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Woman looking up into the sky and thinking about her future.

As I confessed in an earlier post, I began life as a heathen. Well, so do most kids, but my parents didn’t remedy it by introducing me to any sort of religion or good literature. When we moved to Saudi Arabia soon after I turned twelve, however, I witnessed Muslims stopping whatever they were doing five times a day to prostrate themselves in prayer. That got my attention. What was the big deal?&nbsp;I was intrigued but not tempted to become a Muslim—I didn’t want to have to wear a veil (I didn’t know then that much of what the women there endured was due to patriarchal dominance and had little to do with the truth and beauty of Islam). My choices were limited, though, as it’s against the law in Saudi Arabia to practice any religion other than Islam. And then it dawned on me—Christianity, which felt like background noise in the States, was forbidden and dangerous here. My teen self found this irresistible. Becoming a Christian would be the perfect act of rebellion.There was just one problem. I knew nothing about it. Knew nothing about God. Here was this BIG DEAL, and I was on the outside looking in. I couldn’t exactly sneak down to the corner church since there weren’t any. Like Claire in my YA <a data-mce-href="https://alisonvogel.com/beloved-daughter-book-series" href="https://alisonvogel.com/beloved-daughter-book-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Beloved Daughter series</a>, all I had were stairs to the roof and a wide open sky. From my roof, I could hear the muezzin from the local mosque calling the faithful to prayer. Calling, chanting, taunting me with words I didn’t understand. I would stand there listening, yearning for something beyond myself that I couldn’t describe or contain.&nbsp;I wanted in.

A big deal (and the lure of something forbidden)

Not raised in any faith tradition, I converted to Christianity as an adult, drawn to it, in part, by the writings of C.S. Lewis. Turns out he didn’t start out life as a Christian, either, but was drawn to it, in part, by the writings of George MacDonald. When Lewis later converted to Christianity, he described MacDonald’s book Phantastes as having baptized his imagination. So it was with me—reading their novels had a similar effect on my imagination, as did the novels of Madeleine L’Engle, Dorothy Sayers, and Ellis Peters. Those authors inspired me with the desire to write stories that baptize the imagination of future generations.&nbsp;But how? How did they achieve that effect?&nbsp;Kerry Dearborn wrote an article in 2004 titled <a data-mce-href="https://ifl.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj771/files/2023-02/inklingsarticledearborn.pdf" href="https://ifl.web.baylor.edu/sites/g/files/ecbvkj771/files/2023-02/inklingsarticledearborn.pdf" title="link to Baptized Imagination article" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“The Baptized Imagination”</a> in which she identifies three ways fantasy stories can transform the way we see reality. They provide a glimpse of (1) God’s true glory, (2) the goodness at the heart of all things, and (3) our abiding connection to creation and one another. Stories rooted in a baptized imagination do all three things. Stories that are pure escapism may leave us feeling disconnected. Those rooted in a twisted imagination just leave us feeling like we need a bath.&nbsp;Sounds like a baptized imagination is both subversive and contagious. Important, too, because it guides us to keep choosing love. Every day. Every moment. And love is the ultimate resistance to those who seek to divide, dominate, and diminish us.

Baptized Imagination (or how to be subversive)

I love to write stories, but I’m no good at telling them. My husband, however, can spin a tale out of thin air. Maybe because he knows to ask for help.Imagine this scene: tired after a day of backpacking up a mountain trail, a mom and dad and three daughters (ages 8, 6, and 4) are flopped on top of sleeping bags in a tent. It’s not quite dark, because summer evenings stay light past ten o’clock in the Pacific Northwest. Nobody’s ready to sleep.“Daddy, tell us a story!”“OK. Who’s this story about?”“A unicorn!” says the middle daughter.“What’s the unicorn’s name?”“Dave!” says the oldest. “Rainbow!” says the youngest.“OK, Dave and Rainbow. Where do they live?”“In a cave,” says the middle daughter. The oldest says, “Unicorns don’t live in caves, they live in the forest!”“Great, so we have Dave in the cave, and Rainbow in the forest,” the dad says. “So, one day, Dave in the cave is eating breakfast, and there’s a knock at his door. He opens it. Who’s there?”“An octopus!” says the youngest. Her sisters laugh.And that’s how the ‘Dave in the Cave’ stories were born, destined to become a staple of camping trips, long car rides, and even bedtimes at home. The adventures of Dave in the Cave and his best friend Rainbow bore an uncanny resemblance to what was going on in our daughters’ lives at the time, but at a safe distance, and safely disguised.&nbsp;Do you tell stories to your children or grandchildren? Do you ask for their help?

