Blog Archives
Genuine Faith
With Mercy’s Eye follows a gay actor several months after his husband is killed in an accident, who is left navigating grief, spiritual trauma, and identity while trying to hide his sexuality from his Christian producer. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Some stories take years to develop. Others arrive overnight. With Mercy’s Eyes was a bit of both. I knew years beforehand that God was directing me toward writing a Christian fiction book whose main character was gay. I had no idea how God was going to help me work with that particular combination of factors. All I knew was that He was pointing me toward writing this particular story. That nudge came quietly at first—a few times here and there. But eventually, God’s direction became louder and clearer, letting me know it was time to start writing.
As for the setup specifically, most of it I knew from the outset. I knew the main character’s name, his profession (actor), and where he lived. From the moment it was time to start writing, I also knew what the opening scene would be. There was no wondering or having to build it from the ground up. It was just already there, waiting for me to write it.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
As a writer, I have one personal baseline. I choose to show characters the same respect I would show a stranger. For me, that means I don’t write scenes involving personal hygiene that wouldn’t be performed in a public setting. It also means I don’t write sexually intimate moments or the lead-up to those moments 99.99% of the time. And it means there are situations where I don’t convey a character’s personal thoughts for more than a few moments at a time.
As a Christian, I look to God and the Bible for guidance on how to handle any given subject, theme, or incident.
This book shows God’s quiet working in our lives and how He can use even the most awful of experiences and circumstances to bring us to Himself. To honor that truth, I chose to portray both Christians and non-Christians in a genuine, true-to-life way. For the Christian characters, that means the faith contained in this book is an everyday faith that works into all aspects of life. It isn’t a faith that only shows up at the dinner table or when something bad happens. It’s always there, and it’s the foundation for the choices and actions of multiple characters in the book. For the non-Christian characters, that means no one is stereotyped or unnecessarily vilified. There is one character who behaves horribly throughout the entire book. That person has reasons for what they do, and there are consequences for their actions. But they aren’t the only character who makes mistakes or hurts others.
While I wrote With Mercy’s Eyes, there were several very personal moments that needed to be explored. Whenever that was the case, I kept the goal of the story in focus throughout that entire scene. I also chose not to elaborate on details that did not serve the overall goal. Many times, that also meant I had to stop mid-paragraph, or even mid-sentence, and hand my words over to God. Because I was not enough for that scene, but God was.
For example, there is a moment in this book where a character loses a child. First, I chose to leave a clear content warning at the start of the book that marks the chapter containing this moment. Second, I chose not to force the reader to remain in that moment for an extended period of time. Third, I chose to focus on elements that directly serve the scene and the book’s goal. There is a brief, but in no way detailed, description of the deceased child and how the parent responds to what they observe. These moments are not for shock value and are never treated as such.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
This is a book about redemption, God’s love, and genuine faith. It’s also about taking a hard look at how we view both others and ourselves. Too many of my fellow Christians hold to an “us vs. them” attitude when it comes to people who live in same-sex relationships. There’s also a tendency to shy away from talking with someone who identifies as LGBTQ. So, With Mercy’s Eyes asks, “What if my fellow Christians could see one of ‘them’ in a different light?”
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
I have a novella about church hurt that will be published this December as part of a 3-novella collection titled Every Voice Heard. It follows a woman who works at a big-box retail store during the months directly following her departure from the church she’s attended her entire life. When she visits the last church on her list of prospects, she discovers her new employee is the pastor.
To get updates about my novella and the collection as a whole, stay tuned to my Instagram @dtill359 and sign up for my newsletter at dtpowellwrites.com.
Author Links: Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Six months after struggling actor Lane Harris lost his husband in a tragic accident, he lands a movie role guaranteed to put him on the Hollywood map. But one producer holds the power to shut down his shot at stardom—and she’s a Christian. If she finds out he’s gay, it’s over. Lane is careful not to say too much around her.
When an alcohol-fueled tryst with his co-star ends in humiliation, and his landlord hands him an eviction notice, Lane looks for someone to talk to. He finds a confidant in the Christian producer. After a night of too little sleep and not enough coffee, he lets slip his sexual orientation. Instead of a verbal flogging, the woman recounts recently losing her own husband.
The only Christians Lane knows condemn him upon learning he’s gay. But this one is different. She doesn’t embrace his sexuality, but instead of treating him with disdain, she offers compassion. Christians are supposed to hate people like him. So, why doesn’t she?
