The fantasy author explains how she infuses her faith into her fantastical worlds.
A writer by day and a mother by night, Morgan L. Busse is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the steampunk series The Soul Chronicles. The first novel in her fantasy series The Ravenwood Saga, Mark of the Raven (Bethany House), won the 2019 Carol Award and the 2019 INSPY Award. Morgan brings that saga to a rousing conclusion with Cry of the Raven (Bethany House): As war looms, will Lady Selene Ravenwood’s power be enough to save the ones she loves? Morgan answers questions about the themes in Cry of the Raven, explains the part of the series that surprised her when writing it, and reveals why it’s actually not difficult to write about the fantastical from a biblical perspective.
What is a theme or idea you explore in Cry of the Raven?
I’ve always wanted to write about a married couple and show how two people can be strong in their own right and even stronger together. When one spouse is down, the other can help lift him or her up.
But I also wanted to be realistic in how I wrote the married relationship—the ups, the downs, the fights, the triumphs. I think I accomplished that with Cry of the Raven.
What can you tell about the world of The Ravenwood Saga?
It’s a fantasy set in a world where seven Great Houses were given gifts to rule their people thousands of years ago. However, as the years went by, some gifts weakened, some were twisted, and one disappeared completely (or so people think).
Into this story comes Selene, oldest daughter and heir to the Great House of Ravenwood. On the day she inherits her gift of dreamwalking, she starts to discover how her family has hidden their gift from the rest of the world and uses it for hire, either to find out political secrets or to assassinate. Selene questions the use of their gift and searches for the real reason they were given the ability to dreamwalk.
How does this series compare/contrast with your previous series?
In this story I delve into family dynamics, politics, and the ultimate question of when we are given a gift, how do we use it? I’ve never written about families before, so that’s been an interesting twist.
What can you tell us about Lady Selene? What do you consider the essential qualities of a leading character?
Selene is an intelligent, determined, and thinking character. Her strength is in her desire to do what is right, especially when everything around her is wrong.
I think the essential qualities of a leading character needs to be someone who critically thinks, weighs the pros and cons of their actions, and is not satisfied with the status quo. Ultimately, the lead character is someone I want to be like someday, not perfect, but growing and learning.
What part of this series surprised you the most when you were writing it?
The characters always surprise me. I usually know the big events in the story and lead the plot toward those events.
But as I write, it is like the characters come alive. They tell me why they think and act the way they do. Even the villain has her own hopes, dreams, and hurts. It is as if they are real people, and I’m telling their story.
Click thru to discover her thoughts on world-building as a Christian fantasy author…