Featured Interview With Russ Allen
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hello! My name is Russ Allen and I’m a pastor at a large church in central Pennsylvania. I have a wife and two daughters and enjoy reading, writing, and playing sports. I want potential readers to know that my faith in Jesus Christ informs not just what I choose to write about, but also how I write. I want to write about hard, real-life topics in ways that are redemptive, deep, and meaningful – appealing to people of all backgrounds through truth and love.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always enjoyed writing and received affirmation from others at an early age. Writing can invoke emotion in others and impact people in profound ways. I hope to use my gifts and skills in writing to help others see truth and beauty in life. I began writing short stories as a high school student but did not do serious writing until my time in graduate school. During this time, I created several Christian blogs and wrote regular posts that gained thousands of views. I took a short hiatus from writing when I became a pastor, but re-entered the writing world again with my first book, an inspirational Christian memoir called The Bonny Lane Club.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
From a religious perspective, the biggest influence on my writing is C.S. Lewis. I love Lewis’s writing – both his fiction and nonfiction – because it is simple yet profound. Lewis deals with difficult topics in a way that are sensible and enlightening. Interestingly, another big influence on my writing is Anthony Horowitz, a teen and young adult suspense/thriller author. Horowitz impacted my writing because his narratives are captivating and keep young readers wanting to read more. Although The Bonny Lane Club is not a suspense/thriller book, I hope it is written in a way that makes young people want to keep reading.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My book, The Bonny Lane Club, is an inspirational Christian memoir recounting my knee injury playing college football and the physical therapist who befriended me and became a key spiritual mentor in my life. We began a workout group in his basement called the Bonny Lane Club and it grew to impact many people in our community. Although originally just a small project, the book has impacted so many people and even gone on to win several awards – truly a testament to God’s blessing through the whole project.
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