– – – – – – –
With Mercy’s Eyes by D. T. Powell is an issue-facing Contemporary novel for adult churched Christians. It addresses homosexuality and same-sex attraction from a Biblical perspective without falling into the trap of the extreme responses we too often see from modern churches. It holds similar views to Jackie Hill Perry, Becket Cook, Rosaria Butterfield, and Christopher Yuan.
Brianag: The Blood Queen Chronicles
Brianag, the second installment in The Blood Queen Chronicles by David H. Millar, is a sweeping Celtic fantasy that picks up ten years after the climactic events of The Blood Queen. The story centers on Brianag, a half-human, half-sídhe daughter of the formidable Blood Queen Gràinne, who has spent a decade in magical exile among the demigod Aes Sídhe. As Brianag wrestles with her identity, legacy, and explosive powers, tensions rise in the mortal realm where wars loom, alliances shift, and her mother’s empire teeters on a knife’s edge. The novel interweaves politics, prophecy, family drama, and supernatural intrigue into a richly imagined and deeply emotional tale.
I couldn’t put the book down. Millar’s writing is lyrical but gutsy, not afraid to dive into the visceral, the painful, and the raw. He blends myth and history with such ease that it feels ancient and modern all at once. Brianag is a deeply complex character, furious, powerful, aching for connection, and I felt for her in ways I didn’t expect. The dynamics between mother and daughter, layered with betrayal and sacrifice, are heartbreaking and, honestly, hit hard. The politics and battles are brutal and real, yet the quieter moments, like the grief, the longing, the flashes of tenderness, are what really stayed with me.
That said, this book demands patience. The cast is sprawling, the Gaelic names thick on the tongue, and the narrative hops through multiple perspectives with dense world-building. Yet the payoff is worth it. Millar doesn’t spoon-feed; he trusts the reader to keep up, and that trust pays off in emotional depth and an epic payoff. I appreciated that. He writes like a storyteller around a fire, pulling you in with every twist and turn, every whispered threat and tender betrayal.
Brianag is a brutal, beautiful saga of power, identity, and redemption. It’s not for the faint of heart or those craving a breezy read. But for lovers of deep fantasy steeped in Celtic lore, political intrigue, and morally gray heroines, this is gold. I’d recommend it to fans of Guy Gavriel Kay, Madeline Miller, or readers who wanted more darkness and depth from Game of Thrones. Come for the queens and gods, stay for the heartbreak.
Pages: 406 | ASIN : B0F7RVGZMZ
The Bleed-Through Effect
The Bleed-Through Effect, by AA Dasilva, is a psychological sci-fi thriller that dives headfirst into the concept of parallel realities, trauma, and manipulation. At its heart are Jared, a convicted man with a mind engineered for revenge and dominance, and Charlotte, his estranged wife with a savant-like gift rooted in a head injury. Their fates remain twisted together across alternate realities, manipulated by a shadowy government-backed organization called Quantym. Through its dual narratives set in “Reality 1” and “Reality 2: On the Periphery,” the story weaves a suspenseful and often unnerving look at identity, memory, and control, with time travel and consciousness jumping driving the plot.
Jared is magnetic in the worst way: terrifying, cold, and obsessive. His presence has a pull that makes you sick and fascinated at the same time. Charlotte, on the other hand, is caught between trauma and rebirth. Her pain feels honest, her resistance hard-won, and her journey into healing, especially with Simon, is tender without becoming sappy. The writing is punchy and emotional, shifting smoothly between the brutal and the intimate. Characters bleed, cry, shatter, love, and rage with sharp detail. That said, the book can be emotionally heavy, especially with Jared’s manipulative cruelty and the twisted power games that unfold.
I do feel that the pacing slowed under the weight of explanation in some areas of plot. The science, while clever and well thought out, gets a little thick at times. When the characters speak about memory retention, parallel jump logistics, or bleed-through phenomena, it’s like being dropped into a quantum physics lecture. Still, it’s minor when you’re hanging off the edge of your seat during the intense scenes. The best parts are when the emotional stakes meet the speculative sci-fi. Moments where love, betrayal, memory, and pain collide in these chilling and cinematic flashes.
