Pray for Your Authors

Some of these authors are people I have spoken or worked with. Many I have never met besides through their stories. All of us who are in the struggle to write good, clean fiction need prayer. Life is not easy, let alone the writing life. Please pray that we remain faithful, persevere with endurance, and write with excellence for His glory.

First, a number of author friends answer two questions:

1) Why do you write

2) What do you want to inspire, encourage, or create in your readers

1) Katharine Briggs, author of The Eternity Gate:

I write because story helps me see “real life” through a clearer lens. And it reminds me of how small I am, hahaha. Writing is hard. I cannot imagine being the true Creator of the universe.

I want to encourage people to cultivate healthy friendships.

2) Jenelle Schmidt, author of The Orb and the Airship:

Why do you write? Because God gave me a gift and a passion for story-telling. He also gave me a heart for encouraging and inspiring and teaching, and sometimes the most memorable lessons are the ones we get through stories.

What do you want to inspire, encourage, or create in your readers?

Not to steal from the 2015 Cinderella movie, but Courage and Kindness are near the top of the list. I want to inspire my readers to have courage, to be able to face their own dragons with a boldness they didn’t realize they had. I also want to inspire their imaginations and take them to other worlds where they can rest and explore for a while and come back to their daily lives feeling refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes their way.

3) Alice Ivinya, author of Crown of Glass:

I write because of all the voices in my head begging to be let out, and because I believe stories are powerful and shape the way we see the world. Stories can change the future.

I want to give my readers a desire to always fight for what is right and to never give up. I also hope to encourage compassion to those who are different.

4) Karen Grunst, author of The Fourth Scroll:

Why do you write?

To create relatable characters in fantasy stories that point to the ultimate story – God’s story.

What do you want to inspire, encourage, or create in your readers?

I want to encourage readers to find beauty, truth, and meaning in the sacred, in contrast to our world which increasingly looks to the profane.

5) Azalea Dabill, author of Falcon Heart:

Why do you write?

Because I have read so many books for young people and adults that are so dark it is discouraging and scary. I want to show people the light and beauty and strength of God that illumines this world. As darkness deepens, the light shows all the brighter.

I want to inspire readers to see our universe is full of hope despite the darkness, founded on the solid, loving care of God at the back of everything. I want to draw readers to search for Him through the high adventure I sub-create, and give them the alluring beauty of true heroes and heroines.

6) Jenn Rogers, author of The King’s Curse:

Why do you write?

Because I can! Seriously, I’m so blessed to have a supportive husband. I’ve always loved worldbuilding and writing stories about journeys to strange lands, and now that I’m all in with Christ, I love writing about Him! And in this world laden with unhealthy material, I want to offer something to read that might actually bring them to or deepen their faith in God, particularly teen girls who I feel are most vulnerable to the messages this world is bombarding them with.

I want readers, particularly teen girls, to know that there is a God who loves them. He has a plan for them and will bring good from the pain. They have value. They have a purpose. They are loved.

7) Emily Moore, author of The Last Dragonfly:

Story telling is a gift that God blessed me with, and its impossible for me to stop. Believe me, I’ve tried, but expression with words calls to me like a siren.

What do you want to inspire, encourage, and create in your readers?

I want young people to know that they are loved and their lives have a bigger purpose than just themselves. Also, to create bravery and grit and compassion for others in my readers.

8) A.R. Grimes, author of Wyldling Trials:

Why do you write?

Honestly, because it’s the only way to get the voices out of my head and tell the story that seems to be consuming my entire life. LOL

I feel called to write by God and to give Him glory in this way. I guess that means I see fantasy readers as my mission field. God gave me the desire, and – dare I say, talent? – to build worlds, create characters, and spin tales that are entertaining with the gospel message and Christian principles (hope) interwoven throughout.

I love reading fantasy, but so much of it lacks hope and promotes life paths that encourage self-righteousness and justification for violent and inappropriate actions in the MC. I wanted to write stories that show consequences of actions, how others can be hurt, while also showing reparations, healing, and Christian forgiveness. Through the faith journeys of my MCs – each of whom has a quite different path, starting at varying points – I want to show readers that, despite where they come from and what’s going on in their lives, that Christ is their savior who loves them, and no power can separate them from that love. On a lighter note, I also want to entertain them and make them laugh; perhaps inspire them to write their own stories.

9) Amy Earls, author of The King’s Feather:

I write because I always have and don’t want to stop. There are too many stories to be told; too many “what ifs?” to explore. Writing is a part of who God made me to be.

I want to encourage readers in their faith through fiction, that they are not alone in their difficulties. Words bring community.

