Chantal DeYoe
“Every aspect of this endeavor has been a learning process.”
From Passion to Publication
My journey as an author has been decades in the making. Growing up in Kansas, I loved to write even from a young age. I used to sit by my dad’s recliner as he looked through the mail. That was back in the early 70s. When he was done with a piece, he’d drop it over the side to me, and I’d fill it up–with letters and names and ages and whatever else I could think of. Before long, my parents bought me a little diary. Then in high school English, I was that weird kid who liked it when the teacher wanted us to keep a journal!
Throughout adulthood it’s been business writing, non-fiction e-books, a little bit of journalism, and even some short stories.
It wasn’t until May of 2021 that I embarked on writing my first full-length novel, even though I had wanted to do it for a very long time. Once I started, it took me three years to complete. The book I ended up writing is Right Where They Belong: Sutton Series Book 1, a cozy, small-town Christian romance set in the heart of Ohio.
While actual romance fiction, as it is currently understood, is not my favorite category to read, it best suits what I want to write, because there isn’t a category called relationship fiction–at least to my knowledge, lol.
Relationships are integral to any story, and the love relationship between a man and a woman is a gift from God designed to reflect His love for His people. There is no better story to tell!
I’m committed to crafting realistic Christian fiction centering on the relationships between people, where faith and belief are integral parts of my characters’ journeys, no matter how easy or difficult those journeys are.
Inspirations and Themes
My literary influences range from Christian fiction authors like Lynn Austin and Francine Rivers, to mainstream storytellers like John Grisham, JK Rowling, and Michael Connelly, all the way to classic writers such as Jane Austin, CS Lewis, and JRR Tolkien.
I am particularly drawn to the internal world of my characters—what drives their decisions, how they communicate, and how their faith–or lack of it–shapes their actions.
Faith and Family
My first career, as I like to say it, was raising and homeschooling our two sons. That’s what I dedicated twenty years of my life to.
As a musician, I played piano for church and church choir for many years, and I sang in community choral groups and praise band.
I facilitate our women’s Bible study group, which draws ladies from a number of church traditions.
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
Most writers are also full-time workers, and I am no exception. I established my bookkeeping business in 2015. With the help of my subcontractors, we serve more than 50 small business and non-profit clients.
Giving Back
My husband and I are passionate about education and we facilitate a local non-profit program that makes hands-on STEM activities available for students K-12.
Moving Forward
As hard as it was, some of these beloved activities had to give way, at least in part, to make room for my new calling to write.
“It’s easy to fill our lives with things other people need from us, but I realized I had to say no sometimes if I wanted to accomplish this goal.”
Those were hard decisions, and I still miss the things I no longer do. Looking back, however, I can see every step–both the doing, and the waiting, and the stepping away–as part of God’s plan.
A Legacy of Faith and Fiction
For me, writing is more than storytelling—it’s a way to connect with others, spark faith-filled discussions, and leave a lasting impact. As I continue The Sutton Series, I hope to create books that people enjoy, learn from, and carry with them long after they’ve turned the last page. And finally,
“I hope my books encourage readers to have conversations about faith with others–no matter where they each are on their life’s journeys.”