The Great Advantage of Faith in YA Fiction with Megan Schaulis

Megan Schaulis Discusses Book One of Her YA Susa Chronicles, Protector, and the Heart Behind Writing Clean, Biblically Based Fiction for Young Adults

Help BookWorthy make plans and know how to serve you best by filling out the *2026 Listener survey. Click the link and answer 10 questions. I can't wait to hear what you have to say

---

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity but reflects the full conversation from the BookWorthy Podcast. Grab a cup of coffee, listen, and read along. This post does contain affiliate links. Thanks for your support.

Random Question of the Week

The Heart Behind Protector

How God Spoke to Megan Schaulis While Writing The Susa Chronicles

Why YA Fiction is Important to Megan Schaulis

Megan Schaulis' Favorite Book(s)

Most Impactful Book for Megan Schaulis

How to Connect with Megan Schaulis

Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy! Today, we're talking with author Megan Schaulis about her YA duology, The Susa Chronicles. Book One, Protector, introduces us to Novelis, who is unwillingly sent on a mission to help her exiled people. There, she meets Zayden, who is more than he appears to be. They both have secrets, but will their secrets solve the trouble in Susa or create chaos? Book Two, Proclaimer, is set to come out in April. Welcome to Bookworthy, Megan.

Megan - Thank you so much for having me, Valerie. I am delighted to be here with you.

Valerie - It’s a pleasure! With Valentine's Day approaching and your duology featuring a bit of romance, what is the sweetest thing someone has done for you on Valentine's?

Random Question of the Week

Megan - It might sound funny, but I had what you might call a second wedding reception on Valentine's weekend. My husband and I got married 11 years ago in Colorado, which is not where I grew up. My family had a second wedding party for us in my hometown over Valentine's weekend, just a few weeks after we got married. So, I got to have my beautiful Colorado mountain wedding and my fun desert Arizona wedding. It was a lovely gift for my family and a beautiful way to celebrate as a brand new bride.

Valerie - Very fun! That does sound sweet. You got a national tour wedding with a bit of everything!

Megan - Yes, exactly! A little bit of both, which was just lovely.

Valerie - Now, tell us a bit about your book, Protector.

The Heart Behind Protector

Megan - Absolutely! Protector is inspired by the book of Esther from the Bible. Several years ago, while doing something completely unrelated to writing, like scrubbing the shower, I had a random idea. That's where all good ideas come from, right? I thought, what if Esther, this brave hero of the Bible, was not only courageous in her choices but also physically capable of leading the charge into battle? What if she were the king's bodyguard instead of his bride? I jotted this idea down on a list of fun concepts I keep on my phone. It said something like, "Esther Ninja Warrior." I put it away and didn’t do anything with it for a couple of years until I felt the nudge from the Lord that it was time to start writing again. I asked, "Awesome God, what should I write?" He didn’t answer clearly at first. So, I pulled out that list of crazy ideas and fell in love with taking a turn with Esther that was very different.

In Proclaimer, as you mentioned, our lead character, Novalice, whose name gets switched to Astra, faces dire circumstances. She is kidnapped and thrown into a situation where the odds are stacked against her. She is an alpha knight, a believer in Alpha, which is illegal in her time and country. She must live in hiding. The fact that she is an alpha knight is evident on her skin by her lack of a certain type of tattoo. Anyone could look at her and immediately know she is one of those people. This is a problem, especially when she is mistaken for one of the biologically upgraded super warrior women called the Enhanced. The real Enhanced have many tattoos. Just by looking at Astra's bare arms, it would be obvious that she is not Enhanced. She has no business fighting to be the king's bodyguard, and she isn't even a legal citizen in some ways. She is an alpha knight because of her beliefs. So, she must hide herself physically, watch what she says, and compete through physical obstacle courses against women who are physically far superior to her. Throughout all this, she must figure out if she should try to be the best at something she is not or find a deeper advantage within herself.

Valerie - It's a very interesting read! I enjoyed seeing the similarities between the Esther story and Protector, but it's also a unique take. Astra is not enhanced; she is completely different than what everyone expects. The same goes for Zayden. He is supposed to be one thing, but he doesn’t want to follow the crowd. They bond over their awkwardness in their roles, which makes it a lot of fun. I really enjoyed reading it. How did God speak to you while writing a story so similar to one that everyone loves?

How God Spoke to Megan Schaulis While Writing The Susa Chronicles

Megan - Absolutely! There were a couple of significant things God spoke to me while writing this. One was something I knew I wanted to show, and the other blew me away when God placed that thought in my mind. First, I wanted to illustrate that our greatest advantage is our relationship with God. Sadly, in our world, we’re often told that our faith is something we should keep quiet about or that it’s a personal matter for home or Sundays. But what I’ve learned while writing this book is that our faith is our greatest advantage. It’s more important than our brains, our intellect, or how strong we are. It’s more significant than being fun, popular, or funny. Being in Christ is bigger than anything and has the power to propel us forward. As followers of Jesus, we can be the smartest, coolest person on the planet. Our faith truly is an advantage. It’s not just a detail of our lives; it lifts everything up and pushes everything forward.

