This is the world that readers of The Keepers Of Elenath by Amanda Bradburn find themselves immersed in as they follow the adventures of Gwaeron, princess of Anirum. The sequel, The Phantom Assasin, is already in the works.
WHAT LED YOU TO WRITE THE KEEPERS OF ELENATH?
There were many things, I think, that led me to that point. I’d been writing from a very young age, and from a very young age I wanted to make a difference in the world. As a seven or eight year old, I’d watch kids my age who were movie stars and singers and cry. Why? Because they were making a difference, sometimes good, and sometimes not so good. I longed to be given that chance, too. The Keepers of Elenath was very much God giving me that chance.
STARTING OUT, WHO WERE THE AUTHORS WHO INSPIRED YOU? WHO INSPIRES YOU NOW?
At the beginning, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis inspired me because that was all the fantasy I’d ever read. Now, I have a plethora of people (both authors and not) who constantly challenge me in many areas. Bryan Davis probably has made the largest difference in my writing since I began, but I also greatly admire Wayne Thomas Batson.
HOW DOES YOUR FAITH INFLUENCE YOUR WRITING?
My faith drives my writing. Not only does it give me purpose in life, it pushes me to make what I write the best it can be. I believe that I’m representing Christ when I write, and that means a lot to me.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN YOU WANTED TO BE AN AUTHOR?
That’s a hard question. I’d say always, but that wouldn’t be entirely true. I dreamt about being an author since I began to write novels at the age of seven, but I never thought it would actually happened. God was good to me, and it did.
WHAT DO YOU MOST HOPE THAT READERS GET FROM READING YOUR WORK?
Ultimately, my goal is for them to see Christ shine through every page, every word; that while the story entertains them, they see the love of my Lord through it. I want them to know that they can do great things if they follow God. People today often blend in, hide themselves, and resign to mediocrity. I want to show them that if I can do something worthwhile, so can they. There’s no call in the Christian’s life for invisibility. Stand up, stand out. That’s my message.