Straight From the Mouth of 'I Have Faith' Davin Whitehurst

Davin Whitehurst lives in the beautiful high desert of Southern Arizona with his wife and son. He is releasing his first book "I have Faith" in May of 2016 but has so many more that are in the making. The motivation behind the books are deeply rooted from in his own past. He is a living testimony of Proverbs 22:6. Growing up in Southwest Kansas and in a Christian household, he was trained up in the way he should go. By the time he became a teenager, Davin turned away from God and left church. Fast forward into his late twenties and God brought him back with a powerful calling. He and his family have been faithfully serving at Seed of Abraham Christian Center International for over seven years now. Proof that when we teach our children the way they should go. When they get older, they know where to turn and will not depart from God. Davin wants each book written to be a resource that parents have to help train their children in the way they should go. He writes stories in a simple way that will be fun and practical for every child. He wants children to get excited about faith and the things of God.

His latest release is the children’s book, I Have Faith.

For More Information

• Visit Davin Whitehurst’s website.
• Connect with Davin on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Book:

Are you ready to get your child excited about faith? “I Have Faith” puts your child right in the footsteps of Danny as he begins to learn about faith. Danny and his older brother have been wanting a dog, but both know their parents don’t think they are ready for a dog. When Danny’s mom begins

teaching him what the bible says about faith, he puts his faith into action. After praying and releasing his faith for a dog, doubt and even his best friend keep telling him that he will never get a dog. Over time Danny never loses his faith in the promises of God and finds that God is faithful and that faith works. Come along on this journey that is a real life event that took place in the author’s life as a child.

This book has great illustrations that support a wonderful story about finding faith in God. As you are teaching your child about principals in the bible; this book will help you teach faith. What a wonderful experience it is when we can see our children begin to develop their faith in God, and grow from a tiny mustard seed to a firmly planted tree. The back of the book has a parent/child discussion which will help children gain understanding in faith and some scriptures that Danny’s mom used to get him excited about faith.

For More Information

• I Have Faith is available at Amazon.
• Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
• Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.

Thanks for letting us interrogate you!  Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author?

I never wanted to be an author and I ran from my calling for years. God began to speak to me about writing children’s books about eight years ago. I was in the middle of a music career and a developing government job. I just could never shake it though. About two years ago I told God that I would do what He had called me to do. From that point forward I have been working on getting every book idea and concept He has given me published. I Have Faith is the first of those.

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be?  I mean what are the perks and what are the demands?

I am not coming into the industry to make money or be a famous author. I am in this to bring the bible to life for children. If you’re not in this to get your book out to people to enjoy, it probably won’t be all it’s cracked up to be. I have found that it takes a lot of work and effort to get a book out there and in the hands of readers. Seeing children read my book and knowing parents are reading this to their children have been everything I wanted out of this book. 

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like?

Getting my book published was not a simple task. The process of me self publishing was pretty smooth but the process to figure out I needed to do it on my own was rough. I looked at submitting to traditional publishers. I had been holding onto this idea so long I did not want to wait for that. I knew the book needed to get out. I looked at a lot of vanity press or subsidy publishers and found out that most of them have shady accounting processes or are associated with companies I did not want a part of. This led me to starting Childlike Faith Publishing. You can self publish and do marketing for the price of just having a vanity press get your book on their print on demand services, no marketing. Every author needs to take time to figure out what will be best for your book. You took the time to get your book right. Take the time to get the right publishing to back it.

What’s the snarkiest thing you can say about the publishing industry?

I have found a lot of the business to be unethical. I did not mess with any traditional publishers though so I cannot speak about them. If you are self publishing watch out whom you deal with. If they are trying to rush you into something, don’t take the bait.

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you?

I am so grateful for my wife and son being supportive in this whole process. When I am in my office writing they know it’s my time. I think they are used to it as I used to spend forty hours a week at work and forty hours a week in the recording studio. They have always been supportive of my creative ventures.

What was the craziest or insane thing that happened to you in the book publishing process?

I did not have any crazy stuff happen. I think because I was so patient on getting this book completed, I was able to avoid anything to crazy. Maybe on my next book I can report on a giant mastiff snatching my notebook out of my hands at the beach and swimming into the ocean or something.

How about the social networks?  Which ones do you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid?

I am not sure which one to avoid yet. I have found that Facebook has been one of my best so far. I have a Pintrest but have not really seen any success with that. I am still studying these avenues of media and seeing what works best.

Book sales.  Don’t you just love them (or lack of?)?  How are you making the sales happen for you?

I am finding out that without people getting to know me, sales are almost none existent. My paperback has been selling very well but the digital sales have been slow. I love the journey. I think it can be daunting at times but has been great. Most of my sales have come from book signings and people who I have talked to and meet.

What is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about?

I love Jesus. I would and do praise Him from roof tops and mountain tops as well. I would also say that I would love to get on a rooftop and just yell out encouragement to this world right now.

Okay, too much sugar for you today!  Here’s a nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch the waves roll in.  Now…can you tell us what you love about being a published author and how all those things above doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you wouldn’t have it any other way?

My whole purpose for writing I Have Faith was to bring the biblical principle of faith to children. Seeing parents get their children involved and excited about their own faith is what it is all about. No matter the struggle or pain it would take. I would do it all again just to see the foundation of faith built in children.