Interview with Author Blaine Allen

Author of Before You Quit

By Trisha Bleau Smith

T4JYM: I loved reading Before You Quit and thought it was an excellent resource to put into the hands of ministry workers. Where did the idea for the book come from?

BA: Ministry is not an evening out on the town. There are good times and there are times that are somewhat less. On occasion, quite somewhat less. I have watched others struggle over the years. Growing up in a pastor’s home, I watched my father on occasion struggle. I have had struggles, at times, myself. Given the environment that I was brought up in and live in, I guess the idea came almost ‘naturally.’

T4JYM: Who have been your biggest influences in life? Who have been your biggest influences in your life as a writer?

BA: Beside the Lord, my wife. She is a tremendous encourager. In addition, communicators of the Word such as John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, J.I. Packer, J. Dwight Pentecost, Ron Dunn have helped shape me.

My wife. She is a writer and an excellent editor. I wish I could list you another name, like a well known author, but it just has not been so.

T4JYM: How has this book been received by the general public? Has there been positive feedback? Any negative feedback?

BA: So far, so good, though it was just released about 8 months ago. Some very encouraging reviews as well as e-mails. So far, no negative feedback. But I would be foolish to think there never will be. Negative feedback can be helpful to a discerning writer.

T4JYM: What are your next plans for writing? Do you plan to do any more books along the same lines as this book? Will you move on to new writing?

BA: I am working on several other manuscripts. I hope to have at least one of them completed before the summer is out. One deals with husband – wife issues; the other with shaping your children through prayer. I may possibly do another similar book, but not right now.

T4JYM: What is generally your target audience? Do you write specifically to ministry workers or have you written other books targeted at other audiences? How do you decide on what audience to focus your writing on?

BA: Christians who want to grow in the Lord. That’s usually young adult, on up. I have written to the Christian audience at large. Research is the key to choosing a focus audience. Plus, the way my heart ‘beats’ over a given issue.

You might also like this:

Interview with Author Rene Gutteridge Interview with Author Diana Wallis Interview with Author Kathleen Scott