Stories that Inspire - Deanna Fugett

Anne, Laura, Mary, Sarah, Jo and Charlotte. 

These girls helped shape who I am as a person today. They all had strengths and weaknesses. They weren’t perfect. They struggled, they persisted and they survived.

Jo from Little Women showed me how much being the oldest meant. I had a younger sister, and much like Jo I wanted to coddle and protect her. She also showed me that despite the odds stacked against me, if being a writer is what you want then that’s what you should go after. “I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” – Jo March from Little Women. 

Laura from The Little House on the Prairie series taught me even when life gives you potatoes, you can make the best out of it. With a tough spirit and grit you can overcome hardship and keep moving forward in life. She knew how to smile and laugh, but she also knew how to stand up for herself and her sisters. “My goodness!” Mary said. “I couldn’t be as mean as that Nellie Oleson.”
               Laura thought: “I could. I could be meaner to her than she is to us, if Ma and Pa would let me.” – Laura Ingalls from On the Banks of Plum Creek (Little House on the Prairie Series)

Sara from The Little Princess taught me the beauty of magic. When bad things happen, there is magic in hope and staying positive. Keep on looking for what you’re searching for. You just might find it. “There is nothing so nice as supposing. It’s almost like being a fairy. If you suppose anything hard enough it seems as if it were real.” – Sara from The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

Mary from the Secret Garden taught me that even if you are cursed with an unpleasant disposition or circumstances, you can rise above them and grow into a new and better person. You can impact the world around you even with the small things, like friendship and flowers. “It’s so beautiful!” she said, a little breathless with her speed. “You never saw anything so beautiful! It has come! I thought it had come that other morning, but it was only coming. It is here now! It has come, the Spring! Dickon says so!”  – Mary from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. 

Charlotte from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle taught me that sometimes, when you’re faced with decisions of morality, you can struggle through it only to find that making the right decision isn’t so hard, after all. She also showed me that things may not always be as they seem. You have to see beyond the veneer and look deeper. “I certainly wanted to be a lady. It was not just my ambition; it was my destiny. I embraced it wholly, gladly with not an untoward thought of anything else.” – Charlotte from The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi.

And lastly, my Anne-girl. Oh Anne. You are my favorite and I cherish each and every memory of you. Your spunk. Your passion. Your poet-like soul. The beauty that encircled each and every page of your life. What you made out of life was so amazing. I wished I could be you. I wished I could encompass everything there is about Anne. But I can’t. She is far too amazing. “But really, Marilla, one can’t stay sad very long in such an interesting world, can one?” –Anne from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. 

Now, this guy, he sure isn’t a girl. But I just had to throw him in the mix. Couldn’t help myself. Who can deny what a powerful impact Peter Pan had on them as a kid? What kid doesn’t wish at some point that they wouldn’t grow up. What kid wouldn’t love to be the king of his or her own tribe of lost boys/girls? What child didn’t crave their own personal faerie? To quote one of my favorite lines that I actually use on my emails: “To live will be an awfully big adventure.” – Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.   

When you’re in the depths of despair, just remember to check in on these ladies (and Peter, of course!) once in a while. They might just lift your spirits and help you to soar above the clouds. 

Interview with Author Amy Brock McNew. Her book REBIRTH is released this week. Come celebrate with us!

Today on our blog we are blessed to be a part of Amy Brock McNew's book tour! YES! Go Amy! We are so excited to have you as a guest on our blog today. 

Amy has her debut novel Rebirth out in a few short days. I pre-ordered mine and it's coming on Friday. You should order yours too! 

Purchase Links: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Sm5pNZ  Barnes &Noble: http://bit.ly/1So45GY 

iBooks: http://apple.co/1So4l8S   Kobo: http://bit.ly/213uz67             

We are celebrating this exciting moment with her. Come and listen as we had the pleasure of an interview with her.

In your book, Rebirth, which one is your favorite character and why?

I have a couple. But Ryland’s at the top of the list. He’s loosely based, ok maybe not so loosely, on my husband. Shhh! He’s strong, in every way not just physical. He’s honest and loyal. Very protective but still respects Liz’s strengths. And he evens her out and calms her down like no one else can. Of course, he can also rile her up the most!

Which character was the most fun to write?

Markus. He’s a demon, but he’s…intriguing. Not exactly what you’d expect from a minion of Hell.

