I am a nonfiction writer. That’s a fact. And my favorite nonfiction topic to write about is the Bible.

Yes, you heard that right. The Bible! It’s the greatest piece of nonfiction ever written, and it’s my privilege to write about it for kids.

In fact, one of my favorite themes to write about is to show kids how the Bible is truly based on fact. I like to use research to dispel age-old misunderstandings or wrong beliefs.

For example, for many years, critics of the Bible said that the story of King David was a myth or fairy tale. They said he was just a superhero kind of guy. They argued that David did not really exist. They backed up their arguments with the fact that nothing in history had ever been found to prove his existence.

But in 1993, less than 30 years ago, archaeologists working in Tel Dan in northern Israel dug up a stone tablet. There was writing on it. The writing talked about a king “of the house of David.” This archaeological evidence helped prove that King David was for real. Today many scholars agree that the Bible can be used as actual historical evidence for King David, his life, and the era he lived in.

Another fact in the Bible is based on the words Jesus said. Jesus himself claimed he is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. But how can we know what he said is truly a fact?

This is where it gets super fun as a nonfiction writer. For our research we get to use techniques that are implemented in a court of law, scientific methods that scientists use in a laboratory, logic used by archaeologists…and more!

For example, eyewitness accounts hold a lot of weight in court. We see in the Bible that his family thought he had lost his mind when Jesus started telling everyone he is God. His mother and his brothers came to the house where Jesus was speaking and tried (unsuccessfully) to take him home.

Yet after Jesus died and rose again, who became the leader of the Christian church in Jerusalem? His brother James! What would cause someone to change his mind so drastically? And not merely change his mind, but eventually be willing to die as a martyr for believing his brother Jesus is the Messiah, God in human skin?

James was an eyewitness to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. Eyewitness accounts are just one way we as nonfiction writers can use primary sources to back up the facts.

Being a nonfiction writer is exciting. Plus it can have great rewards. One of my most recent projects was The Bible Explorer’s Guide: 1000 Amazing Facts and Photos. It went on to be the co-winner of ECPA’s 2018 Young People’s Literature Award. And that’s a fact!

Nancy I. Sanders is a best-selling and award-winning children’s author of more than 100 books. CLICK HERE to visit her website.