The power of storytelling

Old favorites cycle through my to-read pile every few years because they fill my heart with light—books like Madeleine L’Engle’s Austin family series and C. S. Lewis’s Narnia series. But my writing friends at <a data-mce-href="https://thehabit.co/" href="https://thehabit.co/" title="The Habit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Habit</a> have given me a few new favorites:1) The Carver and the Queen, by Emma Fox, available on <a title="The Carver and the Queen" href="https://www.amazon.com/Carver-Queen-Emma-C-Fox-ebook/dp/B0C4QWVP3K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IBPAR7OW67OA&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v3ygh8brt2lDW06vQ1m3AvvxjmPaafxEa0FMjeDmvRPphO-dxmAY3i-JCGV5WZxjQv25LcYQQOJB8iDUK2TIsV0le774NTLKbwIdTaj_4Mjq4ne4YUhQZNlPArsGc6Jlos6BsosvWuKhOqxxbNHU_gyjHHQOzs6DsQxXKzLV1njyG6qg6gUxA5M5w9LOUUgysdtcl4zMxjSgpu_bUG9hsGFPR-V7kAuvLoQrWiNR-yM.PRqihmRqT-wbFzgIkj_nZgdxIKkCcmeMMLicz23HgXM&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=the+carver+and+the+queen&amp;qid=1723160791&amp;sprefix=the+carver+and+the+queen%2Caps%2C264&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Carver-Queen-Emma-C-Fox-ebook/dp/B0C4QWVP3K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IBPAR7OW67OA&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.v3ygh8brt2lDW06vQ1m3AvvxjmPaafxEa0FMjeDmvRPphO-dxmAY3i-JCGV5WZxjQv25LcYQQOJB8iDUK2TIsV0le774NTLKbwIdTaj_4Mjq4ne4YUhQZNlPArsGc6Jlos6BsosvWuKhOqxxbNHU_gyjHHQOzs6DsQxXKzLV1njyG6qg6gUxA5M5w9LOUUgysdtcl4zMxjSgpu_bUG9hsGFPR-V7kAuvLoQrWiNR-yM.PRqihmRqT-wbFzgIkj_nZgdxIKkCcmeMMLicz23HgXM&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=the+carver+and+the+queen&amp;qid=1723160791&amp;sprefix=the+carver+and+the+queen%2Caps%2C264&amp;sr=8-1">Amazon</a>. Inspired by Russian folktales, this is a beautiful story of determination as the two main characters seek to learn their craft, gain their freedom, and marry (in that order of importance). <a title="The Arrow and the Crown" href="https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Crown-Emma-C-Fox/dp/1796251089/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Crown-Emma-C-Fox/dp/1796251089/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=&amp;sr=">The Arrow and the Crown</a> is an older title I haven’t yet read.2) Daughter of Arden Trilogy (Exile, Wandering, and Promise), by Loren G. Warnemuende, available at <a title="Daughter of Arden Series" href="https://www.bandersnatchbooks.com/store/p/dofa-bundle" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.bandersnatchbooks.com/store/p/dofa-bundle">Bandersnatch Books</a> or on <a title="Daughter of Arden Series" href="https://www.amazon.com/Exile-Loren-G-Warnemuende/dp/1958863033/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34PGO5QXV9MNM&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eJwxP6DfJhJKFplDaCSaMOOpWQ8zOO4aONMWZMFHOs_WszjOT5kfxD9_DeAJDyjNwM2bTvLrvzK35FSXOuqJnZKBK8W0J7Kj-omfyW3hF1Up0kpSCti7Zi5wBYE7vPy_qgilgkN3Dve8lRun9YP0wbqO95dr0zZbw_YXKzhGHNOFYODcF9kn7NpXovrVC1TSDacMCZyVyajnZBvUQHdxfjZMPqr0BcvRNcL3Oyxzknc.ZT6F1HmCZyUeiYgP5RWm5nGXzR-wkb563T02an3YpA0&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=daughter+of+arden+trilogy&amp;qid=1723161508&amp;sprefix=daughter+of+arden%2Caps%2C265&amp;sr=8-1" