“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” – Psalm 39:7 (NKJV)
Father,
It’s so hard to wait. I confess my impatience and difficulty with waiting. We’re conditioned to have difficulty waiting seconds, let alone weeks, months, or years. But, as the old saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.”
O Lord, You are more than worth the wait! There is no other hope found in the universe outside of You. You have indeed been my arm every morning and my salvation in the time of trouble. Help me not to miss all of the gems within the waiting. Though I would love to press the publish button today, help me see each and every lesson along this writing journey.
I long to wait patiently for what You have for me. Help me not to settle for the tempting shortcut. Give me the courage to stand strong in the face of a culture promoting instant gratification.
Finally, before I begin today’s writing session, I wait for the gift of Your Spirit to empower me and illuminate my mind. Give me the endurance I need to persevere and overcome every obstacle the enemy throws in front me. May this writing session be rewarded with the fruit of waiting.
It’s in the name of Jesus in whom we wait,
Amen.
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.” – Isaiah 33:2 (ESV)
“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14
“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” – Acts 1:4 (NIV)
PRAYING GOD’S WORD In your own journal or notepad, write out your own personal prayer regarding waiting. Feel free to incorporate the scriptures above or others of your choosing.
Since 2008, CJ and Shelley Hitz have written and published over 70 books through their independent publishing company, Body and Soul Publishing. They have mentored writers since 2010 and now help Kingdom writers, like you, take the courageous step of writing, self-publishing, and marketing your books inside their online membership, Christian Book Academy. Together they create a powerful team to help you accomplish the goals God has placed on your heart and have been called “pastors for writers.” Find out more and join their community of Kingdom writers here: christianbookacademy.com. Or find resources for authors at TrainingAuthors.com.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-20
Heavenly Father,
Bless me with confidence in the anointing You have given me to write.
You are the Author and Perfecter of our faith (see Hebrews 12:2), and I pray that You will help me as I author the words you have called me to share that will bring You honor and glory and breathe hope into the hearts of my readers.
Help me to not get distracted by worldly busyness and building my own platform, but to be busy building Your Kingdom and pursuing the calling You have given me, just as Jesus did (see Luke 2:49).
Protect me from the lies and deceit of the evil one. May I rest confidently in your truths and in my calling, rather than getting sidetracked by doubts, insecurities, and distractions. Equip me to write with courage, confidence, and faithful obedience.
Help me to focus on my readers, on their needs, on their struggles and desires. May every word, every message You want me to share flow into my writing.
Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Strengthen and guide every word I write. Help align my motivations and desires with Yours.
Amen
*This is an edited excerpt from the anthology Prayers for Writers, to which Jenn contributed.
She also loves spending time with her husband and two sons, savoring coffee chats with friends, curling up with a good book, and enjoying a wonder walk through nature.
For additional resources to help you pray for your writing, check out her site Prayer Empowered Writer.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Kathy Tyers writes character-driven science fiction with a deep heart and an inquiring spirit. She is the author of the Firebird series – Firebird, Fusion Fire, Crown of Fire, Wind and Shadow, and Daystar – of the Star Wars universe novels Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point, and of several stand-alones.
She returns to the Firebird universe with her upcoming release Firebreak, which takes place between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. Releasing March 10, 2026 and now available for preorder, with 20% off on Enclave Publishing’s website!
Cover art by Kirk DouPonce at DogEared Designs
Lady Firebird Caldwell returns to the world of her birth, Netaia, intending to introduce her young sons to the noble Electors while her husband, Brennen, conducts a military inspection. When mysterious ships in distress suddenly approach the planet, the Electorate sends her to initiate first contact. Forced to work alongside a vengeful childhood enemy, Firebird uses everything within her power—even her passion for music—to negotiate, only to discover their alien technology threatens all the worlds she holds dear.
Facing ruthless betrayal, Firebird undertakes a deadly journey to salvage the mission. Brennen must make daring use of his telepathic powers to save human life in the galactic Whorl, including that of their young sons. But saving the worlds might force Brennen to give the order that would mean Firebird’s death. In a galaxy poised on the edge of ruin, survival may demand the ultimate sacrifice—from them both.
Caylah: I’m so excited to hear that you’re releasing a new book in the Firebird universe! The new cover looks stunning! Could you tell us more about Firebreak and how the story came to you?
One of the hardest choices an author can make is where to start and end their story – after all, the universe and characters never “end” in our own minds! It’s been quite a few years since your last book in the Firebird universe. How did you decide it was “right” to return?
Kathy: Caylah, thank you for the opportunity to talk about writing Firebird’s story again. If you don’t mind, I’d like to combine my answers to your first two questions.
In 2022, I thought I would never be able to write again. Long COVID had done bizarre things to my brain. Sometimes, I could barely wake up for two or three days, and then I’d have insomnia for most of a week. The worst of it was the sensation that something seemed to be creepy-crawling inside my skull. I barely had the energy to get through a day and cook dinner. Some people thought I was doing pretty well, but I had no energy left to write, which made me feel sad and old.
Still, every second Monday evening, I got together with some new writers from my church and helped them learn the craft. I tried to resurrect an old project of mine, Holy Ground, a rural fantasy novel. I’d written it in third person limited POV, and my writing friends encouraged me to try rewriting it in first person. Week after week, I simply had nothing to bring to the writers group. The passion just wasn’t there. I couldn’t persevere through the long, long process of writing a full first draft, even though the novel was substantially written already.
Finally, Broose–another founding member of that group, and a former Disney animator–challenged me to simply write something that brought me joy and fed my spirit. I had thoroughly enjoyed writing the Firebird series. They filled up something inside of me that had gone empty and dry during COVID. So, out of a sense of grateful nostalgia, I re-read all five of them. I found myself wondering what Firebird and Brennen were doing between Crown of Fire and Wind and Shadow. (Books 3 and 4) The next thing I knew, a new story was pouring out of me. The post-COVID lethargy was gone. Kathy Tyers was alive again.
Caylah: That is wonderful advice – returning to joy when our muse decides to hide under a rock. What did you enjoy most about this story and what are you excited for readers to experience (no spoilers of course!)? I’m personally excited to see more about Netaia’s culture and how it transforms over the years.
Kathy: The characters! I’ve known Lady Firebird for most of my life. Over the years, she has matured into someone who feels very real to me. So does Brennen. Letting them find each other and embark on their adventures together satisfied a hunger in my soul. In our fallen world, we long for a happy ending–but doesn’t a happy ending usually lead to the next challenge?
Caylah: Indeed! Firebird came so alive to me, so I’m excited to see more of her story.
How does your relationship with God influence your writing process and story planning? e.g. perhaps you have a prayer you like to pray as you sit down to write.
Kathy: I try to get to work immediately after my quiet time each morning. One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes says, in effect, that who/what you are will come out in your writing whether or not you try to put it there. So I work hard on telling a good story and, occasionally, on bringing forward the faith elements. Lightly but genuinely! The exception to “lightly” was Wind and Shadow, which was written as a Master’s degree project for Regent College, a wonderful theological school in Vancouver, BC. One of the main characters was a priest in training, you see….
Caylah: Amen! Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. I remember you published a different edition of Firebird before your deal with Enclave. How did you choose to release a version with enhanced religious themes (is that the biggest difference)? Have you received criticism from fans of your general market (Star Wars) work?
Kathy: My editor Steve Laube had been a fan of my writing before I moved over from Bantam Books to Bethany House publishing, where he worked at the time. During our first conversation, he told me he had suspected for some time that I was a Christian because he’d found hints here and there in my writing (see C.S. Lewis quote above!). Yes, people have left reviews online warning other readers that my books from a Christian publisher have Christian themes. Surprise!
