Interview with Richard Littledale

Author of What Happened Next? 

Have you ever thought about what it might be like to have been present at the feeding of the 5,000? How might you have felt if you had seen the temple curtain torn in two? 

In his new devotional book, Richard Littledale takes 52 well-known Bible stories and imagines what might have happened next. Written from the perspectives of eyewitnesses, each story in What Happened Next? helps us see how interactions with God changed the people involved.   

Richard, can you tell us a little about yourself? 

I spent all my working life as a Baptist Minister, and I now live in North Wales, where I devote my time to writing, broadcasting, podcasting and my garden! 

Why did you decide to write What Happened Next?  

I became a Christian in my teens, and one of my youth leaders taught me a great love for Bible stories.  When you combine that love with a natural curiosity, a book like What Happened Next?’ was the inevitable consequence. 

Who have you written this book for?  

The book is written for anyone who has ever heard a Bible story and found themselves wondering “yes – but what happened next”?  

There are lots of devotional books available, what makes your book different? 

With the possible exception of David Kossof of old, I have never come across Bible stories reimagined in quite this way.  By firing the imagination about how you read the story, it also fires your imagination about what you do with the story afterwards.  

You imagine the stories of people on the edge of biblical events. Why do you think that the use of imagination in this way is an effective and even valid approach? 

Over the centuries the Christian church has had a love-hate relationship with the imagination – sometimes embracing it as a friend, and other times rejecting it as an upstart.  We live in a world where creativity and imagination are available just a mouse-click away, and I don’t want the church to miss out.  

How do you go about retelling a story in this imaginative way? 

Firstly, I read the story itself lots of times.  Then I try to imagine the sights, sounds and smells associated with it.  After that, I try to use those same senses to stimulate the reader as they read the re-telling.  All of this is bathed in prayer, so that it remains an exercise in serving the Word and never becomes one of supplanting it.  

Is there a particular story that surprised you or had a big impact on you when using this approach?  

One of the more surprising ones was the tale of the mending of the temple curtain after it had been ripped in two at the moment of the crucifixion.  It served as a reminder to me of the enormous impact which Jesus can have on every life. 

What was the most challenging element of writing this book?  

To me the greatest challenge was to make clear to the reader in the opening chapters that none of these retellings are to be treated as inspired Scripture.  Rather, they are stories inspired by Scripture, and hopefully action is inspired by it too.  

And what was the most rewarding element of writing this book?  

The greatest reward was fun!  I’m not sure I have ever had as much fun writing a book as I did this one.  Writing each one of the 52 stories made me fall in love with Scripture all over again!  

What do you hope readers will most get out of reading this book? 

Strange to say, I shall be delighted if readers disagree with me! If this book sends people back to Scripture wondering for themselves how these stories impacted the lives of those within them, then my work is done.  

In one sentence, how would you describe What Happened Next?  

What Happened Next? is an immersive engagement with Scripture, designed to fire the imagination and spur the reader to action.  

Is there anything we can pray for you? 

Please pray for me that my own imagination is constantly fired as I ask God the question ‘what happens next’?