Local Centralian author Jon Christian Minor has published his second book, The Profane, and we got an exclusive interview with him about it and his journey as an author!
Read to the end to see where you can find a copy of Jon’s latest book and how you can win a free copy.
What inspired you to become an author?
Since I was young, I’ve loved reading books. I pursued writing for many years before I was finally able to write my own book, Beyond Millennium, in 2011.
I started writing what is today, The Profane, immediately after writing my first book. It had a different title then with a different narrative, but many of the initial concepts. I put it down for 14 years and, in 2025, God suddenly gave me the inspiration to write the book in its entirety.
You’re considered a local author. What are your ties to Illinois?
I’ve lived most of my life in Centralia and Iuka here in southern Illinois.
What genres do you like to write about?
My two books are unique interpretations of Biblical prophecy and history blended with fictional elements. They have fantasy, science fiction, horror, and theological themes written throughout.
What genres do you like to read?
I like to read the Bible first and foremost. As for genres, I enjoy fantasy, science fiction, horror, and Christian literature.
What inspired your book, The Profane?
I had originally thought of the premise of a pre-Flood world in which a young warrior becomes a superhero type character and called it Angel Killer. I had researched a lot of mythology and was going to incorporate that into the book. I put those ideas down for 14 years and, out of the blue last year, God gave me the idea to write a book about the Nephilim.
In the Bible, before Noah’s flood, the sons of God came down and mated with the daughters of men and created the Nephilim. They were the giants of old. God gave me the idea that Satan was cast down to Earth during this time with the sons of God, and that he mated with the reptiles, which in turn created the dinosaurs. With that thought, I told God, “I will write it” [the book He wanted me to write]. And so I did. I believe He also gave me many other unique revelations about this time period as well, which I then incorporated into the book.
What was the writing process like?
For me, the writing process was continuously taking notes and putting ideas down. I carried my cell phone with me and when I received some inspiration, I immediately wrote it down in notes to myself so as not to lose important information. Because the book has many different themes running concurrently and woven together, I basically wrote the chapters as they came to me. I wrote some of the beginning, the middle, and the end before I knew exactly what the finished work would look like. Then I took what I had written and formed a cohesive story around it and filled in the rest.
I take millennia-old theological questions, science questions, and mythology questions, and build a narrative to answer all the mysteries of mankind’s past under the structure of the Bible’s scriptural authority. The book is a treasure trove of ancient mysteries being explained under one easy-to-understand story.
How did you go about publishing your book?
I self-published using Amazon’s self-publishing services: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. I did my own formatting and editing (there are editing mistakes in my first printed books that I have resolved in the most current available book on Amazon.) It’s hard to catch every mistake when you do it all yourself. I had purchased the rights to use the artwork on the cover and used KDP’s cover creator to make my own cover as well.
Will you be publishing more books in the future?
Beyond Millennium‘s failure to thrive drove me away from writing books for 14 years. We’ll see how The Profane goes. Lol.
How and where can we keep up with your books and journey as an author?
You can find me on Facebook. Or, if anyone would like to reach out to me, my email is: josiah640bc@proton.me
Want to try your luck at a free copy to own? Jon has graciously given us four copies of The Profane to give away to some lucky winners! Be one of the lucky four to get a copy by heading straight to our front desk and asking for one. The books are first come, first serve; one copy per family.
Don’t worry if you’re not one of the lucky winners. You can still purchase The Profane on Amazon or check it out with your library card from our collection. Be sure to read his other book, Beyond Millennium, as well!
Looking for more ways to support this local author? Leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads once you’re finished reading the book, and share it with your fellow readers!
If you are a local author who would like to be spotlit and/or have a giveaway at the library, contact Marketing and Programming Coordinator Charessa Sistek at csistek@centralia.lib.il.us.