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Exile-Loren-G-Warnemuende/dp/1958863033/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34PGO5QXV9MNM&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eJwxP6DfJhJKFplDaCSaMOOpWQ8zOO4aONMWZMFHOs_WszjOT5kfxD9_DeAJDyjNwM2bTvLrvzK35FSXOuqJnZKBK8W0J7Kj-omfyW3hF1Up0kpSCti7Zi5wBYE7vPy_qgilgkN3Dve8lRun9YP0wbqO95dr0zZbw_YXKzhGHNOFYODcF9kn7NpXovrVC1TSDacMCZyVyajnZBvUQHdxfjZMPqr0BcvRNcL3Oyxzknc.ZT6F1HmCZyUeiYgP5RWm5nGXzR-wkb563T02an3YpA0&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=daughter+of+arden+trilogy&amp;qid=1723161508&amp;sprefix=daughter+of+arden%2Caps%2C265&amp;sr=8-1">Amazon</a>. A fairy tale retelling, this pampered, indulged princess endures danger and gritty hardship to become the strong and wise leader her kingdom desperately needs.3) The Wilderking Trilogy (The Bark of the Bog Owl, The Secret of the Swamp King, and The Way of the Wilderking), by Jonathan Rogers, available at the <a title="Wilderking Trilogy " href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/the-bark-of-the-bog-owl?srsltid=AfmBOooRJ8YmgxttrWVbkIzPjXrfLqoqvOZ3mZoWieBOOkv5fj9Fj7lu" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/the-bark-of-the-bog-owl?srsltid=AfmBOooRJ8YmgxttrWVbkIzPjXrfLqoqvOZ3mZoWieBOOkv5fj9Fj7lu">Rabbit Room</a> or on <a data-mce-href="https://www.amazon.com/Bark-Bog-Owl-Wilderking-Trilogy/dp/1951872266/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Xjax0sJ0LvBVW3ZeNxFPlp-7tMez9noVyp28xrozTLnGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Z_oA5dtEzEIhLvVRFykzJ0x9rOexPkOYSwyd8qtViog&amp;qid=1723159295&amp;sr=1-1" href="https://www.amazon.com/Bark-Bog-Owl-Wilderking-Trilogy/dp/1951872266/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Xjax0sJ0LvBVW3ZeNxFPlp-7tMez9noVyp28xrozTLnGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.Z_oA5dtEzEIhLvVRFykzJ0x9rOexPkOYSwyd8qtViog&amp;qid=1723159295&amp;sr=1-1" title="Wilderking Trilogy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a>. This delightful story takes place in the fictional land of Corenwald, which bears some resemblance to the swamps and rivers of Georgia. And it features a boy who bears some resemblance to King David.&nbsp;4) The poets at The Habit have been busy as well. While not YA, their latest collection can be found on <a data-mce-href="https://www.blurb.com/user/thehabit?profile_preview=true" href="https://www.blurb.com/user/thehabit?profile_preview=true" title="Habitations " target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Habitation Poetry Collective page on Blurb</a>.And there’s my own YA novel, which I hope will become someone’s favorite—5) Call of the Desert: Crossing, available from <a data-mce-href="https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?iLvIazokEsqYytjBD9alLJ91WW2bvodBZFouYNFohwS" href="https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?iLvIazokEsqYytjBD9alLJ91WW2bvodBZFouYNFohwS" title="Call of the Desert: Crossing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my publisher</a> or ﻿<a title="Call of the Desert: Crossing" href="https://www.amzn.com/B0D49T7FN5" data-mce-href="https://www.amzn.com/B0D49T7FN5">Amazon</a>. It’s the first in a five-part series that follows the protagonist through her senior year of boarding school. The second comes out later this fall.Happy reading!

