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.

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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!