Wednesday, July 8, 2026

"Thalia in Exile" by Allen Brokken with Thalia Schertzer -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Thalia in Exile

Author: Allen Brokken with Thalia Schertzer

Genre: Middlegrade Christian Fantasy

Release Date: June 26, 2026

Thalia never expected to be taken. But the Darkness has plans of its own.

When the dreaded Steele Brothers and their Giant allies raid her home at midnight, Thalia and her friends are forced on a harrowing journey to the mysterious academy at Emohnomed. Like the young men of Judah chosen for the King of Babylon’s service, they are dragged towards a land of shadowed luxury to learn the language and literature of a culture that serves the Darkness.

Thalia finds brief respite aboard a luxurious train. But when Headmistress Imogen adds a “gift from the bishop” to the students’ punch, Thalia’s keen senses catch the putrescent smell of a counterfeit light. Clinging to the Good Book she smuggled into her bag, she refuses the smoke-laced food that turns friends into unthinking foes. In a world of beautiful lies, Thalia must stand firm against false accusations and prove that the only true strength comes from the Light that cannot be tainted.

Because this isn’t just about escaping her captors. It’s about saving the people who no longer know they need to be saved.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
A plotting pantser? Basically, I get a set of scenes I think will be cool and then try to
stitch them together into a plot. For this story, I knew we needed a scene with a river
crossing because what frontier movie doesn’t have one, right? I wanted a big, creepy
train with an observation car and some stupid guard hijinks somewhere like all the old
westerns. With the help of my co-writer that got all stitched together to make a story that
mirrors Daniel’s exodus into Babylon

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
Having quirky scenes come to mind and seeing them play out on the page.

3. Do you have a way to keep track of your story ideas?
Nothing formal. I keep most of it in my head. However, if I have an idea that doesn’t work, I
hold it off to the side in a document I call the cutting room floor. Thalia had a bunch of these
that we expect to work into later books in the series.

4. What is your writing space like?
I have a three monitor setup when I write. My laptop screen at the bottom, my main screen
above that, both of which are in a horizontal mode like you’d expect. Then I have a third
monitor that is vertical like your smartphone. This really helps move text around to make sure
things will land where you want them.

5. What is your work schedule/routine when you write?
I work best Early morning. I’m most awake and alert then. It’s hard, though. As I’ve
gotten older, I’ve had to really prioritize exercise and a fresh, healthy breakfast, so that
tends to cut into my writing time in a way a Pop-Tart and a cup of coffee didn’t.

About the Authors

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off on their own adventures, he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media.

Thalia Shertzerr is a dedicated writer whose Christian faith is the central part of her life and the heart of her storytelling. Outside of writing, she has a strong interest in science and hopes to pursue a future career in clinical medicine. Thalia balances her time between her academic goals, her faith, and her love for reading and capturing moments through the lens of her camera.

More from Allen

Two years ago, I was overwhelmed with the production schedule I’d made for myself after the Towers of Light series was completed. I had a vision for three new series. First, I was trying my hand at writing a picture book with everyone’s favorite kitten, Meow Meow, as the hero. I also had a mind for an early chapter book series that was classic frontier boy hijinks, think Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn, but was an exploration of the fruits of the spirit that boys could relate to. Finally, I had a series that had the classic Victorian elements of a boarding school for girls, but set in the war-torn landscape of the Heathlands. I wanted to retell the story of Daniel’s exile to Babylon and the lessons we learn about following our conscience and persevering in a world with ungodly values.

For the first two, I had a collaborator who helped make the story real, but I just didn’t seem to have the time for the third. I had an outline and overall concept that tied the story in nicely to Spring Fields from the Towers of Light series, but there was no way I could really sit down and write it as well as everything else.

Then an email landed in my inbox written by Thalia Shertzer, an 11-year-old homeschooler from Canada. She had been a fan from the beginning, and her family was a huge supporter of my work. Thalia asked me if I needed any help writing for the Towers of Light world. I immediately knew that this was a match made in heaven. I wanted to write a story about a girl around her age, and now I had a girl who wanted to write a story. We met on a video call a few days later, and I laid out the “flight plan” for what would become Thalia in Exile. I’m really looking forward to this tour, where we’re being interviewed together to talk about our adventure in writing!