Which character was the hardest to write?

Liz. I had to flay myself open and look inside too much.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been a writer since I first learned to read. There never was a moment of realization. It was just a part of me.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Rebirth took a year for 1st draft, then another 6 months in editing. It was a mess. Reconciliation, book 2, only took 4 months to write.  

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Up at 6 or 7, take care of stuff around the house and then hit the laptop around 9 or so. I write for anywhere from 4-10 hours out of the day. Depends on if I’m staring down the barrel of a deadline or if I’m really in a groove. Usually don’t get in bed until 2 or 3 because ideas tend to hit me late at night. And they won’t. Go. Away.

Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

Not that I can think of. Just that I have a hard time writing when it’s quiet. I don’t care for silence.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

My first book was actually a children’s book called “Monster in my Window”. I wrote it when my sons were little, so I was about 22/23. It’s sitting in a Rubbermaid tub out in the shed. Who knows, maybe I’ll pull it out and dust it off one of these days.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I read. Constantly. I like to clean because I’m a neat freak. I love to crochet. That usually throws people off. I like to mess around on the heavy bag and train. And I love to go to concerts. I volunteer with a group called A1M that puts on some really awesome Christian rock and metal shows, which I adore, and that can take a lot of time in the summer. Which I am more than cool with.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

How much more to it there is than writing. The writing is only a small part of the adventure. But I’m loving the ride.

“With crisp writing, relentless action, and breathless stakes, Amy Brock McNew's Rebirth will grab readers from the first page and keep them riveted until the last. Liz Brantley is sure to claim a spot on the list of favorite kick-butt heroines right alongside Black Widow and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fans of gritty urban fantasy won't want to miss this ride!”

—Evangeline Denmark, author of Curio

“Amy is a terrifically capable novelist. Her prose is a joy to read. And this character and story world are brilliant fun.”

—Jeff Gerke, author of The Irresistible Novel

“Rebirth was an action-packed story all the way to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

—Sarah Armstrong-Garner, author of Sinking

“Rebirth cuts deep to the heart. It plunges you into a heart-wrenching story and makes you feel the intensity and agony the characters feel. Amy Brock McNew’s descriptive wording leaves you breathless. Beauty at every turn of the page. The passion is prevalent throughout every scene, and the romantic elements warm your soul and make you long for more.”

—Deanna Fugett, author of Ending Fear 

CHECK OUT THESE other Blogs who are also a part of the Tour Schedule:

Monday, May 16th: Zachary Totah (www.ZacharyTotah.com) Interview with the Characters of Rebirth

Tuesday, May 17th: Michele Israel Harper (www.MicheleIsraelHarper.com) Book Review

Wednesday, May 18th: Jennette Mbewe (www.jlmbewe.com) Unique Author Interview

Thursday, May 19th: Ralene Burke (www.RaleneBurke.com) Fun Mix Launch Post Plus Review

Friday, May 20th: Laurie Lucking (www.landsuncharted.com) Unique Author Interview

Friday, May 20th: H.A. Titus (www.hatitus.com) Unique Author Interview

Saturday, May 21st: Liz Carr (www.pennymindingmom.com) Book Review

Sunday, May 22nd: Robin Pack (www.snippetsoffaith.com) Book Review

Monday, May 23rd: Deanna Fugett (www.quillsandinkblotts.blogspot.com) Unique Author Interview

Monday, May 23rd: Janeen Ippolito (www.janeenippolito.com) Book Review

Tuesday, May 24th: Amy Brock McNew (www.AmyBrockMcNew.com) Release Day Feature!

Wednesday, May 25th: Marie-Theres Werner (www.thinkjournalisticblog.wordpress.com) Book Review

Thursday, May 26th: Gretchen E. K. Engel at Scriblerians (www.thescriblerians.wordpress.com) (Facebook Party Day!) Unique Author Interview, focusing on Amy's early days

Friday, May 27th: Kristen Stieffel at New Authors Fellowship (www.newauthors.wordpress.com) Post-Launch Feature

Friday, May 27th: Avily Jerome (www.AvilyJerome.com) Book Review Plus

MEDIA KIT

Rebirth: Book One of the Reluctant Warrior Chronicles

Amy Brock McNew doesn’t just write speculative fiction, she lives and breathes it. 

