Yolonda earned her doctorate in organizational leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University and is certified in emotional intelligence. She enjoys teaching, mentoring, consulting, and helping others discover their own voices through writing. When she’s not creating or consulting, you’ll likely find her spending time with her husband or enjoying heartfelt moments with loved ones.
Her latest book is the contemporary Christian fiction, Soul Matters.
You can visit her website at www.yoproductions.net .
Watch her YouTube channel!
Connect with her at X, Facebook, Instagram and Goodreads.
Why did you decide to write Soul Matters? Did the inspiration come at a particular moment or had you been planning to write the book for a while?
I used to have nearly an hour-long commute to work. Sometimes, my commute was quiet time to reflect and pray. I enjoyed my job, but I didn’t feel like it fully utilized my potential. So, I was searching for purpose. Although I’d never written a novel at that time, I’d written short stories and poetry. I liked
writing, and I sought a way to share my faith through creativity.
From the time you started writing Soul Matters, how long did you take to get it out there? Any obstacles along the way or none that you can think of?
It took three years from the time I started writing the book to its initial publication. I also worked on the subsequent 20th anniversary edition for about three years. I toyed with the idea back and forth for years as to whether I would even release the revised edition. When I was finally ready to give up on the idea, the characters would not let me let it go. The experience reminded me of when I first wrote the book. My biggest obstacle was myself and the self-doubt I struggled with internally.
Did you have to do any research before writing this book or was it more self-guided knowledge on the subject?
The story takes place in Columbus, OH, where I currently reside, so I didn’t have to conduct extensive research. Before changing the setting to my local city, I’d initially planned to set it in Chicago, IL. At that time, I did a lot of research, including two trips to Chicago to explore the city.
What are some of the positive results or responses you have received since publishing your book?
Readers often tell me that Soul Matters helped them see their own situations differently, especially in terms of forgiveness and faith. Some have said it gave them the courage to confront painful experiences or mend broken relationships. Hearing that the book continues to encourage people, even twenty years later, has been the most rewarding part of this journey.
List three interesting facts about your book.
- The original title was completely different . . . and terrible! Thankfully, a kind coworker told me so, and that feedback led to the much better title, Soul Matters.
- My husband designed the book cover.
- Soul Matters was my debut novel and the one that launched my career as an author.
List three interesting facts about yourself.
- I was my mother’s caregiver before she passed in 2017. Now, I’m my father’s caregiver!
- In 2021, I learned that I had an older brother, which is something that I had longed for my entire life!
- I have a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and love helping others grow in faith, creativity, and purpose.
How can our readers reach out to you?
- Website: YoProductions.net (www.yoproductions.net)
- YouTube: @YoProMedia (https://www.youtube.com/@YoProMedia)
- Instagram: @ytsanders (www.instagram.com/ytsanders)
- X: @ytsanders (x.com/ytsanders)
- Facebook: YoProductions (www.facebook.com/yoproductions)
No comments:
Post a Comment