If you’ve been around for awhile, you’ve probably heard that I write gripping, whimsical YA.
My books fall under a lot of categories. But none of them can fully explain my mission.
I write books to fill your life with light.
Please don’t mishear me: not all my books are lighthearted. They’re not all fluff. Topics like panic attacks, racism, and doubting your faith show in my stories.
But I filter major topics through the lens of my main goal.
My main goal isn’t for readers to finish a book and say, “Vella is a genius. Her prose is beautiful, I love the characters, and I couldn’t put it down!”
Side note: If you think any of the above is true, please head over to Amazon and leave my books a review! I’d really appreciate it. 😉
My main goal is to help you fill your life with LIGHT.
It’s not “just” a story…
All good stories are about what it means to be human.
It’s why Shakespeare’s plays are so famous…there’s something in them that’s true to life.
It’s why stories have the power to change us. To lift us out of our own perspective and increase our compassion and understanding.
I don’t write tragedies like Shakespeare.
The core of what it means to be human, in my understanding, comes from Jesus.
Sometimes people talk like there’s no such thing as being okay, and all humans are in pain all the time. We live in a broken world. But the cross changed everything. The story of the Bible isn’t a tragedy because Jesus didn’t stay dead! The light is more powerful than the darkness. My testimony is proof of this.
A lot of my stories are lighthearted because I know the light is more powerful than the darkness.
Reader need an escape, a breather. And on a deeper level, because what Jesus did on the cross means that we can be free and whole and okay and bursting with joy.
NOTE: If you don’t know Jesus, you can still read my books. In fact, I think you might really love them. And if you want to know the one true God who loves you deeply, I’d encourage you to read the Bible and visit a local church.
Content Warnings
I want people who Google, “content warnings Vella Karman books,” to find this article.
There’s a lot of confusion about the terms “no spice” and “clean” in the bookish community. I want to be super clear about the content in my books so that you can feel safe reading them:
- You will never read a depiction of graphic sexual acts in my books.
- You will never find excessive language in my books.
Whimsical Twists
My stories could be classified with a confusing term (that could also be used to classify Narnia). It’s called “magical realism.”
Here’s the truth: there is no magic in my books.
There is supernatural power from the God of the Bible. Most of my ideas start with a sentence like this “what if God had created the world differently…?”
“What if God had created mermaids and other mythical creatures?” (Fantastical Summer)
“What if God allowed his followers to teleport?” (Like Philip in Acts 8.)
Because I write like this, I have a unique opportunity to draw out faith themes without making it preachy. I can talk about trusting God in an authentic, compelling way that’s only possible through stories like this.
Human Nature
Not everything shown in my work is condoned by my work. People make bad decisions. My characters will too.
God created every human that’s ever lived. That doesn’t mean he condones all their actions. (Case in point: Judas Iscariot.)
I don’t write morally gray characters, I write complex characters that mirror the humans God created.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
I will never use AI to create ideas or write my books for me. Here’s two reasons why:
- I want to create like my creator. The Holy Spirit working in me to shape my work. That is sacred.
- I will always be against robots hurting (or assisting to hurt) people made in the image of God.
Please note: I can’t spend hours upon hours making certain that there is never a whiff of AI in every graphic I make. I have a lot of skills, but being perfect isn’t one of them. Please, no witch hunting here. 😉
What will you find?
When you pick up a Vella Karman original, you’re holding a book that’s been prayed over a lot. There’s probably whimsy, maybe some suspense, and an authentic representation of faith. I hope it makes you laugh and cry and smile every time you think of it afterwards.
I hope it fills your life with light.
Thanks for reading! The best way to connect and show your support is to join my email list and tell your friends about my books. Grab my short story from Fantastical Summer for FREE when you sign up. 🙂
P.S. If you’re dying to get ahold of my books right this second, shop them on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vella-Karman/author/B0F9LK8HV3)