Steven Rogers is a writer of Contemporary Christian Fiction. Steven’s second novel, A Year in the Room was released in late October of 2024. A Year in the Room continues the story of Ben Cahill, an alcoholic who is searching for his place in God’s community and desperately searching to achieve sobriety. The book is a sequel to Steven’s first novel, Into the Room. Into the Room won first place in the Spiritual Fiction Category and was a Grand Prize finalist for the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Award. In addition, Into the Room was a finalist in the Debut Novel category for the 2022 American Fiction Christian Writers Carol Awards and a Runner-Up in the 2023 Christian Indie Awards. Both books are available through Amazon. You can learn more about Steven at his website Steven-Rogers.com.
Steven loves the process of writing, especially exploring characters that are either broken or facing unfamiliar situations. They are usually ordinary people, confronting their own internal demons and the challenges of day-to-day living, being pushed to their limits. He also enjoys bringing his stories to a happy, or at least hopeful, ending. Steven and his wife, Kathy, live in Virginia.
Visit Steven Rogers online
A Year in the Room
Reluctant pilgrim Ben Cahill steps off a flight from Israel facing an unrelenting list of challenges—a fractured family, no job, no place to live, and a dubious grip on his newly-found sobriety. He has no plans for the next steps in his life. Ben starts over, settling into a small, rented room and working three part-time jobs. As his first year of recovery unfolds, Ben fights an unrelenting spiritual war against his personal demons and the consequences of his past actions. Can a chain-smoking, no-nonsense grandmother, a retired navy cook, a crusty old Scotsman, and an unexpected pilgrimage to the legendary Scottish Island of Iona, clear away the wreckage of Ben’s life and lead him to hope? Join Ben on his journey in this sequel to the award-winning novel Into the Room.
- ISBN: B0DKTJW3L3
- Publisher: Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.
Interview with Steven Rogers 2025
Steven Rogers is an award-winning Contemporary Christian Fiction author with a heart for helping people understand, process, and find forgiveness for the impacts of alcoholism/addiction.
While Rogers makes an intentional choice to stay true to himself in what and how he writes, he also emulates the character-driven focus of his favorite authors, who include John Steinbeck, Stephen King, Katherine Paterson, Walter Mosley, Bernard Malamud, and Anton Myrer.
“I try to be myself as a writer,” he said. “I don’t attempt to emulate someone else’s style or storytelling. Two of my earliest decisions as a writer were (1) to make sure I write the stories I want to write. Not everyone will enjoy my writing, so I figure I better make sure I do, and (2) never write anything I’d be embarrassed to have my mother read (which, if you knew my mother, is a very broad range).
“My favorite authors all share one common trait—their stories focus on character first and plot second. As I read, I find myself invested in these people I know only through the written page. Once this happens, the author impels me to follow these characters through whatever conflict/events their devious minds have invented.
“In my writing, I spend a lot of time getting to know my main characters before I begin writing. As a result, I’m a ‘pantser.’ For my stories, I know the beginning and the ending before I start. However, the details in between are determined by my characters and how they react to the events occurring in the story.”
How It Started
Steven, a lifelong lover of fiction, can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to write his own stories.
“I spent the first fifty-five years of my life occasionally dabbling with short stories or unfinished novels, but it wasn’t until my retirement from the corporate world in 2016 that I seriously pursued the craft. The journey since has been a dream come true.”
Rogers firmly believes that anyone who is writing is, in fact, an author. His moment of realizing he could actually become a published author occurred when one of his short stories, “Deep Waters,” won an honorable mention in the Writer’s Digest short story contest.
“The recognition encouraged me to keep pushing forward and work to improve. It also gave me the confidence to start pitching my novels to agents and editors.”
Inspiration
Whenever Steve is writing, he is first inspired by his love and faith in God.
“God and Jesus are the underlying forces in everything I write. Whatever characters I create and regardless of how deeply I lead them into despair, God’s provision, love, mercy, and grace will always be present in my stories. This doesn’t mean my characters won’t be flawed, weak, or subject to the world’s temptations. However, they will have a chance at redemption, and I strive for a happy, or at least hopeful, ending.”
Rogers’ great enjoyment of traveling and his many experiences visiting various places around the world play a strong supporting role in each of his stories.
“I enjoy including a travel component in my novels. Not only because it’s fun to write about a setting that’s different from where I spend every day, but also because I like to bring my readers to new places while I’m telling the story. My first book, Into the Room, takes place entirely in Israel and about half of the second, A Year in the Room, takes place on the legendary Scottish Island of Iona. In both cases, my personal visits to these locations had a significant impact on my own spiritual journey. I try to inject some of those experiences into my characters and plot.”
When Steven first started writing, he constantly asked himself, “What would happen if…?” questions. Most of the time, he amused himself with his imaginative musings, then promptly moved on and forgot about them. However, in 2017, something different happened.