The Bleed-Through Effect is the gripping sequel to Periphery, picking up where Charlotte’s fractured world left off. If you’ve read Periphery, this follow-up feels like a descent into deeper, darker waters. And if you haven’t, you’ll still be able to follow the story, but you’ll miss some of the emotional weight. This book is best suited for readers who love high-stakes science fiction layered with trauma, passion, and moral gray zones. It’s intense. It’s clever. It doesn’t flinch. And for those who like their thrillers to feel both cerebral and personal, this one hits hard in all the right places.
Pages: 356 | ISBN : 978-1509261956
So You Want to Be an Extremist: A Motley Manifesto for the Motivated Maniac
After reading So You Want To Be an Extremist: A Motley Manifesto for the Motivated Maniac by C.T. Jackson, I can say it’s a hilariously scathing, over-the-top satirical guide that lampoons modern conspiracy culture, online extremism, and the absurdities of “truth-seeking” subcultures. Structured like a how-to guide for the aspiring extremist, the book blends biting wit with dark humor as it traces the evolution of conspiracy theories and their players, from ancient Rome to the far-right fringes of social media. It walks readers through stages of “extremist enlightenment,” skewering everything from sovereign citizens and crystal-chugging wellness influencers to red-pilled incels and flat-earthers.
Reading this was like sitting through a savage stand-up special filtered through a graduate seminar in sociology. Jackson doesn’t just go for laughs—though there are plenty—he goes for the throat. The humor is raw, unrelenting, and often walks a tightrope between outrageous and uncomfortable. Personally, I found the style refreshing. It’s not sanitized or delicate. It’s brash and fearless. The jabs at figures like Joe Rogan and Marjorie Taylor Greene, or at cultural absurdities like chemtrails, 5G vampires, and moon-landing denialism, had me laughing and cringing at the same time. Jackson has a knack for mimicking the language and tone of the people he’s satirizing, which makes the parody hit even harder.
At the same time, there’s a deep undercurrent of anger here. Anger at how misinformation, grift, and willful ignorance have festered into real-world harm. That comes through in the relentless mocking of right-wing populism, internet cults, and self-declared gurus. It’s not subtle, and it’s definitely not neutral. That’s part of what I liked about it: it’s not trying to both-sides its way into approval. The parody is clever, but sometimes a little exhausting, like a meme thread that’s gone on too long. Still, when it lands, it’s fantastic.
If you have a dark sense of humor, a healthy skepticism of internet personalities, and a strong stomach for satire that cuts deep and doesn’t pull punches, this book is a fun ride. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoyed books like Thank You for Smoking or The Onion’s political commentary. It’s perfect for anyone who has ever doomscrolled Reddit or Twitter and thought, “How did we get here?”
Pages: 239 | ASIN : B0DF62LYTR
To Save a Life
To Save a Life is a historical novel set in early 1900s New York, chronicling the intersecting journeys of Malka Kaminsky and Yaakov Rogovin—two young Jewish immigrants who have fled trauma, violence, and constraint in Eastern Europe. Malka escapes an arranged marriage in Grodno, stealing her dowry in the process, while Yaakov leaves Valozyn, carrying the weight of a haunted past. As they struggle to carve out lives of meaning and agency in the Lower East Side’s chaotic tenements and sweatshops, they find themselves drawn together in a tentative alliance that flirts with hope, love, and the idea of starting anew in a land that promises much but delivers on its own terms.
This book left me both emotionally shaken and deeply moved. Zuckerman’s writing is textured and rich, never rushing, always letting the weight of the moment hang in the air. His depiction of early 20th-century immigrant life doesn’t glamorize struggle—it holds it close, like a bruise you can’t ignore. The scenes of factory labor and violent crackdowns on striking workers burned bright with tension. And yet, it’s the quieter moments—Malka rolling noodles, Yaakov pressing coats while humming a tune—that linger. They feel relatable. I also loved how layered the characters are. Malka’s shame, rage, and tenderness are all tightly wound; Yaakov hides behind music and wit, but you can sense his wounds pulsing underneath. They’re both survivors, just barely hanging on, and their tentative trust feels earned, not forced.
At times, the novel slows a little more than I’d like, especially in some of the reflective passages. But even then, there’s something refreshing about the patience of Zuckerman’s prose. He lets his characters breathe. I found myself unexpectedly teary during the scenes where Malka reflects on the home she fled. There’s a raw honesty to those passages that hit hard. And the subtle Jewish references—Mishnah, Shabbos, old-world customs clashing with American hustle—ground the story with authenticity without weighing it down.
