Author Interview: Savannah Jane McCrary

Photo courtesy of the author

If you're in search of more uplifting, deep stories told from a Christian perspective, I've got you covered. Meet Savannah Jane McCrary, a young author with a heart for Jesus, writing, and Bernese Mountain Dogs. Enjoy the interview, and don't forget to check out her website (she's also an illustrator and has several wonderful novels).

Q: When did you first start writing?

A: I’ve loved writing for as long as I can remember. I enjoyed the writing assignments my mother gave me for homeschool, and I loved to write little stories in notebooks to read aloud to my younger siblings. The first story I wrote that I actually typed on the computer was a story my sister and I created together about our family traveling to Narnia. I was about ten at the time. Then, when I was fourteen, I wrote my first full-length novel (I didn’t publish that one and don’t plan to, but it still holds a special place in my heart!). And I haven’t stopped writing since! I’m 26 now, so I’ve been writing seriously for over twelve years!



Q:Who has been the biggest inspiration for your writing? 

A: Well, my mother has been one of my biggest inspirations; it was her reading books aloud to me and then teaching me to read and write that first sparked my love of stories. And as far as what writers have inspired me the most, I think C.S. Lewis would top the list, and then Douglas Bond.

Q: What was it like to publish your first novel, and what have you learned since then? 

A: The first book I published wasn’t actually a novel; it was a nonfiction book about issues such as human trafficking, abortion, and orphans, with stories of people from history and people today, and practical ways young people can make a difference. That was in 2017, when I was 17. With some help from my mother, I just figured everything out as I went along. I did the book formatting and cover design myself, and I’ve certainly learned a lot since then! I didn’t do much marketing beforehand or make a launch plan. Some of the biggest things I’ve learned since then would be how to produce a more professional-looking book and how to plan a book launch: doing things like assembling a launch team, collecting reviews, and finding ways to promote the book. I also released a revised and expanded edition of that first book last year!

Q: How do you keep God at the center of your work? 

A: I pray about my writing–a lot! I have to continually remind myself to ask God for guidance and to trust His timing. And I believe that when you have a thriving relationship with Jesus, that will just naturally flow into your work. When your thinking is shaped by Scripture, you can’t help writing books that are shaped by Scripture, too.

Q: How do you plan your novels? 

A: My historical fiction novels usually begin with a simple idea–either a setting I want to write about, or a particular character whose story I’d like to tell. 

Then I just spend a lot of time thinking about the story. I think about it while riding in the car, while washing dishes, folding laundry, cooking, going for a walk, lying in bed… and I continually come up with more ideas as I read books, watch movies and TV shows, and talk to family and friends. 

And I research. Once I’ve decided I want to write about a particular place and time period, I will read practically every book I can get my hands on about that setting. 

Once I’ve brainstormed the main events of the story, I’ll write an outline. 

My stories include many real events, and I would never change the date of a historical event! So, as I plan and outline my books, I know when these events take place, and I plan the rest of the story around when those key moments occurred. 

I write it out rather like a list or timeline of events. Some of the story’s events I’ll have detailed scenes planned for; others, I haven’t worked out all of the details yet. I do end up changing some things I have in the outline and adding quite a few scenes later. As my mother says, the outline is supposed to serve you; you’re not a slave to it! But the outline makes sure I don’t forget anything important and remember what events happen later that I need to foreshadow earlier in the story.

Q: What are your top 5 books, and why? 

A: My top five favorite books are The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas, Journey Through the Night by Anne DeVries, The Chronicles of Narnia (yes, that’s a series, not just one book, but you can get all seven books in one volume, so I’m going to count it as one book!), and Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis. 

I love The Hiding Place because it is a beautiful story of how Jesus’ light is stronger than the deepest darkness. It tells the story of how Corrie ten Boom and her family rescued Jews in the Netherlands during World War II, and how Corrie and her sister eventually ended up in a concentration camp but continued to trust God and shine the light of Jesus even there. I also love how it tells about Corrie’s life before the war. And, like Corrie, I’m a single woman living at home and helping with the family business, so I relate a lot to her and what her life was like! 

