speculative fiction

Christmas Book Giveaway – Of the Persecuted

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This year, I’ve stumbled across a number of Christian YA speculative fiction authors whose books are now among my favorites. To share these awesome books and celebrate Christmas, I’ll be giving away a new book each week until Christmas.

This week, I’m giving away a copy of Angie Brashear’s debut novel Of the Persecuted. This book’s title and cover art captured my attention the first time I saw it. Isn’t it stunning?

Of the Persecuted

 Back Cover Copy (from Amazon):
Laila Pennedy awaits death by hanging. For the Rendow Clan rules the Woodlands Region, aiming to slaughter the Faithful. And she deserves to die. But Lars Landre, the man destined to lead the Faithful out of persecution, has other plans hidden behind his rare and mysterious blue eyes. Rescue.

Following the daring escape, Laila seeks the path of a warrior and vows revenge against the Rendow Clan. She embarks on a dangerous journey with Lars, one in which they endeavor to reach the promised safety of a magical village, to train for battle, and to ultimately assure freedom for those with faith in the Maker.

Clashes of weapons and souls. Brutal loss of lives. Unrequited love. How in all the Woodlands will Laila survive?

My Recommendation

The characters and the story world in this book are unique. The first sentence grabbed me, and I couldn’t put the book down after that. While this is an indie published book, I didn’t find any editing issues. If I hadn’t known that this was an indie book, I wouldn’t have guessed it from the quality of the writing. Definitely a book to add to the shelf of favorites!

Personally, I go out of my way to support indie authors because I know they don’t have a publishing house behind them. What about you? When buying books, does it matter to you if they are indie or traditionally published?

Follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter to win an ebook or paperback copy of Of the Persecuted:

A Rafflecopter giveaway

Why I Write Speculative Fiction

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The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is my favorite book in the Chronicles of Narnia. I always loved the thrill of the sea voyage. I could feel the sea breeze on my face, hear the creaking of the ship’s timbers, and touch the cold spray on my face. I was always sad when it ended and Edmund and Lucy had to leave Narnia for the last time.

But Aslan tells them that he is in there world too. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I knew Aslan’s other name. I knew C.S. Lewis referred to Jesus and I did know Jesus in our world.

As I began writing and telling my own stories, I realized Lewis was giving his reason for writing the entire Chronicles of Narnia in that quote. He hoped that his readers would get to know Christ a little in Narnia so that they could know Him better in their own lives.

This has become my goal as a writer. Like Lewis, I like to write speculative fiction, especially fantasy. Even if my fantasy doesn’t directly reference God or Christ, it still shows Christian morals and decision, much the same way that J.R.R. Tolkien showed Christ throughout The Lord of the Rings.

But my goal is always the same. I might be only showing a tiny aspect of Christ, a fragment of all the glories that He is, but my prayer is that God will use my small efforts to help readers know Him a little better.

Fantasy gives me the freedom to approach topics from different angles, much in the way that Lewis gave us different angles to Christ through Aslan. Historical fiction can only go so far. Fantasy can make us think about our faith differently.

What genre do you write? What is your goal in writing it?