Donna Sundblad

That’s a great question. The Inheritanceis the only one of my books written as a Christian allegory. Thecentral themeof this Epic fantasy is a search for Truth and the journey to the Eternal City. It reflects things I discovered on my own personal quest for truth. Writing it was a way to express spiritual truths through story, using allegory to explore purpose, belief, and the hope of something eternal.My other books, Beyond the Fifth Gate, Windwalker, and the Dragon’s Oathseries, are YA fantasy and not allegorical or overtly Christian. Still, faith shows up in different forms. Every character believes insomething, and what that is varies from story to story. Sometimes it’s loyalty, sometimes destiny, or something spiritual,unique to their world. Faith, whether tested, lost, or found, is part of what makes a character’s journey meaningful, and I love exploring that complexity in all my stories.

My faith influences my writing in different ways depending on the story.In The Inheritance, faith is foundational and explicit. The main character discovers he has the Condition, which represents sin, and learns that only Truth can cure it. He sets out seeking Wisdom and encounters two figures, Worldly Wisdom and her sister Heavenly, each offering conflicting advice. This reflects the spiritual tension we all face: which voice to trust and what path to follow. The story is deeply allegorical and draws from my own personal quest for truth.In Beyond the Fifth Gate, the faith system is unique to that world. A God-like figure namedKamali and an ancient prophecy known as Kamali’s Cycle guide the protagonist, Elita, in a race against time to pass through five mystical gates before a planetary alignment ends. The prophecy and Kamali’s guidance infuse the story with spiritual urgency and shape Elita’s choices, creating a framework of belief that drives the narrative.In Windwalker,faith is less overt but still present through themes of trust, courage, and belonging. Characters grapple with faith in themselves, in each other,and the unseen forces shaping their world. Their belief, sometimes fragile, sometimes fierce, gives their journey emotional depth and meaning.Similarly, the Dragon’s Oath seriesexplores belief through loyalty, honor, and the power of the dragon's oathand what it means to the humans who take it. While not religious, these themes embody faith in a broader sense, faith in commitments, in ideals, and in the strength to do what’s right. These values shape my characters’ choices and the moral landscape of their worlds.Across all my books, whether faith is explicit or expressed more broadly, the idea of belief, trusting in something greater than oneself, wrestling with moral decisions, and searching for truth, is a thread that connects my stories and gives life to my characters.

The struggle between good and evil is timeless because it reflects universal human experiences: choices, consequences, and the challenge of doing what’s right. Since my readers span all age groups, I strive to make this theme fresh and engaging by focusing on character complexity and emotional truth, rather than clear-cut battles between heroes and villains.I avoid simple black-and-white portrayals by showing how characters wrestle with their own doubts, flaws, and motivations. While the external “evil” is present, often a layer of "evil" is portrayed as something internal or systemic, which adds depth and realism to the conflict.By grounding my stories in personal stakes—relationships, hopes, fears—I create a connection that resonates with readers of all ages. Across my books, from the spiritual allegory in The Inheritanceto the urgent quests in Beyondthe Fifth Gateand the moral choices in Windwalkerand the Dragon’s Oath series, I aim to explore the nuances of good and evil in ways that feel fresh, complex, and meaningful.

The most challenging aspect of writing The Inheritancewas balancing an entertaining story with a thoughtful exploration of belief, without telling readers what to believe. The main character sets out from Lofty Thought after being labeled a troublemaker for questioning how conflicting theories can all be right. The character, Understanding,advises him to follow the Narrow Way, the path to Truth who holdsthe cure for his Condition, but when he meets a pretty girl, he gets distracted from the path he should follow and ends up visiting settlements built along the River of Tradition—places like Conformity, Goodeeds, and the domed city of Syncretism—that represent different worldviews and distractions from the true path. Everywhere he goes, people have answers, but what he truly wants is Truth. These stops allowed me to explore how easily we can be sidetracked in our search for meaning, making the story relatable while still encouraging reflection. My goal was for readers to journey with the character on his quest, wrestling with questions about belief without feeling preached to. I wrote The Inheritancenot only to be entertaining but also to serve as a conversation starter, inviting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and explore the complexity of truth in a way that feels personal and engaging.