Caylah: Personally, I found the themes of shame, faith, and new life incredibly challenging and encouraging – they make the story have eternal significance. Are there any readers who’ve approached you over the years to share how the Christian message impacted them? All authors want to think that their stories have the power to transform at least one life!
Kathy: One of the most moving experiences in my life was attending the baptism of a young woman who said she’d decided to become a Christian after reading the Firebird books.
Caylah: I love how much you weave music into the chapter titles and into Firebird’s thought processes! In my opinion, that’s one of the elements that takes a character from “good” to “great” – their hobbies and passions actually transform how they view and interact with the world. I actually use your trilogy as an example when I offer this advance to new writers! Are there any other tips for character development that you’d share with budding writers?
Kathy: My characters usually reveal themselves to me slowly. I need to spend time with them, thinking through what they find beautiful, meaningful,or challenging. Often, it’s through the process of writing a first draft that I learn what drives them. I enjoy involving some of my characters in music or other arts because that’s been a big part of my background since childhood. I grew up in a musical family. I might ask a hopeful writer, “What do you enjoy, what do you know something about, besides your fiction? Can you layer that into your story in some way that enriches the plot?”
Now and then, though, inspiration hits in an instant. For example, I first glimpsed one of my favorite characters, Tel Tellai, when he was standing at the foot of a breakaway strip while a space-and-atmosphere fighter took off. He was just standing there in shock and protest, holding both of his arms stiffly down at his sides. “Who in the world is that?” I wondered. Calmly, he told me his name (honestly, that’s how it felt) and that he loved Phoena Angelo. I was shocked. “You love HER?? What???? How could ANYONE….”
Caylah: Moments of “conception” like that make storytelling feel like such a superpower! Since we’re quoting C.S. Lewis, your description reminds me of how his main character in Till We Have Faces says, “I was with book, as a woman is with child.”
The interrogation scene between Brennen and Firebird is one of the most tensely compelling scenes I’ve ever read – the chemistry! I remember the first time I read it, how Brennen’s act of clicking his heels together and shifting forward to begin accessing Firebird’s mind was such a tangible moment that made me physically feel the tension in the room. Then I reread your annotated version and realized you did this deliberately (as good authors do, haha)! You articulated so clearly how physical actions can punctuate energy and emotion and create turning points within a scene without the characters using any words. Are you able to expand upon that idea, maybe going into when this tactic works and when it might not, for some writers?
Kathy: Thanks, Caylah. I love that scene too. I wrote at length about tagging dialogue with action beats in my book for the Christian Writers Institute, Writing Deep Viewpoint: Invite your Readers Into the Story.It isn’t always easy to find the right action beat. I hear my characters speak to each other long before I can see their body language or their surroundings. Every writer’s process is just a bit different.
Caylah: That sounds like a great resource – thank you! It’s encouraging to know that even elements which might not come as naturally or quickly to writers can still become a great strength.
There’s a lot of disagreement about what makes a “strong female character.” Some people have complained that Firebird too quickly gets “shunted into the role of wife and mother,” but I think you did a wonderful job of showing a variety of feminine strengths in Firebird. Being a lethal fighter pilot isn’t the only way to kick butt, which she still does throughout the rest of the trilogy! How would you describe your approach to writing female characters and do you think Christians “should” write women differently than we see in mainstream media?
Kathy: I’m especially glad you asked about this. “The role of wife and mother” is not the end of any story. In and of itself, it’s a high calling for many. For others, it’s a vital step into their unique future. When I brought Firebird and Brennen together, I knew that they both had strong reasons for wanting to create a family.
Still, they obviously weren’t the kind of people to live quietly-ever-after. How, then, would they balance parenting with the other calls on their lives? It’s been a challenge for me, just as it’s been a challenge for them. But they’re doing it! Just wait till you read how they get there in Firebreak.
Caylah: I can’t wait to see the kind of trouble Kiel and Kinnor got into as kids!
Ok, now for my “fan girl” moment. When Brennen first feels Firebird’s mental shout he expects to find brotherhood. Though it didn’t turn out that way, I’ve been fascinated by what that dynamic would look like in their culture. I would LOVE to see a short story about a Sentinel “blood brother” pair!!! Do they have any famous “Gilgamesh-Enkidu” pairs or stories about sisterhood (which is rarer to find in fiction, sadly)?
Can individuals have more than one pair bond? For instance, would a pair bonded husband also be able to pair bond with a brother in arms? Would his bonded wife feel his brother through their connection at all? I then had fun imagining what would have happened if one of the Shuhr assassins had discovered they were connatural with one of the men in the Caldwell bloodline. What do you think would have happened – would they have stayed their hand as Brennen did with Firebird?
Kathy: You may have given me a great subplot idea. Thank you.
Caylah: Ooh, yes! Is there anything else you’d like to share about your story, process, or world?
Kathy: Thank you again for the chance to share a bit about Firebreak, my favorite characters, and my writing process. It was a treat to meet you at Realm Makers, and I hope to see you there again in 2026, when Firebreak is finally available!
Caylah: Thanks! It was lovely meeting you too. And congrats on the birth of your grandson!
Kathy: Thank you!
Follow Kathy Tyers on Facebook for more news and discussions, and find the first book in her Firebird trilogy here. Firebreak, releasing March 10, 2026, is now available for preorder on Amazon or through Enclave Publishing’s website (20% off there).
Amazon links are affiliate links – I may earn from qualifying purchases.
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Firebird is a thrilling Christian space opera, filled with planetary battles, telepathic warriors, familial betrayal, and the deep longing for one’s soul to be seen – by one’s people, lover, and God himself.
Synopsis
As the third princess of the planet Netaia, Firebird has been ordered to die. Her people consider her a wastling, an extraneous heir whose only role is to die in service to her people. A fighter pilot and Major, Firebird is sent with the leading strike force to conquer a nearby planet which holds mineral resources vital to weapons of mass destruction. Captured by the Federate forces who defend the system, she is shocked when they offer her mercy. Shielded by the telepathic warrior who spared her life, she begins to question the fanatic loyalty her people and gods expect of her.
Characters: 5/5
Characters are the heart of this story, and the dialogue and dynamics between characters have physically palpable energy and tension.
Lady Firebird Angelo is one of, if not the only, female character who I’d consider one of my favorite characters in fiction. I prefer reading about male leads because I never connect well with female protagonists. Not so here! Firebird displays a delightful mix of vulnerability, loyalty, grit, poise, intelligence, and more. She is much better fleshed out than most female characters I encounter, with a strongly incorporated skill for music, a complex dynamic with her family and authority figures, inside jokes and regrets about the past, and maturity beyond her years. She is torn apart by a complex moral dilemma – serve the lies and violent agenda of the planet she loves (but which has rejected her), or embrace truth, eternal salvation, and a new life among the strangers who were once her enemies.
Brennen Caldwell is super hot – it’s true. A fighter pilot, commander, and Sentinel (genetically engineered user of telekinetic and telepathic abilities), he’s the most desirable bachelor in his culture (not even accounting for his religiously significant bloodline). But he’s not just a love interest – we get his POV as he runs ops, struggles to develop his leadership, chafes against the prejudice of the Federacy, and tries to help Firebird heal from the mental abuse she’s lived with her whole life. His driving motivation is to find a true companion who can share his life and soul with him. Their people (Thyrian-Ehretans) form telepathic pair bonds with individuals who are connatural, or share a high mental, spiritual, and physical resonance. And, oh, the dramatic tension when he discovers an enemy is more of a kindred spirit to him than any of his own people.
