What appeals to you about the fantasy genre, particularly as a facet (an under-represented facet) of Christian fiction?

What appeals to me about the fantasy genre, and Christian fantasy in particular (both to read and to write) is the way spiritual truths can be woven into a story with fantastical and/or supernatural elements in a way that often has a greater impact than reading a contemporary or straight historical story. As Aslan the lion, the Christ figure in the Chronicles of Narnia tells Lucy at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” Even though there is no Christ figure in my Mercy series, sacrificial love is a huge theme.

The Mercy series appears to have all of the necessary elements that make readers fall in love with a fantasy tale: an honorable hero, danger, love, and fearsome enemies. How would you summarize the series?

The initial idea for He Who Finds Mercy came from my frustration with “strong” fantasy heroines who were totally unrealistic and poor role models for teens. I wanted to create a brave young woman who did not have to resort to violence. I did not expect the story to grow to epic proportions, but it spans fifteen years of Mercy the Healer’s life, from age 14 to 29. Through wars, betrayals, and great personal loss, Mercy and her loved ones grow in their faith in the Most High God. Though based on twelfth century British Isles, the world grew organically from the situation, and there are dragons of all sizes, castles, knights, and a gifted royal family. The first book, Mercy’s Prince, can stand alone; the first three can be read as a trilogy; and the last two can be read without reading the first three, since they take place eleven years after book three.

My son and I both loved your novel about St. Wenceslaus, Treachery and Truth: A Story of Sinner, Servants, and Saints. How did you decide upon the point of view from which it is written?

I originally thought I’d make the story from Wenceslaus’ point of view, but he is such a hero to me that I realized it would be more effective to dramatize his life through the eyes of a character who also saw him as a hero, the servant Poidevin. I fictionalized Poidevin’s conversion from paganism to Christ as a demonstration of Wenceslaus’ godly influence upon the Czech people during his short reign. My first version of the story began when Poidevin was eight, but Pauline Books & Media asked if I could age the character so they could market it as a teen book. I told them the oldest I felt I could make him was twelve, since Wenceslaus is fourteen at the beginning of the story, and I definitely didn’t want Poidevin to be older than his master.

You were able to visit Prague, where the Statue of St. Wenceslaus is. What did that visit mean to you, having delved into the saint’s life and Bohemian history?

It was a dream come true to finally visit Prague in 2016. In my search for St. Wenceslaus, I found MUCH more than just the famous statue in Wenceslaus Square. Because most of Prague survived the bombing of World War II, there were so many OLD places, even dating back to the tenth century, when Wenceslaus lived. I walked where he walked, saw things he would have seen. There were statues of him everywhere I looked, but the most moving sights were at Prague Castle. His chain mail and helmet were on display in the museum. And the Wenceslaus Chapel inside the St. Vitus Cathedral was even more beautiful in person than in photos. He is entombed there, in the same location where he was originally buried in the first St. Vitus Church he had built during his lifetime. We are going back in October to revisit my favorite places and see other places we missed on the first trip.

Why write for teens and young adults rather than adults?

Even though I will turn sixty next month, I still feel like a seventeen-year-old on the inside. I remember how it felt to be that age so clearly. I also taught middle school and high school age band students for over twenty years, and they always stimulated my imagination. My husband says he’s glad I’ve remained child-like and innocent. Sometimes it’s a handicap being so naïve as an adult, but it does make it easy to be a fun grandma!

What project are you working on now?

I’ve started a new fantasy series of five books entitled Mercy’s Children (one book for each of her children—the first is Dolan’s Bride). I wasn’t planning to write more in Mercy’s world; I was actually trying to finish a clean contemporary romance about two band directors I started over ten years ago, but those characters weren’t “talking” to me. In one night, the storylines for the five books popped into my head and I decided not to fight it. To be honest, I was reluctant to leave the land of Levathia, and now I don’t have to!

Katy Huth Jones grew up in a family where creative juices overflowed and made puddles to splash in. In addition to writing Christian fantasy, historical fiction, and poetry, Katy plays multiple musical instruments and loves sewing and photography. She and her husband live in Fort Worth, Texas. Their two sons, whom she homeschooled, have flown the nest and live creative lives of their own. Best of all, three precious children now call her Grandma.