Faith, Fun, and Decide‑Your‑Path Adventure: Inside Kathryn Butler’s Lamplight Series
Kathryn Butler—trauma surgeon turned writer, homeschooling mom, and author of the beloved Dream Keeper Saga—to talk about her newest middle‑grade project, The Lamplight Series.
This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.
Every once in a while, a children’s book series arrives that feels both nostalgic and entirely new. Kathryn Butler’s Lamplight Series is exactly that—a fresh, faith‑anchored take on the “choose your own adventure” format many of us devoured in the ’80s and ’90s. Except this time, the stories don’t just entertain. They disciple. They invite kids to wrestle with choices, consequences, courage, and grace—all while sailing pirate‑infested seas or dodging lions in ancient Rome.
In this BookWorthy Podcast episode, I sat down with Kathryn Butler—trauma surgeon turned writer, homeschooling mom, and author of the beloved Dream Keeper Saga—to talk about her newest middle‑grade project. What unfolded was a conversation full of joy, depth, and the unmistakable fingerprints of God’s faithfulness.
🌍 A Random Question… and a Family Trip to Stonehenge
We always begin with a random question, and Kathryn’s answer was pure delight. If she could beam anywhere in the world right now, she’d choose England.
She shared that she has “a real soft spot in my heart for Ireland… it feels like a hint of heaven to be out in the countryside”. But after reading about Stonehenge with her daughter, she’d love to take her kids to England to explore medieval sites and soak in the history.
As she put it, “There’s so much history there that we just don’t see here in the US”.
I couldn’t help but agree. Ireland, Scotland, England—those landscapes feel like walking through a storybook.
🔦 Introducing the Lamplight Series: A Decide‑As‑You‑Go Biblical Adventure
Kathryn’s new series is built on a simple but brilliant idea: What if Christian kids had their own choose‑your‑path adventures—rooted in Scripture, anchored in grace, and bursting with action?
The concept came from her publisher, who asked, “What if we did this for Christian kids?” Kathryn’s response was immediate: yes.
Each Lamplight book is written in second person, placing the reader directly into the story. At the end of each chapter, kids choose what to do next. But here’s the twist: Every new chapter begins with a Bible verse—often from Psalms or Proverbs.
“Sometimes the right choice is not obvious… sometimes there’s no good choice,” Kathryn explained. “But as long as we’re trying to remain faithful to what God has taught us in His Word, He’s always delighted in that.”
This is the heartbeat of the series: Choices are hard, but God is faithful.
🐙 Book One: The Hunt for the Kraken
The first book begins in Boston Harbor, where the protagonist (your child!) is fishing with their dad. Nothing is biting—until a strange blue light flashes from the lighthouse.
That blue light becomes the portal for the entire series.
“It transports the protagonist to another time and another place,” Kathryn said. In this case, the North Sea in the 1800s.
Suddenly, your child finds themselves aboard a ship run by a corrupt pirate captain—one who claims to be whaling but is secretly hunting the legendary Kraken in a Captain Ahab‑style quest for revenge.
From there, the choices begin:
Do you help the pirate?
Do you try to escape?
What do you do when sea monsters appear?
Who can you trust?
Kathryn described it as “a fun romp… monsters, intrigue, mystery, hard choices, and hopefully some guiding light of His Word throughout”.
It’s the kind of story kids devour—and the kind that quietly shapes their hearts.
🏛️ Book Two: Escape from Rome
If the first book is a high-seas adventure, the second is ancient‑world intensity.
This time, the protagonist is working in their aunt’s dusty museum when the blue light appears again—whisking them straight into Rome under Emperor Nero, just before the Great Fire.
They land in the Colosseum. A lion is attacking a gladiator. And the choices begin immediately.
Kathryn wove Christian history into this story, including the persecution believers faced under Nero. “Hopefully something families can talk about together,” she said. It’s gripping, educational, and spiritually rich—all without feeling heavy‑handed.
✍️ Writing a Decide‑As‑You‑Go Story:
The Hardest Creative Challenge
If you’ve ever wondered how an author writes a branching, multi‑ending story, Kathryn’s answer is simple:
It was hard.