Here's a list of my favorite YA books—old and new

Which goes against everything I’d imagined about being a writer. My first gig as a technical writer, I worked alone. Terrified I would do it all wrong, I overachieved. That became my modus operandi until I was hired to work as a member of a team. Talk about having your brain put in a blender and liquefied! I had to learn new work habits, learn to trust the work of others. It was awesome.&nbsp;Fast forward to my life as a fiction writer. Again, I imagined the lonely writer, hunched over her keyboard, toiling away on a masterpiece that would be revealed to the world only when it was done. LOL. Attending my first writing conference was like putting my brain back in the blender. Wait . . . what? I’m supposed to have critique partners? What are beta readers? There are classes on how to structure stories?&nbsp;Now I’m a member of several critique groups, where I hear what works and what doesn’t in my writing and provide that feedback for others. I &nbsp;also belong to an online writing community (<a data-mce-href="https://thehabit.co/" href="https://thehabit.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Habit</a>), where we support and encourage each other. True, I sit down at my computer every morning by myself. But I’m surrounded by a virtual community of writers. It’s awesome.And when I published my debut novel, <a data-mce-href="https://www.amzn.com/B0D64G3J1X" href="https://www.amzn.com/B0D64G3J1X" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Call of the Desert: Crossing</a>, I called upon that community to help. The publishing support group at The Habit gave me courage. Kori Frazier Morgan of <a data-mce-href="https://www.inklingcreative.work/" href="https://www.inklingcreative.work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inkling Creative Services</a> did a phenomenal job with the editing, and <a data-mce-href="https://reedsy.com/xavier-comas" href="https://reedsy.com/xavier-comas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Xavier Comas</a> and his team (including <a data-mce-href="https://aurorairaita.com/" href="https://aurorairaita.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aurora Iraita</a>) produced an amazing cover. I’ve also been using art from their initial concepts in my website and social media posts.&nbsp;Isn’t it awesome that we don’t have to do this alone?

It takes a community to write and publish a book

Light coming from book in woman&#39;s hands in gesture of giving

Madeleine L'Engle was born 40 years before I came along. She wrote her first story at five years old. At five, I was still making mud pies and playing with bugs. Author of more than sixty books, L'Engle is best known for A Wrinkle in Time, which won the Newbery Medal in 1963.I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even read A Wrinkle in Time until I was an adult with children of my own. I must’ve grown up on Mars or the literary equivalent. Anyway, when I did read it, I was entranced.Why? Because Madeleine L'Engle blended science fiction, fantasy, and faith in a way that portrayed God as exciting. Relevant. Urgent. In A Wrinkle in Time, L’Engle made a young teen girl the main character in a story where the forces of good and evil are joined in mortal combat. And this girl, with her manifold flaws and failings, is the one who must set things right. Her choices and actions matter. SHE MATTERS! (Can you hear me shout that?)I didn’t start writing when I was five. More like thirty-five. And I didn’t start with fiction. But when I was ready to write stories, I asked God (this is true and slightly embarrassing) to help me write like Madeleine L'Engle. Because she inspires me to write stories that weave together science and fantasy and faith, to give teen characters choices and actions that matter, to portray matters of the heart and spirit as exciting, relevant, and urgent.I miss her. Don’t you? I’m thankful we still have her stories.