10) DJ Edwardson, author of Grimbriar:

I write to shine a light where the night is darkest. I write because I seek to be an imitator of the Creator who made not only the stars, the trees, the birds, the oceans, the mountains, and the seasons, but also truth, goodness, beauty, courage, honesty, friendship, kindness, and love. I write because life is broken, but also beautiful, and people need to be reminded of the many gifts they’ve been given in this world, fallen though it may be.

I hope to give my readers a vision of the redemptive arc of human history, to tell them that life has meaning and purpose and that purpose ultimately comes from a life surrendered to God. I also hope to inspire wonder and awe at the simple things of life that our busyness and worldliness distract us from, to help people step outside their own lives for a moment and experience the grand, improbable, and infinitely precious adventure which life can be when seen in a storified way.

11) Kendra Ardnek, author of Pumpkin War,

Why do you write?

Because kidnapping people and forcing them to enact the stories in my head is considered illegal.

I strive to create stories that people can escape in for a while and reemerge more emotionally and spiritually equipped for the trials of life when they’re done.

12) Rachel Rossano, author of The Unseelie’s Wallflower:

I love writing. The act of storytelling and creating gives me joy. It also helps me work through things in a constructive way. Most of all, it gives me an opportunity to share and minister to others in a way that honors the Lord and brings Him glory.

What do you want to inspire, encourage, or create in your readers?

I desire to give my readers realistic hope and leave them feeling optimistic. Although not all my work is overtly Christian in message and content, I want to inspire them to see the Lord working in the everyday. I wish to encourage them to seek to love others even when loving is difficult, to understand others’ perspectives even when they disagree, and to learn to demonstrate care for others even when it is hard. Also, I would love for readers to seek a closer walk with God because of my work.

13) Pamela Hart, author of City of a Thousand Tears:

I’ve always loved reading, but lately I’ve found that a lot of books focus on darkness, sadness, and unhealthy relationships. I write to bring a little light to the darkness around me, to share stories of good triumphing over evil. To champion love, forgiveness, and healing over bitterness and hate.

I would like to encourage my readers that their lives matter. That there’s hope, no matter how dark it seems around them. And to point them to Jesus, who loves them more than they could ever possibly imagine.

Below is a list of authors I pray for. If you would like to see an author added here, please email me. Prayer is important, and if we pray to the God of the Bible Who holds all power, He says it avails much.

In alphabetical order:

