About the Book

Book: A Year in the Room (The Reluctant Pilgrim Book 2)

Author: Steven Rogers

Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction

Release Date: October 23, 2024

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.

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About the Author

Steven Rogers is a Christian author of the “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. His most recent novel, A Year in the Room, was published in November 2024. The book is a sequel to his debut novel, Into the Room, which was published in 2021. In addition to other awards, both books were finalists for the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Awards.

Steven loves the process of writing, especially exploring characters that are either broken or facing unfamiliar situations. They are usually ordinary people confronting their internal demons and the challenges of day-to-day living. He also enjoys bringing his stories to a happy, or at least hopeful, ending.

Steven serves as the Director of Royalty Management and Acquisitions Editor at Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. In addition to writing, Steven is a speaker and enjoys sharing his journey of faith and exploring how God’s word applies in the modern world.

Steven, a proud father of three adult children and one incredibly lucky son-in-law, is happily married to his wife of thirty-nine years, Kathy. They live in Richmond, Virginia.

More from Steven

When I first began writing, I was trying to become the next Stephen King. I was inventing serial killers, violently murdering people, and using time travel as a plot concept. At the time, I didn’t know there was a robust and far-reaching Christian Fiction market.

Things changed in 2017 while I was on a flight to Israel. Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I had the thought, I wonder what would happen if I were an alcoholic who has 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.

When we got back home, my wife asked what I’d been writing in my journal during our visit to The Holy Land. After I explained, the following exchange took place:

Her: “You may have a book there.”

Me: “That’s not my genre.”

Her (using much gentler language): “You’re not published yet; you don’t have a genre.”

To make a long story short, the result of this conversation was my first novel, Into the Room.

A Year in the Room is Book 2 in my “Reluctant Pilgrim” series. I wrote the book because I was compelled to continue telling Ben Cahill’s story and explore an alcoholic/addict during the first year of recovery.

Many writers fall in love with their characters. I am no different. Writing about Ben has been a blessing for me. His story has significantly impacted my personal spiritual journey, taught me to forgive, and brought me closer to God. I will be forever grateful for his impact on my life.

Author Interview

What is your favorite genre of books? Why?

My “go to” genre when I want to escape or be entertained is Historical Fiction. I love reading stories set at a specific period in history and learning how events impacted the characters’ lives. I often find it fascinating to discover the background behind the larger history I learned over time.

However, I read everything and enjoy excellent writing in almost any genre. My favorite books are character-focused and non-formulaic. I love a unique story and writing style. Also, and I’m not sure why, I’m always drawn to stories where characters are forced to start over, either moving to a new location and/or beginning a new career.

Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once?

As a general rule, I’m a one-project-at-a-time author. I tend to focus on my current Work-in-Progress. There are exceptions, however. For example, while I’m currently working on writing my third novel, I’m also reviewing the files for the audiobook of A Year in the Room. When this happens, I try to balance my time, so I don’t lose momentum on either project.

How has your life experience helped in your writing journey?

While A Year in the Room is fictional, the story reflects my own experiences observing alcohol and drug abuse 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.

What is the funniest thing to happen in the process of writing one of your books?

In 2017, I was halfway through a flight to Israel when I had the idea of writing about an alcoholic who, for some reason, was required to take the trip. I reached for my notebook, invented my main character, Ben Cahill, and began journaling in his voice as we visited The Holy Land. When we returned home, my wife, Kathy, asked me what “all the note-taking” was about. I described Ben and how I’d inserted him on our tour. The conversation that followed simultaneously made me laugh and changed my life:

Kathy: “You know, you may have a book there.”

Me: “Faith-based fiction isn’t my genre.”

Kathy (in her unique and gentle way): “Hon, you’re not published, you don’t have a genre.”

Me (appropriately humbled): “Right. I’ll check into the Christian market.”

I love telling this story and still laugh at how she concisely pointed out that I was missing the point in my writing journey.

Where do you find your greatest inspiration?

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.

Additionally, I often use Bible verses to guide a character or event. In addition, a biblical theme will emerge as the story’s foundation. For example, for A Year in the Room, the verse “…a time to tear down and a time to build” from Chapter 3 of Ecclesiastes became a recurring theme. I enjoyed using those ten words to shape the story’s plot.

Who is your favorite author? Why?

In the secular writing world, John Steinbeck’s characters and understanding of human nature have always fascinated me. In the faith-based writing genre, I find Francine Rivers’ novels relatable, enjoyable, and thought-provoking. 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 conflicts or events they have devised.

Do you have extensive outlines when writing or do you write a book as you go?

Before I write a word, I spend a lot of time getting to know my main characters. I sometimes write short stories about them, and always outline their backgrounds, tendencies, what they wear, hobbies, what they eat, etc.

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. Often, a character dictates a plot twist or appears in the story more than I originally planned.

Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you?

When I was in second grade, my father grew tired of me watching TV and dragged me to the local library and enrolled me in their summer reading program. For each book I read, I received a paper feather to glue onto a picture of a Native American headdress. The first book I read (something about a swimmer in a neighborhood pool) did not impress me at all. However, the second, The Reluctant Pitcher by Matt Christopher, flipped a switch in my brain, and I became a lifelong lover of reading fiction. Since that eventful summer, I’m always reading a novel and exploring new authors. I often wonder if my passion would have developed without the experience of reading Mr. Christopher’s books as a seven-year-old boy.