On Stories
O Lord, Behold My Wretched State: Eivend’s Song (The Lily and the Lyre)
I wrote this song for a character in The Lily and the Lyre, the sequel to The Star and the Sword. It appears in that manuscript (although that's still undergoing heavy editing, and Eivend is at risk of getting kicked out of the story... so we'll see what happens in...
When in the Night: Illuvian Children’s Prayer
This song is the traditional children's bedtime prayer in my fictional country Illuvia, which is the setting for my novel-in-progress The Star and the Sword. The poem shows up several times throughout the book, and I composed a melody for it so you can hear as well as...
Innovative Places to Write
Right now I’m in the midst of a lot of travel (first to Minnesota and then to Phoenix, so it’s all over the place!). Anyway, I thought I’d share some of the most exotic places I’ve written (and the looks I’ve gotten while doing so!). • On a California beach (see photo...
Writing: It’s Not As Glamorous As You Think
God has never worked through perfect people—no perfect person has ever existed. Instead, He chooses to work through us in all of our brokenness and sin. But I trust that God will work through me—even through my flaws and imperfections—in order to create something beautiful.
The Star and the Sword preview!
This is the first chapter of my current project, The Star and the Sword, the first book in the Tales of Illuvia trilogy. The Star and the Sword is currently in the editing process. Click here to join my newsletter if you'd like to receive progress updates! There are...
Worldbuilding 101
An immersive world is one of the most important elements of fantasy—and really, of all fiction. Worldbuilding is an essential skill for every writer, so let’s take a look at some good places to get started.