RJ Anderson, No Ordinary Fairytale trilogy, Knife, Flight and Flame trilogy, Swift
Kendra Ardnek, Pumpkin War
Kathleen Baldwin*, The Stranje House series, A School for Unusual Girls
Wayne Thomas Batson, The Myridian Constellation series, Sword in the Stars, The Door Within Series, The Door Within, The Berinfell Prophecies (with Dennis Hopper) Curse of the Spider King
Lori Benton, A Flight of Arrows
Holly Bennett, The Bonemender, Bonemender’s Choice, Bonemender’s Oath
Lisa T Bergren, The River of Time series, Waterfall
Chuck Black, Wars of the Realm trilogy, Cloak of Light,
Nadine Brandes, Out of Time series, A Time to Die
C.J. Brightley, Lord of Dreams, The Wraith series, Erdemen Honor series – top notch
Katharine Briggs, Eternity Gate
Sigmund Brouwer, Merlin’s Immortals series, The Orphan King, standalone Clan
Morgan Busse, The Ravenwood Saga, Mark of the Raven, Follower of the Word series
Sharon Cameron, The Dark Unwinding
Sandy Cathcart, Shaman’s Fire
Melanie Cellier, The Four Kingdoms series, Return to the Four Kingdoms series
Patrick Carr, The Darkwater Saga trilogy, The Shock of Night, Staff and the Sword series
Serena Chase, Eyes of Everia series, The Ryn
Katie Clark, Enslaved series, Beguiled series, standalone The Rejected Princess
DM Cornish, The Monster Blood Tattoo series, Foundling
Azalea Dabill, Falcon Heart, The Falcon Chronicle series (I’m including myself because I need prayer too!)
Kenley Davidson, Traitor’s Masque The Andari Chronicles, Daragh
Rachel Dekker, The Choosing
Melanie Dickerson, The Peasant’s Dream, A Medieval Fairytale series
Cameron Dokey, Fairytale retellings, The Night Dance
Amy Earls, The King’s Feather
John Eldredge, Epic, DVD and book. Non-fiction about the power and purpose of story, and fantasy in particular
Lynette Eason, Moving Target
Sarah M. Eden, The Lady and the Highwayman
DJ Edwardson, Grimbriar, The Swordspeaker Saga
Brittany Ficther, An Unnatural Beanstalk, The Becoming Beauty trilogy,
E.J. Fisch, Ziva Payvan series, Dakiti, Ziva Payvan Legacy series
Lindsay A. Franklin, The Weaver Trilogy, The Story Peddler
Alton Gansky, Perry Sachs series, standalone The Prodigy
A. R. Grimes, Wyldling Trials
S. D. Grimm, Children of the Blood Moon series, Scarlet Moon
Karen Grunst, The Fourth Scroll
Karen Hancock, The Guardian King series, The Light of Eidon, standalone Arena
Pamela Hart, City of a Thousand Tears
Kristen Heitzman, The Rose Legacy
Sharon Hinck, The Sword of Lyric series, The Dancing Realms series, Hidden Current
Alice Ivinya, Crown of Glass
Candace Kade, Enhanced
Andrew Klavan, The Mindwar trilogy, Mindwar, If We Survive, The Homelanders (not fantasy, but excellent YA special forces type series), Another Kingdom series,
Ronie Kendig, The Droseran Saga, Brand of Light
Jaye L. Knight, The Ilyon Chronicles, Resistance
C. S. Lakin, The Gates of Heaven series, The Wolf of Tebron
Stephen Lawhead, The Song of Albion series, The Paradise War, King Raven trilogy, Hood, The Bright Empires series, The Skin Map
Tosca Lee*, Havah
Charlotte Lesemann, Title coming
Terri Luckey, Kayndo series, Kayndo: Ring of Death
Ashley Maker, Under the Trees
M. I. McAllister, The Mistmantle Chronicles, Urchin of the Riding Stars
Kathrese McKee, Mardan’s Mark series, Mardan’s Mark
Dennis McKiernan*, The Iron Tower trilogy onimbus, The Silver Call Duology, The Brega Path, Hel’s Crucible Duology*, Into the Forge, Into the Fire, standalone Dragondoom. (His later books I have looked at are not sexually appropriate)
Robin McKinley, The Blue Sword, Rose Daughter, Beauty, Deerskin* (caution, rape scene in Deerskin)
Tricia Mingerink, The Blades of Acktar series, Dare, Beyond the Tales series, Dagger’s Sleep: A Retelling of Sleeping Beauty
CJ Milacci, Recruit of Talionis, Fugitive of Talionis,
Emily Moore, The Last Dragonfly
Christina Ochs, The Desolate Empire series, Rise of the Storm
Jeffrey Overstreet, The Auralia Thread series, Auralia’s Colors
Carrie Stuart Parks, A Cry From The Dust
Frank Peretti, Illusion
Andrew Peterson, The Wingfeather Saga, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, non-fiction about writing and creating, Adorning the Dark
Donita K. Paul, Dragon Keepers Chronicles, DragonSpell
Karen Swallow Prior, Fierce Convictions: the Extraordinary Life of Hannah More – Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist
A. A. Radda, The Numin U’ia series, Numin U’ia
Paul Regnier, The Space Drifters series, The Iron Gauntlet
Jonathan Renshaw, The Wakening series, Dawn of Wonder
J F Rogers, Ariboslia series, Astray
Jonathan Rogers, the Wilderking trilogy, The Bark of the Bog Owl
Rachel Rossano, The Elven Healer’s Apprentice, The Novels of Rhynan series, Mercy
R. A. Salvatore*, The Dark Elf trilogy, Homeland
K.M. Shea, The Snow Queen, etc. – large series, SOME of the other Magiford series*
Jenelle Schmidt, The Orb and the Airship
S. D. Smith, The Green Ember series, The Green Ember
H.M. Snow, The Last Book of the Kings series, The Keeper House Unending (series may end unfinished with book two, The King’s Brother
Anne Elizabeth Stengl, AKA The Tales of Goldstone Wood series, Heartless, Dragonwitch
Anna Thayer, The Knight of Eldaran trilogy, The Traitor’s Heir
Jen Turano, To Write a Wrong
Kathy Tyers, Firebird trilogy, standalones Shivering World, One Mind’s Eye, Crystal Witness (revised version just released)
Gene Veith, The Soul of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe non-fiction
Chris Walley, The Lamb Among the Stars series, Shadow and Night, The Dark Foundations, The Infinite Day, this is a futuristic Christian Sci-fi/fantasy you don’t want to miss
KM Weiland, standalones Storming, Dreamlander, Wayfarer
Jill Williamson, The Blood of Kings trilogy, By Darkness Hid, The Kinsman Chronicles, King’s Folly
Precarious Yates, writing as Joanna Emerson, The Mapmaker’s Daughter