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, July 3 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, July 4 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 5 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 7

Blossoms and Blessings, July 8 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 8

Stories By Gina, July 9 (Author Interview)

Simple Harvest Reads, July 10 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, July 11

Guild Master, July 12

Fiction Book Lover, July 13 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, July 14 (Author Interview)

Books, Books, & More Books, July 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, July 16

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 17 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Allen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/DMYZO/thalia-in-exile-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, June 14, 2026

"Metamorphosis" by Kayla E. Green -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Metamorphosis

Author: Kayla E. Green

Genre: Poetry (religious/inspirational)

Release Date: May, 2020

Are you searching for something more in your life? Metamorphosis is a personal testimony of how God can transform lives. Covering topics of depression, anxiety, and searching for something more, the poetry serves as a vessel for God’s light. The words provide hope for the future and insight on how to be strong through Jesus Christ. Anyone yearning for something more will find renewal in this poetry.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. What is your writing area like?
I do most of my writing on my couch with my laptop on a lapboard. There’s usually 2-3 drinks on
the end table and 1-3 dogs snuggled with me. It’s calming chaos and I love it!

2. How do you balance writing time with other things?
I’m a full-time parent so most of my writing is done at night after a long day of mom-ing. I love
the time in the evenings when I work on writing, and my husband plays video games. It’s nice
being together and his presence helps keep me focused (I’ve learned this term is called body-
doubling and is a real strategy!) I also will sometimes record voice memos and use my Google
Docs app on my phone as time allows if I have an idea I don’t want to lose. But I am in the
process of learning that it’s okay to not wear every hat at once :)

3. What types of research do you do?
I spend a lot of time double checking spelling and definitions. I also love researching
etymology and name meanings when working on fiction stories. Reading devotionals and
nonfiction, as well as fiction, is also important for me to grow as a Christian, writer, and poet.

4. Was there anything you found particularly interesting while researching?
While working on some of the poems included in Metamorphosis, I asked family and friends
their favorite Bible verses. I was surprised at the variety of verses shared with me. There were
only a few duplicates including Isaiah 41:10 and John 3:16 from those that joined the poll. It was
a true testament of the impact the Bible as a whole has on different hearts at different times.
And though this isn’t directly related to Metamorphosis I do want to share one of my favorite “fun
facts” I’ve found while researching. Sliced bread was first mass produced and sold in 1928. So,
the old adage “the best thing since sliced bread” can also be “the best things since 1928.”

5. What is different about writing non-fiction vs fiction?
Writing fiction and nonfiction is more similar than one might first assume. Both require creative
pursuits, a goal, and determination. The biggest difference is that nonfiction is wholly true while
fiction explores truths in fantastical manners. I love C.S. Lewis’s commentary on writing. “He
does not despise real woods because he has read of enchanted woods; the reading makes all
real woods a little enchanted” (C.S. Lewis, On Stories: And Other Essays on Literature). This
quote, which I love, summarizes how fiction, specifically fantasy, helps shape readers based on
the truths relatable to the real world. Though I am no C.S. Lewis, my inspirational poetry and
fantasy writings complement each other. The best fiction and nonfiction do—it’s why I write and
read both.

About the Author

Kayla E. Green is an award-winning author and poet who writes to remind others—and herself—that light always prevails over darkness. When she isn’t writing, reading, or spending time with her family, she loves singing loudly and off-key to KLove Radio and pretending she’s a unicorn. Fittingly, her YA debut fantasy novel is titled The Goodness of Unicorns.

More from Kayla

Have you ever been in the car and heard just the right song at just the right moment? Or heard just the message you needed at a specific point in your life on Sunday morning like the pastor is speaking directly to you?

Throughout crafting the poems that now make-up the contents of Metamorphosis, I realized that my testimony navigating depression and anxiety is incomplete without my faith. It is the love of God that allows transformation. As such, each poem within the collection is paired with a Bible verse. No matter what we are facing in life, we can find strength in our Lord and through His Word.