Plot: 4/5
This is a character-driven story, so while there are some epic (and realistically written) battles, there’s a much greater focus on politics, family dynamics, and cross-cultural encounters.
The first time I read this book, the middle portion irritated me a little, because the plot slows down and the two main characters end up on different planets for a time – however, this is quite necessary for the long-term health of the main characters’ relationship. Brennan was in a position of power over Firebird, who was extremely vulnerable mentally, emotionally, and politically. Separating them for a time allowed Firebird to get her feet under her and explore a new planet and ideology without pressure. If not for this distance, Brennan could easily have come across as predatory – something he himself is highly aware of throughout all their interactions. I admire how Tyers planned this out, allowing both leads to do some soul searching independently before eventually joining forces to address the larger political problems they face.
The ending felt a bit abrupt to me, both the physical conflict and spiritual outcome, but I think the rest of the trilogy did an excellent job of expanding on the themes and ideas present in this book, and progressing the relationship between characters in a realistic way. It is also true that soldiers often make major decisions that would seem abrupt to regular people, because we don’t understand the stakes they live through when risking their lives every day.
Writing: 5/5
I love Kathy Tyers’ writing style! Her dialogue is poignant, sharp, emotional, and filled with tension. She’s an expert at describing body language and using physical motions to punctuate emotion and create breaks within scenes. Her scenes have excellent internal pacing. There are several scenes in this book that are seared into my memory because of how physically visceral it feels reading them. The tension and draw between characters is palpable. Many stories explore the concept of telepathic bonds, but some fall flat because they don’t manage to make readers feel how the characters’ souls sing to one another.
This story explores how mental beliefs and passions, spiritual longings, and physical compatibility all weave together to create truly deep relationships. So many love stories and friendships in fiction omit anything of spiritual significance, but this story is all the richer for raising questions like “will I face more condemnation in the afterlife for committing a moral wrong in loyalty to my people, or for betraying them to save many lives?” Firebird must confront the manipulation, abuse, and state-leveraged religion that has twisted around her her whole life, and she does so because one of her enemies shows her more compassion and forgiveness than any of her mentors or blood relatives ever did. That, is a relationship worth writing home about.
Worldbuilding: 4/5
It’s SO hard to find space opera without aliens, and I’m always delighted when I do. This world is completely focused on human cultures, politics, and relationships, reminiscent of both Star Wars and Lois McMaster Bujold’s world (Shards of Honor). I loved the unique cultural dynamics on Firebird’s planet, Netaia – a society ruled by an aristocratic class, a line of Queens, and a religion of 9 Powers. Their culture reminded me somewhat of Imperial Japan and Russia.
The underlying premise in Brennen’s culture is fascinating too: what if Jesus didn’t come 4,000 years after Creation, but waited many more millennia? His people are essentially the Jews, and his family is like the line of Judah, from which the prophesied Messiah will one day come. Firebird, then, is like Ruth.
The Federacy that rules a large portion of the universe is characterized as a benevolent Empire despite its obvious bureaucratic corruption, self-serving politics, and prejudice against Ehretans. It bothered me, especially in later books, that the Ehretans let the Federacy treat them like trained dogs, and the ones who split off (the Shuhr) to create their own society outside of the Federacy’s self-serving restrictions on ability users are shown as completely evil and in the wrong. In fact, every time an Ehretan acted outside of the extremely controlling rules, they are shown to be despicable people. It rubbed me the wrong way because it reminded me of a brand of Christian authoritarianism that advocates submission to rule following even when leaders are treating you unfairly.
Of course, the strictures they place upon themselves make sense considering how they were nearly wiped out in the past by humans who feared their abilities. They limit individuals out of desperation to maintain the survival of their race. But it still bothers me that Brennan acts as though it would be objectively wrong not to follow the restrictions placed on him by his people and the Federacy alike. The Ehretan government runs personality tests to see how “moral” people are, and then forcibly prevents them from studying their abilities to a greater level if they don’t like what they see – an incredibly self-righteous form of enslavement that implies that any form of ambition is evil. An Ehretan that tries to learn more about their abilities or leave their society is essentially treated like a criminal.
It’s taken for granted that the government has the right to control their people to this extreme because their leaders are holy and God-serving. Imagine if our government was formally Christian and tested people to see how serious they are about their faith or if they have a tendency toward certain sins (not even open sin, but the probability for sin), and based on the results, prevented them from carrying weapons or achieving higher education. And anyone who left was considered a deserter and criminal… It’s a dangerous implication – that if a society is Christian, they can limit human rights if they think the freedoms could hinder God’s “greater good.”
But the best sci-fi makes people think and ask questions like this! I love rereading this book because each time I get to chew on something new. Her story sparked my imagination and helped inspire my own sci-fi world!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
There are many benefits to selling books at in-person, local events, including finding repeat customers, gaining reviews, and selling more books in one day than you can sell in a whole month online! I’ve outlined some more benefits in a previous article: 8 Reasons Authors Should Sell Books at In-Person Events.
But here, I’ll share what I’ve learned from years of successfully selling books at markets, library fairs, and more. Knowing what to do, and just as importantly, what not to do, will ensure you actually make a profit. I’ll explain some vital tips like:
Ask other vendors or the even organizer what you can expect at their event. They won’t be offended and can give you an idea of the type of crowd to expect, and whether the event is worth your time.
High Traffic Events
The most important element to look for is high shopping traffic. If 10 people come to your event and you historically sell to 10% of the people you speak with, you might sell only 1 book at this event. If 500 people come to your event and you manage to speak to 100 of them, you might sell 10 books.
It’s most likely that the traffic will be high if you:
Table up on a Saturday. Saturdays are the very best day for sales events, hands down. Friday evenings are the next best. Sundays are a gamble. Sometimes a Sunday can give you decent traffic and other times the event is a complete ghost town.
Pick an event in a big/medium size city that is close to major highways and civilization. If you table up on a farm in the middle of nowhere in a town having a name you’ve never heard of and has a population of < 5,000, you probably shouldn’t expect much traffic, and you probably shouldn’t table up there, unless you know from experience that this event really does draw crowds. And don’t assume that just because a podunk venue draws a moderate crowd on a Saturday, you can expect a decent crowd on Sunday. Sometimes the switch to Sunday kills shopping traffic.
Sell at established markets with known traffic instead of inviting friends to your own private book signing event. If you invite 20 people to a signing and only 5% actually show up (which is about the average), you might get 1 person to show up! Many authors end up with NO attendees and get discouraged. Unless you’re a big name author, or you invited over a hundred people, don’t do this! Sell at markets that you know get at least 500 shoppers.
Choose a market that happens every week. These are the safest events, because the event organizers typically do much more advertising of the event and the crowds are usually bigger. I make one local farmers market the backbone of my in-person sales—I go every Saturday from 9a to 2p. I do other events on Friday nights/Saturday nights/Sunday afternoons when I find them in addition to my regular Saturday morning market.
Low or no vendor fee
Let’s assume each book you sell nets you $5 of profit and your table fee was $100 for your event. If you sold only 10 books, that nets you $50. After you pay your fee, you just lost $50 to be at that event. On the other hand, if your fee was only $20, you earned $30. If you did a free public library event, you earned all $50.
Organizer doesn’t require vendor insurance
I’ve heard of events that require this, and in many cases that insurance can cost thousands of dollars each year! Avoid those events. Pick ones that only ask you to sign a form saying you accept risk for your own wares.
