FlyingFaith Talks!

Death is a popular topic for writers and artists. Staring at the inevitable and giving it a face or presence in a story creates great drama and relatable commentary. Yet as I developed death's role in my new book, it's absolutely apparent to me that God views death extremely differently than we do--and not just in the clearly obvious ways.

I hate making mistakes--both in creativity and in life. I easily equate personal shortcomings to disappointing God or failing to reflect Him well. But after my recent car accident, my Lord more than proved nobody can damage nor inhibit His Gospel reflections in the slightest.

Writing chapters 13 and 14 for my book, Celestial: Age of Silence, is driving me NUTS! And I kinda deserve it. I made this whole thing harder than it needed to be, and the Lord is kindly teaching me a painful yet comforting lesson about contentment...both in writing and in life.

Akela, the ever chatty and ever smiling messenger angel from my first book, returns for 'Celestial: Age of Silence'. Yet picking him to go from side-character to main angelic protagonist came with several challenges: Consistency. Likability. And potential profound growth....

I'm slowed down writing one of Celestial: Age of Silence's pivotal scenes. Two simultaneous meetings--one in heaven and one on earth-contrast each other, and trying to portray the best laid plans of angels and men certainly widened my perspective on decision making itself...

The plot for my upcoming book 'Celestial: Age of Silence' addresses plenty of topics most people (even Christians) don't like to discuss. However, bringing them to the forefront is more relevant than ever, especially in the wake of national tragedy...

Writing a plot like 'Celestial: Age of Silence', where the worlds of angels and Scandinavians collide, meant I had to create a huge cast. Among them stood my main human protagonist: Ivo--a fisherman who's aware of God yet frustrated by his lack of knowledge about Him. Working on such a character challenged my walk...even now...

Much of 430 B.C.'s history has either been lost to time or twisted into today's well known Norse myths. (Not an easy setting to write a book in.) Thank goodness, though, that God gave me the Bible. His Scriptures monumentally helped shed light on the myths to reveals the truths behind what was lost!

When selecting my first book's starting point, numbers of helpful people offered up many theological books on angels and spiritual hierarchies. But just like then as it is for me now as I'm writing my next angelic adventure, picking a place to build the story upon came down to a significant choice...

Figuring out the Biblical core that should fuel my upcoming book, Celestial: Age of Silence, turned into a hard debate. Not because there weren't enough options. There were too dang many!

It's been a while, but I'm back to podcasting! Not only with new episodes, but an entirely new series where I invite you all to personally experience my creative journey with Christ in real-time, as I develop Celestial: Age of Silence with Him!

A poisonous mist plagues the Earth, and a young Survivalist and A wealthy heir try to save humanity. But is Humanity worth saving? What truly lies behind the message behind the mist in Morgan L. Busse’s two-part book series?

(Part 2) Many strive to make that ‘timeless’ masterpiece: one that’ll ring through the generations! But what does it take to create works with an eternal spark? What even is an eternal spark?

(Part 1) Many strive to make that ‘timeless’ masterpiece: one that’ll ring through the generations! But what does it take to create works with an eternal spark? What even is an eternal spark?

We must use the Bible to live and create in God’s way, but there’s a right and a wrong way to study God’s Word. What are the pitfalls? How can we be sure we’re studying the Bible rightly?

Bryan Mitchell’s hit novel promises a thriller of Hell-ish proportions. Still, for a tale about a living man stumbling into Hell, can a saving hope exist in such a story? Or even in its author?

Horror today predominantly glorifies the demonic and gruesome, but does the genre actually have to? Could the creepy and dark be a means to glorify God in a creative Christian’s hands? Or should horror be shunned completely? Can we dare to deal in nightmares?

Since its founding, FlyingFaith has promoted the Bible as the ultimate resource for all creative problems. It’s our lamppost to adventure, but can we really believe that? Is the Bible genuinely the best place to return to when creatively stuck?

In L. A. Thornhill’s book “Prophetess of Arden”, a modern girl is thrust into a fantasy world to become its last prophetess. But how good is this epic quest, and what does this novel reveal about its own author and ourselves?

In Steven Roger’s award-winning novel ‘Into the Room’, a hopeless alcoholic is forced to tour Israel with a bunch of uber-christian ‘Holy Rollers’. But what could a few ancient buildings and deep reflections do for him? And what could Steven Roger’s debut masterpiece do for its readers?

Projects of excellence are projects of passion. However, passion can become dangerous. Left unchecked, they can cause every Creative’s easiest weakness and worst fear: Loving their project too much. But what are the signs of runaway love? And what is the Biblical cure?

