Read Clean YA with CJ
Episode Forty-Seven
Welcome to another episode of Read Clean YA with CJ, where we explore clean, engaging books for teens and young adults. In this compelling episode of Read Clean YA with C.J. Milacci, author Lyndsey Lewellen discusses her upcoming novel The Crier Stone, the power of storytelling to address deep spiritual themes, and her journey from reluctant reader to published author.
Episode Show Notes Below
Links to Things Discussed in this Episode:
Monsters and Mercy Collide in Lyndsey Lewellen’s The Crier Stone
Episode Show Notes:
In this compelling episode of Read Clean YA with C.J. Milacci, author Lyndsey Lewellen discusses her upcoming novel The Crier Stone, the power of storytelling to address deep spiritual themes, and her journey from reluctant reader to published author.
About Lyndsey Lewellen
Growing up on comic books, punk music, and sci-fi, Lyndsey Lewellen brings these influences into her young adult novels.
The Chaos Grid Duology
Set in a futuristic Texas wasteland created by failed weather control, the duology follows Juniper, who joins a crew of truckers to:
- Brave dangerous storms
- Avoid monsters
- Navigate complex relationships
- Wrestle with her destiny
“There’s lots of storms, there’s monsters, there’s a dash of romance,” Lewellen explains about her unique dystopian world.
Exploring Deep Themes in The Crier Stone
Lewellen weaves profound spiritual themes into her action-packed narrative, particularly focusing on three aspects of God’s character:
- Grace: Getting what you don’t deserve
- Justice: Getting what you do deserve
- Mercy: Not getting what you deserve
“Juniper is okay with justice… but her problem really is with mercy, where she sees someone do something evil and something reprehensible, but she also sees God give mercy to those people.”
The Power of Fiction to Transform
One of Lewellen’s key insights is how fiction can bypass our natural defenses:
“You put your guard down with fictional stories. And you can really see, like, ‘Oh, hey, maybe I do struggle with mercy.”
From Reluctant Reader to Storyteller
Lewellen’s journey to becoming an author is particularly inspiring because she struggled with reading as a young person. Her mother, also an author, introduced her to The Scarlet Pimpernel, which sparked her love for storytelling.
“I said, ‘Mom, I got all these great ideas. I’m teaching these teens and I got these great ideas for stories. You should write it.’ She said, ‘No, they’re your ideas. You need to write it.'”
The Heart Behind the Stories
For Lewellen, entertaining readers is paramount. She emphasizes that Christian fiction should be:
- Engaging
- Well-crafted
- Respectful of readers’ time
- A gateway to deeper truths
What’s Next for Lewellen
Beyond The Crier Stone, Lewellen revealed her plans to independently publish a middle-grade steampunk novel later this year, showcasing her versatility as an author.
Connect with Lyndsey Lewellen
Readers can find Lyndsey Lewellen through:
- Website: LyndseyLewellen.com
- Instagram: @LyndseyLewellen
- Newsletter signup (includes free steampunk short story)
The Crier Stone promises to deliver the same pulse-pounding action as The Chaos Grid while diving deeper into questions of mercy, justice, and what it means to trust God even when His ways challenge our understanding.
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Lyndsey Lewellen
Author
Lyndsey Lewellen is a YA author who writes high-stakes science fiction filled with danger, resilience, and bold young heroines. Her stories are filled with adventure, wonder, and journeys toward redemption.
As a YA author, Lyndsey Lewellen is passionate about exploring resilience, identity, and survival in her futuristic worlds.
When she’s not writing, reading, or whittling down her endless TBR, she designs covers for novels and paints on shoes. She lives on a small Texas farm with her best friend/husband, their five children, and what some might call a zoo of animals (especially after meeting the peacocks)…
About Your Host
Award-winning author CJ Milacci writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As the podcast host for Read Clean YA with CJ, she loves talking about books and the deeper themes woven into the pages of each novel. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Always willing to get real about hard issues, C.J. also enjoys the cheesiest of puns. She chats about writing, her faith, bubble tea, and other fun adventures online (@cjmilacci) and at cjmilacci.com.
CJ Milacci is the award-winning author of The Talionis Series, and she writes stories for teens and young adults with heart-pounding action and hope. As a referee, she’s always relearning the hard lesson that it’s impossible to make everyone happy, and she’s discovered that stories can be found anywhere, even on a lacrosse field. She’s passionate about crafting stories of good overcoming evil, finding hope in the midst of seemingly hopeless circumstances, and true acceptance.
Recruit of Talionis, Book 1
A teen with a dark past. A secret military force that kidnaps new soldiers. Can she survive as a Recruit of Talionis?
Fugitive of Talionis, Book 2
They kidnapped her. Trained her. And now they’re hunting her.
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