Jolene Fine - Intricate World-Building and Spiritual Depth

Jolene Fine is a best-selling Christian sci-fi fantasy author and former English teacher. Jolene’s storytelling masterfully combines the intricate world-building of Brandon Sanderson with the spiritual depth of C.S. Lewis. Her young adult trilogy delves into spiritual warfare, immortality, and weapons of faith, forgiveness, and resilience, exploring the ongoing mental battle against the adversary while presenting faith as an action adventure.

Please give us a short introduction to what *Kalani: Shadows of Destiny* is about.

*Kalani: Shadows of Destiny* follows two teens navigating an immortal world, each on their own journey of faith. They must face their pasts and come to terms with their destiny in a world filled with cosmic challenges and personal growth.

Kalani is such a vivid and immersive world. What inspired this dystopian afterlife and the role ancient prophecies play within it?

I’ve always struggled with the idea of Heaven or immortality being perfect. How could it be perfect when some of the people I loved, like my parents and siblings, were nonbelievers and wouldn’t be part of it? How could it cater to everyone’s desires when we all want different things? Growing up as a foster child without a traditional family, the idea of eternal family felt incomplete. I also couldn’t reconcile the thought that a single moment of weakness could condemn someone to eternal darkness. So, I reimagined it, creating a world where a loving god calls upon someone to save others from that darkness.

Desiree and Zach both face internal and external struggles throughout the novel. How did you shape their journeys of self-discovery, and what do you hope readers take away from their personal growth?

Their journeys of self-discovery closely mirrored my own. As they learned new truths and confronted their challenges, I found myself doing the same. They ask difficult questions and don’t always find clear answers, and that’s a reflection of life. My hope is that readers will see that it’s okay to keep believing, even when things don’t make perfect sense.

The battle between The Army of Awry and The Army of Magnar drives much of the plot. What can you tell us about the origins of this cosmic conflict and its symbolism in terms of good and evil?

The origins of this conflict are explored further in *Fostering Worlds*, my work-in-progress. Essentially, The Army of Awry represents Lucifer and his fallen angels, who seek to keep God’s children from returning home. Magnar’s Army, on the other hand, symbolizes the followers of God, working to counter the forces of evil.

Your storytelling has been compared to C.S. Lewis, especially in how it handles faith. How has your personal faith influenced the narrative, and how do you navigate the line between creating an engaging story and exploring deep spiritual themes?

I believe that spiritual truths are present in all religions, and themes like faith in a higher being and battling negative forces are universal. I never intentionally incorporate spiritual themes, but they naturally emerge in my writing because they’re such a part of who I am. The world-building and symbolism are simply reflections of my beliefs.

Both Desiree and Zach are faced with moral and spiritual dilemmas. How do you hope readers grapple with the questions of faith, loyalty, and destiny presented in the book?

I wrote the trilogy in first person because I wanted readers to experience these dilemmas in the same way that Desiree and Zach do. The questions of faith, loyalty, and destiny are deeply personal to the characters, and I hope readers will find themselves grappling with these issues alongside them.

Desiree and Zach’s story intertwines love, loyalty, and sacrifice. How do these themes reflect the broader cosmic war they are caught in, and how do they shape the decisions the characters make?

Love, loyalty, and sacrifice are key to both their personal journeys and the larger cosmic battle between good and evil. Each decision they make is influenced by these themes, and they are forced to weigh their own desires against the needs of the greater good. Their willingness to sacrifice for each other speaks to the larger divine plan at work.

Your book touches on heavy issues such as suicide, abortion, and struggles with faith. How did you balance these sensitive topics with the overall narrative, and what kind of response have you received from readers regarding these elements?

I ensure that nothing negative is glorified, but elements like despair naturally arise in a spiritual battle. For instance, Zach’s attempt to prevent his girlfriend’s suicide is briefly mentioned, with the focus being on his emotional turmoil and sense of failure. This event is what propels him into his role as a spiritual hero. Although some readers may shy away from the book because of these topics, they add depth to the characters and their development. There’s also the unique subplot involving Turtlehead, a "canceled" child—a fetus growing outside the mother's body in an immortal world. Turtlehead’s character, though unusual, has resonated with readers, and his relationship with Desiree is one of the most beloved in the series. These topics, while heavy, help shape the spiritual battles the characters must face without making the story lose its clean narrative.

*Shadows of Destiny* is the first in the *Fostering Worlds* series. Without giving too much away, what can readers expect from the next installment, and how will Desiree and Zach’s journeys evolve?

In the next installment, Desiree and Zach will come together to face their destinies, venturing into the Mists of Despair to rescue lost souls from shape-shifting demons. Desiree, who starts off as insecure and reluctant, will grow into her role as a brave leader. Meanwhile, Zach will experience both highs and lows as he continues his journey as a hero.

What are you working on right now?

My current project is a standalone novel called *Fostering Worlds*, which tells the origin story of the universe, how the Godhead was created, and how Kneph became the ruler of Kalani. It’s designed so that readers can either enjoy it independently or at any point in the series. The story begins with deceit and will end in a powerful act of sacrifice.