PHOTO: Danyelle Scroggins, author and pastor, sharing her heart through storytelling. Her words reflect hope, faith, and freedom.
Exploring Pain, Grace, And The Power Of Stories
Danyelle Scroggins, a prolific writer and pastor, weaves authentic stories that speak of faith, redemption, and healing, drawing from her ministry and life journeys to inspire readers worldwide.
Danyelle Scroggins is a storyteller with a rare gift: she crafts narratives that live and breathe, filled with the grit of human struggle and the grace of divine restoration. Whether penning fiction that carries readers through the valleys of heartbreak or creating nonfiction that shines a light of clarity on spiritual truths, Danyelle writes with a voice that is both tender and compelling. Her characters are not merely constructs of fiction; they are reflections of the lives she touches daily as a pastor, carrying the reverberations of faith, fear, hope, and healing. Each story breathes, moves, and reaches.
What sets Danyelle apart is her commitment to writing from a place of authenticity. Her work is not afraid of questions, of doubts, or of brokenness. Instead, she leans into these tensions, trusting that the beauty of God’s grace and the strength of the human spirit can shine most brilliantly in the midst of imperfection. Her characters embody this spirit—imperfect, vulnerable, yet unyielding in their pursuit of redemption and belonging. The intricate weavings of personal pain and spiritual recovery in stories like Graced After the Pain speak not only to the heart but from the heart, meeting readers where they are and walking alongside them on their own journeys of healing.
Outside the pages of her novels, Danyelle’s life is equally rooted in purpose. As a pastor, chaplain, and publisher, she wears many hats, each one dedicated to pouring into the lives of others. Her efforts to amplify underrepresented voices through Divinely Sown Publishing reveal her deep passion not only for stories but for storytellers, particularly those with truth and faith to share. This is a woman who believes, unflaggingly, in the transformative power of words—both on the page and in the world. Through her work, she invites us all to imagine, to discover, and to believe in the beauty of life’s messy, grace-filled narrative.
Danyelle Scroggins masterfully creates authentic, faith-infused stories with grace, guiding readers toward healing and divine transformation through every word.
In your ‘Grace’ series, how do you intertwine personal pain with spiritual growth to inspire readers?
In the Graced series, personal pain is never just suffering for suffering’s sake—it’s a doorway. Each character’s pain is intimately tied to a deeper yearning: for love, for belonging, for purpose, or for divine connection. I wove those threads together intentionally so that every heartbreak, failure, or betrayal could become a spark for transformation. It’s not neat or linear—just like real life. But through the grit and grace, spiritual growth unfolds in unexpected ways.
Take a character like Felecia in Graced After The Pain, for instance: her inner wounds aren’t magically healed when she encounters grace—they’re exposed. The real magic begins when she leans into that discomfort, when she chooses faith over fear, even if her heart shakes. That’s what inspires readers. Not perfection, but the courage to keep going, to grow, to believe something beautiful can still be born from broken places.
“I don’t write perfect people. I write people who are flawed but faithful.” – Danyelle Scroggins
I try to make readers feel seen in their own pain—then offer them a gentle hand, guiding them toward hope, not with preaching, but with story. That’s where the inspiration lives.
‘Public Servant: Pain & Purpose’ delves into legacy and leadership; what motivated you to explore these themes through this narrative?
Public Servant: Pain & Purpose was a deeply meaningful project for me to publish through my company. Written by Jerald Bowman, this book tells the story of a young man shaped by the sacrifices and strength of his mother, a dedicated public servant. Watching her navigate long hours, limited resources, and often thankless responsibilities, Jerald internalised what true leadership looks like—not loud or boastful, but quiet, consistent, and committed to something bigger than oneself.
The book explores how pain—especially the pain that comes from watching someone give so much of themselves—can fuel a purposeful life. Legacy, in this context, isn’t just about titles or accolades. It’s about integrity, resilience, and the ripple effects of serving others. That’s why this story matters. It doesn’t just celebrate public service; it examines the emotional weight and the generational impact of it.
“Transformation doesn’t always look like a miracle; sometimes, it’s the quiet decision to trust God one more time.” – Danyelle Scroggins
Publishing this book felt like honouring not just Jerald’s journey, but the stories of so many unsung heroes who lead through service. It’s a reminder that leadership often begins at home, in the quiet examples set by those who show up, day after day, with heart.
How does your pastoral experience at New Vessels Ministries influence the characters and plots in your novels?
My pastoral journey at New Vessels Ministries is woven into every word I write—whether I intend it or not. Ministry gives me a front-row seat to the raw, unfiltered human experience: joy, grief, doubt, breakthrough, brokenness, and healing. These aren’t abstract ideas to me—they’re lived stories, witnessed in real time through the lives of the people I serve.
