This month’s author testimony spotlight is A.M. Daylin! She’s a wonderful inspiration and a considerate friend. Her posts touch on tough topics, and I love that she’s not afraid to speak the truth. Her honesty and vulnerability in her posts has made her such an encouragement to me both as a Christian and as a writer.
I love seeing her heart in her novels, with a focus on healing, purpose, and healthy relationships. Where Darkness Cannot Follow was an amazing introduction into her work, and I can’t wait to read her upcoming release in a new series, These Hallowed Binds! (Not to mention that all the arguing about the love triangle has made me extremely curious 🤣 I’ve only ever liked the Hunger Games’ love triangle so I’m interested in seeing what Daylin does!)
She also has an amazing talent for art! Her characters come to life both on the canvas and within the pages of her books 😁 She’s built such a wonderful platform of connection and positivity, and if you haven’t met her yet, give her a follow and reach out! (Contact information is at the bottom of this post!)
Author Interview
What was it like for you to grow up as a Christian?
I had a mix of experiences growing up Christian. My parents are divorced, so in my mom’s house (where I lived) there was more freedom and less structure. My mom has always been adamant about allowing my sister and I to make our own choices regarding what we believe, while also nudging us in the right direction. My dad was a pastor for a time, and when I stayed with him, things were the opposite–lots of structure and intentionality, which I struggled to appreciate as a child. However, while the approaches were different, I learned much from both and developed a strong faith in God from a young age.
Once I was older, I started to swing in some wild directions. I went from being a lukewarm Christian to legalism to dabbling in the occult. This was the result of me questioning everything I’d been taught, doubting the legitimacy of the Bible, and falling under the influence of friends involved in witchcraft.
But through it all, the Holy Spirit hovered over my shoulder, gently prompting me back in the right direction. It took some time, but eventually, I repented of all the false ways I’d gone, and surrendered wholly–for the first time–to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in 2017. I am grateful to say, about seven years later, that I am enjoying the deepest relationship I’ve ever had with Jesus, and continuing to learn how to better serve and honor Him all the time. While I wish I’d not gone down certain paths in my past, the Lord has used those experiences to give me greater discernment today and to inform my writing. He doesn’t waste a thing!
What’s the most important thing you’d want younger Christians to know about serving God?
Seek Him first. Before your happiness (or what you think will make you happy). Before other relationships. Before your dreams. Before your hobbies. Before His miracles.
Serving God isn’t about earning points with Him or getting Him to do what you want. It’s about you doing what He wants and you realizing it’s what you needed. There are many ways we can “go it alone” and try to do it our way, and sometimes, we even succeed in worldly terms. But nothing truly satisfies or lasts that isn’t done unto Him and from the overflow of our relationship with Him.
As a Christian author, what is your goal with writing?
My goal is to find hurting people in the place they are trying to escape to (fiction) and equip them with hope, tools for healing, and a sense of being understood so they can better face their realities. I believe God gifted me with a passion for Fantasy because it is one of the most appealing genres to people trying to hide from reality. Other major goals of mine are to point readers toward healthy relationships by calling out the bad and demonstrating the good, and to lead them toward a sense of God-given purpose.
What is the most important godly message you share with your audience? (If you can’t pick one, you can share two!)
The two messages which resonate through all my stories are God’s grace and our purpose for living being tied to serving Him and others. God’s grace appears in all my stories (even ones where He seems less present) revealing that no one is too far gone for Him to love, redeem, and use for good works. Our purpose to serve Him and others appears in a variety of ways, to a) instill true value into those who feel worthless and b) offer a call-to-action to all believers to fulfill their role in Christ’s Kingdom for the benefit of all.
Connect with A.M. Daylin!
If you want to connect with the author, here are some handy links!
Author website: https://linktr.ee/amdaylin?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZcj5Uz6YfLmrJwv7c0tQMh08NUyzgzvFcxqMf5K-coSotFNn9f5tXrEKA_aem_9ZvvxbwWL5H9AIcZKQZTrw
Newsletter: https://stats.sender.net/forms/avGXgb/view
Right now, A.M. Daylin is in the process of prepping for a kickstarter for her second release, These Hallowed Binds! You can check it out with this link. (Update: The book is out and available on Amazon! https://a.co/d/5XEoxAl)
