PenWorks of the Word Blog Tour: Post Eleven - Demi Griffin
Demi Griffin writes
Unabashed Inspiration
For me, writing has been a gift that keeps me in step with the Spirit. Every book, each character, and the biblical themes knit my heart together in fresh new ways. I hope that my readers enjoy the same experience when they enter the stories with me. A book that sits on a shelf unread is like a planted seed that never blossoms. Nothing delights me more than sharing a story.
As a multi-award-winning author, I have been extremely blessed throughout the journey. I write in several genres, which can be challenging but also exciting. The majority of my books are Biblical Fiction, but I also write Fantasy, Romantasy, and Historical Fiction from a Christian worldview. I even have a Contemporary Romance Christmas novella releasing this year. I would most definitely describe myself as an inspired writer, which is why I can’t seem to stay in one genre.
One of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy fiction is that it offers readers access to the depths of the soul we might otherwise ignore. When we read a novel, we suspend disbelief, drop our defenses, and enter the world of imagination that can shine a unique light on scriptural truth.
My inspiration for writing Blaze of Honor came from a simple lyric in a song. “Be careful, little eyes, what you see.” I had the idea of writing the Spirit Ignited series rattling around in my head for five years. During my regular Bible reading plan, inspiration sucked me into the scene in Acts 2 when Peter preached to a crowd on the day of Pentecost.
I found myself wondering about the people described as coming from all over the empire. I wondered what had brought them there. What had they heard? How could I not be fascinated when the church grew exponentially that day?
So, the idea for the Spirit Ignited series rooted into my imagination. I wanted to write four novels about four men who had been in the crowd that day.
As excited as I was to begin writing those stories, other books snuck into the queue before I fully developed the characters for Spirit Ignited. I was excited when the first ideas came back to me after five long years of waiting for these men to speak up and inspire me. What was even more challenging was that the stories were begging to be written in first-person from a single perspective. That was a daunting task since I had only written dual-perspective stories up until that point. And, truth be told, first-person isn’t my favorite.
But I obliged and found myself completely captivated by these men. Surprisingly enough, I did not write Blaze of Honor first. Though it is the first to be released in the series, it was the third book I wrote in the series. Each book explores an anguish of the soul from a different perspective, but they all conclude with a happy ending.
After hearing the song lyrics, I began to ponder the profound impact that parental relationships, particularly those marked by marital strife, have on children. Joram, a shy character, finally found his voice in my head, and together, we explored a life of unintended scars and how they shape a boy as he becomes a man.
The story's themes of redemption, forgiveness, and grace underscore the main takeaway: honoring God through loving others. I yearn for readers to grasp this central truth, to feel the depth in the main character’s plight. The narrative delves into the heart of devotion, exploring how easily the concept of honoring God can become contorted in the labyrinth of the mind. After completing the first draft, the realization that this story, with its raw vulnerability, could only be told in the intimate voice of the first person hit me.
I truly hope readers will get as much out of it as I did when I wrote it. Stories that transform as well as entertain are my favorite kind of stories. One of the things I love about fiction is the power of story to connect to deep, hidden parts of our hearts as we relate to characters who become friends. This is as true for the writer as for the reader.
Next year, I have a Romantic Fantasy series releasing along with the second Biblical fiction novel in the Spirit Ignited series. I am so grateful for the inspiration that stirs my imagination and keeps the stories pouring out onto the page. I have the next few years ‘planned’ out as far as my writing goes, but I am always open to sparks of new inspiration that may take me in an entirely new direction. Stay tuned for Hearts of Ash coming in May of 2027.
D.M. (Demi) Griffin writes Biblical Fiction, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction. She has written over thirty novels and won multiple awards.
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