“I was on a flight to visit Israel when, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I had the thought, ‘I wonder what would happen if I was an alcoholic who had just been released from rehab, and I HAD to take this trip?’ I quickly invented my character, Ben Cahill, and took him on the tour with me. To make a long story short, when I returned, I wrote my first faith-based fiction and my novel Into the Room was the result.”
For Steven, the process of finding a publisher for his newly written book was a clearly God-orchestrated series of events.
“Before I began submitting Into the Room to agents/editors for publication, I decided to have the book professionally edited. The editor I hired also did work for Elk Lake Publishing and, after we were finished, she recommended the book to them for publication. A week later, I received a contract by email. An amazing moment!”
After finishing the first book in the series, Rogers was compelled to continue telling Ben Cahill’s story and to explore an alcoholic/addict during the first year of recovery.
“Discovering God and reestablishing a life is a complicated and gut-wrenching process. A Year in the Room was the result. As it turns out, writing the books had a significant impact on my personal spiritual journey, although I did not begin telling these stories with that as an objective.”
A Year in the Room
Although A Year in the Room is the second book in the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series, it can be read as a stand-alone story.
“As I was drafting/refining I asked my beta readers to be conscious of this as one of my objectives. My editor also offered suggestions/input that would allow the book to be read without having read the Into the Room. With that said, I would also love it if readers were interested in both books in my ‘Reluctant Pilgrim’ series.”
Ben Cahill and the other characters are completely fictional, but the topic of alcoholism and addiction definitely isn’t. It’s a situation Steven knows very well. In many ways, the stories reflect his own experiences in observing those struggles in others.
“This perspective was forged by living with those around me suffering from the disease, witnessing their recovery, and addressing the impacts those addictions had on me and my life. My journey has led me to do extensive research into the mind of the alcoholic/addict and the reality of alcoholism/addiction as a family disease. No one escapes untouched. I’ve tried to reflect this perspective through the story.”
Key Themes of A Year in the Room: The need to forgive ourselves, move on from our past, and build a new life. These build on the themes developed through Into the Room, which focuses primarily on the need to step into God’s presence and realize we are forgiven by Him.
“The scripture verse that guided me while writing was the second half of Ecclesiastes 3:3, ‘(There is) …a time to tear down and a time to build.’ I also wanted to reinforce my belief that we are not alone in our walk with God. Ben Cahill doesn’t make it through this story without the help of the other characters.”
Writing these books made such a big impact on Rogers that he developed a whole presentation on the topic and says he could talk about it all day long.
“Said simply, writing about my protagonist, Ben Cahill, and his journey with alcoholism taught me to forgive others and helped clear my heart of resentment, anger, and guilt directed towards the alcoholics/addicts in my life. In addition, walking with Ben through the story helped me to better understand God’s grace and His love for all of us. I truly believe that, if these books had never been published, the Ben’s story would have changed my life.”
Who Might Enjoy and Benefit Most from Reading A Year in the Room: Readers who enjoy realistic stories about characters struggling in their earthly walk and readers who are striving to understand alcoholism and addiction.
“Ben Cahill is a man facing his own demons and fighting an unrelenting spiritual war. The story delves into the mind of a flawed man and how his heart is changed on his path to redemption.”
Steven has three hopes for people as they are reading his book:
1. They’ll enjoy and be entertained by the story. “While the subject matter is difficult and the book’s events troubling, I’ve tried to make the book entertaining by injecting colorful supporting characters, humor, and a romance subplot to break the tension.”
2. They’ll see a glimpse of themselves in the story and be able to identify something they’d like to work on with God.
3. The story is able to help alcoholics/addicts, or those affected by alcoholism/addiction, know there’s a way out and a path to redemption and healing.
How It’s Going
Best Experience since Publishing: “I recently received an order for twenty copies of each book to be used in a prison ministry. To have my work recognized as something that could be useful in that type of setting was a blessing I’ll never forget.”
Best Part of Writing/Publishing: “Although writing a novel is hard, solitary work, I truly love the entire process. To be a writer and have someone want to read my work is a true blessing. My favorite part is when I’m sketching out and getting to know my characters.”
Most Challenging Aspects of Writing/Publishing: “The two most difficult times for me are (1) the uncertainty while waiting for the first set of comments from my editor and (2) last few times through the manuscript during final edits. At that point, I’m tired of reading the story and am getting a little cross eyed reviewing the same words for, seemingly, the thousandth time.”
Most Significant Moments in the Publication Journey: “Getting out of the house and attending a few writing conferences. At my first two conferences, I learned a lot about adding imagery to my writing, ‘showing and not telling,’ and met others who were struggling to find their way. Also, at one conference I met a presenter who later became my writing coach and introduced me to my editor. As I mentioned earlier, this editor then led me to publication.”
