Kalani: Shadows of Destiny follows two people living in a world of immortals with advanced technology on separate journeys of self-discovery that unravel and challenge their concepts of reality and faith. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The setup for Kalani: Shadows of Destiny was inspired by my own journey of navigating faith and personal resilience, and I wanted to explore these themes in a sci-fi fantasy setting. Imagine a Christian Star Wars where the battle to remain faithful to God’s will has become an action adventure that defies age boundaries. Through the eyes of Desiree and Zach, we experience how eternal struggles intertwine with the mortal experience, and I wanted readers to feel the gravity of spiritual warfare on an epic, cosmic scale. With this inspiration, the story aims to connect on an emotional level, evoking the timeless challenge of belief amid adversity.

I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?

The world of Kalani started with an image of a radiant, spiritual afterlife juxtaposed with dystopian elements, where immortals live with advanced technology yet face profound emotional and moral challenges. As I wrote, the setting evolved to represent an “eternal spring” on the surface, masking a world where characters constantly confront moral and spiritual darkness. Kalani grew into a realm where landscapes and tech reflect the inner spiritual states of the characters—a place both awe-inspiring and challenging, where destiny feels tangible.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The themes in Kalani reflect the emotional battles many of us face: resilience, faith, the tension between hope and despair, and finding purpose through sacrifice. Desiree’s journey, for instance, explores the sense of worthiness and self-discovery, reflecting my own experiences in foster care and growing up with complex feelings of unworthiness. There’s also the theme of spiritual warfare, where each character’s struggle represents the Biblical idea that our battles are not just physical but also spiritual. The Army of Magnar and the Army of Awry symbolize forces of good and evil in a tangible, cosmic conflict, and I wanted this to mirror how people today face unseen but profound battles for their souls.

What will your next novel be about, and what will the whole series encompass?

The Fostering Worlds series will span three books, each diving deeper into the cosmic struggle between Magnar and Awry’s armies. The next novel will see Desiree and Zach further develop their spiritual gifts and confront darker forces that test their faith to the limit. Over the series, I’m excited to explore how these battles shape their character and how each choice brings them closer to—or farther from—their divine purpose. Ultimately, the series is about hope, redemption, and learning to see one’s worth through a divine lens.

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