Exploring the strange, the supernatural, and the wonderfully weird, Amy pours her guts onto the pages she writes, honestly and brutally revealing herself in the process. 

Nothing is off limits. Her favorite question is “what  if?” and she believes fiction can be truer than our sheltered and controlled realities. Visit AmyBrockMcNew.com to learn more about this intriguing author.              

              

Follow Amy on Social Media:

Website: http://amybrockmcnew.com/                        

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyBrockMcNewAuthor                 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyBrockMcNew                    

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26955721-amy-mcnew 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AmyBrockMcNew/               

Rebirth:Book One of the Reluctant Warrior Chonicles               

Amy Brock  McNew             

              

Release Date: May 24, 2016   

Paperback: $16.99, eBook: $4.99 (Pre-order Price of $2.99)

Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing, LLC      

Genre: Urban  Fantasy, ISBN:   978-1-943788-06-4 

Lucy Nel got a CONTRACT with Pelican!

  

We are proud to announce our own Lucy Nel has received a publishing contract with Pelican Book Group! 

Make sure you keep your eyes open for her Christmas themed novella The Widow's Captive in the near future.

We are beyond excited for Lucy as she takes this next step in her writing career. We have read her book, and you are definitely going to want to get your hands on it!

As another writer quickly pointed out to Lucy, she can now take the 'aspiring' out of her 'aspiring inspirational author' title. 

 http://pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/ 

Here she is signing her contract!!!! 

Stories that impacted my life

by Lucy

It’s my turn to share with you which stories have impacted my life. You can look up Robin’s here and Jebraun’s here.

I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book – J.K. Rowling

Like every author or aspiring author will tell you, I like to read. And though I have a list of titles that have touched me on this journey called life, I’ve decided to narrow it down to two books only. 

I hope I temp you to read them if you haven’t already. *Wink*

            

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

         
I’ve reread this book multiple times. I love it.

If you’re not familiar with the plot, it’s a skillful retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer. The book of Hosea’s purpose is to show the relationship between God and the people of Israel. God tells Hosea, a righteous man, to marry Gomer, a prostitute, and she’s not a very lovable person.

In Redeeming Love, God tells farmer Michael Hosea to marry Angel. Angel is a hardened, unlovable wreck. Sold into prostitution as a child, she's broken goods. She keeps hurting Michael, and God continues to tell Michael to take her back and love her.

This story is about GRACE and PATIENCE. Not only grace received from God, but also to show grace to our fellow man, to be gracious to their flaws and struggles as they plod along in this sometimes difficult road we call life. To be patient with them as they stumble every so often. It reminds me about the work God is doing in every person ‘behind the scene’.

Redeeming Love is about LOVE. Real and pure LOVE. It shows how even the most unlovable persons’ defenses crumble in the face of love.

Picture of Redeeming Love :https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Redeeming_Love.html?id=I7eMlFZ-drcC&source=kp_cover&redir_esc=y

The Carpenter's Daughter by Jennifer Rodewald

"Well. She isn't very pretty."
“Nobody would look pretty in that getup ... Butch, I’m telling you. She’s just butch.” – The Carpenter’s Daughter


I’ve always struggled with insecurities and this book touched a special spot in my heart.

The story tackles a very intimate question. WHO AM I? You meet Sarah Sharpe, and embark with her on her journey of SELF-WORTH and her search for this answer to the question which haunts her.

There are few acceptable molds our current society gives us. Molds that seems to be impossible for the everyday person to fit into. If you don’t fit, you feel average, inadequate, unaccepted and flawed.

You try to gain approval and forget that your worth will never and should never be determined by a fellow flawed human being. The Carpenter’s Daughter is about Sarah fitting to God’s mold, a reminder that God is interested in the heart and not the exterior.
The Carpenter's Daughter

Do you have stories that have left their imprint on your soul? We would love to hear about it!

