How I Wrote a Fantasy Book Rooted in Faith, Grief, and Grit

What shaped this sequel—and the version of me who wrote it

✨ The Fantasy That Didn’t Feel So Distant

When people think of fantasy, they often picture dragons, magic, epic quests, and chosen ones.

And yes—Chaos of the Stars has its fair share of power struggles, ancient ruins, reluctant heroes, and cosmic tension.

But underneath all of that?

It’s a story about what happens when your life is interrupted by something sacred.
When you’re asked to carry more than you thought you could.
When you feel cracked open by grief… and called forward anyway.

I didn’t plan to write this story through the lens of faith, grief, and grit.

But when I lost my entire draft…
when my personal life got heavy…
when I felt like I was writing through fog, not fire—
those three things became the only thread I had left.

🕊 FAITH: Learning to Write With God, Not Just for Him

I’ve always felt called to write.
But this time, I had to write differently.

Not from strategy.
Not even from inspiration.
But from surrender.

There were mornings I prayed before I typed a single word:
“Father, Son, Holy Spirit, write with me. Breathe to me the inspiration for your story and help me surrender to the words you wish to write.”

And He did.

I didn’t write Chaos of the Stars to prove anything.
I wrote it as a response to a calling.
To keep going. To trust deeper. To create with open hands and a willing heart—even when I wasn’t sure where the story would lead.

💔 GRIEF: Letting the Ache Shape the Story

This book carries grief in its bones.

Grief for what was lost.
Grief for what never came to be.
Grief for the girl my main character used to be… and the one she has no choice but to become.

That grief didn’t come from research or imagination.
It came from real life.

From the seasons that undid me.
From the blank pages that stared back when I didn’t know how to begin again.
From the whispered lies that told me maybe I was too late, too inconsistent, too overwhelmed to write something that mattered.

But what I found is this:

Grief, when surrendered to God, can become holy ground.
Not just pain—but purpose.
Not just sorrow—but soil for something sacred.

And that sacred ache? It’s written all over this book.

🔥 GRIT: Showing Up When It Would’ve Been Easier to Quit

I didn’t finish this book in a flurry of creativity.
I didn’t hit flow state every time I opened the manuscript.

Most days, I had to fight for the words.
For focus.
For the courage to sit back down after loss, discouragement, or another “not good enough” voice in my head.

But here’s the thing about grit: it doesn’t show up loud.
It shows up again.

Quietly. Consistently. Sometimes trembling.
But still showing up.

That’s how this book was written—not in ease, but in obedience.

✍️ If You’re in the Middle of Your Own Messy Draft

Maybe you’re there right now.
Midway through your own story, unsure if it’s worth finishing.
Feeling the weight of faith, grief, or just plain resistance.

If that’s you, here’s what I want to say:

You don’t have to wait for things to feel light before you write.
You just have to keep showing up in the dark—trusting that the words will lead you home.

This story became what it is because I stopped waiting to feel “ready”
and started writing from where I was.

💌 The Story That’s Coming

Chaos of the Stars is, at its core, a story about wrestling with power, identity, and calling and it’s also a reflection of the very real battle to keep believing when everything feels uncertain.

And that, I think, is what makes it powerful.

If you’re not subscribed to my newsletter, now’s the time because I’ll be sharing first looks at deleted scenes, character notes, and special preorder bonuses very soon.

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Next week’s blog? I’m pulling back the curtain on something I’ve never fully shared: “How to Finish a Story That Feels Too Big for You.”

Because Chaos of the Stars nearly overwhelmed me—and if you’re in the same boat, I’ve got some hard-won encouragement to offer.

Until then…
Keep writing.
Keep showing up.
Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s quiet. Even if it aches.

Your voice matters.
Your story is holy ground.

And grit, my friend?
That counts as a miracle, too.