Exploring Faith, Destiny, and the Power of Found Family
Jolene Fine discusses her Fostering Worlds series, faith-driven storytelling, immersive world-building, and the personal experiences shaping her characters. She shares insights on balancing genres and inspiring readers with spiritual superheroes.
Jolene Fine is a force to be reckoned with in the world of speculative fiction. Best known for her groundbreaking Fostering Worlds series—hailed as “The Christian Star Wars”—she has crafted a universe where faith and destiny intertwine in epic battles of light against darkness. Her debut novel, Kalani: Shadows of Destiny, has captivated readers with its sweeping narrative and thought-provoking themes, earning the prestigious Gold Literary Titan Award and multiple bestseller badges.
A master world-builder, Fine creates deeply immersive settings where faith-based heroes wield not just weapons, but divine purpose. Her characters, many shaped by her own experiences growing up in the foster care system, navigate richly layered stories of survival, redemption, and the search for belonging. Beyond her acclaimed sci-fi fantasy works, she has also delved into contemporary and comedic fiction, demonstrating a remarkable versatility that resonates across genres.
In this exclusive interview, Reader’s House delves into the mind of this extraordinary author—exploring her inspirations, creative process, and the powerful messages woven into her storytelling. Whether crafting spiritual warriors in intergalactic conflicts or lighthearted romps in the world of romantic comedy, Fine remains an author whose words not only entertain but uplift and inspire.
Jolene Fine masterfully blends faith and fantasy, crafting rich narratives that inspire, challenge, and uplift readers with profound storytelling and visionary world-building.
How did your experiences as a former foster child influence the development of characters in your Fostering Worlds series?
As a former foster child, the theme of found family became central to my storytelling. One of my protagonists is a foster child, along with nearly 20 minor characters, each with unique backgrounds reflecting the diversity of real-life foster experiences. Desiree was never adopted because her mother was a suspected witch and her father a murderer. Raffikki’s parents lost their rights due to drug addiction. Rachel and Rebecca were abandoned as infants, while Shane and others entered foster care after their parents chose to be Watchers, forfeiting their right to raise children.
My own foster experiences also shaped the portrayal of foster parents in Fostering Worlds. Despite early hardships, I eventually lived with incredible foster parents who became my spiritual mentors, inspiring Rohan and Caressa—Desiree’s caregivers. Rohan, a master healer, wields the Rod of Iron against darkness, while Caressa, a nurturing yet brilliant inventor, captains the spaceship Resurrection. Through them, I wanted to challenge the common YA stereotype of incompetent or absent parents by portraying strong, wise, and capable caregivers who actively guide and support the next generation.
In Kalani: Shadows of Destiny, you explore themes of faith and destiny. How do these elements shape the narrative?
The characters in Kalani must navigate their faith amid uncertainty, struggling to trust in their divine destiny. Some embrace it, while others resist, but ultimately, faith in a higher power is the only path to fulfilling their purpose—becoming spiritual warriors against the dark forces threatening the galaxy. This tension between surrender and rebellion drives the story, shaping their arcs and understanding of destiny.
We all want to believe we have a purpose—and I truly believe we do. The world offers teenagers superheroes who achieve fame and power on their own. I offer them spiritual superheroes—warriors who don’t rely on themselves but call upon God’s power to overcome every adversary, whether physical, mental, or spiritual.
Your writing style has evolved from descriptive to symbolic. How has this transformation impacted your storytelling?
Initially, I avoided symbolism because my high school and college literature classes had drained the joy from reading. However, my natural ability to interpret scripture, decode poetry, and see layered meanings inevitably found its way into my writing. As a result, Kalani can be read on multiple levels.
At its core, the division between Lambients and Watchers reflects broader societal contrasts. On one level, Lambients are the active contributors, while Watchers are passive observers. On another, they represent two kinds of believers—those who actively live out their faith versus those content with personal salvation. On a third level, they symbolize the destination between those who believe in the god and those who don’t. This layered approach allows readers to interpret the story in ways that resonate with their own experiences, making Kalani a richer, more immersive read. Perhaps this is why the series has been called “The Christian Star Wars”—it offers an expansive universe with deep symbolic meaning.
Dogbreath offers a humorous perspective on a unique profession. What inspired you to write this adult comedy?
Dogbreath is a quirky romantic comedy with a nod to ’90s films. After teaching middle school, where literature was fun and lighthearted, I craved something similar in the adult fiction space. When I couldn’t find a clean, feel-good book in the genre, I decided to write my own. Using techniques I learned in college—especially from Making Shapely Fiction—I structured the novel to be entertaining, playful, and uplifting, reflecting the carefree period of life in which I wrote it.
How do you approach world-building in your young adult sci-fi/fantasy novels to create immersive and authentic settings?
I love research. When designing creatures, I study real-world animals, blending characteristics to create something unique yet believable—like the Womber, a hybrid of a kangaroo and a bear. It lives in caves, fiercely protects its young, carries them in a pouch, and moves between walking on all fours and leaping.
I take the same approach with cultural traditions. By researching modern and ancient customs, I pull intriguing elements and give them a twist. For example, the mortal Eosians live in a caste society where tattoos signify status—the more ink they have, the cleaner they believe themselves to be. When they enter immortality and find their tattoos erased, the experience is deeply unsettling. This moment highlights how cultural beliefs, no matter how ingrained, can become barriers to spiritual growth.
Considering your diverse portfolio of children’s books, comedy, and sci-fi/fantasy, how do you balance writing across different genres while maintaining a consistent authorial voice?
Though I’ve explored contemporary and comical fiction, my writing has evolved toward faith-based fantasy with sci-fi elements, which feels like my true creative home. At the moment, I don’t see myself leaving fantasy.
What advice would you offer to aspiring authors aiming to incorporate faith-based themes into their writing?
You can sell more books without it. There is a larger market if you exclude it. However, if you feel compelled to share a message or offer a unique perspective, then write it with authenticity. I never set out to be a faith-based writer—it’s simply a core part of who I am, and it naturally flows into my storytelling. If faith is integral to your worldview, it will shape your writing organically.
