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Interview with author Allen Brokken

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I’m excited to introduce Allen Brokken, award winning author of Demolishing the Stronghold and the 6 book Towers of Light series. Allen writes children’s Christian Fantasy, or “Prairie Punk” as he calls it, and readers have responded with very strong reviews.

Book cover of Demolishing the stronghold from the Interview with author Allen Brokken

Bio: Allen is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. 

He’s dedicated 18 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development.  Now that his own children are off to college, he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media @allenbrokkenauthor and through his newsletter.

Please tell us about your current release
Demolishing the Stronghold is the sixth and final book in the faith-based Towers of Light Series. This series explores various aspects of the Christian worldview from the perspective of three children who have been put into challenges they must survive through faith alone. The series setting is reminiscent of the 1800s Midwest United States but has mixed in fantastic elements such as the sword of the spirit and shield of faith to emphasize traditional moral truths in contemporary language.

What inspired you to write this book?
I was super excited to finish the Towers of Light Series. I even had some input from some of my loyal readers about how Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan were going to battle a dragon!

Book Excerpt:

Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan finally reach Blooming Glen. They must demolish the enemy’s stronghold there before the Calamitous Drake covers their land in eternal darkness.
Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan finally found respite for their whole family in the grove surrounding the Wellspring of Life. However, the threat of the Dark One’s forces still looms over the Heathlands, and lighting the tower of Light in Blooming Glen is their only hope of cleansing their land of The Darkness once and for all. While the family plans a surprise attack on the stronghold at Blooming Glen, the Bishop calls forth the Calamitous Drake, a monster forged from the essence of The Darkness in the corrupted heart of the Iron Mountain. In the midst of the battle, the monster scatters the family, leaving Mother, Uncle, and Tye in the hands of Lord Refi’Cul and the evil giant Skull Crusher who aims to make Tye his wife and become the Master of the Heath Wardens.
The children must take to the skies to forge a weapon capable of defeating the Calamitous Drake. Will Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan’s faith give them the strength to Demolish the Stronghold?

What’s next for your book or future plans you’d like to share?
One of my many upcoming projects includes new picture books based on the animal friends of Lauren, Aiden, and Ethan.

What got you interested in writing things for others to read? 
I began the Towers of Light Series as a story for my kids. I was traveling for work 4 days a week and spent a lot of lonely nights in hotels across the country. I started writing a story about them in a fantastic setting and then shared it on the weekends. They loved it.

What’s one challenge you had to overcome (or still work through) to write?
Time on my hands is my worst enemy. When I have no deadlines or far away deadlines, I just end up with fanciful ideas bouncing around in my head with no outlet. Give me a deadline, even a self-imposed deadline and words fill the page. Everyone is different. Sometimes it is just a matter of learning what days and times you are most productive.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I keep busy working full-time while pursuing my second career as an author. I write best early in the morning or on an airplane. When I have a deadline, I build a chart of what I need to get done and then drive that as many days a week as possible early in the morning.

As a child, did you think you’d be a writer? Or what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a kid, I always had an active imagination and took to writing as soon as I learned how.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
My goal is to write for children while helping to instill truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way.

What’s something fun you like to do outside of writing?
I play a lot of games. Lately, it’s a mix of XBOX, No Man’s Sky to be exact.  I’ve got a gaming group and we’ve been playing online for over 20 years.  We’re mostly all over 50 now and a bit slow.  We call ourselves Team Fail and our motto is “Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory since 1999.”  For my 50th birthday, we all got together in person, and it was a blast.  I also play Star Wars X-Wing Miniatures battles with my eldest son on Sundays after church as a way to make sure we stay connected now that he’s out of the house.

How can Readers connect with you?
Website: https://www.towersoflight.net/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01MSY4YXD
Instagram: https://instagram.com/allenbrokkenauthor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/allenbrokkenauthor
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allenbrokkenauthor

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