Greatest Moment (so far) of your Writing/Publishing Career: “I think the most satisfying moment was when I was named a Carol Awards finalist for Into the Room. The book had previously won the Eric Hoffer Book Award, but to have my novel recognized by ACFW, especially after I read the other books nominated in my category, was a true honor.”
Most Heartwarming Moment as an Author: “One reader of A Year in the Room said, ‘I actually think I’m a better man for having read this story.’ His comment was a compliment beyond anything I could dream of receiving.”
What’s Next: “My plan is to write the third book in my ‘Reluctant Pilgrim’ series. The working title is Beyond the Room and will continue to tell Ben Cahill’s story. As research for this story, my wife and I are leading a ‘Footsteps of Paul’ tour through Greece, Turkey, and Rome in May of 2025.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, author, blogger, and freelance writer. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, she grew up hearing stories from my dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising my three young daughters and writing as much as time and opportunity allows. Follow her at her blog, Heart Soul Mind.
While Rogers makes an intentional choice to stay true to himself in what and how he writes, he also emulates the character-driven focus of his favorite authors, who include John Steinbeck, Stephen King, Katherine Paterson, Walter Mosley, Bernard Malamud, and Anton Myrer.
“I try to be myself as a writer,” he said. “I don’t attempt to emulate someone else’s style or storytelling. Two of my earliest decisions as a writer were (1) to make sure I write the stories I want to write. Not everyone will enjoy my writing, so I figure I better make sure I do, and (2) never write anything I’d be embarrassed to have my mother read (which, if you knew my mother, is a very broad range).
“My favorite authors all share one common trait—their stories focus on character first and plot second. As I read, I find myself invested in these people I know only through the written page. Once this happens, the author impels me to follow these characters through whatever conflict/events their devious minds have invented.
“In my writing, I spend a lot of time getting to know my main characters before I begin writing. As a result, I’m a ‘pantser.’ For my stories, I know the beginning and the ending before I start. However, the details in between are determined by my characters and how they react to the events occurring in the story.”
How It Started
Steven, a lifelong lover of fiction, can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to write his own stories.
“I spent the first fifty-five years of my life occasionally dabbling with short stories or unfinished novels, but it wasn’t until my retirement from the corporate world in 2016 that I seriously pursued the craft. The journey since has been a dream come true.”
Rogers firmly believes that anyone who is writing is, in fact, an author. His moment of realizing he could actually become a published author occurred when one of his short stories, “Deep Waters,” won an honorable mention in the Writer’s Digest short story contest.
“The recognition encouraged me to keep pushing forward and work to improve. It also gave me the confidence to start pitching my novels to agents and editors.”
Inspiration
Whenever Steve is writing, he is first inspired by his love and faith in God.
“God and Jesus are the underlying forces in everything I write. Whatever characters I create and regardless of how deeply I lead them into despair, God’s provision, love, mercy, and grace will always be present in my stories. This doesn’t mean my characters won’t be flawed, weak, or subject to the world’s temptations. However, they will have a chance at redemption, and I strive for a happy, or at least hopeful, ending.”
Rogers’ great enjoyment of traveling and his many experiences visiting various places around the world play a strong supporting role in each of his stories.
“I enjoy including a travel component in my novels. Not only because it’s fun to write about a setting that’s different from where I spend every day, but also because I like to bring my readers to new places while I’m telling the story. My first book, Into the Room, takes place entirely in Israel and about half of the second, A Year in the Room, takes place on the legendary Scottish Island of Iona. In both cases, my personal visits to these locations had a significant impact on my own spiritual journey. I try to inject some of those experiences into my characters and plot.”
When Steven first started writing, he constantly asked himself, “What would happen if…?” questions. Most of the time, he amused himself with his imaginative musings, then promptly moved on and forgot about them. However, in 2017, something different happened.
“I was on a flight to visit Israel when, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I had the thought, ‘I wonder what would happen if I was an alcoholic who had just been released from rehab, and I HAD to take this trip?’ I quickly invented my character, Ben Cahill, and took him on the tour with me. To make a long story short, when I returned, I wrote my first faith-based fiction and my novel Into the Room was the result.”
For Steven, the process of finding a publisher for his newly written book was a clearly God-orchestrated series of events.
“Before I began submitting Into the Room to agents/editors for publication, I decided to have the book professionally edited. The editor I hired also did work for Elk Lake Publishing and, after we were finished, she recommended the book to them for publication. A week later, I received a contract by email. An amazing moment!”
After finishing the first book in the series, Rogers was compelled to continue telling Ben Cahill’s story and to explore an alcoholic/addict during the first year of recovery.
“Discovering God and reestablishing a life is a complicated and gut-wrenching process. A Year in the Room was the result. As it turns out, writing the books had a significant impact on my personal spiritual journey, although I did not begin telling these stories with that as an objective.”
