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Genuine Faith
With Mercy’s Eye follows a gay actor several months after his husband is killed in an accident, who is left navigating grief, spiritual trauma, and identity while trying to hide his sexuality from his Christian producer. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Some stories take years to develop. Others arrive overnight. With Mercy’s Eyes was a bit of both. I knew years beforehand that God was directing me toward writing a Christian fiction book whose main character was gay. I had no idea how God was going to help me work with that particular combination of factors. All I knew was that He was pointing me toward writing this particular story. That nudge came quietly at first—a few times here and there. But eventually, God’s direction became louder and clearer, letting me know it was time to start writing.
As for the setup specifically, most of it I knew from the outset. I knew the main character’s name, his profession (actor), and where he lived. From the moment it was time to start writing, I also knew what the opening scene would be. There was no wondering or having to build it from the ground up. It was just already there, waiting for me to write it.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
As a writer, I have one personal baseline. I choose to show characters the same respect I would show a stranger. For me, that means I don’t write scenes involving personal hygiene that wouldn’t be performed in a public setting. It also means I don’t write sexually intimate moments or the lead-up to those moments 99.99% of the time. And it means there are situations where I don’t convey a character’s personal thoughts for more than a few moments at a time.
As a Christian, I look to God and the Bible for guidance on how to handle any given subject, theme, or incident.
This book shows God’s quiet working in our lives and how He can use even the most awful of experiences and circumstances to bring us to Himself. To honor that truth, I chose to portray both Christians and non-Christians in a genuine, true-to-life way. For the Christian characters, that means the faith contained in this book is an everyday faith that works into all aspects of life. It isn’t a faith that only shows up at the dinner table or when something bad happens. It’s always there, and it’s the foundation for the choices and actions of multiple characters in the book. For the non-Christian characters, that means no one is stereotyped or unnecessarily vilified. There is one character who behaves horribly throughout the entire book. That person has reasons for what they do, and there are consequences for their actions. But they aren’t the only character who makes mistakes or hurts others.
While I wrote With Mercy’s Eyes, there were several very personal moments that needed to be explored. Whenever that was the case, I kept the goal of the story in focus throughout that entire scene. I also chose not to elaborate on details that did not serve the overall goal. Many times, that also meant I had to stop mid-paragraph, or even mid-sentence, and hand my words over to God. Because I was not enough for that scene, but God was.
For example, there is a moment in this book where a character loses a child. First, I chose to leave a clear content warning at the start of the book that marks the chapter containing this moment. Second, I chose not to force the reader to remain in that moment for an extended period of time. Third, I chose to focus on elements that directly serve the scene and the book’s goal. There is a brief, but in no way detailed, description of the deceased child and how the parent responds to what they observe. These moments are not for shock value and are never treated as such.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This is a book about redemption, God’s love, and genuine faith. It’s also about taking a hard look at how we view both others and ourselves. Too many of my fellow Christians hold to an “us vs. them” attitude when it comes to people who live in same-sex relationships. There’s also a tendency to shy away from talking with someone who identifies as LGBTQ. So, With Mercy’s Eyes asks, “What if my fellow Christians could see one of ‘them’ in a different light?”
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
I have a novella about church hurt that will be published this December as part of a 3-novella collection titled Every Voice Heard. It follows a woman who works at a big-box retail store during the months directly following her departure from the church she’s attended her entire life. When she visits the last church on her list of prospects, she discovers her new employee is the pastor.
To get updates about my novella and the collection as a whole, stay tuned to my Instagram @dtill359 and sign up for my newsletter at dtpowellwrites.com.
Author Links: Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Six months after struggling actor Lane Harris lost his husband in a tragic accident, he lands a movie role guaranteed to put him on the Hollywood map. But one producer holds the power to shut down his shot at stardom—and she’s a Christian. If she finds out he’s gay, it’s over. Lane is careful not to say too much around her.
When an alcohol-fueled tryst with his co-star ends in humiliation, and his landlord hands him an eviction notice, Lane looks for someone to talk to. He finds a confidant in the Christian producer. After a night of too little sleep and not enough coffee, he lets slip his sexual orientation. Instead of a verbal flogging, the woman recounts recently losing her own husband.
The only Christians Lane knows condemn him upon learning he’s gay. But this one is different. She doesn’t embrace his sexuality, but instead of treating him with disdain, she offers compassion. Christians are supposed to hate people like him. So, why doesn’t she?
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With Mercy’s Eyes by D. T. Powell is an issue-facing Contemporary novel for adult churched Christians. It addresses homosexuality and same-sex attraction from a Biblical perspective without falling into the trap of the extreme responses we too often see from modern churches. It holds similar views to Jackie Hill Perry, Becket Cook, Rosaria Butterfield, and Christopher Yuan.
With Mercy’s Eyes
With Mercy’s Eyes is a raw and emotionally charged novel that follows Lane Harris, a gay actor navigating grief, spiritual trauma, and identity after the sudden death of his husband, Stephen. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood and faith communities, Lane’s journey unfolds through a string of gut-wrenching losses, unsettling confrontations, and tentative spiritual rediscovery. Powell doesn’t flinch from heavy themes—suicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, and faith-based rejection—and she handles them with a steady hand and an unwavering desire to show the heart of God without watering down the pain of real life.
Powell’s writing is lyrical and fierce and filled with dialogue that feels lifted straight from a real argument or heart-to-heart. There’s a deep, aching sadness in Lane’s life that never feels manipulative or preachy. His grief is suffocating, but it’s honest. The way Powell lets faith trickle in, not with neon lights or loud salvation moments, but through quiet, broken interactions, is powerful. I don’t often find Christian fiction that’s willing to sit with the tension and not rush to a clean ending, but this one does.
A few of the side characters, particularly the ones in conflict with the main cast, didn’t feel as fully developed as I hoped. And some of the redemptive turns happened a little faster than expected, especially after such heavy events. Still, maybe that’s intentional. Life has a way of offering hope at unexpected times. As for the spiritual themes, not every reader will interpret them the same way, but Powell approaches them with grace. She gives her characters room to question, to stumble, and to search, and that openness is something I appreciated.
With Mercy’s Eye is messy and brutally honest. But if you’ve ever struggled with feeling outside the reach of grace—especially within Christian circles—it’s a healing balm and a challenge. I would recommend With Mercy’s Eyes to readers who aren’t afraid to have their worldview shaken a bit. To those who’ve been hurt by the church. To those who want to believe in mercy again, even if it comes through tears.
Pages: 564 | ASIN : B0F2SQXC8M
LITERARY TITAN 