Interview with author T.N. Williams

Today I welcome back one of my label-mates at Urban Christian Books, author T.N. Williams. T.N. wrote an inspiring post last December in honor of Christmas.

Welcome back T.N. Introduce yourself. Mother, writer, poet, employee, etc… I carry so many titles, that I couldn’t explain them all. I can for sure say that I love people and am excited at the readership that I’ve experienced since becoming an author. This is my second novel. The first was called Something On The Inside and touched a lot of lives. I didn’t realize what God was doing by putting a pen in my hand, but once I saw the evidence, I was moved beyond words. It inspired me to keep writing.

Tell us about your new release After The Feeling.
After The Feeling is a story written from the perspective of Germani and Scott, a couple dealing with porn addiction and how women think differently than men. It is about finding a common ground and allowing God to work through a difficult situation. It is also about the distractions of work and family that may hinder resolution.

Who was your favorite character and why? I can’t really say that I had a favorite character. I will admit that Scott probably stands out to me, just because of his never-ending commitment to his extended family and wayward friends despite his own struggles. I loved his realness and feel that people will have a better grasp of the men behind porn addiction once they meet Scott.

Any scripture in particular that stuck with you when you were writing the story?
Proverbs 15:14 "The heart of him that has understanding seeks knowledge; but the mouth of the fool feedth on foolishness."

That scripture stands out because it is easy to let emotions and words dictate a situation. A couple of the characters were destructive because they didn’t understand how to deal with their life events. It is easy to lash out when the heat gets to boiling and understanding feels non-existent. But if we allow God to bring understanding to the situation, life can be so much more manageable.

Tell us about your writing process. I write whenever I have time and can focus because I have a household to run and a daytime job. It can get difficult to set aside time for my thought process. Usually I sit in my bedroom by myself and just start writing or I may get a thought in the middle of something else and immediately write it down and then extend the thought later.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned about this business after the release of your first novel, Something on the Inside? That what you put into marketing, is exactly what you get out of it. The passion to tell the story will only get you so far. Once it is in print the real work begins.

Who are other Christian Fiction authors that you read, and why do you like their work? I love ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Ryan Phillips and Jacquelin Thomas, they probably rank at the top of the list. They all have different writing styles, but the authentic nature of the characters draw me in. They each bring real reactions to real situations without it sounding preachy. I think they are able to reach a broad audience that may not normally read Christian fiction. I read a lot though so my list of gifted authors would probably extend a mile.

T.N., what do you know that you know?
That we are all flawed and imperfect, but God loves us still. He gave me a purpose despite my obstacles and a gift despite my worthiness. I am thankful everyday for his movement in my life.

How can readers get in touch with you?
They can reach me on my webpage www.tnwilliams.com  and at social networks like Myspace and Facebook. I also have an email account: tn.williams@yahoo.com. I love to hear from readers so look me up!