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.
What was the hardest plot point or character to write in your latest book, Soul Matters?
The hardest part was simply getting started. The initial version of the book was released in 2005, marking my first attempt at writing a full-fledged story. For six months, I struggled with the idea because I was very much outside of my comfort zone. When I finally surrendered to telling this story, the ideas literally flowed, and I could not write fast enough.
What is your favorite part of Soul Matters?
My favorite part is the quiet transformation that takes place within many of the characters. It’s not one single moment but a series of realizations that reveal God’s presence even in hardship. There’s something powerful about seeing characters’ growth unfold gradually. This story is a reminder that faith quietly works behind the scenes.
If you could change places for a day with one author you admire, who would that be and why?
Honestly, I wouldn’t want to trade places with anyone. Every author has their own journey, and I’m grateful for mine. While I don’t have a single favorite author, I have a deep appreciation for Dr. Tony Evans, not just as a preacher, but as a writer and teacher of God’s Word. I wouldn’t want to take his place, but I would love to sit down with him and hear his personal story of faith and perseverance firsthand.
Do you only write Christian nonfiction or have you dabbled in other genres?
I write both fiction and nonfiction. My faith is central to my life, and it is reflected in my writing as well. For example, I’ve written a noir short story that also has undertones of faith. I have a mystery/suspense series, “The Protective Detective” series, whose titles are Wages of Sin, Day of Atonement, and Shadow of Death. The titles alone are derived from Scripture. Although the series is called “The Protective Detective,” I have privately nicknamed it “Mystery with a Message.”
Can you share one quirk about yourself that most do not know about?
I wish I could rap. I admire the skill of rapping, although not necessarily the modern music in the genre. Sometimes, I’ll walk around the house “rapping,” and I crack up at myself at how skillless I am. My family usually just rolls their eyes. They do support me in my rap endeavors.
Please share with us what’s next for you?
I’m currently working on new projects that blend storytelling, faith, and purpose. I’m also building my YouTube channel, @YoPro Media, where I share stories, insights, and strategies to motivate, educate, and inspire faith, creativity, and purpose. Oh, and I have one rap video posted from 2014 when my friend and I performed in the church talent show. That was my first and only public performance, and it took a lot of practice!
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.
