Writer Keon Lindsey chats with me today about his new Christian devotional, Have You Heard from God Lately? 30 Messages from Heaven to You.
Keon has book giveaways (his and other authors)…see his answer to the last question below for details.
Bio:
Keon Lindsey is from Virginia and has a variety of life experience including Naval Aviator, Project Management Professional, Business Finance Expert, and Black Belt in Karate. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Yet, more importantly, he has studied the Bible over 40 years and taught Bible studies for adults and youth. He writes to inspire others to dig into God’s Word and find satisfaction for their souls. Keon’s first book is titled Seeking the Lord, a 30 Day Start to Your Journey and he is excited to announce his new release for 2024.
Welcome, Keon. Please tell us about your current release.
Have You Heard from God Lately? shares 30 messages from Heaven to help readers discover the answers to life’s all-important questions, such as, “Who is God?”, “What’s my purpose?”, “Why do we have problems?”, and “Is there hope for this out-of-control world?” The messages progressively build understanding of the God of the universe so readers see the Bible makes sense and can change our lives.
Why did you write this book?
One day during my devotional time, the Lord caught my attention with a warning in Hebrews 2:3. That is, if the messages God gave through angels in ancient time were all true, and those who disobeyed suffered dire consequences, what will happen if we ignore the message of salvation that Jesus, who is superior to all angels, has given us? That caused me to consider, what were the messages that led up to Jesus and what do they mean for us today?
Looking around at the danger, discontent, and dubious future for our society, it is clear that our biggest problems have come from not listening to what God has said. So, I want to encourage people to consider the messages God has given and His ultimate Messenger, Jesus.
What do you enjoy most about writing devotional books?
The really fun part for me is the Bible study that is needed to write a devotional book. It is different from writing about “my story” or an experience. While those are interesting and parts may be included in a devotional, the book is really about God and our relationship to Him. Studying the Bible helps me learn more of what God has for me and then I get to enjoy sharing it through books.
Can you give us a little insight into a few of your devotions – perhaps one of your favorites?
A favorite devotion is titled “I am Holy”. We do not use the word holy very much these days, but the Bible uses it three times in a row to describe God in both Old and New Testaments. It must be very significant for God to tell us that He is “holy, holy, holy” with strong repetition. God is pure, clean, right, and true, without fault or stain. That contrasts with humanity – we are not pure, right, or true. So how can we approach a holy God who loves us? We need someone who is holy to make us clean and bring us to Him. This is why we need Jesus.
What genre are you inspired to write in the most? Why?
I enjoy writing Bible based books. It is a pleasure to share life changing messages that can help people. Also, the study that goes into them is personally refreshing.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I started writing a newsletter after college that morphed into a monthly commentary. I kept it going for 10 years, but didn’t consider myself an “author” until my first book was published in 2020. The commentary was short articles but writing a book was obviously a much greater undertaking.
How do you research markets for your work, perhaps as some advice for writers?
Fortunately for me, there is a large market for books that address spiritual topics. My challenge is making sure I don’t write a book that covers the same ground as someone else. I’d recommend anyone writing on a spiritual topic be sure to research books on the subject so you don’t duplicate work. It is okay to address the same topic as someone else, as long as you put a new or fresh perspective on it.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I still write my books with pen and ink on paper before sitting down to a computer. I like to let the creativity flow through my fingers before putting a book in electronic form for a reader to evaluate.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. That led me towards the Naval Academy and flying because, at the time, quite a few astronauts were Naval Aviators.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I like to celebrate book launches with special giveaways. I also run regular book giveaways featuring other authors as well as my own books. Readers can participate at https://keonlindsey.com/giveaway/