Visit this slideshow and see what Bible verse awaits you today. Share how the verse resonates with you and/or suggest a worship song that it reminds you of on social media and be sure to tag me (@author.kayla.e.green on Instagram) so I can reply! https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAUXF0oAI/kU3r4XgiHh-uOUWZUHQrPA/view?utm_content=DAHAUXF0oAI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hb6054e54cf

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, June 5 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, June 6 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, June 7

Fiction Book Lover, June 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 8

The Bookish Ledger, June 9 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 10

Vicky Sluiter, June 11 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, June 12 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 13 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 14

Blossoms and Blessings, June 15 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, June 16 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, June 16

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 17 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kayla is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/XwQCl/metamorphosis-celebration-tour-giveaway

"Someone to Lean On" by Carrie Walker -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Someone to Lean On (Faith Endures Book 3)

Author: Carrie Walker

Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction

Release Date: May 5, 2026

They’re seeking a peace they can’t seem to find. . .

Aged out of the foster care system and struggling to raise her young daughter, Lucia Roberts loses her only source of income. When she’s offered a position caring for a four-year-old foster child, Timothy, it feels like the answer to a prayer-except for one catch. She must work in the home of Jordan Nowak, Timothy’s overly vigilant foster father who scrutinizes her every move.

Jordan has built his life around one promise: protect a foster child until they can find a happily ever after. But while Jordan fights to keep Timmy safe, his own world spirals out of control. The music store he co-owns with his brother is on the brink of bankruptcy after months of mismanagement. Torn between protecting Timmy, saving the store, and guarding his heart, Jordan grasps for any possibility to fix it all.

Mason Hughes is in his final year of medical school, on rotation under a difficult neurologist, and doubting his call to be a doctor. As the walls between Lucia and Jordan soften, Timmy starts displaying puzzling symptoms. Soon Mason must choose whether he trusts his medical instincts enough to fight an ethical battle.

As three adults seek control in their lives, a young child with no guarantees teaches them to trust.

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I definitely am a hybrid, that leans more pantsing the more stories I write. In order to start a story
I need to know my characters and their back stories, where the story will start and the climax
point I need to get them too. I will often at that point do some loose plotting (enough to convince
myself I have a story, but not so much that I’ll be frustrated when the characters ruin my plan).
Then I usually start.

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
When the characters surprise me. I once had a character open her front door to a best friend
that I didn’t have included in my character list. She was great… had to write her in ��

3. What is your least favorite part about writing?
When you have those feelings that you aren’t sure exactly how the story will work out, and if
what you are writing now is going to have to be completely reworked because it’s hard to
envision if it will be effective.

4. What is your writing space like?
I’m a mom of 7 and I do youth ministry with my husband, so my writing space is very portable. I
have a lap desk and a laptop and I steal my moments whenever I can find them. Sometimes its
the backseat of a car at practice, sometimes my living room sofa.

5. When did you become a writer?
I’ve been told that as soon as you write, you are a writer, but I first felt like a writer once I
completed my first manuscript in 2019 and felt driven to make it good enough to publish. So it
really hasn’t been that long, but it’s been an amazing journey so far.

About the Author

Winner of the 2025 Faith Hope and Love Reader’s Choice Award, Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister, adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit within her heart.

As an avid reader she pens what she loves to read, contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among story lines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all situations. When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids in the Walker bus or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing those stories to life.

Carrie’s writing has been recognized in many contests. Her debut novel, Emma’s Hero, won the silver medal in the Selah Awards, won the IAN Book of the Year for Christian Fiction, was a double finalist in the International Book Awards.

More from Carrie

Where did you get the idea for “Someone to Lean On”

I’m asked this for every story, and this one I can definitely say the characters gave me no choice, I had to write it. When I envisioned this series, I always envisioned a three-book series where we would meet a “special” little boy in the first book and follow the lives he touched, and by the end of the series see the far-reaching effects of his life. When I finished writing “Right Before Their Eyes” we left Lucia as a pregnant foster teen. She’d found an amazing foster mom to support her, but what happened to her and her baby? In talking with social workers I learned so many foster teens age out and while there are some programs to help support them, they aren’t easy. So of course, Lucia’s story wasn’t over. And the story, as many of ours are, wasn’t all easy, but it also was filled with blessing. Many of her struggles, she gave to me (yeah… the characters talk to me lol, and many times just take over their stories), I didn’t have to dream them up. I’m sure many of us pray, read Scripture, and want to trust God. But then … life. Sometimes life sure makes those desires difficult to live out. And to watch this young woman grow through tough times, still have a heart, and eventually find the strength to step out in faith . . . I’m so glad she made me write this story I pray you enjoy Lucia and Jordan’s story, and also step back and reflect on the far reaching effect of each human life.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, June 6 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, June 7 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 7

