326. How Can Families Learn Biblical Truth in Fantastical Fiction? | with Bryan Davis

Once upon a time, a homeschool father dreamed of helping his children grow their love for writing. So while he worked for 20 years as a computer geek, he also trained to create fantastical fiction. Then, after hundreds of rejections, he broke through with his tale of two young teens who discover their secret ancestries: Dragons in Our Midst. Since then, Bryan Davis has won the trust of thousands of fans with more tales in this world, plus supernatural thrillers and superhero stories. Today we invite Bryan into our own cozy cave to explore how families can teach truth in fantasy this school year and beyond. Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley Mission update New at Lorehaven: new review coming this Friday Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Backstory: Bryan Davis After working as a computer geek for 20 years, Bryan followed a dream to become an author. He began by writing a story to motivate his seven children to gain some excitement about writing, and that story grew into a novel. After spending the next eight years learning the craft and enduring more than 200 rejections from publishers and agents, he broke through with his best-selling series Dragons in our Midst. He is now a full-time author and lives with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan Davis is the author of the following series: Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Astral Alliance, Wanted: Superheroes, The Oculus Gate, Reapers, Time Echoes, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, Falcon’s Quest, Save the Multiverse, Not-So-Famous Dog Tales, and Not-So-Famous Dragon Tales. His standalone novels are Let the Ghosts Speak and I Know Why the Angels Dance. For more information, see his website at DavisCrossing.com. 1. How a ‘geek’ learned to make new worlds Surveying Bryan’s journey to biblical truth and fantastical stories. Recalling the early 2000s era for Christian-made fantasy fiction. His series Dragons in Our Midst broke through to new realities. These portal fantasy tales show wholesome yet human heroes. 2. Winning the hearts of homeschool fans Bryan and his wife Susie homeschooled their seven children. Later, Bryan found ready readers in the homeschool community. Some may still believe these readers aren’t open to fantasy fiction. Yet many skeptics grew to enjoy tales of magic and superheroes. 3. Forging new worlds beyond dragon tales Bryan may be known for dragons, yet he’s found many portals. His Wanted: Superheroes series appeals to middle grade readers. And his Time Echoes series reaches teen/YA fantasy fans. The Oculus Gate series enters apocalyptic supernatural thriller. Com station Top question for listeners If you found portals to new realities, which one would you try first—fantasy, superheroes, or apocalyptic supernatural thriller? Next on Fantastical Truth As students return to school, some can’t help dreading their assigned books. Even good readers in good schools will feel burdened by reading classic novels. So how can we remind ourselves and others that we’re not made to read as a duty to adults, but made for reading as part of our joy in Christ? Katherine Briggs, author of The Threshold Duology and one of the upcoming Classics Rebooted novels, will teach us how fantasy fans can learn to love timeless classic fiction.