Platform Revision
I have always enjoyed fantasy and science fiction. As a Christian, I have struggled to find a way to glorify God while writing in these two genres. I had hope because my two favorite fantasy authors, Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, were Christian. I wrote the world of Slaves’ Lullaby to create a story about freedom and love. What I created looked more like modern fantasy than the works of either Tolkien or Lewis. I wrote about some of the dark themes that are portrayed in modern fantasy, such as witchcraft and sexual immorality. In asking myself how this glorified God, I had the idea to use these themes as a medium for repentance within the story. The new generation could deny the customs of the older and I could finish the story in a way that condemned dark practices. It wasn’t enough.
My main character was aided too much by dark magic in his quest for freedom and love. The lines were too blurred, the morals too grey. As the evil in our own world becomes bolder, I could see a scenario where a reader who didn’t know me, could believe I was promoting such things. I cannot have that. Rather than writing a character who uses witchcraft to defeat witches, I have decided to rewrite Slave’s Lullaby in such a way that the lines between good and evil are clear.
At this time all my books have been taken off sale. Some will be revised and return to the market. Some will not. The Iterum series was meant to be an easy-to-read action thriller, but it glorified violence, not God. I have no plans to rewrite it at this time, consider it discontinued. My stories will still contain evil and violence, but the forces of good will be more defined using biblical principles. If I had a larger reader base, I would have taken smaller steps in the revision of my author platform. As it happens, my books are mostly invisible. There has been no large investment in the reading of my stories.
If you are one of my readers, I thank you. If you feel as if your time invested in my stories was in vain, I invite you to reach out. Maybe you would make a good addition to my reading team for future stories and revisions of past works. I am upending six years of work after much prayer and consideration. The decision did not come easy for me, but I am more determined than ever to submit my skill for telling a good story to God for the glory of Jesus Christ. Stay tuned for future announcements.
-Sean