Guild Master, June 8 (Author Interview)

Inspired by Fiction, June 9

Fiction Book Lover, June 10 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, June 11 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 12 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 13

Life on Chickadee Lane, June 14

Blossoms and Blessings, June 15 (Author Interview)

Stories By Gina, June 16 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 16

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, June 17 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, June 18

For Him and My Family, June 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize of a $40 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/pZs43/someone-to-lean-on-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

"Mesmerize" by Darlene Corbett -- Author Interview

About the Book

Book: Mesmerize

Author: Darlene Corbett

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 18, 2026

Set against the backdrop of Las Vegas, Boston, and Dubai, a dazzling romance comes to life.

Can a storyteller win back the love of her life through tales sprinkled with faith and love.

Boston-based Delphina Tulasi, a therapeutic storyteller, has shunned men.

A year after a major betrayal, she accompanies her mother Lucia, a matchmaker, to Las Vegas to help her run an exclusive speed-dating event.

Alexander O’Hara, a CFO with secrets of his own, accepts Lucia’s invitation to attend. He meets Delphina and becomes mesmerized. They go out on a date in Las Vegas and return to Boston, where their love blossoms.

All goes well until Alex goes on a long business trip to Dubai. A visit from someone in her past confuses Delphina and lures her back to a previous relationship, prompting her to break up with Alex.

After a few dates with her ex, Delphina recognizes the mistake she’s made and becomes determined to win Alex back. She uses her creativity, spins stories based on truth, and sends them in videos across the internet.

Will it work?

Click here to get your copy!

Author Interview

1. Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser (or a hybrid)?
I am 80 percent pantser with 20 percent plotting in my approach. I know the destination, but I go
on a journey to figure out how to get there.

2. What is your favorite part about writing?
Dictating a skeletal scene, then sitting down filling it in. An exhilarating process. Also, I like
reading out loud.

3. What is your least favorite part about writing?
Although I like reading out loud, I find editing excruciating at times.

4. What is your writing space like?
I sit at my desk with a big window in front of me. Lots of wildlife scampers through my backyard.
My little Shih Tzu, Stevie, sits in his bed a few feet away from me.

5. Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters?
Yes. I’m a therapist, so bits and pieces of me show up. But for the most part, each character
takes a life of their own.

About the Author

Darlene Corbett has been serving others as a licensed psychotherapist for over thirty years.

With her wealth of experience in human behavior, she decided to write down her thoughts to inspire a larger audience. This set the stage for her book, Stop Depriving The World of You, published by Sound Wisdom in 2018.

She continued writing nonfiction until she heard God whisper again. And his call prompted her to take a risk and dip her toes into fiction. Visible, a women’s fiction about second chances, was published by WordCrafts Press in the spring of 2024, and in August, she won the 2024 Storytrade Book Awards for Christian Fiction in the Contemporary category.

And right now?

Her contemporary romance, Mesmerize, will be published in February of 2026 which has themes of a modern-day, Christian Scheherazade story.

Her writing continues with two romantic suspense novels. Enthralled, which takes place in Mykenos, has been completed but needs editing. A Midnight Call, located in a small fictional town in central Massachusetts, has almost reached the finishing line.

When not writing or seeing clients, Darlene immerses herself in a variety of novels and tries to support other authors of faith.

In addition, she loves animals with dogs being number one. Taking care of her beloved Shih Tzu, Stevie, puts a smile on her face.

Being a life-long learner, she’s attempting a second language and remains a nerd at heart. Staying fit, traveling, and connecting with her inner circle also take priority.

Darlene belongs to many organizations, including the ACFW, FHL-CW, and WFWA.

She lives in Central Massachusetts with Stevie, and remains excited about the next chapter of her life.

More from Darlene

For all my life, I’ve been in love with the oral and written word.

And I imagine the same for you.

How many people do not enjoy reading or hearing a good tale?

And doesn’t it make sense?

Each of us has a story, our own book of life. How it unfold lays between God and us.

Although every novel involves a story, I decided to highlight a therapeutic storyteller.

Why therapeutic?

Because I’m a therapist and have listened to stories throughout my life. Also, I remember the story of Scheherazade, and with faith and modernity, I wove it into my novel. The protagonist spins tales to… Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out.

I hope you become mesmerized by Mesmerize.