2020 Carol Award Finalists Q&A (and a Giveaway!): Ronie Kendig & Brand of Light

Happy – what day are we on now – Thursday! Through this Saturday (culminating with a list of winners), I have the privilege of sharing mini interviews with nearly all of the 2020 ACFW Carol Award Finalists! Today I’m starting with Ronie Kendig and her Carol Award finalist book Brand of Light! You can check out a list of all the finalists HERE.

FYI – There will be 2-3 posts per day, and a series-long giveaway, so make sure you catch them all!

BRAND OF LIGHT
SERIES: The Droseran Saga #1
GENRE: Inspirational Science Fiction / Space Opera
PUBLISHER: Enclave
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2019
PAGES: 400

There’s a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.

Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they’re not alone.

After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she’s borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.

Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order-not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted-or cursed-with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.

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Hi Ronie! Welcome back to the blog!

Q: How has Christian fiction impacted you personally?

Ronie: Christian fiction has been a haven in which to explore worlds, cultures, and views without malicious intent or inappropriate content. I find great peace in knowing that my mind and heart are protected.

Carrie: yes! thankful 🙂

Q: When you’re not writing your next award-nominated book 😉 who are your fave authors to read & why?

Ronie: I love books by Carrie Stuart Parks because she brings a level of authenticity to her stories that few authors can claim, and because she writes stories that are, in my opinion, outside the box. My other favorite author is Charles Martin because of the poignancy he brings to a story elegantly told.

Carrie: ooo that was beautifully said! (and you’re right about both)

Q: Do you have any strange writing habits/quirks?

Ronie: I always pick a soundtrack-style album for each book I write. Then, I’ll put on my noise-canceling headphones, and dive into the storyworld. Maybe not too quirky, but it’s pretty much the only way I can write now.

Carrie: i think that’s awesome

Q: Which of your characters has really stretched you as a writer?

Ronie: Recently, I wrote two characters who were borderline anti-heroes, and that was very difficult to write. One is a character most readers do not like, but his arc is such that he must become heroic. That has been tough to write the bad things he does, knowing that he’s really not evil. It has really challenged me.

Carrie: “his arc is such that he must become heroic” – color me very intrigued!

Q: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve googled lately while researching a book? 

Ronie: I was looking for new character inspiration images, so I felt borderline adulterous searching for “Handsome Male 30 years old Dark Hair.” 

Carrie: hahahaha

Q: What is something God taught you while you wrote Brand of Light?

Ronie: This book was an act of obedience for me. Originally, I wrote this book in 2012, but then kept it buried beneath my fear—fear of rejection, fear of failure for a story that was truly the story of my heart. A few years ago, I felt like God challenged me to release that book to Him and to the wild, to let it get published, no matter the outcome.

Carrie: I’m so glad He gave you this story of your heart & that you were obedient to Him in it. He absolutely honors that ♥

Q: What is one of your favorite quotes from Brand of Light & why do you love it?

Ronie: I love these lines from BRAND that occur between Kersei and a former priest, because they speak to the very real desire of God to be a part of our lives, no matter how broken we are.

“Some believe the brand is not merely the touch of the Ancient, but the presence of Him. A pure source in a corrupted vessel.”

“Corrupted?”

“All are corrupt, child. Even myself.”

Carrie: that’s really profound!

I am offering one reader any TWO books (print copies) that finaled in the 2020 Carol Awards! (open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your address) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read the speculative Carol Award finalist Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig & what did you enjoy about Ronie’s answers?