Until next time

Be Blessed

~Lucy

Happy 2nd book birthday to Meghan Gorecki and her debut novel, God’s Will

God’s Will

Kathy Andrews is good at goodbyes. Her mother is sent to a sanatorium, her sister, left behind in Chicago, and her father, forced to roam looking for work. So she holds close to the only one she has left, her brother Danny. When the two go to live with the Marshalls in the sleepy town of Brighton, she doesn't let anyone past hello. Elliott Russell frowns at his aunt and uncle's generosity--even though he and his sister are on the receiving end. He frowns, too, at the uppity city girl with a chip on her shoulder whom he can't get out of his head. When a tragedy rips apart what tenuous existence they manage to forge, will they find the sweetest place to be is in God's will--or will they turn their backs on faith that fails to protect against pain?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Meghan M. Gorecki is an author of inspirational fiction, a blogger, book reviewer and voracious reader. Taking her life a day at a time as God leads, she is pursuing a career in the publishing industry as an editor in training and as a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. A hopeless romantic, history and Marvel nut, she's also a redhead (thanks to a box), who knows way too much trivia about movie musicals and the Civil War.

The paperback is on sale from May 11^th thru June 1^st for $9.99!

http://bit.ly/1W8YCcY

The Kindle version is on sale for $.99 on May 29^th

http://bit.ly/1ZfqlXD

You can connect with Meghan at the following:

Website , Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest

4 Fictional Stories: How God Used Them To Teach Me About Himself

We're taking on The Power of a Story this month by choosing a few of those stories which have impacted each of us. Jebraun described hers last week.

When I began to compile a list of the stories that have taught me in the most profound ways, I noticed an interesting trend. Though they are wildly different, evenly split between male and female authors, spanning 131 years between the oldest and most recently published, and each from a different genre, they all did one important thing for me. Whether intentional or not, every one of them elevated my view of God.

1. 1984 by George Orwell. Published in 1949. Political Fiction.

God used this story to show me the beauty of his sovereignty.

I had just joined a new church when I read this book. My new pastor was seriously challenging my notions of God's sovereignty by bringing to light things I'd never considered before and exposing me to scripture I knew, but didn't fully understand.

It's a hard thing to grapple with: Is God really sovereign over everything? Like...even my choices??

I absolutely despised Big Brother, The Party, and the notion of an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful entity watching you, coercing you, accusing you, limiting you, taking away your choices. It forced me to ask myself some difficult questions.

Is The Party just a very warped metaphor for Christianity?

Does orthodoxy really mean unthinking?

Have we been cheated out of something we have a right to? Control over our destiny? The legitimacy of our human emotions?

SPOILER ALERT: When Winston is..."converted," shall we say, that event which should be the pinnacle of the Christian life, it is not a happy ending for him. It is a shock. The kind that makes you want to throw the book across the room and weep for humanity.

While I was reading this mind-bending fiction, my new pastor was simultaneously pointing me to scriptures like:

Romans 9:16-18 "So then [salvation] depends not on human will or exertion, but on God... He has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he will."

Wait...that sounds an awful lot like Big Brother, doesn't it?

Ephesians 1:4 "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world..."

But...what about our autonomy? Our choice? Our control?

Deuteronomy 31:21 "For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."

"No!" my self-loving, self-centered, self-important soul cried out. "I am not Winston! You do not know how my story ends!" My sinful heart wanted to reject that kind of sovereignty.

Friends, the Lord worked on me during that time. I'll never, ever forget how he brushed the scales from my eyes, and used that incredible work of fiction, together with the teaching of my pastor, to show me his glory, his mercy, his boundless love for his people, and above all, the beauty of his all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful sovereignty.

Just before Winston gives in, disappointing us readers who rooted for him to resist Big Brother, he has a moment of clarity. He says, "To die hating them, that was freedom." I want to cry, reading that line today (pg. 281 in the Signet Classics Edition) because I know the truth. To die hating the Lord and his church is to perish, eternally separated from the God who pursued you. That is Hell! That is the opposite of freedom. That's why he pursues you! It isn't to coerce you, abuse you, scare you, or make you do anything you don't want to do. Christians aren't put in little rooms, bludgeoned intellectually, and fed propaganda until they go brain dead and give in.

In God's mercy, he does the work in our heart that makes us want his saving grace. We delight in his precepts. We desire his presence. We request a renewed mind. We long to be transformed to his image. 

What God is this? What marvelous, generous, sovereign-over-every-single-thing God is this, who, "being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." Ephesians 2:4-8

Have any sweeter words ever been written? Sorry, George. Your story is powerful, but Jesus wins.


2. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Published in 1985. Speculative, Women's Lit.
God used this story to show me the depravity of humans, and the corresponding depth of his mercy.

I wanted to hate this book. I began the story with my hackles raised, ready pick a fight, and fully prepared to slam the book shut and stew for days. But I found myself instead under Margaret Atwood's brilliantly written spell, aching for Offred, needing to know how her story would end.