Close to home
If you have to drive a few hours to the event and a few hours home, you will burn away all your profits in gas expenses. And if you travel far enough, you’ll want to stay at a motel if it’s a multi-day event. If you pay $50 in gas and $100 in hotel fees, plus a $50 table fee for 2 days, that’s a total expense of $200.
How many books would you have to sell just to break even? Assuming from before that you net $5 profit on each book sale, that means you have to sell 40 books that weekend. If you think you can sell at least 20 books each day, you might cover your table fee. If you can’t, then you will lose money.
Simple tactics to sell books – inoffensively
Call out to passersby
If you only smile and wave, the vast majority of people will breeze right past your table. You’d think these people would proactively approach your table because they came to the event to shop, but they have to be drawn over to you.
Often they have dozens of tables to choose from. Even people who love the genre you sell will fail to recognize your books with their very obvious genre-hinted cover art and your large-lettered signage.
What should you call out? I use a variety of lines:
“Free chocolate! Calorie-free books!” while pointing to my candy dish and books
“Science fiction and fantasy!”
“Buy a book and get a free spouse! Erm… I mean a free bookmark!”
Be funny and relaxed. Many will stop and chat because you got their attention. If you keep it silly and lighthearted, people are less likely to be annoyed that you’re hawking them.
Put your book in their hands
If someone stops and asks what your book is about, don’t answer verbally. Instead, put your paperback in their hands with the back cover facing up and say that the book description says it best. This does several important things:
The book has now become real to them. They can feel the texture and weight of it.
By reading your back blurb, they’re getting a sampling of your writing style. If you’ve written it well, you can impress them with your writing skill and intrigue them about the book.
If the blurb gets their attention, they will often start flipping through the book. And if your formatting is top-notch, they will see how professional the product is and their confidence in you goes way up. If you have interesting chapter titles, they may notice those and be drawn in further. They might even start reading the first page!
Every second they spend examining your book invests them further in it. Now they’re spending time. Once they’ve done that, they are more likely to spend money on it. This has now become an event.
While people are reading your blurb, you get to watch their face and see their visceral reaction to it. If their brows rise and their faces glow, your blurb is doing its job. If you never get such a response from dozens of visitors to your table, you know it’s time to rework your blurb.
While people are reading your blurb, you’re also freed up to call out to other people.
If you explain your book’s plot to each person who asks, your voice will get tired quickly. Especially if you have to shout over loud street musicians.
How to Set Up Your Table for Maximum Engagement
Location is Paramount
It doesn’t take much at all to discourage shoppers from approaching your table. They will never tell you the reason. It’s up to us as vendors to figure out what that obstacle is, and remove it.
If removal is possible. You might have to ask the event organizer if you can shift your table over a few feet to avoid something like a tree stump or a narrow part of a hallway, or to move you to a completely different spot along a street.
If you get to choose your table location, think carefully about possible traffic flow. For example, if your vendor area is divided into 3 columns of tables with 2 aisles, pick a spot on the right-hand column. Especially if that aisle is wider than the other! I learned this lesson the hard way at one of my library events:
Remove psychological barriers
Here’s a list of some I’ve discovered:
Distance
Move your table as close to the flow of foot traffic as you can. If visitors are walking in the middle of a street and your popup canopy is 7 feet away, most people will let their momentum drag them right past. And if your table is near the back of your canopy, such that visitors have to enter the canopy and walk a few feet inside to see your book covers, that’s too far.
It presents a subtle psych barrier that discourages all but the most determined visitors. And if you only talk to the most determined visitors, you will not sell many books at your event. I promise you.
Objects
At one event, I moved my table to the front of my canopy, but due to space constraints, one corner of my table butted up against a canopy pole. And my books were sitting on that end of the table. Could visitors easily avoid the pole? Sure. Did visitors let that pole deter them from approaching? Absolutely. Once I moved my books to the other end of the table, more visitors stopped to check them out.
Flooring
At an outdoor event, the ground was muddy from recent rain and I didn’t want someone dropping my books in the mud. So I laid down puzzle piece rubber waffle boards in a 9ft square and set my table on that. It jutted out a good 4 feet from the front of my table and I remembered thinking people might hesitate to approach for fear of tracking their muddy shoes on my clean waffle boards.
Guess what? The very first couple stood a few feet back from those boards and squinted. I immediately removed that layer of flooring and people started coming up to the table.
Turnaround Point
This is the worst obstacle of all. At one event, my table was near the end of a long street. There was nothing exciting at the very end of the street to draw people to walk the whole length. And so, for the first hour, most shoppers would walk to what I called “the turnaround point”.
About 2 tables away from mine, there was this spot on the road where I saw hundreds of people stop, squint down the road, decide they were at the end, turned around, and walked back the way they came. This was the most discouraging experience I’d ever had as a vendor.
At least until the shaved ice truck came and parked at the very end of the road! And then a street musician started strumming a guitar across from that. Then I had shoppers lining up in front of my table for shaved ice on a very cold day. And only then did I sell books.
Smart event organizers are aware of the turnaround effect and will place attractions at the end of hallways and streets to mitigate it.
Wide lanes
Similar to the point about distance, you want to try to avoid placing your table in a section of a path or street that is wider than the other sections. Shoppers will naturally tend to walk at the farthest point in the path from vendor tables, so if you pick a very wide section, shoppers may be too far away to see or hear you, and may feel the distance to be socially acceptable to ignore you from.
If you are able to relocate your table or move other structures (such as a friend’s tent or table) into the path across from you to narrow it down, you may turn a zero sale night into a big night.
What to Bring
Interactive Materials to Make Your Table Memorable
I bring the video game version of my debut novel for visitors to play:
This big monitor and the gaggle of kids and their laughter draw lots of people over (not to mention the parents). But you might not be able to create your own video game.
There are other gimmicks you can try: set up a gumball machine that dispenses slips of paper containing neat one-liners from your books, and make one of them a coupon for a free book. Or dress up in a costume related to your protag or villain. Just make it visually obvious that something about your table is different.
People should be able to say, “his table is the one with the [blank]!”
Ample Lighting
For outdoor, evening events during fall and winter, bring plenty of lighting, including hand lamps that visitors can hold up to your book. Don’t count on general area lighting and lights you string along the top of your canopy to provide enough light for reading your book’s back cover. At some events, they’ll ask you not to bring a popup canopy because it would block the lighting they provide and take up too much floor/ground space.
two tables
Always bring a small table along with your normal, big one. Sometimes events will let you in without prior notice or give you really juicy spots if you let them know you can fit your stuff on a 4ft by 2ft table and don’t need to use your 10ft by 10ft canopy. Some events promise to provide a table and chair for you. I always bring my own just in case they run out or there’s something about their table and chair I really don’t like.
a card reader
I recommend Square. The small reader is free with your account and the thing is durable—it can survive a trip through the washing machine! And don’t sign up for your account right away. Instead, ask another author who already has Square (like me!) to send you a referral email.
Only sign up with that referral and both you and the referring person enjoys a free $1000 of processing fees waived for 6 months, starting from your first card swipe. Just find a dedicated place to keep your square reader (not your pocket) so you don’t lose it and you don’t send it through the wash. Also, you must keep your smartphone charged in order to use the swiper (if you get the free swiper model, that is).
Make sure to ask about WiFi availability ahead of time!
Insider Tips
Chat with other author vendors
Ask them what other events they’re going to next. Be friendly to them—they just might end up inviting you to awesome events you didn’t know anything about. And they might offer to split their table with you. That lets you pay half the fee and gets you into events for which the submission deadline is long past.
I’ve gone to events that I heard about the day before! In order to capitalize on these last-minute event invites, try to keep your weekends open (if you don’t already have events scheduled, that is).