Bonhoeffer has been one of the most impactful books I’ve read. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor, theologian, and writer who joined the Resistance against Hitler, is one of my favorite historical heroes. Reading this biography, written in Eric Metaxas’ witty and engaging writing style, encouraged me to truly follow Jesus, and deepened my understanding of who God is, and what it means to have real, living faith, rather than dead religion. 

Journey Through the Night is my favorite historical fiction book and one that my family has very much enjoyed as a read-aloud. After World War II, Mr. Anne DeVries (in the Netherlands, Anne can be a boy’s name) was commissioned by Queen Wilhelmina to write a novel depicting what life was like for the Dutch people during the war. The book follows the DeBoer family throughout the five years of Nazi occupation, focusing on the oldest son, John. It’s an exciting, adventurous story showcasing the difficult decisions people had to make. I love the characters, the humor interspersed throughout, and the Christian messages naturally woven into the story. I also got a lot of inspiration for my book Trains and Tulips from it! 

The Chronicles of Narnia are such fun adventure stories, they have great characters, and they are so full of spiritual truths! Reading about Aslan in the Narnia books made me love Jesus more and understand more what He is like! I also love Mr. Lewis’ narration and writing style, which is often quite humorous. The Horse and His Boy is my favorite, with The Voyage of the Dawn Treader being a close second. 

And finally, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis’ memoir of his early life, the chronicle of his childhood and how he finally came to faith in Christ, is one of my favorite books because it’s beautifully written, and I could relate so much to his love for books and writing and the way he processed things. A couple of the boarding schools he was sent to were quite horrifying (there’s some abuse and some immorality), so it’s not a read for young children. But it’s a beautiful story of how the author of The Chronicles of Narnia finally found real joy–in Christ.

Q: How did you decide you wanted to be an author? 

A: Even though I’d loved writing since I was a wee little lass, I never considered becoming an author until I was about fourteen. A friend told me she was writing a book, and I thought, That sounds fun; maybe I’ll write a book, too. And I did! I wrote a 50,000 word fantasy novel, and I loved writing it so much that I knew I wanted to keep writing. It was also around the same time that I completely and totally gave my life to Jesus. I was raised in a wonderful Christian home and would have always said I believed in Jesus, but when I was fourteen, Jesus completely changed my life. I realized (whether it was for the very first time, or simply a deeper understanding, I’m not sure) that I was a sinner and needed His forgiveness, and I began to see the grand purpose of living for Him. I also realized that I could use my love of writing to share Jesus with others. And God began to open my eyes to needs in our world and give me a heart for the vulnerable–the unborn, orphans, children with special needs, and victims of modern-day slavery. I realized writing was one way I could be a voice for those in need. 

Q: What is Brielle like in real life? 

Brielle. Picture courtesy of the author.

A: For anyone who doesn’t know, Brielle is my Bernese Mountain Dog, and in my book Trains and Tulips, the character Gerrit has a dog based after Brielle. I’m convinced she’s the best dog in the world! My family breeds Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Brielle is a puppy I kept and raised. She is so happy (her tail is almost always wagging!), loyal, sweet, and affectionate (she loves to cuddle and give kisses)! She’s also a big dog; she weighs about 105 lbs.! 

Q: What is your favorite dessert? 

A: Probably huckleberry scones! With a cup of tea, of course.

Q: If you could meet 3 historical figures, who would they be? 

A: Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie ten Boom, and C.S. Lewis. 

Q: What advice would you give to young writers?

A: Write what you love. Write what you’re passionate about, what really interests you, and don’t worry about if it’s popular right now. The market is always changing, and I believe your writing is the best when you write what you love and enjoy the process. 

Do your best and keep learning! Take your time to make your writing the best you can. Keep learning: read books, watch movies, and learn from great storytellers, as well as doing writing lessons and getting feedback on your writing. 

And finally, trust God with every part of the process, and don’t give up! Do be a good steward of your work, but trust Him and His timing in when your books are published, how many books you sell, what opportunities you have, and every part of this amazing calling of being a writer! Don’t be discouraged if things take longer than you would like! 

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”Galatians 6:9

I am so thankful to have gotten the chance to interview Savannah Jane McCrary! She was a wonderful person to work with, and if you'd like to know more about her work you can check out her latest novel, Trains and Tulips, on Goodreads, or purchase it on Amazon.

Until next time, Ad Lucem! Follow the Light.

-L.E. Levens