The Because Fiction Podcast

Don't know about you, but I don't think there's enough Christian dystopian novels out, but thanks to Katelyn E. Pfeiffer, we have another series. Listen in as we chat about the first book of the Provenance Chronicles, City of End.  note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. City of End by Katelyn E. Pfeiffer  The year is 4085. Aoire, a young woman with a hidden past, is living in secret in the underground cavern City of End. A great evil has been growing, waging war on the human race since the day a nuclear genocide eradicated the surface of the Earth in 3080. Now on End's most important day of the year, Aoire must reveal herself not only to all of End, but to the dark forces as well. Can she find a way to save her city, while also navigating the destiny forced upon her and her desire to finally have a life to call her own? Learn more about Katelyn on her WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon and more!

YA Christian fiction set in Israel?  Come on, that screams, "Sign me up!" Listen in as Bethany Crigger and I chat about her book, Sunshine for Yofi. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Love this different setting in particular. Seeing Jewish culture and a Christian set in it and seeing everything. through that lens?  Yeah. This is unique, fresh, and still relatable. Sunshine for Yofi by Bethany Crigger After Yofi bombs her big opportunity to share her music, she spirals into a pit of self-doubt. Who is she if she doesn't have what it takes to play in front of other people? Didn't God put music inside her to speak to others through it? Giving up isn't an option, but Yofi's nerves promise one thing: failure. So she does the only thing she knows to do. She cries out to God. His answer is puzzling—a verse containing lilies, paired alongside a new friendship with Ori—the boy who sees what Yofi is painfully blind to. But even if Ori's got her perfectly pegged, both the lilies and the captivating boy remain a mystery to Yofi. With her curiously intuitive cat by her side, Yofi weaves herself into the beautiful community of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). But just as her playing improves, Yofi's world flips upside down. Nothing is coincidental; it's all a part of the plan. But whose plan? Is the burning in Yofi's heart to play and share her music God's leading, or is it merely her own selfish desire heading her straight for the deepest pitfall of all? Sunshine for Yofi is a uniquely crafted and heartfelt novel by Bethany Crigger. This wholesome coming-of-age story is a breath of fresh air, awakening the sleeping soul to dreams of hope long buried. If you enjoy clean, faith-filled themes, you'll pine for this story of perseverance, friendship, love, generosity, and community attuned to God. Learn more on Bethany's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!

 One thing good fantasy often has is the whole "prophecy" angle--and how it affects the folks involved. But what if, in addition to that, you also find out that who you thought you ARE... is all wrong?  Listen in as R. T. Ward and I chat about her book, Prophecy Changer. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  The creativity of God's people never ceaces to astound me, and this conversation was further proof of that. Prophecy Changer  by R. T. Ward Trauma has taken root in Thea's soul, leaving behind questions she can no longer silence. When long-buried memories begin to surface, the truth presses in demanding to be seen, felt, and faced. Adopted by the Mirascan people, Thea has always believed herself to be human. But as fragments of her past return, doubt follows. Drawn by questions she can't answer and a pull she can't explain, she steps beyond the only world she has ever known, hoping to uncover who she truly is. Her search leads her into the unknown and into the path of Ilan. Through him, Thea begins to unravel the lies that shaped her life, awakening a deep ache of anger, betrayal, and grief. What she uncovers changes everything. Caught in the center of a living prophecy, Thea learns of Creashu, the world of her origin, and the calling placed upon her life. As new gifts awaken within her, she must decide whether she will allow her pain to define her...or refine her. Determined to pursue truth, forgiveness, and the path set before her, Thea faces a choice that will alter more than her own destiny. The future of two worlds hangs in the balance, and the role she was born to fulfill can no longer be ignored. But becoming a Prophecy Changer was never meant to be easy. All proceeds go to livingseeds.foundation Learn more on her WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!

 Dystopian in the desert?  Sign me up!  Seriously, listen in while Lauren Smyth and I chat all things "glowy" in the desert! note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  Not a lot of people write books about the boring Mojave Desert.  When they do, I take note. Especially when it's a super-cool dystopian delight! EEEP! All That Glows by Lauren Smyth The apocalypse didn't take everyone. It just took us. Ever since the rain turned green, Kyrie's world has been bathed in glowing dust. She packs it into old mascara tubes and sells it as makeup alongside dried cacti, threadbare blankets, and long-expired canned food. There's not much else to do when everyone outside Kyrie's small town in the Mojave Desert died from the plague-bearing rain ten years ago. Everyone—except the man in the rubber mask. He's on the dangerous side of the fence, huffing infected air like it's nothing, babbling to Kyrie about college and umbrellas and yogurt and everything else that disappeared the day it rained. He doesn't seem to know that the world ended, and he has no explanation for how he survived the apocalypse. But Kyrie doesn't believe in ghosts. She can't trust him, but he's right about one thing: Towns without secrets aren't surrounded by chain-link fences. And chain-link fences won't keep out the plague forever. Learn more on Lauren's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!

I did a whole video on dementia in Christian fiction and how we need more not long ago.  Now Carolyn Bourke has given us another wonderful addition to the line up in A Beautiful Death. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.  This book shows how people with dementia are still people with love to give and needs. If you loved The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, I suspect you'll enjoy this book, too! A Beautiful Death by Carolyn Bourke A moving story of resilience, second chances, and the unbreakable bonds of familial love. World-renowned pianist Cassie Brennan faces a devastating diagnosis: rapidly advancing younger-onset dementia threatens to steal her memories and identity. As she grapples with the lonely life she's always led, an unexpected friendship with newbie journalist Elle Jones offers a glimmer of hope. With time running out and the shadows of dementia closing in, Elle helps Cassie confront her deepest regrets and search for reconciliation. Together, Cassie and Elle embark on a journey of forgiveness and self-discovery, testing the boundaries of friendship and the resilience of the human heart. Bourke weaves a tapestry of emotions that will resonate with readers long after the final page in this heartwarming tale of resilience and humor in the face of dementia, where Cassie's quirky attitude and indomitable spirit captivate. Perfect for fans of Sara Brunsvold's The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, A Beautiful Death is a testament to the enduring power of love and the indomitable strength of the human spirit. Learn more on Carolyn's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!