Questions to Ponder

by Mitchell S. Karnes

I grew up loving to read. That love grew into a passion for writing. In the beginning, I was full of questions and voraciously searched for the answers. Thankfully, God placed many great mentors in my life. Without them, I would have given up, for there were just as many critics who discouraged me from using my gift of writing creatively.

I clearly remember one well-intentioned church leader saying, “If God had called you to write, He would have given you Sunday School lessons, not stories like this.” “Stories like this” referred to a short story I’d written about a young man criticizing the disciples for abandoning Jesus on the cross. The character said, “I would never have let the Romans crucify Jesus.” Of course, in my story, God taught the young man a lesson about “all have sinned,” by taking him through time all the way back to the crucifixion. God wanted the young man to understand it was his sin too that nailed His Son to the cross. In the last scene, the young man realized he was dressed as a Roman soldier. In his hands, he held a hammer and three nails.

I’ve never written your run of the mill “Christian story.” God gifted me with the passion and talent to write. I joined American Christian Fiction Writers so I could fellowship with other Christian writers as we seek to share the Gospel truth with readers. God also gifted me with stories that had rough edges but taught deep biblical truths. That’s why He led me to join Brave Authors in 2026. I found writers with the same heart and a similar desire to reach those who desired something between those mainstream Christian stories and the dark, vulgar tales of the secular audience. It has reinforced my calling and clarified my vision as a writer. Now, I write Homicide Mysteries with a Christian heart.

I remember my early days as a conceited young writer. I thought everything I wrote was bestselling material. I am thankful for the bold lessons of Victor Walker, my creative writing professor. He finally pulled me aside one day and said, “Mitchell, you don’t want to write. You want to have written.” I took years for that to truly sink in. Another professor, Phillip Graham, said, “Nice ending. Where’s the story?” I thought I was the new O. Henry. I was not. If I wanted to rush to the end, so would my reader…if he bothered to look at all.

Long story short, I’ve learned a lot in my fifty-two years of writing (since 6th grade if you want to do the math). Now, I love to write. I love to hear from readers to see what they caught and how the story moved them. Yes, I read reviews. For me, it’s the best way to see what I need to work on so I can more effectively connect with my audience. I’ve been asked which of my books is my favorite. Honestly, the one I’m writing now. If it isn’t—if my best is somehow stuck in the past, there is no sense continuing to write. My stories and my ability to write them must continue to grow. I love hearing from my readers with each new book, “This is your best one yet.”

I write on many levels. I give a superficial story for those who simply wish for entertainment, who want to escape reality if even for just a moment. I also write with a message. My desire is to continue to create stories that allow the reader to keep digging and that reward their efforts with a variety of gems. The day I stop learning is the day I die. I want to pass that desire on to my audience. I want to entertain them, encourage them, and challenge them. I would  love to hear from you. You can reach me through my website: mitchellskarnesauthor.com.

Thanks for spending a little time with me today.

Mitchell S. Karnes is a Christian husband, father, and grandfather who lives in Brentwood, TN. He uses his experiences and insights as a minister, counselor, and educator to write and speak on relevant issues with an ever-growing audience. This is his eighth novel. Through two separate battles against Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, God has given Mitchell a new perspective on life that challenges him to create stories not only to entertain audiences but call them to action. Mitchell’s mission is to reach and reconcile those who have been disillusioned with God and his church and inspire the church to live out the love of Christ Jesus in a broken and hurting world.