It wasn't necessary, as the introduction led me to believe, that a reader be a feminist, or even have feminist leanings, to fully get the horror of Offred's life. It was enough that I am a woman. That I am a human being.

It would have been easy for me to dismiss this story if it was simply an indictment of God or Christianity. Surely that's what most readers are left with. Maybe that was Atwood's intention. I don't know. But I saw a more complex theme emerge halfway through the book, when Offred stumbles through the Lord's Prayer, struggling to make sense of why and how she ended up in this place. She prays, "I don't believe for an instant that what's going on out there is what you want." 

Bravo, Offred. 

God's word is never wrong, though it's often twisted and warped. History has shown us over and over again how power in the hands of men (and women), whether it's put there by the church or the state, corrupts. Atwood's story shows us the pain people are capable of inflicting--have inflicted--justifiably, they think, on their fellow human beings, given enough power. And while this story points the finger at those who would perpetrate evil in the name of a God they misunderstand, it's clear that the root of the evil is in man, not God.

Every dark period of church history has ended when the dawn of good theology has risen to take its place. We have seen, again and again, how God is merciful to allow civilization to right itself after a time.

Praise God for his mercy.


3. The Giver by Lois Lowry. Published in 1993. Young Adult Lit, Dystopian.

God used this story to show me the perfect wisdom of his plan.

This is the only book I've ever read three times. I first read it as a college student for my Young Adult Lit class in 2001. I read it again when I taught it to 8th graders during my first semester as a Language Arts teacher in 2003. I read it again when my kids were old enough to read it too, in 2014.

It never gets old. With every reread, I'm moved even more deeply to make sure my children know this truth: They need never doubt the wisdom of God in giving us a world filled with both good and bad.

They've asked the question of me, "Why would God let the serpent into the garden of Eden and mess everything up? Why didn't he just give us a perfect world to live in now?"

It's a difficult question to answer. I don't presume to know the mind of God. But I can remind them of Jonas; the first time he was cold, the first time he saw war, death, blood, famine, pain. He wanted to know why The Giver was showing him these things. It was hard. Upsetting. Exhausting. Unpleasant. It was awful.

But with those awful things came color, diversity, joy, beauty, creativity...love.

Without darkness there is no light. Things are hidden from us, and we are not better for not knowing. Never experiencing pain does not make us happy. It makes us dull, unknowing, unsympathetic. That's not what God has in mind for us.

This story also teaches us that human beings can never create Utopia on earth. We are too corrupt, too limited in our knowledge of ourselves. I want this story to inspire my children, the world's future adults, to resist the urge of political ideas and personalities that promise Utopia.

The adults in Jonas's world tried, and their intentions were good. They wanted to create for themselves a world where there was no racism, no poverty, no disease, no weakness, no hunger, no death, and no decay. It sounds wonderful, doesn't it? On the surface, they were successful. But in the absence of these things, there was also a tragic absence of compassion.

Lois Lowry skillfully and gently pulls the curtain back, exposing Jonas to the evil required to sustain his "perfect" world. The visceral reaction of readers when they discover what "Release" means is universal. No matter your age, faith background, or political ideology, you are repulsed, and rightly so.

Few books ever written can make such a claim.


4. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo Published in 1862. Historical Drama, Classic.

God is still using this story to teach me about his grace.

Confession: I am still working my way through this massive novel. I've been at it for nearly two years. I'm 800 pages into an 1,100 page behemoth. I pick it up in stops and starts. It's too much to take in at once.

It's epic in scale and encompasses so much about the human life. Social injustice, grief, hopelessness, despair, perseverance, integrity, pity, suffering, faith, providence, war, love, unrequited love, and dozens more. But the theme that impacts me most deeply when I think of this story is God's grace, and how we are to respond to it.

Valjean, like Winston from 1984, is an "Everyman." We see ourselves in him. No matter our gender, our time in history, or our station in life, we were once filled with darkness, like him. We have all been without hope.

"During the years of suffering he reached the conclusion that life was a war in which he was one of the defeated. Hatred was his only weapon, and he resolved to sharpen it in prison and carry it with him when he left."