As a self‑described pantser—someone who discovers the story while writing—she had to completely rethink her process.
“Every few pages, the plot changes,” she said. “That was the biggest challenge.”
Her solution?Write three full story threads straight through, then go back and create the branching points.
She also built a massive Excel map with arrows and pathways. Her editor wouldn’t even open the manuscript without it.
Each book contains 12–13 possible endings, but Kathryn intentionally made the chapters longer than the classic ’80s versions. She wanted kids to feel immersed—not rushed.
📚 Why Stories Matter: Training Hearts in a Safe Space
One of my favorite moments in our conversation was when Kathryn talked about the power of stories to shape a child’s heart.
“Stories can have that heart training for kids… they can encounter hard questions and hard realities in a safe space,” Kathryn Butler said.
Kids may never face a Kraken or a Roman lion, but they will face:
betrayal
fear
anger
grief
moral dilemmas
Stories give them a place to practice courage. To ask questions. To see God’s faithfulness in action. And Kathryn knows this firsthand.
🌅 A Personal Story: How The Return of the King Helped Her Son See God’s Goodness
During the pandemic, Kathryn was called back to the ICU. Her son, then seven, was old enough to be afraid. He began asking hard questions about God’s goodness.
They read Job. They read John 11. They talked about suffering and sovereignty.
But the moment things clicked wasn’t during Bible study.
It was during The Return of the King. As they read the scene where Minas Tirith is under siege, and the Riders of Rohan sweep in at dawn, Kathryn’s son began to cry.
“Those were such beautiful words. Can you read them again?” he asked.
Kathryn told him, “This reminds me that no matter how dark things seem, Christ has already overcome.”
Shortly after, he came to faith.
That night, on her way to the hospital, Kathryn saw an image in her mind: a girl walking into her kitchen to find a dragon eating chili.
She didn’t swat it away. She asked questions. And the Dream Keeper Saga was born.
Stories shepherd hearts. Stories open doors. Stories help kids see truth in a way nothing else can.
🕊️ From Trauma Surgeon to Writer: A Journey of Obedience and Surrender
Kathryn’s path to writing wasn’t linear.
Writing was her first love. She wrote her first book at 17. She attended writers’ conferences. She imagined a literary life.
But when her father survived a heart attack, she felt God calling her into medicine. She became a trauma surgeon and ICU doctor.
Years later, with two young children at home, she realized she couldn’t faithfully live out Deuteronomy 6:6–7 while working the hours her job required.
“My work was honestly an idol,” she admitted. “The Lord broke down idols in my heart.”
Leaving medicine was painful—but sanctifying.
Writing again felt like coming home.
And God didn’t waste a single part of her story.
📖 Kathryn’s Favorite Book
When I asked Kathryn to choose one book to take on a trip to Stonehenge, she groaned.
“I hate this question,” she laughed.
But eventually she answered: The Lord of the Rings. (“Technically published as a trilogy but written as one book,” she pointed out.)
A fitting choice for someone who writes with such depth, hope, and imagination.
🚀 What’s Next for Kathryn Butler
There’s so much to look forward to:
📘 Lamplight Book 3: Mission to Io
Releasing in 2027, this installment takes readers into outer space for a sci‑fi adventure.
📚 Joni Erickson Tada’s Authorized Biography
Also releasing in 2027, Kathryn was asked to write the official biography of Joni Eareckson Tada.
“It was a tremendous privilege,” she said. “Her entire life is a testimony of God working through suffering.”
This book is already on my TBR list.
🌐 Where to Find Kathryn
You can connect with Kathryn and explore her books at:
Website: kathrynbutler.com
Publisher: Crossway.org (search “Kathryn Butler”)
She loves hearing from readers and welcomes emails through her site.
💛 Final Thoughts
Kathryn Butler’s Lamplight Series is more than a nostalgic nod to the choose‑your‑own‑adventure books of our childhood. It’s a discipleship tool. A heart‑training journey. A reminder that choices matter—but grace meets us in every ending.
Whether your child is navigating pirates, ancient Rome, or the everyday challenges of growing up, these books offer something rare: Adventure with purpose. Fun with faithfulness. Stories that shape the soul.
Happy reading, friends.
Comments