Sell at the last minute
When breaking down your setup, put your books away last. I can’t remember how many times I’ve sold books to passersby while I was packing away other things. One time I sold books after I’d broken down my entire setup because my backpack has a full sales kit in it, and I pulled books and a card swiper out from that.
At my farmer’s market on 10/12/2024, I sold 10 books after I started breaking down my table! All I did was look up for passersby, point to my books, and say, “I still have books out, if you’d like a look.”
Here’s what I’ve noticed: Many shoppers walking around after the official end of an event are happy when a vendor notices them and gives them something to shop for after all other vendors are closed. The last-minute nature can help nudge them to buy something. This is why I pack away my books last. I even bring down my tent and pack that away before I box up the books. I recommend you do the same.
The First Day of Events is the Most Important
If you sell at an event that lasts 2 or more days (of equal duration), and you can only show up on one of those days, pick day one.
Push for early sales on day one of multi-day events. Many shoppers may not feel any urgency to shop until later in that weekend. Always try to encourage them to buy sooner, because they may not return to you later like they promised!
As the event wears on, you’ll start hearing shoppers say things like, “I’ve already spent all my money.” And what they really mean is, “I’ve already spent all my money on other vendors’ goods. You’re too late.” The younger the shopper, the truer this is.
My sales and marketing guide has WAY more content like this. Just email me at dylan.west@dylanwestauthor.com if you want me to share that google document with you for free!
Dylan West writes faith-based, young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. He is a Jesus lover, web and video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general.
While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he’s crafting corny jokes. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
For authors struggling to sell a single book on Amazon in a whole month: how would you like to sell 10 to 20 of them in a single day? When you table up at a local sales event, that’s not hard to do. That’s just one reason to vend at regular, local events. Here are some more:
1. Brand awareness
if you hang a big, clear, beautifully designed banner at your table, you let passersby know that your business exists. Because I table up at a decent-sized event each Saturday, over 50,000 people see my books and banner every year.
2. Fan building
When shoppers walk by or visit my table, people take actions like:
Check out my books and ask me questions
Buy my books or sign up for my newsletter (often both)
Buy the related merchandise. If they buy my t-shirt, they may wear it, providing free advertising
Give me donations (sometimes large ones)
In-person events are the best way to increase word of mouth and gain further opportunities. Some people will:
Tell other passersby to check out my books and rave about how good they are – this happens to me quite a bit, and it’s driven lots of sales 🙂
Tell friends about my books. Some may even buy my book as a gift or haul their friend over to my table
Invite me to some other sales event or speaking engagement. One person invited me to speak at a local college, which paid me a $100 speaking fee and bought 3 of my books to display at the front of their campus library!
Seeing you in person will make people remember:
To finish the book they bought from me last year
To buy more books because they loved the first one
To sign up for my newsletter or read the newsletter articles I’ve been sending them
That my books exist – that’s a huge thing. If someone buys a book from you a few years ago, it’s easy for them to forget about you if they didn’t sub to your newsletter
3. Sales Practice
Nothing makes you better at sales than getting hundreds of sales opportunities each month. Each shopper that stops is a live-fire practice session.
4. Steady cash flow
The money I make at my sales events funds my next book. I don’t have to pay anything out of pocket after my initial investment. I use sales earnings to pay for book cover art, ISBNs, formatting, software, copyright filings, business licenses, author copies, web hosting, domain names, paid ads, and a lot more I’m forgetting.
5. Newsletter building
The best way to gain new newsletter subscribers is to collect emails from people who just bought your book(s). They are more likely to open and read your emails than people who signed up for a free novella and then unsubbed right after.
6. Fun
I could go on for hours about all the wacky and funny things I’ve experienced at farmers markets and comic cons while vending. I get to meet neat people, pet cute doggies, crack lots of corny jokes, hear corny jokes in return, see really interesting performers, hear live music, and have the thrill of making big sales.
And I have fans hunting me down at events when they learn that my newest book just came out!
7. Identity
Nothing reminds you that you are, in fact, a published author like going to regular sales events. Many indies who published a book long ago have almost forgotten that they are a published author and that they should be selling their books.
Going to in-person events makes your authorship more real than if you lob an e-book onto Amazon and do nothing more.
8. Reviews
You will get more reviews for your books if you table up at sales events. Especially if you remember to ask shoppers to leave a review!
Now that I’ve persuaded you to table up at local events, let me share some tips for how to run them so you actually sell books – based on my years of experience!
Dylan West writes faith-based, young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. He is a Jesus lover, web and video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general.
While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he’s crafting corny jokes. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
Please sign up for his newsletter to get the geekiest science research tidbits that go into the making of his books: https://dylanwestauthor.com/.
That you have given so many in our family a gift of creativity. We lay these gifts before you again. We know you will test all things on the last day. Some will be consumed, while others will be shown to be jewels. Some of what we create will survive in eternity. We ask that our creative labors, and our support of others labors, will have a meaningful impact for the kingdom of God. That is what we desire – to create something that you, our Creator, wants to preserve and keep. As we write, help us to ask ourselves honestly whether what we are crafting is something that will please you and have eternal value.
May it be so on that day, Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, the true Word.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
About Rich Coffeen
Rich Coffeen is a PCA pastor in the North Chicago area, a classical educator, and former missionary to Japan. He is the author of Christian sci-fi books The Discipling of Mytra and City on a Sea. He and his wife share 7 beautiful children and 1 grandson!
Fantasy as a genre has long captured the imaginations of readers with its thrilling adventures and heroic narratives. But if you’ve spent any time in the trenches of Reddit, BookTok, or even Threads, you’ve likely come across a question echoing throughout the zeitgeist:
Does fantasy suffer from a lack of diversity?
That, however, is the wrong question.
At the heart of this conversation lies a more critical distinction. The real question we should be asking is:
What do we even mean by “diversity”?
Is it simply about including characters of various races and socioeconomic backgrounds?
Or does true diversity dig deeper?
This article explores that very question while offering insights into how diversity can (and should) transform the realm of fantasy. Along the way, you might come to love me, or you might come to hate me. But one thing you won’t accuse me of is being a vapid wanderer with nothing but clouds for thoughts.
What Does Diversity Mean in Fantasy?
When we think about diversity in fantasy, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For many, in a culture increasingly unmoored from classical philosophical foundations, “diversity” is often reduced to outward traits: ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status.
And yes, those factors matter.
But they shouldn’t overshadow what truly makes stories vibrant and enduring: diversity of thought. Because a book, at its core, is a well assembled stream of consciousness. A meditation and confrontation with ideas.
Diversity in My Own Career
This subject is actually quite dear in my own author journey and not for the reasons you might suspect. Whenever diversity comes up, it’s often along the lines of: “Hey, Izaic, why don’t you mention you’re Black? That could really help spotlight you or bring money in the door.” Every time I hear that, it feels like an arrow to the heart.
Why?
Because it screams the bigotry of low expectations. Ideas that stand the test of time are based on merit. To have mine judged by skin tone or assumed hardships might grant me a short‑term dopamine hit but, in the end, would leave me wondering: did I earn X or Y, or was that just the result of someone’s assumption about me?
So, over and over again, I have declined grants or invitations that hinge solely on my skin tone. At times it’s been hard and a challenge to the life of virtue. Undoubtedly I am leaving money on the table, but I have faith that I am more than the base materials of my physical body. What remains, and what is important, is the diversity of my mind and soul, which God made perfectly to His design.
