Large Casts, Found Family, & Fantasy Worlds with Chawna Schroeder (E214)

Send us Fan MailToday I’m joined by author Chawna Schroeder, a fantasy writer who describes herself as a “boundary stretcher,” someone who explores what it means to live beyond the boxes we often place around ourselves, our faith, and even our imagination. After more than two decades studying the craft of writing, Chawna creates richly layered stories that blend faith, philosophy, and speculative worldbuilding.In this episode, we’re talking about Perplexity, the second book in her Sceptre & the Stylus series. This story weaves together political intrigue, hidden dangers, and characters navigating loss, responsibility, and purpose. We also dive into the books that shaped her as a reader, featuring a book flight centered on ensemble casts and found family.Episode Highlights:What it means to be a “boundary stretcher” in both life and writingWhy she’s drawn to large, interconnected character castsA simple breakdown of the difference between science fiction and fantasyHow faith, purpose, and identity show up in her storiesWhy stories allow us to step into someone else’s life in a meaningful wayConnect with Chawna:FacebookWebsiteSome links are affiliate links, which are no extra cost to you but do help to support the show.Books and authors mentioned in the episode:The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. TolkienA Little Princess by Frances Hodgson BurnettAngela Bell’s episodeFirebird by Kathy TyresSharon Hinck booksThe Bandit of Ashley Downs by Dave & Neta JacksonGeorge Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans by Janet & Geoff BengeBook FlightRecorder by Cathy McCrumb (adult sci-fi)The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud by Jenny Cote (middle grade historical fantasy)Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens (contemporary adult suspense)✨ Find Your Next Great Read! We just hit 175 episodes of Bookish Flights, and to celebrate, I created the Bookish Flights Roadmap — a guide to all 175 podcast episodes, sorted by genre to help you find your next great read faster.Explore it here → www.bookishflights.com/read/roadmapSupport the showBe sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!InstagramFacebookWebsite