What to Expect

Characters are why I write.

In particular, I am drawn to stories about normal people. My protagonists are not kings, or wealthy business moguls, they are garbage collectors, mothers, and wait-staff (or at least their fantasy equivalents…)

I always center religion in my books. All of my protagonists wrestle and engage with faith in some way. Not only do I simply love exploring religion, I think it adds a fun, extra dimension to characters that is often missing from popular fantasy. As I am a Christian myself, Christianity is usually the well I draw from, but I try my best not to simply regurgitate my own religious beliefs, but explore and honor other perspectives as well.

In particular, I love the tensions inherent in religion: how it can spur people on to greater acts of selflessness, bringing out the best in people — while at the same time it can be used as a powerful tool to control, manipulate, and destroy.

I know magic in fantasy can be a sensitive issue for Christian readers (I, too, was not allowed to read Harry Potter growing up. I understand). So this is for my fellow evangelicals out there:

There is magic in my books. However, I try to address magic in ways that align with historic, Christian perspectives on magic. Magic is essentially supernatural power, and that can come in many forms: demonic power, miraculous power from God, or possibly it is a part of the supernatural world that God created. So, if magic makes you nervous, I understand. I think you will find my depiction of magic thoughtful, and refreshing.

I work hard to keep gratuitous violence, sexuality, and vulgarity from my books, but the reality is that sometimes the story needs a level of mature content. So, I will clearly label all of my books, with a “Content Level” chart both on this site, and on the back cover of my books. That way, you know what you are getting into in advance.

Currently, my books are all young adult, without a lot of mature content (think a PG13 rating). However, I am working on an adult dark/grimdark fantasy series that will have more intense subject material, but whenever that comes out, I will label that clearly.