Beyond Biometric Metrics
Reducing diversity to metrics like race, gender, or class oversimplifies a much richer and more vital conversation. Biometric diversity does not automatically guarantee depth or quality in storytelling.
True diversity emerges from exploring nuanced ideas, conflicting beliefs, and different cultural frameworks for understanding universal human experiences.
Imagine a world where fantasy novels challenge readers to see the world differently—to entertain new possibilities and reflect deeply on their own beliefs.
That is authentic diversity.
More Than Skin Deep
Reducing diversity to physical characteristics is a form of tokenism, where characters are included as symbolic gestures rather than meaningful contributors to the narrative.
Instead, let’s consider stories whereideas and beliefs are the defining elements of uniqueness.
For example, a Black author can skillfully craft a European medieval fantasy steeped in knights, castles, and folklore. Likewise, a White author can authentically write a story centered around urban Black youths navigating the challenges of Chicago through the lens of portal fantasy.
The richness of a story stems not from the biometric traits of its characters or creators, but from the depth and clarity of its ideas.
Biological factors ≠ Diversity.
They are merely a potential starting point from which diversity might emerge.
This is not to deny the importance of representation but to elevate the conversation.
Our ultimate goal as lovers of literature should be compelling storytelling that speaks to the human condition. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, what matters most is “the content of their character.”
For fantasy, this means content that challenges, inspires, and transports readers into the vast frontiers of imagination.
The Reader’s Role in Seeking True Diversity
Writers aren’t the only ones responsible for cultivating meaningful diversity. Readers play an equally crucial role in shaping demand for more thoughtful and expansive narratives.
When audiences seek out stories that offer fresh perspectives and complex characters, they help pave the way for a broader, richer literary landscape.
Supporting Authentic Storytelling
Here’s how readers can contribute:
Explore New Authors: Seek out voices from various cultural and social backgrounds. But celebrate them not for their skin or heritage—celebrate them for the merit of their thoughts and craft.
Foster Conversations: Discuss books with others. Unearth the deeper themes and perspectives within a story.
Prioritize Depth: Choose books that offer intricate world-building, moral complexity, and provocative ideas over ones that simply check superficial boxes.
By demanding authenticity and intellectual richness, readers uplift authors and help shape a publishing culture centered on excellence.
Raising the Next Generation of Readers
Creating a culture where diversity of thought thrives doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with nurturing a love for reading in young minds. Exposing children of all backgrounds to a range of high-quality, diverse literature helps expand their worldview and strengthens critical thinking.
How to Foster a Love for Diverse Literature:
Start Early: Introduce imaginative fantasy stories that stretch the mind and expose kids to different ideas.
Align with Values: Share stories that reflect your core values but don’t avoid those that challenge or stretch them.
Create a Rich Literary Environment: Fill homes or classrooms with books spanning genres, cultures, and philosophies.
Celebrate Curiosity: Encourage kids to ask hard questions about characters, themes, and conflicts.
Train for Excellence: Stop paying lip service to mediocrity. If you’re invested in the future of Black youth—or any youth—invest in their craft. Train them rigorously. Push them to be extraordinary.
A sustained effort to introduce children to rich, diverse storytelling shapes a generation that values both creativity and authenticity. Excellence is the only foundation that ensures diversity lasts beyond trends.
Building a Future of Excellence in Fantasy Literature
Fantasy offers endless room for exploration, creativity, and connection. But for the genre to thrive, it requires intentional effort from writers, readers, and publishers alike.
Christian authors, especially, have a unique opportunity to contribute by anchoring their work in faith and reflecting the boundless creativity of God’s design.
The future of fantasy doesn’t rest on superficial representation. It depends on cultivating excellence and allowing the diversity of ideas to compete in all aspects of storytelling.
Yorks spent six years as a professional Track athlete, earning silver in the United States championships, among several other distinguishing awards. Now, he seeks his true passion for authoring fantasy works with a heart for virtues that chase the Good, True, and Beautiful.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Yorks is now happily lost in Hillsborough, living the small-town life and raising a growing family with his wife Courtney.
Check out his book!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
God’s world is beautifully and wonderfully made! And his kingdom is made up of people from all 4 corners of the earth – I love hearing the stories of all my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Sci-fi and fantasy is special because it opens new worlds to me and examines ideas I may never have encountered otherwise. So when these genres are written by unique voices who come from different walks of life than me, I often find even greater delight in the imaginations they have spun into being!
Christian SFF has grown dramatically as a genre in the past 2 decades alone, and we’re seeing a wider range of authors than ever before! So I’ve compiled this list of diverse Christian authors of sci-fi and fantasy to help readers find and enjoy their compelling stories!
This article contains affiliate links – I may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Anna Tan grew up in Malaysia, the country that is not Singapore. She writes fantasy stories and fairy tales, puts together anthologies, and wrangles writers for the Malaysian Writers Society (MYWriters).
Anna has an MA in Creative Writing and is interested in Malay/Nusantara and Chinese legends and folklore in exploring the intersections of language, culture, and faith.
All Putera Mikal wants is to gain the Amok Strength, the supernatural power granted by Kudus to the Mahan royal family. No matter how religiously Mikal keeps his vows, Kudus still denies him the Strength—whilst his father, Sultan Simson, flaunts the Strength despite his blatant defiance of the Temple and the priests’ visions of coming doom.
Then the prophecies come true. Taken captive, Mikal must find a way to liberate his people and restore his throne in Maha—and the key to this is the Amok Strength. But what does it take to gain Kudus’ favour?
Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels, including a series with Ted Dekker. Her work has won multiple awards and has been translated into 17 languages and optioned for TV and film.
She serves on the Board of Directors of International Thriller Writers and as adjunct faculty for Drexel University’s MFA program. Tosca lives in Nebraska with her family, a drooling cat named Misty, and giant 160-lb. German Shepherd, Timber.
Emily Jacobs is the descendant of a serial killer. Now, she’s become the hunted.
Her quest takes her to the secret underground of Europe and the inner circles of three ancient orders—one determined to kill her, one devoted to keeping her alive, and one she must ultimately save.
Filled with adrenaline, romance, and reversals, The Progeny is the present-day saga of a 400-year-old war between the uncanny descendants of “Blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, the most prolific female serial killer of all time, and a secret society dedicated to erasing every one of her descendants.
Jon Del Arroz is a #1 Amazon Bestselling author and “the leading Hispanic voice in science fiction.” He is a popular YouTuber with hilarious livestreams.
He says on his X (Twitter), “I became a #1 bestselling author by standing for Christian values.” In his free time he likes roleplaying, reading comics, and playing tennis.
After years of fighting for justice with his deadly nanotech, Templar Drin abandons his post, crash landing on a desert world controlled by a tyrannical alien empire. Its inhabitants are forced into slavery, broken where a once-proud race cultivated its lands.
For the first time in Drin’s life, he has no backup, no support, none of his brothers. Yet he still seeks to liberate millions of slaves from their captors and bring faith to a downtrodden world. But in his way stands the most dangerous weapon in the galaxy.
Valicity Elaine is the author of several Christian YA dark fantasy novels and a former Booktuber. In 2015, after her experience with indie publishing, she founded The Rebel Christian Publishing.
Their goal is to produce and publish good quality Christian books with a strong focus on the inclusion and representation of minority cultures. They aim to keep Christ at the center of their business and to positively reflect the Christian faith in the books they produce.
Code-X5 is a Guardian, fresh from the factory after a memory wipe. But there is a flaw in X5’s programming. He can’t pinpoint it, but something is wrong. Despite this, X5 just wants a fresh start, but that’s hard when your client is an exiled princess who wants you to bust her out of prison.