To celebrate FlyingFaith Talks’ 20th episode, let’s countdown six ways the Bible can help you break your creative dry-spell!

A wicked sorcerer…his mute slave…and the rise of a prophecy….What kind of adventure does C. S. Wachter’s novel offer? And in what ways can the author herself extend her God-given talents?

‘Everyone in their heart of hearts knows the Biblical God’, but is that true? Are people truly as ignorant of God as we believe them to be? Are they truly as clueless as they believe themselves to be? Or do their hearts truly echo back the truth of God’s Word and bear an innate knowledge of Him?

John Gwynne’s “Shadow of the Gods” promises to be the start of a nordic, epic trilogy worthy of the Icelandic Sagas. But how does his writing skills and his story’s moral center stack up against Biblical standards?

Let’s Biblically evaluate and review the second and third books in Brian McClellan’s “Gods of Blood and Powder” trilogy.

Painting, composing, designing, and writing are what creative people do, whether for livelihood or as a humble hobby. Still, every craft effects its artist as much as the artist effects it. But what about full-blown transformation? Can God use a craft to fully transform its user? What does a creativity that sanctifies look like? (Part 2 of 2)

Painting, composing, designing, and writing are what creative people do, whether for livelihood or as a humble hobby. Still, every craft effects its artist as much as the artist effects it. But what about full-blown transformation? Can God use a craft to fully transform its user? What does a creativity that sanctifies look like? (Part 1 of 2)

No two snowflakes are alike. No two Christian Creatives are alike,…and in God’s sight, that couldn’t be more perfect. So what should change when creative differences drive us apart?

The head of a creative person spins with all sorts of advice. When to create, how to create, habits to cultivate, habits to lose; the methods are never-ending. ‘Creatives should find their personal pattern,’ so they say. But what if you never found yours? Are you a hopeless case? Or are you perfectly positioned for something that inspires far more consistently than ‘pattern’?

Deus Ex Machina (God from the Machine) is a fiction trope writers revile. It’s the ultimate story cop-out. Something threatens the heroes. Then the problem ‘magically’ fixes itself out of the blue, but when our all-powerful Biblical God is given an active role in a story, committing Deus Ex Machina seems inevitable . . . or is it?

Fiction and Non-fiction genres are often treated as wholly separate entities unless written in rigid allegory, yet how do the parables Christ shared prove how and why any fiction married to fact can be something deeply powerful?

Fictional characters influence people as much as people influence the characters they create. But as modern cultures keeps producing bad-influence characters, are Christian Creatives stuck making goody-two-shoes characters? Or is there a Biblical framework to building three-dimensional characters with eternal purpose?

A story’s ending usually leaves the strongest impression. It’s the final picture; the lingering aftertaste in the mind; and it’s insanely tricky for writers to pull off. However, there’s something most endings lack today….something only Christian Creatives steeped in God’s Word can tap into…

Trying to come up with something original seems impossible anymore. It’s even reached a point where some Creatives believe originality no longer exists. However, God has already revealed to us His way of breaking formulas, and He didn’t have to throw away what’s familiar to do it…

When Christian Creatives strive to entertain the crowds, we struggle for relevance. What’s popular? What do people like? Can we meet their standards? Well, the Bible proves two things. We’ve got the ultimate solution in our grasp, and that the world’s usual approach is completely backwards…

A broken war hero; a reluctant spy; and a mercenary general’s paths cross in Brian McClellan’s thrilling story of pain, power, and intrigue. Yet does its messages and themes stack up to Scripture as well as its stellar entertaining qualities?

After the book is written, the song compiled, and the game developed; marketing becomes the mission. But when the creator must openly vouch for their creation numerous times, could this be interpreted as tooting your own horn? Is it prideful? A necessary evil? Or can the Bible help us turn the act of self-marketing into a spiritually edifying process?

Many Christian writers question whether its more important to include harsher realities of life in their creative works or to play it safe for sensitive audiences. Which is the wisest choice? Can the Bible help us untangle this mess?

Nobody likes a ‘preachy’ story—not even those who agree with the message. Is there any way for Christian writers to present the Gospel message without annoying their audience? Why does it seem so hard? Is it better to not even try? Well, the Bible might actually hold the answers...

Every writer struggles to create perfect plot and the perfect characters to fill that plot, but what are the particular needs of the Christian writer? Turns out they deal in the usual creative obstacles and then some.....