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.

Interview with the Author

If a reader were to ask you what author you are like, what would you answer?

I know this sounds like I’m “ducking the question,” but I try to be myself as a writer—I don’t attempt to emulate someone else’s style or storytelling. Two of my earliest decisions as an author were (1) to make sure I write the stories I want to write. Not everyone will enjoy my writing, so I figure I’d better make sure I do, and (2) never write anything I’d be embarrassed to have my mother read (which, if you knew my mother, is a vast range of material.)

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music?

This is a great question. Three things help me get into the right frame of mind to write. First, I have to clear away any nagging items on my “To Do” list. In addition to writing, I handle some back-office work and serve as an acquiring editor for my publisher, Elk Lake Publishing, Inc. I have a difficult time concentrating if there are open tasks related to those roles. Second, I either physically relocate to my local library or close the door to my office. This somehow signals my brain that I’m going to be working on creative endeavors. Third, I listen to flute instrumental music. When I first started writing, I experimented with a variety of background noises and music selections. For some reason, the tone and rhythm of the flute open my mind.

Said another way, to write effectively, I need to “clear the decks”, sequester myself, and trigger my brain to shift gears.

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

I never knew either of my mother’s or my father’s parents, so most of my stories feature a strong grandparent character. If I could travel back in time, I would love to meet and get to know them. Of course, this begs the question—which one?

Given a single option, I would travel to Sunday dinner with my maternal grandmother in the 1950s. Irena Remari emigrated to the United States from Italy and settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, raising seven children. After her offspring had grown up, the whole clan would gather each week for dinner. My brothers and my cousins claim her meals were the best food they’ve ever eaten. As a child, I listened to my mother regale me with stories of my grandmother chasing chickens around the backyard, refusing charity, and growing her own tomatoes. My father often commented on how much he loved his mother-in-law. Being there with her and my extended family for one day is a dream I wish would come true.

What is your favorite book and why?

There’s a little-known novel called Island, written by Charles Abbott and published in 1994. The book tells the story of Fred Fay, a World War II veteran and advertising executive on Madison Avenue. While I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, Fred’s life implodes, and he finds himself putting things back together in rural Maine. The novel appeals to me for three reasons. First, my favorite stories often involve characters moving to a new location to start over. Secondly, I’m fascinated with the time between 1945 and 1970. Third, the narrative explores what happens when a man reaches his lowest point and needs to climb out. Abbott tells a compelling story and deals with real issues that affect the human condition. This is one of the few books I’ve read multiple times.

What inspired you to write this book?

To answer this question, I first have to discuss my debut novel, Into the Room. In 2017, I was on a flight to visit Israel when, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, I had the thought, “I wonder what would happen if I were an alcoholic who had 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. To make a long story short, the result was Into the Room.

After finishing Into the Room, I was compelled to continue to telling Ben Cahill’s story and explore an alcoholic/addict during the first year of recovery. Discovering God and reestablishing a life are complicated and gut-wrenching processes. A Year in the Room was the result.

As it turns out, writing the books had a significant impact on my personal spiritual journey, although I did not begin telling these stories with that as an objective. Writing them has cleared out my heart and taught me to forgive. If they had never been published, they still would have changed my life.

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

First and above all, being with family is my favorite activity. Whether it’s traveling with my wife, Sunday dinner (we gather every week), being with my grandson, a birthday celebration, or fishing with my son, I cherish nothing more than our time together.

For leisure, I love fishing and going to Maine every June on a trip with my brothers, son, nephews, and assorted sons-in-law. My best buddy is an avid golfer, so I regularly join him on the course.

Beyond that, I’m blessed to be able to tell stories and speak to people about my faith. I love sharing what God has done in my life and am eager to discover what He plans to do next. While it’s sometimes an uncertain ride that is full of surprises, I do enjoy the journey.

What is one question you would like readers to ask you? What would be your answer?

I like it when readers ask what I want them to “take” from reading A Year in the Room. My answer is always the same.

First, I want readers to enjoy and be entertained by the story. While the subject matter is difficult and the book’s events troubling, I’ve tried to make the book entertaining by injecting colorful supporting characters, humor, and a romance subplot to break the tension. Second, I’m hoping that readers see a glimpse of themselves in the story, something they’d like to work on with God. Third, and at a more specific level, I would love it if the story assisted alcoholics/addicts or those affected by alcoholism/addiction to know there’s a way out and a path to redemption and healing.