Today we are interviewing Yolonda Tonette Sanders, author of the contemporary Christian fiction, Soul Matters.
Yolonda Tonette Sanders, Ph.D., is a storyteller at heart with a passion for both words and people. She is the co-founder of the Faith and Fellowship Book Festival and the author of numerous works, including novels, poetry, short stories, and academic publications. Her writing blends authenticity, emotional depth, and spiritual insight, often drawing from her own journey of faith and resilience.
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.
Writing was never part of my plan. I always enjoyed storytelling and poetry, but I never saw myself as a novelist. During a season of searching and prayer, I began reflecting on how to use my creativity to honor God. That’s when the idea for Soul Matters came to me. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time, in terms of writing a novel, I just followed where I felt led. What started as obedience to a nudge from God turned into a passion and, eventually, a calling.
Your latest book, Soul Matters, is about Wendy Phillips whose faith is being tested. Can you tell us a little about what's going on with her?
Wendy is a third-grade teacher who seems to have everything together on the surface. She’s expecting her first child, but beneath the surface, she feels trapped in a marriage that no longer brings her peace. She’s wrestling with the tension between appearances and authenticity. Her faith is tested in a way that forces her to confront not just her circumstances, but her own heart.
Can you tell us about the other characters in the book?
Wendy’s family adds depth, drama, and wisdom to the story. Her mother, Marlene, is the peacemaker, always trying to keep everyone together. Her sister, Kim, is fiery and outspoken, often speaking before she thinks, but her loyalty runs deep. Then there’s Frances, the family matriarch, who manages to stir up both laughter and conflict wherever she goes. These women are strong, imperfect, and real—each one representing a different perspective on love, life, and faith.
What is the very first line of your book?
It was ten minutes to three, and Wendy was eager to leave work on time.
What is the main reason people should read your book?
Because it’s real. Soul Matters doesn’t shy away from hard truths. It shows that faith doesn’t exempt us from pain, but it does sustain us through it. My hope is that readers will see themselves in Wendy’s story and be reminded that grace is always within reach. Whether you’re wrestling with forgiveness, faith, or your own identity, this story is an invitation to healing.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
I would start a movement that reminds people to lead with compassion and truth, which often get lost in today’s world. We don’t have to agree on everything to show love and respect. Through my work, including my Writing Tip Tuesday series on YouTube, I try to inspire others to use their gifts with purpose and integrity. If each of us committed to using our words (written or spoken) to build instead of tear down, I believe we’d see lasting change.
With a successful husband, a fulfilling teaching career, and a baby on the way, Wendy Phillips seems to have it all. She’s certain God is on her side. After all, the woman she’s become wouldn’t exist without the strength of her close-knit family or her own determination to be a model daughter, sister, and wife.
But one phone call shatters Wendy’s illusion of perfection, turning her carefully crafted life upside down. Suddenly, everything she believed about herself, her family, and her faith is called into question.
As her marriage crumbles and her faith wavers, Wendy finds herself needing more support than she ever imagined. Her journey to healing will require a sister’s unexpected strength, a mother’s surprising honesty, and a truth Wendy never saw coming.
Now only God’s grace can help her confront the pain she didn’t expect and discover the soul-deep freedom she never dreamed possible.
Soul Matters is available at Amazon and Walmart.
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