SP: Kendra, thankyou for talking with SoulPen.com. A huge congratulations on your new release, A Love So Strong. Your preceding novel, For Love And Grace, gave us the heartwarming story of friends, Gregory Dixon and Derrick Madison. It was refreshing to read this portrayal of two men working through their problems and fears, and ultimately developing a deeper relationship with each other and the Lord. Kendra, how are you able to capture the thoughts and feelings of your male characters in such an accurate manner?

Kendra: I've been asked this question quite often. As readers follow my work, they will find that most of my books are written with the hero being the main focus versus the heroine. While that wasn't a premeditated goal set at the start of my career, I have now embraced it and accepted it as a style God has given me. In my lifetime, I've had a lot of positive male influence, beginning with my own father. During most of my childhood, many of my closest friends were male, beginning with my brother. Even now, I spend a lot of time picking the minds of the men in my life--my husband, my favorite cousin, my brothers-in-law, and even male authors who I view as friends. I'm quite familiar with the way positive, professionsal and progressive brothers view issues dealing with relationships, love and God. I think black men in particular are often undermined in novels and my purpose is to highlight them in a more positive manner and give them the credit that I think they deserve.

SP: Often writers incorporate several themes into their books. Tell us about one of the themes from A Love So Strong and how you hope readers might connect this idea to their own lives.

Kendra: Responsibility is one of the stronger themes in A Love So Strong. Christians, like everyone else, sometimes have pasts that they'd  rather not talk about now that they've turned the corner and made a spiritual change in their lives. Still, sometimes our pasts have a way of catching up with us. I'm hopeful that readers will get that message when reading this book. As the saying goes, "Christian aren't perfect--just forgiven". The respectable thing to do is take responsibility for whatever your misguided actions were and move forward. God has already forgiven us, but sometimes we still have to go through the fire. The overrall message in A Love So Strong is that if we remain faithful to God, He has a way of working things out for our good.

SP: Kendra, you're an established author. What are some of the challenges you have faced in your writing career and how have you overcome them?

Kendra: I think that I'm still becoming established and every day is a growing process. Challenges will always come whether you're a first time author, or whether you're on your twentieth novel. My career is still young and already I've faced many challenges from the financial strains that come with self-publishing to the woes of dealing with people and their issues. Ironically, my most memorable challenge came from within the Christian community. The one that still stands out the most for me came when my freshman novel had only been out for a few short months. I remember being so excited and determined to get the book the attention that I felt it deserved. I'd scheduled a book signing at a church and then without reasonable explanation (and at the last minute) the pastor's wife, for whom I had high regards, snatched the opportunity away from me. That was very hurtful to me at the time, but the discouragement that came with it was very brief. I learned a valuable lesson that helped me lift my head high and I've kept that lesson with me always. People, no matter who they are, can be weak-minded and cruel. I learned to place my faith heavily in God for the success of my life and my career. He is the one person who can always be depended upon to be faithful and just in all and He has proven Himself to me over and over again.

SP: I understand you grew up in the church and you are the daughter of a minister. I'm sure this part of your background has provided inspiration for your work. Are there other areas of your life which you draw on when molding your characters and their stories?

Kendra: Oh, absolutely. Pieces of me and of other people who have enriched my life can be found in the personalities of my characters. Many of their likes and dislikes are mine. Admittedly, sometimes I live vicariously through my characters. Some of the things I have them do or places I have them go, I've not yet been fortunate enough to experience; but because I'd like to, I allow them the opportunity and it gives me a sense of accomplishment. Creating characters and developing them fully takes a lot of imagination. In order to do it effectively, writers must think beyond their own limited experiences and allow their minds to travel to a whole new level. That, to me, is one of the most enjoyable parts of molding characters and creating story lines.

SP: Well, you are certainly making a profound impact for good with your stories. May your journey as an author continue to be a prosperous one. Before we go, could you give us just a taste of what you are working on next?

Kendra: Thank you very much for your well-wishes. Right now, I'm working on several projects. Aside from my contract with Moody Publishers, which is the wonderful company who published A Love So Strong, I also have a deal with BET Books. So, the next project that will be released will in fact be the re-release of my self-published novel, For Love And Grace. That will happen in November of this year as a part of a three-book deal. BET has already accepted the sequel to For Love And Grace which will be released in July of 2005. Presently, I'm working on the third installment fo the "Grace Series" set for release in 2006. Meanwhile, Moody has accepted a second manuscript from me as well. It is scheduled for release early 2005. I have other projects on the horizon as well, including my partaking in an anthology with other BET authors that is scheduled for release in the fall of 2005. My literary calendar is going to be quite busy for the next few years--and for that, I am extremely grateful.

SP: We praise God with you, Kendra, and again, thank you for joining  us.
If you would like to learn more about Kendra, please visit at
Kendra Norman-Bellamy

For Previous Interviews:  Reflections