A Year in the Room
Although A Year in the Room is the second book in the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series, it can be read as a stand-alone story.
“As I was drafting/refining I asked my beta readers to be conscious of this as one of my objectives. My editor also offered suggestions/input that would allow the book to be read without having read the Into the Room. With that said, I would also love it if readers were interested in both books in my ‘Reluctant Pilgrim’ series.”
Ben Cahill and the other characters are completely fictional, but the topic of alcoholism and addiction definitely isn’t. It’s a situation Steven knows very well. In many ways, the stories reflect his own experiences in observing those struggles in others.
“This perspective was forged by living with those around me suffering from the disease, witnessing their recovery, and addressing the impacts those addictions had on me and my life. My journey has led me to do extensive research into the mind of the alcoholic/addict and the reality of alcoholism/addiction as a family disease. No one escapes untouched. I’ve tried to reflect this perspective through the story.”
Key Themes of A Year in the Room: The need to forgive ourselves, move on from our past, and build a new life. These build on the themes developed through Into the Room, which focuses primarily on the need to step into God’s presence and realize we are forgiven by Him.
“The scripture verse that guided me while writing was the second half of Ecclesiastes 3:3, ‘(There is) …a time to tear down and a time to build.’ I also wanted to reinforce my belief that we are not alone in our walk with God. Ben Cahill doesn’t make it through this story without the help of the other characters.”
Writing these books made such a big impact on Rogers that he developed a whole presentation on the topic and says he could talk about it all day long.
“Said simply, writing about my protagonist, Ben Cahill, and his journey with alcoholism taught me to forgive others and helped clear my heart of resentment, anger, and guilt directed towards the alcoholics/addicts in my life. In addition, walking with Ben through the story helped me to better understand God’s grace and His love for all of us. I truly believe that, if these books had never been published, the Ben’s story would have changed my life.”
Who Might Enjoy and Benefit Most from Reading A Year in the Room: Readers who enjoy realistic stories about characters struggling in their earthly walk and readers who are striving to understand alcoholism and addiction.
“Ben Cahill is a man facing his own demons and fighting an unrelenting spiritual war. The story delves into the mind of a flawed man and how his heart is changed on his path to redemption.”
Steven has three hopes for people as they are reading his book:
1. They’ll enjoy and be entertained by the story. “While the subject matter is difficult and the book’s events troubling, I’ve tried to make the book entertaining by injecting colorful supporting characters, humor, and a romance subplot to break the tension.”
2. They’ll see a glimpse of themselves in the story and be able to identify something they’d like to work on with God.
3. The story is able to help alcoholics/addicts, or those affected by alcoholism/addiction, know there’s a way out and a path to redemption and healing.
How It’s Going
Best Experience since Publishing: “I recently received an order for twenty copies of each book to be used in a prison ministry. To have my work recognized as something that could be useful in that type of setting was a blessing I’ll never forget.”
Best Part of Writing/Publishing: “Although writing a novel is hard, solitary work, I truly love the entire process. To be a writer and have someone want to read my work is a true blessing. My favorite part is when I’m sketching out and getting to know my characters.”
Most Challenging Aspects of Writing/Publishing: “The two most difficult times for me are (1) the uncertainty while waiting for the first set of comments from my editor and (2) last few times through the manuscript during final edits. At that point, I’m tired of reading the story and am getting a little cross eyed reviewing the same words for, seemingly, the thousandth time.”
Most Significant Moments in the Publication Journey: “Getting out of the house and attending a few writing conferences. At my first two conferences, I learned a lot about adding imagery to my writing, ‘showing and not telling,’ and met others who were struggling to find their way. Also, at one conference I met a presenter who later became my writing coach and introduced me to my editor. As I mentioned earlier, this editor then led me to publication.”
Greatest Moment (so far) of your Writing/Publishing Career: “I think the most satisfying moment was when I was named a Carol Awards finalist for Into the Room. The book had previously won the Eric Hoffer Book Award, but to have my novel recognized by ACFW, especially after I read the other books nominated in my category, was a true honor.”
Most Heartwarming Moment as an Author: “One reader of A Year in the Room said, ‘I actually think I’m a better man for having read this story.’ His comment was a compliment beyond anything I could dream of receiving.”
What’s Next: “My plan is to write the third book in my ‘Reluctant Pilgrim’ series. The working title is Beyond the Room and will continue to tell Ben Cahill’s story. As research for this story, my wife and I are leading a ‘Footsteps of Paul’ tour through Greece, Turkey, and Rome in May of 2025.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, author, blogger, and freelance writer. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, she grew up hearing stories from my dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising my three young daughters and writing as much as time and opportunity allows. Follow her at her blog, Heart Soul Mind.
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