This novel isn’t just for lovers of historical fiction. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt like a stranger in their own skin or tried to build a new life out of broken pieces. Readers who cherish character-driven stories, especially those rooted in immigrant narratives and quiet acts of rebellion, will find a lot to hold on to here. To Save a Life is tender, brutal, and hopeful in equal measure—a heartfelt reminder that surviving is one thing, but daring to live is something else entirely.
Pages: 286 | ASIN : B0F2X1RB6F
That Dark Edge
That Dark Edge is a cerebral and vividly textured science fiction novel set in the Unified Terran Alliance universe. The story follows Hedda Tocq, a genetically enhanced Bastet and exoethnologist, as she investigates the enigmatic culture of the Vyssae—an alien species with a unique social and linguistic structure—on the planet Vyss. As tensions rise due to a fatal misunderstanding between humans and the Vyssae, Hedda is forced to navigate layers of political tension, cultural mistrust, and personal trauma. The narrative switches between action, introspective memory loops, and philosophical questions about humanity’s evolution and morality, all wrapped in the richly imagined backdrop of interstellar colonization.
I found McGarry’s writing to be both ambitious and meditative. Her prose is poetic in places, dense with meaning, but never self-indulgent. The integration of science fiction tropes such as genetic engineering, interplanetary politics, and AI technology is handled with confidence, but what really resonated with me was the emotional depth beneath the tech-heavy surface. Hedda’s memory loops, especially the ones surrounding the loss of her family, broke my heart in quiet, aching beats. McGarry doesn’t just world-build, she soul-builds. The dialogue can be cryptic at times, laced with allusions and codes, but I grew to enjoy its rhythm. The characters feel like old friends that keep you coming back.
I occasionally found myself needing to slow down and reread, especially during early chapters packed with new terminology and cultural cues. The glossary helps, but I wish some of that worldbuilding had been woven more naturally into the dialogue or action. Also, the constant memory recalls, though meaningful, can get heavy. Still, there’s a lyrical quality to how McGarry treats memory and grief. And there’s a quiet feminist thread I admired. Hedda isn’t just strong, she’s complex, vulnerable, and unapologetically driven.
This book is not your average space opera. It’s smart, layered, and patient. If you’re into character-driven sci-fi with moral gray zones, deep cultural clashes, and sharp emotional undercurrents, this one’s for you. Fans of Ursula K. Le Guin or Octavia Butler will find echoes here. It’s not for folks looking for fast-paced adventure or explosions every ten pages, but if you’ve got a taste for nuance and depth, That Dark Edge will reward you.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0D364RKGP
The Willingness to Redefine Ourselves
Buried Treasure follows two women navigating pivotal crossroads in their lives who attend a mystical retreat, embarking on a journey of self-discovery and healing. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I felt inspired to write a story embracing Practical Spirituality in a way that encouraged waking up. But pondered how to share this in a wise, loving, and non-judgmental way. Finally, the idea took root to bring an older and younger woman together and then what better place to have them meet than at an Angelic Retreat. Bringing the characters together in this way allowed me to use the tools of conversation and reflection to weave the story. Interestingly the book didn’t follow the format I had originally envisaged. Yes, meeting at the retreat was always going to be the beginning. But then Buried Treasure evolved and took me along on the journey as well. And a memory of my own surfaced and was fulfilled. I had always wanted to write a story where the character ends up in another dimension. Couldn’t perceive how that would happen. But it did happen with ease, great delight, and joy.
Both Cassie and Stella undergo transformative journeys, each in their own way, in your book. What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Both women are seeking to live lives in alignment with their own truth and clarity about their individual life paths. To be able to step out of confusion and the need to please others without voicing their own needs. They both find that doing so requires them to draw on their inner strengths to stand firm in order to discover what is best for themselves. While also understanding and without standing in judgment of another, that what may be true for each of them may not be true for another. They also both come to understand that they need to trust themselves and that they do have the ability to recognise and overcome the challenges that can hinder their journeys of transformation.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Firstly, something important for me is to get the message across that when we make choices that don’t work. We haven’t done anything wrong, and rather than stand in wrongness, use what you have learned to choose again.
