Thank you for supporting me on this writing journey! The end of the year is a great time to take a look at where I stand now.
As an author, it's easy to get discouraged if you only look at your sales. But writing books is only one method of delivering the message that the Bible endorses equality for all. Just as I have expanded my message from equality for women to equality for all, I have expanded my methods to include writing books, posting blogs, guesting on podcasts, and creating videos. If you are deconstructing and reconstructing your faith after being sidelined or silenced by religion, you will likely enjoy following me.
Here's an update on where I stand now in my writing journey.
Books published:
2 in 2024
1 in 2023 (The Sword)
1 in 2022 (Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold)
I also wrote one short story "A Companion's Strength", which is currently available free with e-news subscription
In 2022, when I published my first novel, Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, my goal was to empower women by showing how Jesus empowered female disciples. Since Jesus said that some men are born as eunuchs (Matthew 19:12), I showed a mother coming to accept her son's sexuality, since God God creates some people to be LGBTQ+. I believe that stories of women in the Bible and church history can amplify existing egalitarian scholarship and impact our emotions to support women and men having equal freedoms.
As I got feedback on diverse Christian views of women's roles, I wrote the 2023 non-fiction book of flashcards: The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role.
In April 2024, I released Because She Was Called, from Broken to Bold book 2: A Novel of the Early Church. Set in Acts 2-11, it shows the Spirit directing Philip to baptize a eunuch (who is neither male nor female) and the Spirit coming upon a Gentile Centurion and all his family and friends. I imagine his friends include a pair of gay Roman soldiers. My novel shows God empowering women to speak and lead and the Bible affirming LGBTQ+. I believe the Bible endorses equality without partiality based on gender, race, or orientation.
Shorts:
I was thinking about the people who were sidelined and silenced by religion, similar to what my character, Mara, experiences in Forgotten Followers. High-control religious groups have caused people anxiety and doubt, leading them to deconstruct their faith to try to separate what is toxic from what is true. Finding out that people they trusted have propagated a belief system that hurts them compounds hurt with betrayal and grief. That's why I wrote my 2024 self-help book, combining Psychology, Counseling, and new, healing ways of seeing Scripture. illustrated by my fictional character, Mara, and my own personal stories.
Short video New Release:
🎯Writing Goals for 2025:
I plan to write:
A new free handout for e-news subscribers
Novel 3, from Broken to Bold, Book 3, which covers women evangelists in the period of Acts 11-15.
Face Off: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About LGBTQ+
What to Do When You Feel Forgotten: Reconnect with Jesus in 40 Devotions based on a Harmony of the Gospels
🎯Wix Website Report:
502 site sessions including 384 unique visitors in the 30 days ended December 19, 2024
These visitors are 98% new to my website.
E-news sent: 11 in 2024
That's doubled from a year ago: 246 blog post views in the 30 days ended Jan 14, 2024; 98 unique visitors, 92% new to my website.
Blogs:
38 posts in 2024 including 4 articles were cross-published on other sites in 2024.
204 total blog posts since Feb. 2021
Topics range from women in the Bible and history, church doctrine, egalitarian theology, affirming LGBTQ+, book reviews, and author insights.
Most visited blogs:
Mary of Clopas and Mary of Nazareth
Book Review: New Testament for Everyone
What does it mean to say Neither Male Nor Female?
Biblical Models for Family
Bible Studies:
I am working through the letters of the New Testament and writing blog posts with commentaries:
2024: Galatians, Philemon, Colossians
2023: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, 1 Peter, 1 Corinthians
2022: Ephesians
2025 Goals: Writing Bible Studies on Philippians, 2 Peter, 2 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
Remaining: Romans, Hebrews, James, 1/2/3 John, Jude
Guest Article Posts:
Being cross-published as a guest writer with an article on other websites boosts my website's domain authority and brings my message to new readers.
2024 Guest posts:
1 on Beacon of Light
1 on What's in your Bag
1 on CBE Mutuality
1 on CIPA Christian Publishing.
2022/23 Guest posts: 1 on CBE Mutuality, 2 on CIPA and 1 on Charlotte Readers
2025 Goal: 3 guest articles
🎯Google Search Report:
My work on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) behind the scenes is paying off:
264 clicks on my website in the month of November 2024
That's up significantly from a year ago: 70 in the 30 days of December 2023
Podcast interviews:
2 in 2024: click to see these on YouTube: Feminists of Faith and Beacon of Light
5 in 2022/23 These are on my Elaine R Kelly Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/@ERK4Canada/playlists
2025 Goals: I would like to be a guest on 4 podcasts in 2025.
🎯Social Media Update
Thank you to all those who liked, commented, reacted to my posts or clicked to follow me. I began posting on social media in August of 2021. In 2024, I stepped up my activity on YouTube and Goodreads.
In 2025, I plan to create images and short reels to stimulate discussions about women in the Bible and gender equality at home, church, and society. We will explore how Christians can live out our call to love all people, and how the church can affirm an equal place for all: gay or straight, male or female, citizen or immigrant. These are the themes I explore in my writing. I hope you will join me in the exploration and discovery by following me on social media or signing up for my monthly e-news.
367 followers in 2024
This is down from 372 followers, and it may be because I had networked with Christian authors and creatives who stopped following me when I became more publicly affirming of LGBTQ+. I now am seeking followers who are LGBTQ+ allies who have not given up on Christianity.
Twitter X:
748 followers. This is down from 773 followers, perhaps because Twitter lost many accounts after becoming X.
Facebook Page:
211 followers
This is up from 184 followers in December 2023 and could be because I enjoy participating in Facebook groups and communities.
YouTube @ ERK4Canada
The Elaine R Kelly Author Playlist began as a way to curate videos that I have found helpful or informative on themes of biblical equality. I also posted video trailers for my books and a few shorts. In 2023 I had 8 subscribers.
YouTube 2024:
17 subscribers
6 videos produced in 2024; total now 16
53 shorts created in 2024; total now 59 short videos (under 60 sec, square/portrait)
2025 Goal: create 52 shorts, one per week. I am continuing to learn about making engaging short videos.
In-Person Events:
1 in 2024: pulpit supply at a two-point charge
5 book clubs and 2 festivals in 2022/23
2024 Writing and Marketing Learning:
See You At The Well Michigan Conference for Christian Creatives
CIPA-podia author courses
Amazon Advertising: adjusting target market from readers of Christian fiction and biblical-era fiction to either progressive Christians or secular readers who have rejected Christianity as patriarchal or homophobic
Publisher Rocket: adjusting keywords and categories to make book listing more relevant
Kindle Unlimited Specials and A Plus content for more powerful online book description
BookFunnel to deliver free content, online contest winners, Buy One Get One deals and Book Funnel Group Promotions
Canva Pro for designing more engaging posts and videos
Goodreads giveaways, Goodreads Reviews
This writing journey sometimes feels more like a marketing journey but I remain motivated to move forward!
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1 (2022)
The Sword A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called: from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church, imagines Mary Magdalene's trip to testify before the emperor (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
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