He thinks it will be a simple mission until they discover a scheme that could unravel the very fabric of the Valetian Empire.
Is it possible that X5’s programming is more than flawed… and that he wasn’t always a Guardian – what if he isn’t the only one?
Dylan West writes faith-based, young adult science fiction and fantasy novels. He is a Jesus lover, web and video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general.
While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he’s crafting corny jokes. Dylan lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
People worship technology on Planet Daishon. With inventions that prolong life and eradicate disease, it’s little wonder. Death seems obsolete until an earthquake kills thousands, including Mallory’s parents. Suspecting the top research center triggered it, she begins to investigate.
She unlocks an underground world and the remnants of a universal war. To survive, Mallory must trust the voice of one she can’t see, to find the very bottom. Something out of folklore is trapped there, and it is trying to escape.
Willamette’s earliest memories of books coincided with those of America, when she first came here from Hong Kong at the age of seven. Awed by the abundance of free books, she determined to learn English so that she could partake of this bounty.
At first she wanted to be a detective, but after studying physics and library sciences, she became an academic librarian. Now she combines her love of information and speculation to create fantastic stories that nevertheless give an air of a world truer than the one we see.
Pergi can only retain her father’s throne if she marries the neighboring prince, combining their kingdoms. Yet the same prophecy that calls for the reunification also warns that they must join by love. So she is supplanted by her younger sister, Sadira, who unexpectedly runs on her wedding day, only to be snared by the dark lord Malchor.
What starts as an impromptu rescue of the wayward bride leads to a desperate struggle against a deadly foe. For if Malchor completes his true goal, and gains the Far Stones of power, he will subjugate all the peoples of Miran. Can Pergi’s adamant sense of duty rise above the forces crushing her?
Lee James writes stories of hope and redemption. Whether it’s fantasy, mystery or historical fiction, her beautifully awkward characters traverse a dark labyrinth on their journey to a hopeful end.
She is vehement about the importance of creating and preserving the sanctity of the written word. In that vein, she supports literacy programs and her local libraries. Most importantly, she supports her fellow writers. She also enjoys photography, watching The Simpsons, and of course, reading.
Bree, a feisty protegee fighter, is sent to infiltrate the city of Azriel. Unexpectedly, the Watchmen of the Keep welcome her as one of their own.
But the city’s water source has dried up, they face constant attacks from the vengeful spirits of former Watchmen who sold their souls for power, and an immortal creature lurks.
Then, a Watchman is murdered. But only a Watchman can kill another Watchman, so all eyes shift to Bree. Should she betray the dying city, or find the killer before it’s too late?
Daniel Tuituku is from Hawaii, but grew up in North Carolina, which is still his home. He’s a Christian and homeschooled alum, and his favorite works include Pilgrim’s Progress and the writings of C.S. Lewis.
When he got laid off from a job back in 2021, he jumped on the opportunity to write and publish his first book, Strange City. Daniel writes about real world themes and problems, but ensures the message of salvation and hope shines through the darkness of this fallen world.
Noe Ryker grew up in the Gray Zone as an orphan whose parents were killed for their beliefs. Whether he’s being harassed by The Law, being ordered around by robots, or forced to bow down to the tyrannical King, Noe has been giving in for too long.
All of that changes when he meets Faith, a strangely powerful woman – or spirit – he thought he once knew. Driven by a sense of purpose for the first time, Noe sets out to take down the King and liberate the city. But can he speak boldly, act courageously, and hold on to what he knows is true, even as the shadows of doubt and fear grow all around him?
Yorks spent six years as a professional Track athlete, earning silver in the United States championships, among several other distinguishing awards. Now, he seeks his true passion for authoring fantasy works with a heart for virtues that chase the Good, True, and Beautiful.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Yorks is now happily lost in Hillsborough, living the small-town life and raising a growing family with his wife Courtney.
Magnate Rivia watches his land crumble, and the High King refuses to answer his pleas. He sends a skyship on a desperate mission—commanded by an invalid whose body is shattered but whose will remains unbroken.
The invalid’s destination? The lost promised land that drove Magnate Rivia’s father to madness. Their path? The storm-ridden skies of Aithos, where dragons once soared, secrets lie buried, and death waits in the clouds.
Failure means rebellion. Success could mean salvation, but at what price?
R. J. Amezcua is the creative director of Quentorex Studios and the author of a science fiction book trilogy and an illustrated children’s book.
Mr. Amezcua’s favorite TV shows – Lost in Space, Outer Limits, and Star Trek – sparked his imagination. He also enjoys watching the Food Network, walking in the morning, and gathering with friends and family.
Decades after global infanticide wiped out millions on the planet Ramah, Jazrene Vallo tries to piece her Holy Order back together.
But those responsible – the merciless, sorcerer-led Necrogog legions – still threaten multitudes of star systems, following their objective: to kill the promised Mantis messiah, whose birth mother is a member of the Holy Order, Marium Kahnet.
A group of rogue sisters is out for revenge. And her past isn’t clean either, with her own government seeking to prosecute her for war crimes. Even with a group of elite mercenaries and the instructions of a divine messenger, Jazrene may not be able to stop another wave of destruction.
A. Bean is a Christian author who writes fictional stories that reflect the body of Christ and the Bible. She writes in multiple genres, including end times fiction, historical fantasy, and more.
Her treasured dog, Sesame, is a small tricolor beagle that loves peas! On their days off, they like to travel, visit new restaurants, and find exciting dog treat recipes.
In a world where reading is a rare ability you must be born with, it’s been decades since a new Scribe has surfaced…
Amana Hart believes she was born with the Gift; the ability to innately understand and speak multiple languages – but she must keep this a secret. Only men of great wealth and stature are supposed to have this ability, so to pursue her dream of becoming a Scribe, she must take on a new identity.
Only God can keep Amana safe. The Scribal Institution will stop at nothing to silence liars and fakes. If she isn’t careful, she could end up burned at the stake.
S. E. M. Ishida is a children’s book author who writes science fiction and fantasy. She is also a technical communicator. The two roles allow her to write for both small publishers as well as a large technology company.
Her hobbies include reading, drawing, and collecting toys. She likes robots and tea!
Nick Newton is not a Genius. He’s just a merely average boy from the country of Thauma. He may not be brilliant like his mom and dad or a child prodigy like his sister, but he won’t let that stop him from uncovering the mysteries of a clockwork factory or revealing a war hero’s greatest secret.
With help from two new friends and his butler named Jude, Nick embarks on an adventure that will change his life forever.
Jaymi Mozeak was born in 1982 in Nuernberg, Germany. Soon after, her family moved back to the states where she grew up on the central coast of California.
Besides being an author, artist, and speaker, Jaymi Mozeak is also a Christian Seer. She became a Christian at age 7 and has walked with the Lord ever since. Now she draws inspiration for her stories and artwork from the dreams and visions she receives.
“I drank the blood of an angel… How can You want me?”
Follow Silver Fox, a brave young wolf-dog, in her quest to find a place for herself among the glories of heaven. She looks like a demon and is hampered, abused, and mistrusted because of it. She feels like no one will ever trust her or want her around.
No one will love her except Shepherd, the white lion. He alone invites her to join his army. What does he see in her that no one else has?
Help Me Expand This List!
Do you know of any other authors whose works would fit this list? Comment below or shoot me an email, and I’ll feature them here!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
Good reviews are absolutely essential for the sales of your book. Readers want to find out if your book is worth reading without having to expend much time upfront. The opinion of readers like them is a huge factor in decision-making.