Secondly, journeys of self-discovery take courage, then the willingness to redefine ourselves, and of course then trust the path we are taking on this journey.
Thirdly, the theme of remembering is very important for me. To remember that even though our minds and experiences might wish to prove otherwise. We are love and light beings. The saying we are here on earth as ‘spiritual beings having a human experience‘ is well worth remembering. And to move from focusing so much on past mistakes and regrets and begin to focus more on love.
And finally to remember that our core, or our essence, or our Soul–whatever name one gives to it, is our true self. Again, Stella says it often throughout the book. Because that is true for me it doesn’t mean it needs to be true for you.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
At present, I am working on a couple of projects, while slow will come together. One is developing wisdom cards. Especially focused on my love of acronyms. A wee bit quirky. And weaving story and poetry together. Unsure when this will be accomplished.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
There’s a Reason for Everything
Shadows and Black in the Light follows two deeply scarred individuals: a teenager struggling with the death of her father and a man who was once an associate of her father. Their lives intertwine as they uncover buried secrets and seek hope and healing in the aftermath of his passing. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Much like Millie, I’m a bit of a daydreamer. Quite often I have visions play through my mind like movie scenes. This one first came to me when I was about nineteen. I saw Millie in a car with a stranger on the way to his house with rows of medicinal flowers in the distance. I wrote it all down and thought nothing of it. Many years later I picked it up again and couldn’t stop writing until it was done. Fear is something we can all relate to. Maybe there was something inside of me drawing on my own experiences that made this story come out. I didn’t grow up with my dad and I know that sort of trauma can lead people down a dark path. Thankfully I didn’t go down that way and I am in close contact with my dad now. The interconnectedness with parallel lives comes from a deep knowing that there is something greater in this world, something mystical keeping us all together and despite the darkness, there’s a reason for everything.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I have no professional qualifications or background in writing apart from what I learned at school. Writing came naturally to me. As bits and pieces came to me, I was careful not to reveal too much early on. I had this idea that finishing an entire book would be hard and at times worried I needed to stretch the content, other times my ideas would come out so quickly, that I just had to get it all out. Hence the pace is quite uneven but being my first book, I feel that this has been a good effort and it all becomes learning for me to exceed myself next time.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically while writing?
The more I wrote, the more new ideas would come to me but it wasn’t always easy, I had to make sure my ideas were going to line up through each timeline and that it was going to work. I often had to re-read my own stuff. I had lots of maps and notes going on but it was really fun.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
I never had intentions of writing another book because I thought if I could write anything spectacular this would be it. But when I came to the end of this one, I left a bit of an opening for myself, a bit of a rabbit hole, in case one day I decided I wanted to continue writing and create a sequel but with no idea where it would go or how it would even start. Interestingly, a second story came to me only a few weeks ago. If I’m allowed to spoil it, I want to go back and delve into Andy’s past when he was 16, getting kicked out of home and meeting Marco. His character was always the most interesting for me to write. His story will lead and to keep consistent it will be a dual narrative again, the second (known) character on the other side will be a surprise as it was even to me but I’m going to work with the idea because it excites and scares me. I am also going to bring in some awareness around the mysteries of the Macedon Ranges in Victoria where disappearances occurred as known in the story “Picnic at Hanging Rock.” Bringing rich authentic Australian culture and Aussie vibes is something really important to me when writing. I love where I come from and how diverse and spiritual we are when we all come together. As for when this will be complete, I don’t want to put a time on it, I’m just gonna have fun with it and allow myself to keep a more consistent beat. Hopefully, it will all come together and pour out of me in good time.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | TikTok | Instagram | Amazon
love, and self-discovery. The story follows Millie, a young woman grappling with the loss of
her father and the emotional turmoil of her mother’s mental illness. As she navigates the
challenges of her tumultuous home life, Millie embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets
of her father’s past, leading her to unexpected revelations and new connections.
Shadows and Black in the Light is an enthralling example of speculative fiction, where the
ordinary becomes extraordinary and the impossible seems within reach. It invites readers to
question their perception of reality and consider the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of
everyday life.
This captivating novel by Amy van Rijthoven will keep you on the edge of your seat, with its
rich characters, evocative settings, and a plot that twists and turns with every page. It takes
the reader on an unforgettable journey of love, loss, and redemption.
LITERARY TITAN 