writing fantasy

Writing Fantasy Fiction as a Christian

February 3, 2017 By Author John Leave a Comment

Writing Fantasy Fiction Informed by the Fall and Grace

From My Journal

What does writing fantasy fiction have to do with a musing from my journal? Well, the musing has to do with where God’s love and justice meet. And in an artful way God’s love and justice are essential fibers woven into the tapestry of my fantasy fiction stories. Let me share the musing from my journal, and then I will comment on writing fantasy fiction as a Christian author (good article).

A Musing from My Journal

Where Love and Justice Meet

God is love, but that does not mean He is a doormat to be walked on. God is love, but He is also holy and just. Does a truly loving parent just let their children do whatever they want? No, a truly loving parent appropriately disciplines the child for the child’s good. A good parent is not a pushover. God is not a pushover. The following passage from Hosea 4:1-3 gives pause for contemplating where we are as a land. Pretty poignant!

“For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: ‘There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed. Therefore the land will mourn; and everyone who dwells there will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea will be taken away.’”

Sounds like it could be an indictment of America today.

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A Fantasy Novel

July 8, 2016 By Author John Leave a Comment

Writing Word of Honor

Writing Word of Honor, an epic fantasy novel, was a three year labor of love. Well, three years plus when you consider the initial writing was three years, and then there was the input of a writer’s group—another year—and several rewrites. Once “ready”…the book was not yet ready! I sent it off to a professional editor—corrections and more rewriting. Then the book had to be proofed. Ah! Publication!

I believe it was the late 1980s when I started writing Word of Honor. It was published a year or two ago. I worked on the book off-and-on over a period of around thirty years. I wrote numerous other books while taking breaks from that one.

A Brief Synopsis

The prophecies were made, but the impossibility of Baruch keeping his word of honor is becoming apparent to the Resistance. After all, the realm is under siege. The heir to the throne is in exile in another realm, place unknown. And the impossible task of finding the heir rests on Kandr, oh, and Xzwindra, a young woman he neither liked nor trusted.

Meet the Cast

Kandr and Xzwindra are the main characters. Xvardris, the Pagyn ambassador, is the antagonist. Other significant cast members are the vile Prince Zandirxn, unsuspecting Patrexna, spy master Major Targndal, Captain Favel, the enigmatic Grey Wolf, Pegran the crusty prospector, Zanzxra the Black Assassin, the curious F.F. Bog Frog, and the evil priestess Wazrxna, among others.

Does the cast sound a bit strange with a medieval fantasy flavor, while some of the names sound a bit western? Xzwendaria is a medieval fantasy realm rather like old England in a New England geographical setting. When you travel west beyond the boundaries of the realm it is like going from old England to a wild sort of medieval western flavored land. It works. It is rather like what it would have been for someone leaving Boston in the 1800’s and heading west to the plains and beyond.

A Tapestry of Fantasy Adventure

Word of Honor is a tapestry of fantasy adventure with surprising twists and turns. And as with all of my stories my Christian worldview is delicately woven into its fabric.

It was fascinating writing the book and seeing where it took me, and I am confident you will find it a fascinating read as well. It is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Give it a read, give me your feedback, and please write a review.