That depth shows up in my characters. They wrestle with faith, identity, forgiveness, and calling because those are the very struggles I see in my congregation—and, honestly, in myself. I don’t write perfect people. I write people who are flawed but faithful, people who fall hard but rise with purpose. Ministry has taught me that transformation doesn’t always look like a miracle; sometimes it’s a quiet decision to try again, to trust God one more time. That’s what I bring into every plot twist, every redemption arc.
“My characters’ pain becomes the spark for spiritual growth, reflecting life’s grit and divine grace.” – Danyelle Scroggins
At New Vessels, we believe in grace that rebuilds. That same spirit lives in my novels—because fiction has the power to heal too, to hold a mirror up to readers and say, “Yes, even you. Especially you. God’s not finished yet.”
Under the pen name D.L. Quaker, you write children’s books; what inspired this venture into children’s literature?
Writing as D.L. Quaker was born out of a desire to speak to the hearts of children the way stories once spoke to mine. As someone deeply rooted in ministry and storytelling, I’ve always believed that seeds of purpose, faith, and self-worth can—and should—be planted early. Children’s books let me do that in a way that feels playful yet powerful.
The name D.L. Quaker is more than a pen name; it’s a gentle nod to my roots in peace, reflection, and spirit-led guidance. Through this lens, I aim to write stories that entertain, yes—but also affirm, uplift, and guide. Whether it’s a tale about friendship, courage, or discovering your own light, each book is crafted to help children feel seen and valued.
Honestly, this venture has become a ministry of its own—just in smaller shoes and brighter colours. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Your ‘Curvy Girl’ series celebrates body positivity; what message do you aim to convey to readers through these stories?
The Curvy Girl series is my love letter to every woman who’s ever been made to feel like she had to shrink—her body, her voice, her dreams—to be accepted. Through these stories, I want to celebrate the power, beauty, and wholeness of women who live fully in their bodies without apology.
At its core, this series is about freedom—freedom from shame, comparison, and cultural expectations. These characters don’t wait to be “fixed” or “smaller” before they fall in love, chase purpose, or take up space. They embrace who they are now, and that’s where their strength shines brightest.
My hope is that readers walk away from these books feeling seen, valued, and inspired to rewrite their own inner narratives. Because beauty doesn’t come in one size, and neither does worth.
As the founder of Divinely Sown Publishing, how do you support emerging authors in bringing their faith-based stories to life?
At Divinely Sown Publishing, our mission is rooted in the belief that every story planted in a writer’s heart has the potential to bloom and bless others—especially when it’s anchored in faith. I founded this company to be more than just a publishing house; I wanted it to be a nurturing ground for emerging voices—particularly those who may not see themselves reflected in mainstream publishing.
We walk alongside our authors from seed to harvest—from developing their manuscripts to shaping their message, refining their voice, and building the confidence to share their testimony with the world. Whether it’s a devotional, a memoir, or faith-filled fiction, we treat each project with prayer, excellence, and care.
More than anything, I see myself as a midwife for divine stories—helping birth books that uplift, inspire, and transform. It’s not just about putting words on a page; it’s about equipping writers to step boldly into their calling.
In your ‘Keatchie Corner’ series, particularly ‘STAY’, how do you address the complexities of marital relationships within the church?
In STAY, I wanted to peel back the polished layers we often see in church culture and get to the raw, sometimes uncomfortable truths about marriage—the kind of truths we whisper in prayer but rarely say out loud. Church folk can be quick to speak about covenant and commitment, but not always about the quiet battles couples fight behind closed doors: unmet needs, emotional disconnection, past trauma, and spiritual fatigue.
Through the characters in STAY, I explore what it really means to hold on when love gets complicated—and when letting go sometimes feels easier than staying. It’s not about promoting suffering in silence or glamorising endurance. It’s about honouring the sacred tension between faith and frustration, commitment and personal well-being.
I wrote this story to give voice to the women and men sitting in pews every Sunday, silently questioning if their marriage can be saved—or if God even sees their struggle. In Keatchie Corner, the church is a backdrop, but also a mirror. And in that mirror, I hope readers see both truth and grace—enough to spark healing, conversation, and maybe even reconciliation.
What key advice would you offer to aspiring authors seeking to write impactful Christian fiction?
First and foremost: write from a place of truth, not perfection. Impactful Christian fiction doesn’t come from trying to preach or wrap everything up in a neat, moral bow—it comes from telling real, honest stories where God’s presence feels lived, not forced. Let your characters wrestle. Let them doubt, fail, cry, and get it wrong. That’s where grace shines brightest.
Second, remember that your faith is a thread, not a filter. Don’t be afraid to explore difficult themes—pain, trauma, temptation, injustice—through a redemptive lens. The cross wasn’t pretty, but it was powerful. Your stories can be the same.
Also: never underestimate the power of representation. Tell the stories you didn’t see growing up. Centre characters that reflect your community, your voice, and your lived experience. God speaks through all kinds of people—and so should your fiction.
And finally, stay rooted. Pray through your process. Trust the pace God sets for your writing journey. The impact isn’t always in how many people read your book—it’s in how deeply your story reaches the ones who do.