Valjean did not expect to receive grace from the bishop. He did not go looking for it, or asking for it. He most definitely did not deserve it. But it was given, freely and generously. After he steals the bishop's silver, he is caught by the police and dragged back to face the one from whom he stole.

"So here you are!" [the bishop] cried to Valjean. "I'm delighted to see you. Had you forgotten that I gave you the candlesticks as well? They're silver like the rest, and worth a good two hundred francs. Did you forget to take them?"

Thus, he is not thrown back into prison, as he justly deserves. Not only is he free, but he holds in his hands the means to begin his life anew.

"I was famished when I came in here. Now I scarcely know what I feel. Everything has changed."

Is this your response? You, the recipient of grace so lavish, so sacrificial, so undeserved, you can never repay your debt? 

Everything Valjean does over the next 1,000 pages is a response to this gift of grace. Becoming  a successful business man, fleeing Javert, adopting Cosette, saving Marius. This is his way to "present [his] body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God." Romans 12:1.

This heartrending story of grace has even been preserved in some measure in the many film and theater versions of the story. The producers can't help it. The message of grace is so pervasive, so lovely, so interwoven, there can be no Jean Valjean without the grace of God.

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Genesis Semi-Finalist - Jebraun Clifford

She's done it again, folks! Our very talented Jebraun Clifford made the ACFW Semi-finalist list for the Genesis Contest 2016, in the YA category. We couldn't be more excited and proud of her!
We can't wait to see what she does next with her writing journey!

Click here for a link to the list of Semi-finalists.

ACFW : http://www.acfw.com/genesis/genesis_semi_finalists_2016

What I Learn from the Stories I Read

by Jebraun

After Robin’s post about the power of story, which you can read here, we decided to each write about the stories that impacted us. Here’s the first of four posts detailing how stories have influenced our lives.

Like many writers, I love to read.

Even as a child there was nothing I enjoyed more than curling up with a good book and a snack to tune out the real world for an hour or two.

And yet, the stories I read way back then taught me so much about how to cope with the real world today.

_________________________________________________

Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.

_________________________________________________

Even though G.K. Chesterton is talking specifically about fairy tales in this quote, the truth is that all the stories I remember most from my childhood encourage me to slay dragons that I face.

Stories like A Wrinkle in Time, The Silver Chair, and The Island of the Blue Dolphins push me to see adversity as something not to give in to but trials to overcome. They also show me that the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love are my tools to defeat the dragons in my life.

The Silver Chair, written by C.S. Lewis, stands out to me as one of my favourite ‘quest’ stories. Who doesn’t like an adventurous journey? Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum, the main characters, have to rescue a prince, and they make blunder after blunder as they try to follow the signs they were given. Through all their mistakes, they hang on to their faith that Aslan, their guide and the Christ-like representative in the whole Narnia series, will still be able to get them where they’re supposed to be.

I’ve seen this in my own life often. I take a wrong direction and perhaps am tempted to despair that I’ve lost the path completely. God has come in again and again to show me I can trust His plan; He will get me to my destination. The Silver Chair helps strengthen my faith in Romans 8:28 that reminds me God will use all things together for good.

Another cherished story of mine is The Island of the Blue Dolphin. Scott O’Dell writes with a hauntingly spare prose about a young Native American girl, Karana, accidentally left behind by her tribe. In order to survive, Karana must preserve and store food, learn to hunt and make tools, and battle loneliness. She ends up spending almost twenty years on her own but never gives up the expectation of her tribe coming back to get her one day. Her hope of rescue is inspiring.

Having hope is crucial! Proverbs 13:12 tells us hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Karana’s story of her perseverance continues to encourage me to plan and prepare, not only for my future, but also for my present.

Finally, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle stands out to me as another example of a ‘quest’ story with a heavenly message. Meg Murray, Charles Wallace Murray, and Calvin O’Keefe must travel through time and space to rescue Meg and Charles Wallace’s father from an evil entity. Their intellect and reason aren't enough to save him. In the end, only the power of love can deliver Mr. Murray from the mindless hate-filled ‘It.’

This story shows me that love truly does conquer all. When I want to see evil vanquished, this story exemplifies God’s truth of overcoming evil with good. I’m reminded that God’s love saves, God’s love protects, and God’s love brings us safely home again.

I turn to stories like these to be inspired to 'fight the good fight' and see the dragons in my own life struck down.

Be blessed, 

How have your favourite stories impacted you? Share in the comments below!