Episode Title:

The Smart Publishing Impact Series – Episode 67: Author Interview with Joshua Smith

Episode Summary:

What happens when you stop trying to control everything—and let God take the throne?

In Episode 67, Renée Lautermilch, Chief Editor at Smart Publishing, sits down with publishing partner Joshua Smith to discuss his upcoming book, When He Reigns, He Rains: Learning to Let God Take the Throne in Your Life.

Joshua shares the remarkable story behind his book—from waking up at 2:00 a.m. with a title and outline he believes God gave him, to walking through addiction, divorce, shame, forgiveness, and ultimately restoration. His testimony is one of surrender, healing, and discovering that God's plans are often greater than our own.

The conversation also explores the publishing journey itself, why vulnerability makes a message more powerful, and how writing a book became both a personal milestone and a way to encourage others who may be facing similar struggles.

Whether you're an aspiring author, a person of faith, or someone searching for hope in the middle of life's hardest seasons, this episode is a reminder that no story is beyond redemption.

What You’ll Hear:

• The extraordinary 2:00 a.m. moment that sparked Joshua's book

• How surrendering control transformed his life and faith

• Why vulnerability creates stronger connections with readers

• The role of storytelling in sharing a powerful testimony

• How journaling and reflecting on your journey can strengthen your faith

• What surprised Joshua most about becoming an author

• Why he chose to work with a publisher instead of self-publishing

• The healing that came through writing and revisiting difficult seasons

• How Strongman competitions unexpectedly reinforced lessons about perseverance and forgiveness

• Joshua's hope of using his book to encourage people in recovery and deepen others' relationship with God

Quote to Remember:“When you let God take control, He can take your life further than you ever could on your own.”

Guest Featured in This Episode:

Joshua Smith — entrepreneur, Strongman competitor, and author of When He Reigns, He Rains: Learning to Let God Take the Throne in Your Life

Mentioned in This Episode:

When He Reigns, He Rains (releasing July 21)

Connect with Joshua - whenhereignsherains.com

smartpublishingservices.com – publishing education and author support

Connect with Renée Lautermilch on Facebook – she's the only one in the world

Connect with Jonathan Lautermilch on Facebook and LinkedIn

Coming Next:

More conversations with Smart Publishing partners as they share the stories behind their books, the lessons they learned through the publishing process, and the impact they hope to make with their message.