But Christian fantasy, sci-fi, and horror are niche genres which have a relatively small audience. It’s already hard enough for authors of mainstream fiction to find reviewers, but you might feel incredibly frustrated trying to find the small crowd of readers who won’t condemn your themes of faith OR accuse you of “condoning witchcraft.”
So I’ve compiled a list of resources to help you gain reviews for your Christian SFF book – all of them are friendly toward indie and self-published authors:
ARC Websites DO Accept Christian Sci-Fi & Fantasy Books
Top advanced reader copy (ARC) websites include NetGalley, BookSirens, and BookSprout. Publishers list their upcoming releases and readers can create an account and request free copies, in exchange for leaving an honest review.
These websites accept all types of genres and any reader can sign up for a free account. I’ve seen Christian fantasy and sci-fi listed on these sites (I’m a reviewer on BookSirens). It’s quite possible that other Christian readers of sci-fi and fantasy browse these websites and will request your book.
The MOST important factor which affects your book’s likelihood of approval on these sites is your release date. If your book was published more than 6 months ago, they will not consider it eligible. Ideally, your book should be available on these sites at least 3 months before publication so that you gain some positive reviews by the time your book goes live. That’s why they’re called advance reader copies.
Note that you are not paying for a review. You are paying these companies to connect you with their list of reviewers.
This is the go-to location for the Big 5 Publishers, so indie authors have to compete with many famous authors and books in high-demand. However, the publishers are also picky about which reviewers they send free books, so there are many readers on the platform who want free books and will keep browsing if they don’t get their top choice.
Prices: $60-800+ depending on what type of plan you purchase. Kindlepreneuer has a great article summarizing the best NetGalley deals.
This is my favorite ARC site because I think they have the best search function – this makes it easy for me, as a reader, to narrow down their choices and find exactly the type of book I’m looking for.
They also keep a public database of reviewers which allows authors to search for good matches and reach out in-person to readers they think will enjoy their book.
Prices: $10/ARC plus $2/reader or $100/year for unlimited ARCs – learn more
BookSprout is similar to BookSirens, in that it’s very friendly to indie authors. Their plans offer a certain amount of reviewers per month. For instance, if you pick their $9/mo plan, you can receive up to 25 reviews. With their $29 and $59/mo plans, you get unlimited potential reviews.
This is a popular site that reviews indie and bestselling authors alike. They state that, “more than half of the books submitted for a free review will receive one within three (3) months. Some books are reviewed in less than a week while others are never selected for review.”
The Independent Book Review exclusively reviews indie release in a wide variety of genres. They’re composed of a team of reviewers, with varied preferences. They note that they do not accept: “some religious books.” But that likely does not exclude SFF with themes of faith, redemption, and the like.
This site helps library professionals choose which books to stock. They state, “As the book review journal of the American Library Association, Booklist connects library and education workers to the books and resources needed to support and enrich their communities.” They also have a branch of their site oriented toward library patrons who are searching for their next read.
Since they receive over 60K review requests per year, I suggest only submitting to them if you think your book has wide appeal. This could be a great option for children’s book authors as well.
Lorehaven is currently the only major website completely dedicated to writing about Christian sci-fi, fantasy, and other speculative fiction. They maintain a database of Christian SFF books, and authors and readers alike can submit books to be included.
They have a team of reviewers and for your book to be considered it must be: Christian-made, fantastical in genre, and professionally published (indie or traditional). Lorehaven also runs a podcast and has an active discord server for readers.
They review both secular and Christian-made sci-fi and fantasy, but focus on works released by major publishers. So this is not a good option for self-published authors. They review mostly middle grade and YA, aiming their reviews at parents, though you can submit books aimed at adults as well.
Jon Dykstra, the editor of Reformed Perspective, has reviewed a number of Christian fantasy books, including the Wingfeather Saga and The Dark Harvest Trilogy. There’s not an official way to request reviews on this website, which emphasizes curated and reflective content, but there is no harm in bringing your series to their attention.
PluggedIn is aimed at parents and mostly reviews popular media. Their intent is to help parents filter through the (often secular) content their children are most likely to encounter and request to read or watch. But they have reviewed Christian-made fantasy novels.
They do not have an official way to request reviews, but you can email them directly at letters@pluggedin.com. Keep in mind that the more requests they receive for a certain type of review (or specific work of fiction), the more likely they are to see it as a high demand and expand into that area.
This is our blog, and we’re glad you’ve found your way here! We love reviewing science fiction and fantasy of all types, including those with Christian themes!
You may submit a review request here. Please be sure to check out my reading wishlist first! Note that I do not review books with more than 2 POVs.
Periapsis Press is one of the most prolific reviewer sites of Christian SFF, run by Katie and David Roome! They also offer author interviews and invite guest posts from reviewers.
Chris Solaas writes concise reviews that include: an analysis of each story, a summary of the Christian content, and estimated ratings for mature content. He notes that he receives way more requests than he can ever accept or even respond to, and is also behind on the books he has chosen to read.
Kristi notes: “As a self-published author myself, I realize the need for reviews and certainly empathize with the difficulty of self-marketing. I read some fantasy, but not really paranormal. I read sci-fi, but not so much space operas.” She has a list of her preferred genres.
Leah is a Christian and avid book lover who reviews books clean in language and content, though she will read dark and violent content – which she will then warn of in her reviews.
Coralie reads and reviews both Christian fantasy and classics. She notes in her book review index that you can reach out on her contact page if you’d like to see specific reviews.
Tressa only reviews clean books and notes, “I pretty much read all sub-genres (contemporary, historical, fantasy, dystopian, scifi, steampunk, etc., except most thrillers).” She is backlogged with requests, so be sure to compare her recent reads with your book to see if you’ll be a good fit.
Be aware that YouTube videos rarely focus on reviews of individual books, and are more likely to include a list of recommendations or a discussion and comparison of a genre. It’s still a great way to reach a wider audience of readers!
Celestria says, “I talk about clean and Christian books here. Subscribe to watch me fangirl about fictional characters, drink too much coffee, and sing the occasional song.”
Rochelle is a vlogger based out of South Africa! She makes videos about her faith, her daily life, and books. Here’s a video she made about Christian fantasy.
Her bio says she’s “a teenage author, book lover, and Christian with a big dream and an even bigger God.” She reviews and recommends Christian fantasy, definitely on the cleaner side.
Valicity Elaine used to run this BookTube channel, but transformed it into an indie publishing company with the same name! She still actively reviews on Goodreads. I encourage you to get in touch with her!
Christian Fantasy Reviewers on Instagram
There are many great book reviewers on Instagram who mention that they’re Christian and love to read sci-fi and fantasy! Try searching with tags like #Christianbookblogger, #christianfantasy, and #bookreview. It might take you a while to filter through, but it’s well worth it. I find reviewers on IG to be incredibly friendly, excited, and open to helping share the work of new and indie authors!
Note: I am actively researching and expanding this section.
These individuals have left Goodreads reviews on multiple major works of Christian sci-fi and fantasy and most note on their profile that they are interested in both genre fiction and Christian works. I only included accounts of people who have been active on the platform within the past year.
You could certainly friend them and send a message, but keep in mind that most of these people are readers who do not run “official” reviewer blogs. So be sure to browse through some of their favorites to make sure that they’d actually be interested in your book, BEFORE reaching out to them.
Find more individual readers by scrolling through positive reviews left on your favorite Christian SFF books!
Who Are Your Favorite Reviewers?
If you’re an author of Christian SFF and have some favorite reviewers who love your work, please share so I can keep expanding this list! If you yourself are a reviewer of Christian SFF, please let me know if you’d like to be featured!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
