Founder of Lighthouse Literary Seeks to Help Authors Realize Dream of Becoming Published

Stephanie Cardel has a B.S. in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State with minors in English and Social Work. She owned a dance studio for ten years then left the dance world to homeschool her three children K-12. During those years, she also worked at homeschool tutorials teaching Psychology, World Literature, P.E., Health and Art.

As an author, Stephanie writes Middle Grade and Young Adult fiction. She had the privilege to work on four film crews (as P.A., Script Supervisor, and Continuity Supervisor) with writer, director, and actress Brittany Goodwin and even had a small part in two of those films, and was an extra in one. Her debut YA Christian Contemporary novel, This Isn’t Shakespeare, came out in August 2025 where it debuted at Number 5 on Amazon.com’s Hot New Releases in both the YA Religion & Spirituality and YA Religious Fiction categories, in addition to hitting Number 14 in Hot New Releases in the YA Clean and Wholesome Romance category. Stephanie also unveiled a companion Youth Bible Study/Devotional, Whatever Is True. 

She interned for a year, then worked as a literary agent at Golden Wheat Literary for two years. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to launch Lighthouse Literary where she considers it an honor to help writers realize their dreams of becoming published.

BuddyHollywood.com recently had the privilege of chatting with Stephanie about her dual callings in life.  

 

BuddyHollywood.com: Tell me a bit about your journey into the literary world. Any challenges along the road that surprised you? Any unexpected help along the path?

Stephanie Cardel: I wrote my first complete novel, a MG fantasy, when I was in high school. I continued to work on it throughout college, but then put writing aside as I raised and homeschooled my three children. When the youngest was in high school, I took it up again and realized it was terrible. I joined SCBWI and started learning the craft. Twelve years later, I snagged a literary agent through a contest with a secular version of This Isn’t Shakespeare.

BuddyHollywood.com: You are both an author and a literary agent. How do you balance those two very distinct careers?

Stephanie: The hardest part of being an author is the waiting. It was while my first book was on submission, with time on my hands, that I interned to be an agent so I could help others accomplish their dreams of being published. I’ve always been editorial. As I grow as a writer myself, I become more equipped to help my clients. Separate from agenting, I offer editing services too. Balance is difficult. There never seems to be enough time. I put faith and family first, clients second, and if there’s time left, I edit and write.

BuddyHollywood.com What advice have you received as an author that you would completely dismiss as an agent?

Stephanie: I’ve been taught to start with action. But action with no context is confusing. What I know now that they intended to say was, start with tension. The tension of what the main character wants versus why he can’t have it, even if it’s in a microcosm form in the opening, will engage readers and keep them turning pages.

BuddyHollywood.com: As an author, tell me a bit about your most recently published book. What was the biggest challenge you faced in getting it published? What is the biggest challenge you face in getting the book in front of readers?

Stephanie: My debut, This Isn’t Shakespeare, is a YA Christian Contemporary about a high school senior who wants to be a professional dancer. But when her dreams fall apart, she believes it’s a sign from God she should commit to her atheist boyfriend and make a new dream. She soon realizes God would never send her a sign that would cause her to sin, and she struggles to forgive herself for believing the lies of the world.

The biggest challenge in getting it published was finding a Christian publisher that was willing to allow the grit of worldly issues like premarital sex, alcohol and drug use, toxic/abusive relationships in a teen romance when their readers expect “safe” squeaky-clean books. I was blessed to find Mike Parker at WordCrafts Press who understood, like me, the need for main characters that make bad decisions, but find redemption even in the teen market.

Getting it in front of readers is a challenge because it’s such a small niche. My hope is that mothers of teens will read it and pass it to them, so they can go through the discussion questions together and have open conversations about what healthy relationships and boundaries look like, and the importance of rooting themselves in their identity in Christ instead of searching for their identity in a relationship or career path. That’s why I also wrote a non-fiction devotional to go along with it that shares biblical truth on those issues titled, Whatever is True.

BuddyHollywood.com: As an agent, what is the best advice you could give an aspiring author? What’s the number one thing an aspiring author could do to get an immediate rejection from you?

Stephanie: Read in your genre and learn your craft. The number one reason any agent or editor rejects is not connecting with the voice of the main character. Your writing may be lovely, but if there is no tension or emotional connection coming through it won’t give me that I don’t want to stop reading feeling.

BuddyHollywood.com: What is life like for you outside of your literary world?

Stephanie: I am a Christ follower, wife, mother, and Grammy. My life revolves around church and family, Bible study and babysitting.

The Seven Questions

What is your favorite sound?
Stephanie: Grandchildren giggles.

What makes you happy?
Stephanie: Time with family.

What makes you angry?
Stephanie: Child abuse/neglect

What is the secret of success?
Stephanie: Don’t stare up the stairs, just step up the step.

Other than Jesus, who would be your dream dinner guest?
Stephanie: Corrie Ten Boom

What is the epitaph on your own tombstone?
Stephanie: Beloved wife, mother and Grammy, resting in the arms of Jesus.

When you walk through those pearly gates, what is the first thing you want to hear God say to you? (other than “Well done”)
Stephanie: My beloved child, welcome into your rest.

Visit Stephanie Cardel online at https://www.stephaniecardel.com/ or https://www.lighthouseliterary.com/