You’ve heard me say this many times. If you think all Christian fiction books are the same, I have some big news for you. Today’s guest, Brett Armstrong has a series called Quest for Fire that takes readers to an exciting new world. He and the other authors in the Expanse Books imprint of Scrivenings Press provide excitement with Fantasy, Speculative and Dystopian fiction.
Devastation is the latest book in Brett Armstrong’s Quest for Fire series. Today, you get a chance to meet him and learn more about his book. Here’s a brief biography, and then we’ll hear directly from the author.
Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Day Moon and Veiled Sun), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.
Jenny: Hi, Brett. I’m so happy to talk to you today. Your stories are quite different than what I write, so I’m fascinated. Is there anything in your story that mirrors your life in any way. If not, is there a particular character you identify with?
Brett: The most recent entry in the Quest of Fire series, Devastation, doesn’t really have any portions that mirrors my own life though there are a few places elsewhere in the series where my own experiences were drawn on. In terms of relating to a character in Devastation, Thomas is pretty easy for me to empathize with. He feels like he’s on the outside looking in to an extent because he’s one of only a few Knights fighting in this war and he’s a commoner in love with a noble woman. He knows it’s only a matter of time before reality strikes and puts him where society says he belongs. And it’s tearing him apart inside. He also feels overwhelmed with the task of keeping Mia and Gregor safe. I think any parent can relate to that feeling of anxiety that maybe you’re doing it all wrong. And most believers I think at some point or another encounter the feeling of being insufficient for a task God is calling us to for His service. We aren’t wise enough, discerning enough, resilient enough, and so on. And things go very, very badly so Thomas has to wonder and is challenged several times with the question of why are the good guys losing so miserably to evil forces? At one point it’s thrown in his face that his entire life has basically been a long cycle of failures and suffering.
Jenny: Yes, I can identify with that feeling of being “put in my place” by life’s circumstances. Every author must research to write a good story. What was your favorite thing you discovered while researching?
Brett: Some people might be surprised to know how much real-world research goes into writing a fantasy story. After all, it’s set in a world other than our own. But there’s always a tenuous balance between what is familiar and fantastical that has to be maintained to keep the story world feeling real and inviting. Other times it’s to sort out what is realistic in terms of mechanics like some of the research I did for Devastation on the bone structures of winged animals, particularly bats since the wyvern in the book had wings that I was basing off of bats.
I also wanted to know what kind of plants are found in fens, which led down the rabbit hole of what is a fen and how is that different from a bog and a swamp. Which was a pretty deep hole as it turns out, but it led to a nice moment of reflection for the protagonist Thomas because his childhood home was the Isle of Fens and how it contrasted with Fisure Fens where a major battle takes place kind of came from that research. Which is one of the things I love about writing. Just reading about the ecology of fens led me to that pretty profound, if brief, moment of reflection for Thomas in the story.
Jenny: That is so cool. I love that your research led to a deeper moment for your character. What do you want your readers to take away from this story?
Brett: To continue with what was relatable about Devastation’s story, Thomas has a lot of struggles, hurt, and hardship to face down in Devastation. No to mention grappling with the problem of how one reconciles God’s absolute power and goodness with our suffering. Devastation picks up all those hard things and through the story points to why I think God allows hard things into our lives. We’re forced to realize that those feelings of inadequacy and defeat in our own strength are right, we aren’t enough and can’t complete the work for us in ourselves. But we “can do all things through Christ Who strengthens” us. No suffering is ever wasted either because “He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” That’s why we can “count it all joy” when “facing trials of various kinds”. Remembering that in the midst of the dark and hurt and hardship can be tough and I hope that readers carry the strong hope and comfort we have in Christ’s provision and wisdom with them having traversed through Devastation‘s portion of the Quest of Fire story. That way when those feelings of inadequacy, hardships, and suffering swell up around us in real life, we face them with unwavering faith in Christ.
Jenny: See, I knew your stories were based on biblical principles. This story sounds so amazing. Every author needs inspiration at times. What is a “go-to” that always gets your writing energized?
Brett: I suppose it varies. A lot of inspiration is silently absorbed things that later, when put together with a particular character, scene, or other bit of information leads, to a breakthrough/discovery for the story. Sometimes sketching a character, scene, or even a map will get me excited for writing or lead to really interesting motifs, character developments, or solid world building material. Though, most often and in general, music does a fantastic job of pulling me into the right mood and mindset for certain scenes. And, in particular, if I need to get into Quest of Fire’s story world, the Lowlands, again listening to the theme music for the series does that for me. There’s a song that keeps occurring in the series and the music director for the church I attend performed it and wrote the accompanying tune. You can hear it in the trailer for Devastation:
Quest of Fire: Devastation Trailer
Jenny: Tell us about your routine when you are writing. Any must-have snacks, music, etc.?
Brett: I write whenever I’m able so there’s really not a routine to it. I really like listening to my playlist of music that I generally have for whenever I’m at work, mowing, etc. It’s filled with songs of all different styles, tones, and genres so there’s always something that fits just right. Though even then it isn’t all that often that I listen to music, because often I’m writing on lunch break at work or late at night after my family is asleep.
Jenny: That lack of routine rings a bell with me. I remember those days of juggling a career with writing. Congratulations for being a successful juggler. So, should we be watching for something else from you, or are you taking some time off?
Brett: Oh, please do keep a weather eye for the next book in the Quest of Fire series! It’s due out in Q4 2025 and will bring the entire Quest of Fire series to an epic, sweeping conclusion. After that…I have several manuscripts that have been sitting somewhat patiently in wait for Quest of Fire to be completed and I’m really looking forward to finishing them and sharing those stories.
They’re pretty diverse from a space fantasy story to pure sci-fi to a historical romance to a kid’s book. Which might feel a bit chaotic and too varied, but I always want to be open for story that needs to be told and the genre in which it needs to happen. Wherever the Master Artist takes me in stories, that’s where I want to go and what I want to write.
Jenny: Any parting words for our readers?
Brett: Quest of Fire is a story about story telling at its core and how stories shape us and prepare us to face challenges. There’s lots of action and adventure but there’s also a lot of depth to the story world and thematic layering in it. Not to mention Scripture being woven through and through into the fabric of it all. My hope is that it encourages readers to stand firm in the Faith and to be very conscious that every seeming success and failure we face can inspire and encourage those that follow after us as well.
Jenny: Thanks again, Brett. I know there are readers out there who are ready for an adventure, and your new book sounds perfect. Praying God will bless this book and all of your future projects.
Note to Readers: Keep in touch with Brett by using these links.
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8281587.Brett_Armstrong
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettarmstrongwv
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/BArmstrongWV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BrettArmstrongAuthor
Website/Blog: https://BrettArmstrong.net
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