy to share with the people at Risen. A week later, they offered me a three-book contract, “with the possibility for more if the series does well.” Holy heart attack, Batman! I almost didn’t survive the shock.
RM: You’re also a columnist for the blog,
Novel Journey. How has that affected your life as a writer?
YA: It’s been huge. In fact, I’m convinced my affiliation with them made the difference between being offered a contract and being bypassed again. Apart from Novel Journey, I had no platform, and I’m grateful to Gina Holmes for asking me to participate in her wonderful blog a few years back. I’ve learned a lot, gained a little professionalism (I hope!), and it’s been a good time.
RM: Tell us a bit about
The Story In The Stars.
YA: I call it a space fantasy rather than science fiction, because it’s way more “fi” than “sci.” There are other races of humans on other planets, there’s interaction between them, and it’s all very fanciful, not based on any science that we know today.
Centuries before the story takes place, the inhabitants of the planet Gannah were bloodthirsty warriors intent on taking over the galaxy. Their rampage was stopped when the people of Karkar created a plague virus that killed every star-soldier that was exposed to it. At the same time, Gannah’s king and a small recon team were checking out their next target—Earth—where they heard the Gospel and believed, to the saving of their souls.
When the story opens, the planet is experiencing a resurgence of the plague, and Pik, a doctor from Karkar, is assigned to the task of finding a cure and saving them from annihilation. Because of their violent history, he hates the Gannahans and wishes they were all dead, but his duty to the League of Planets and his professional ambition make him swallow his racial resentment and comply with his orders. By the time he arrives with the rescue team, though, almost everyone is already dead. The only survivor is a young woman, Dassa. Like her forefathers for the past eight centuries, she’s a Christ-follower, but on their planet He’s called the Yasha, which means Redeemer.
The Yasha tells her that she will not only recover from the plague, but He will use her to repopulate the planet with a new race of Gannahans. But she has no idea how He’s going to pull it off, especially with that annoying Karkar doctor always hanging around. Once she regains her health, she and Pik have numerous adventures together, including an attack by space pirates, a crash landing and a treasure hunt. And in the midst of all that excitement, of course, Dassa shares with Pik the story in the stars.
RM: What writing project is next for you?
YA: The second book in the series,
Words in the Wind, is already in the hands of the publisher. I’m currently drafting the third, and starting to mentally plot the fourth. I don’t know if the fourth will ever be contracted, but I intend to write it, because I’m addicted to Gannah. And if the Lord tarries, I just might keep going after that.
RM: If an unpublished writer came to you for advice, what would you tell them?
YA: This writing nonsense requires a huge commitment of time, energy and emotion. I wouldn’t advise anyone to even get started unless and until the person is certain it’s what the Lord wants. So first off, I’d advise you to pray about it and ask Him to stop you if this isn’t His plan for you. Once you’re certain it is, jump into it wholeheartedly and don’t look back. Join a knowledgeable critique group, meet people who can walk with you on the journey. Be teachable, and don’t be discouraged. God’s timing is perfect. If you’re not published yet, it’s because you’re not ready yet, so keep working on it. If it’s His work, He’ll accomplish it.
Of course if the writer doesn’t know the Lord, I’d recommend he or she take care of that business first. In the final analysis, that’s all that matters.
Yvonne has kindly offered a signed copy of her book,
The Story In The Stars, to one of my blog readers. Leave a comment to be entered, and come back in a week when I'll announce the winner.
Yvonne, thanks for a fascinating interview. You've had quite a journey, and it's truly been novel. Thanks for sharing with us.