The idea for The Dragon’s Oath series began with awriting prompt about two homeschooled kids. That small seed led me to write a scene: two children, living in secret, learning what they believed were fantasy lessons as part of their schooling. I didn’t know it then, but that scene would become the emotional heart of a much larger saga.As I explored that moment, I began asking the questions that built the world: Why are they in hiding? Who are they? And why would anyone teach true history disguised as fantasy? Those questions led to the world of Voldatha,where dragons and humans once fought side by side—but also made devastating mistakes.Long ago, the dragons banished the fire spirits to the underworld. But one escaped, hiding within a human host. Together, the fire spirit and its host captured and tortured a dragon. From that act came a terrible creation: a living book of dark magic, inked in dragon’s blood corrupted by mingling with the human’s blood. Anyone who willingly gives themselves to this book becomes its host, overtaken by the fire spirit’s will, and a powerful antagonist is born.The bookof evilcannot be destroyed.That truth becomes the central riddle of the series: how do you stop what cannot be unmade? To counter the rising threat, the dragons devise a long-reaching plan. One Drake Ascendant is sent 700 years into the past to plant the seeds of resistance, forge alliances, and quietly reshape the future.Those who take the Dragon’s Oath become Drake Ascendants—humans gifted with dragon-born powers. Each one is unique; no two gifts areexactlythe same, and each ability reflects the individual’s spirit, lineage, and purpose.What began as a single scene inspired by a writing prompt has evolved into a sweeping fantasy saga. I initially imagined four books, but as I write Book Four, I know the story needs a fifth to bring it full circle. That final book will return to the children who started it all—those quiet learners of “fantasy” lessons—and bring them to their destiny... where they will meet a dragon’s egg.At its core, The Dragon’s Oath is a story about legacy, sacrifice, and hidden truths. It’s a fantasy rich with dragons, time travel, ancient prophecies, and magical oaths, but it’s also about family: parents and children separated by time, dragons who become like kin, and the quiet strength of those who rise to face what others cannot.

My approach at the start is to bring together world-building and character development in a natural, organic manner. Much like God created Adam from the dust of the earth, I wanted my characters to be forged within the world, not written first and then placed into a setting, but shaped by the land, history, and spiritual weight of the world they’re born into.That’s especially important with young protagonists. Their journey isn’t just about gaining power or solving a mystery; it’s about coming to understand who they are in the context of a world that has been broken, rebuilt, and still carries the scars of ancient mistakes. My stories tend to be coming-of-age, good vs. evil themes. My protagonists'quests are transformative because they’re being asked to grow in ways no one has prepared them for.As the author, I usually have a sense of what they need to do—what lies ahead—but I try to give them the freedom to figure it out for themselves as the story unfolds. I don't force outcomes. I listen, I watch, and I allow space for their decisions to surprise me. That’s when the characters come alive; when their choices emerge not from what the plot needs, but from who they’re becoming.This approach is as fun as reading a good book, because in many ways, I get to experience the discovery alongside them.

Friendship and loyalty are more than recurring themes in my books. They reflect what I value most in both storytelling and life. I’ve always believed that who we choose to stand beside, especially when it’s not easy, reveals who we are at our core.In The Dragon’s Oath series, loyalty is never instant. It’s built, earned over time through shared trials, hard choices, and moments of grace. It’s a process. Whether it’s a child bonding with a dragon, a dragon learning to accept a human, or an ancient friendship tested across centuries, these relationships deepen not because they’re perfect, but because they’re forged through adversity.As a person of faith, I’m drawn to stories that show how we grow through connection. Loyalty isn’t blind obedience—it’s choosing the right thing when it’s hard, standing firm when you’re afraid, and being the kind of friend or ally someone can count on. That’s the kind of strength I love exploring in my characters.I’ve also seen, through years of writing and living, how powerful real friendship can be. Loyalty isn’t just a virtue, it’s a lifeline. It brings hope, healing, and sometimes even redemption. That’s why I write stories where friendship and loyalty aren’t just background elements; they’re central to the journey and transformation of every hero.

My work in freelance writing, editing, and ghostwriting has shaped my storytelling voice in meaningful ways. Ghostwriting, in particular, taught me how to step into someone else’s perspective and write with emotional authenticity. I ghostwrote over a dozen historical romances, which gave me a deep understanding of character connection, romantic tension, and emotional payoff—elements that now naturally weave into my own storytelling, even when I'm writing fantasy.Editing strengthened my instincts for pacing, structure, and clarity. Just as importantly, it taught me to be ruthless when needed. Sometimes I have to let go of a part of the story, even if I love it, because it’s not serving the whole.Freelancing across genres and audiences gave me range, but it also helped me define what voice feels most like mine. Now, when I write fiction, I bring all those lessons with me, trusting the story, writing with care, and always keeping the reader’s emotional journey at the heart of it.

I believe my imagination is a gift from God. Writing fantasy is one way I use that gift, not just to entertain, but to explore deeper truths. My stories are written for both young adults and adults. There are plenty of us who enjoy “clean” fantasystories that are free from explicit sexual content, excessive profanity, and gratuitous violence. I want readers to experience wonder, adventure, and meaning without being pulled out of the story by content that doesn’t serve it.Fantasy is a powerful space for exploring moral and spiritual themes. I don’t write sermons, but I do write characters who face sacrifice, wrestle with right and wrong, and grow through hardship. These struggles mirror the real world, but fantasy allows us to see them through a new lens.For me, imagination and faith go hand in hand. If someone finishes one of my books feeling braver, more hopeful, or more grounded in who they are, then I’ve used that gift well.

Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for mecreatively, emotionally, and spiritually. I truly believe that movement and time outdoors can unlock parts of the imagination that sitting at a desk just can’t reach. Some of my best ideas have come while walking wooded trails or just sitting quietly outside.When I’m stuck creatively, nature resets me. It pulls me out of my own head and back into a sense of wonder. That sense of wonder often findsits way into my settings, whether it’s a hidden glade, the rhythm of seasons in a fantasy realm, or even the way light filters through trees in a pivotal moment. More than that, outdoor time reconnects me to the Creator. It reminds me that stories don’t have to be forced; they can grow organically, like everything else in the natural world. I go outside to breathe, to listen, and often, to find the thread of a story waiting in the quiet.

For me, “wholesome” doesn’t mean simple or shallow. It means grounded. It means a story can have depth, darkness, and real struggle without crossing into territory that feels harmful or gratuitous. In the context of my writing, wholesome means my books are free from explicit content, excessive profanity, and violence that exists just for shock value.But more than what I leave out, it’s also about what I choose to put in: hope, purpose, emotional truth, and characters who grow through hardship. My stories explore real challenges, but they also offer moments of grace, second chances, and the kind of courage that inspires rather than hardens.I write for readers, young and old, who want to be swept up in a meaningful journey without having to filter the content constantly. If someone can close the final page feeling encouraged, stirred, or just a little more whole, then that’s what “wholesome” means to me.

You don’t have to write sermons to write something meaningful. Most of my fantasy doesn’t mention God directly, but it’s still shaped by my faith. My allegory,The Inheritance,is the only book I’d call distinctly Christian. The rest? They carry truth in quiet ways. Let your faith live in the heart of your stories, not just the words.And be patient. You’ll grow as a writer, and your voice will deepen with time. Just keep writing. God can use your stories in ways you may never see, but that doesn’t make the impact any less real.

It’s hard to choose just one, but two scenes continue to resonate with me long after writing them. The first is from the Dragon’s Oathseries—a reunion I can’t fully explain without giving away a major spoiler. What I can say is that it’s a quiet, emotional moment after a long, painful journey. There’s joy, sorrow, and healing all wrapped into it. It still grabs me emotionally every time I reread it.Another comes from Windwalker, where former enemies, people once full of hate and prejudice, are thrown into the fight together. Slowly, and not without struggle, they begin to trust each other. What stays with me is that they don’t just move past old wounds; they become true friends. That kind of transformation reminds me of something a character’s grandfather says in the story:“The forked tree has two meanings,” Grandfather said. “Half of a person loves. The other half is capable of hate. Both must learn to recognize each other and become whole—or it leads to destruction.”Those are the moments that linger: quiet healing, hard-won trust, and the kind of grace that reshapes people from the inside out. That’s the heart of what I hope readers feel when they reach the end of the journey.

Rise of the Varielpushes the series into bold new territory. It’s exciting and a bit daunting because so many formerly central characters converge in the plot. Some unexpected faces from Drake Ascendantresurface, including a few who once lived in a certain cabin and one who traveled to Tubi from the other side of the portal. Even the infamous Book Darkmore returns, with a new host. And that’s where things get especially interesting.This time, the spirits within the book are at odds. All are manipulative, narcissistic, and vying for control, which makes the host’s descent even more volatile. He willingly gives himself to the Book for the power and begins to hear their voices in his head. But this host is no pushover. He’s just as self-absorbed and power-hungry, learning magic for vengeful purposes. Seductive ideas take root. The host binds a dragon under a spell, becoming his wings—literally—allowing him to fly through tears in time undetected.Meanwhile, Orin and his sister Unoria grow in their shadowalking abilities, eventually meeting characters readers may not expect. Udoaver now leads as the head Sage of Tachnir. Treena teaches the children in Tachnir. Arina Wintergleam and her daughter are pulled deeper into the fray.The stakes keep rising. The dragon army is engaged. This is all still building toward the final book: Fragments in Time. Because the ultimate riddle running through this series is clear—the Book Darkmore cannot be destroyed, only hidden. And it must be hidden where it can't be found... somehow. But no one knowshow that’s accomplished...yet.That’s the story still to be told.

AllAuthorhas been a helpful platform for keeping my work visible in a consistent and professional way. I appreciate the clean author pages, the ability to organize and showcase my series, and the promo tools like the weekly mockups and tweet schedulers that make it easier to stay active without always being online. It's also given me a place to direct readers who are curious to explore more than just one book, especially now that the Dragon’s Oath series has grown. I like that AllAuthor focuses on authors first. It’s not a noisy marketplace, it’s more like a spotlight.