Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Stephens.
Hi Dawn , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I consider myself to be a Fruit Pot! Like the main character in my first award-winning picture book, The Little Pot, I am a vessel created by the Potter. While eagerly allowing my Creator to produce the fruit of the Spirit through me, I learned that helping others was what mattered. Now I help people discover how they can be fruit pots too, and grow love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Like Little Pot, I took a long time to discover my true identity and purpose. I tried to find my purpose as an educator, wife, mother, fundraising director, sales manager, business owner, and even a school principal. My efforts caused me to define herself by what I held. As God continued to empty and refill me, I learned to focus instead on what He would grow through me. Each of the books I wrote and illustrate teach about the loving relationship we can have with our Potter and with each other. The Little Pot helps readers discover that being filled and emptied is part of the Potter’s plan to make them into fruit-bearing vessels. Then, The Tea Pot tells the importance of serving and pouring into others. The Oil Lamp encourages us to overcome fear and shine the Potter’s light. Finally, The Small Jar teaches us that God is never finished using us and that our wounds have a purpose, too.
As the Potter’s vessel, I share how we can each discover our identity and purpose. Through children’s books, blogs, and as an inspirational speaker at women’s events, homeschooling co-ops, Christian schools, writing conferences, and churches, I serves the Potter and shine His light. I want to help others learn to pour out, serve, shine, and not grow weary or burn out. that’s why my books, keynote speeches, and presentations tell readers that God is never finished using them.
Additionally, the Potter continues to mold me while I leads a team of professional editors, illustrators, formatters, and marketers at EA Books Publishing. This allows me to help future authors share their unique stories.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Looking back, things always seem smoother than when you are in the center of the journey.
The road I traveled was my search for identity and purpose, which was rooted in the wrong thing. My struggles stemmed from the idea that I defined myself by what I held. I often thought I was headed toward my goal, but circumstances would lead me in a different direction. Until I learned that the road and the journey itself mattered more than the destination, I saw many things as obstacles and challenges. Now, I see them as fruit-bearing opportunities. As a vessel created to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, I’ve realized that those qualities can only be produced and grow through adversity, obstacles, and challenges.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dawn Stephens Books was formed so I could share the stories God produces through my life with others. As I speak at events, write books, illustrate, and publish materials, I began working with EA Books Publishing. EA Books is a Christian Publisher that is a part of Living Parables. They partner with authors, helping them self-publish the stories and parables that God is writing through their lives.
There are many self-publishing companies, and several that claim the title of “Christian.” However, many authors pay thousands of dollars and do not receive guidance filled with the fruit of the Spirit. EA Books is notable for providing a personal relationship with each author. The team I lead consists of professional editors, formatters, cover designers, illustrators, and marketers. They are eager to serve authors who have been called to write and share their God-given stories with the world.
If you are an author and want to partner with a Spirit-led team, then EA Books Publishing is the place.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People know I help others publish their stories, but they may not realize that I see myself first as a vessel, not a voice.
Long before leading authors, I focused on letting God shape who I was becoming, trusting that the fruit would speak louder than the brand. Most people see me as a confident publisher and visionary leader—but they may not know that my work was born out of seasons of deep listening and obedience, not ambition. I never set out to build a platform; I said yes to small assignments, one story at a time, and the publishing work grew from faithfulness rather than strategy. At my core, I’m a storyteller and picture-book dreamer who thinks in metaphors, parables, and visuals. Publishing wasn’t just a business decision; it was the most practical way to steward my imagination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dawnstephensbooks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawnstephensbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DawnStephensBooks/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawnstephens/
- Twitter: https://x.com/dawnstephens
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DawnStephensBooks
- Other: https://eabookspublishing.com/