Before I started writing, I knew I wanted to share that message. The thing that completely dazzled me was the difference between what the world calls us and what God calls us. In the true story of Esther, she is a Jewish young woman in a time when it’s not exactly illegal to be Jewish, but it’s not popular either. She is kidnapped and roped into a competition to become the king's new wife because the king got mad at his old wife and told her she wasn’t allowed to be around anymore. It’s true! He got mad and said, "Done with you! I’m going to pick a new one." Not good advice, but that’s what happened. Esther and several other women are gathered together to compete and see who will be the best new bride for the king. In that situation, she is put in a terrible position that could stain her life forever.

The world said, "You’re just an extra girl in the king's life. You’re not special." But God said, "No, no, no! You are a queen!" I was leading worship at church one day when that struck my heart deeply. When the world says you’re a throwaway, God says, "You are royalty. I’m going to put a crown on your head. You are mine." That blew me away! One of the things I love that God taught me while writing this is that the world gives us many labels, but nothing is better, more beautiful, or more true than the label that God gives us.

Valerie - I love that! It’s evident throughout the story that Astra struggles with her identity and her connection with Alpha. She has trouble figuring out if her faith is still important in a life-and-death situation. I love her journey because it reflects a journey most Christians go through.

Young adults today often feel like they’re in a foreign land where being a Christian is taboo. It’s hard to identify with Christ in our current world. I love that Astra's struggle throughout the story emphasizes that her faith equips her better than any tool, weapon, or training could.

Megan - That’s a perfect way to say it!

Valerie - I love that message for young adults. What inspired you to write for this YA age group?

Why YA Fiction is Important to Megan Schaulis

Megan - A few years ago, I was reading some popular young adult fiction. I’ve always loved reading, but I stumbled into a streak of great YA stories that were not necessarily from a Christian perspective but were good, clean, beautiful, empowering stories. There was something about the voice and tension that resonated with me deeply. I thought, "If I ever wrote a book, it would sound and feel like this."

I realized that what appeals to me most is the wrestling over identity that young adults experience. Whether you hit that point at 12, 18, or even 30, we all face a moment where we must decide: Are we going to follow the rules set by our parents, teachers, and pastors, or will we choose to be who we truly are? The Bible calls this transition from tutors and governors to maturity. It’s a beautiful process where we learn to stand on our own two feet and say, "This is who I am, and this is what I believe."

In my opinion, the best young adult fiction tackles that moment when we decide whether to conform to what everyone else says we should be or to embrace our true selves. Inevitably, there will be some bad choices along the way, but that’s what makes great stories and real life.

Valerie - That’s one of the things that draws people into YA, regardless of age. We all struggle with identity and what we stand for. Kids today face these challenges at a younger age than we did growing up.

Megan - Yes, absolutely!

Valerie - Very fun! Megan, did you always want to be an author?

Megan - In many ways, yes! I loved words from a very young age. I spoke early, wrote little poems, and entered school writing contests as an elementary schooler. In high school, I was on the speech team and in theater. Words have always been part of my story. I got a degree in journalism and did some work in that field before becoming a teacher, where I taught English. So, there were lots of words and stories there. Eventually, I started a business with my husband, which involved a lot of writing for websites and businesses.

When I was about eight years old, I declared that I would be an author someday, though I had no concept of what that entailed. It wasn’t until about 2020 that I had an idea I felt could become a book. I had been reading great YA literature and thought, "Okay, God, could we do this together?" He responded, "Sounds like fun! Let’s go for it!" Seven weeks later, I wrote "The End" for the first time on a very short, not-ready manuscript. I worked on that manuscript for a bit and looked into publication, but it turned out it wasn’t the right story for me to share with the world. Then Protector happened, and I knew it needed to be on people's bookshelves.

Valerie - I love that! It’s one of those journeys where you start thinking one thing, and God guides you to the message that both you and your readers need to hear. Now, what is one of your favorite books?

Megan Schaulis' Favorite Book(s)

Megan - Gosh, there are so many! At the time that inspired me to start writing, I was reading Divergent, particularly the first book of the series. I also read a trilogy called Matched by Ally Condie, which is a dystopian series. Those two hit me hard with their pacing and tension. I also read The Selection by Kiera Cass, which has some loose Esther moments.

Later, I discovered Christian authors writing speculative fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi that resonate with the Word of God. Some favorites include The Wonderland Trials by Sarah Ella and Romanov by Nadine Brandes. I recently read several fantasies by J.J. Fisher. Calore by J.J. Fisher is, in my opinion, a perfect fantasy. These books mix wonderful young adult tension and passion with characters who love Jesus.

Valerie - A match made in heaven! What’s been the most impactful book in your life, other than the Bible?

Most Impactful Book for Megan Schaulis

Megan - I was going to say the Bible! But if I must choose another, one of the first books that comes to mind is The Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs. It’s a powerful book that retells the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, set in the Scottish Highlands of the 1700s.

This is not a book for children, but it is a Christian book. What blew me away was that it focuses on Leah, a real human who lived and had many experiences. When I previously read the Bible about Leah and Jacob, I focused on Jacob's struggles. But this fictional account made me see Leah differently. It showed me how fiction can help us open our eyes to the truths God teaches us in His Word. As someone writing a Bible retelling, it solidified my mission to use fiction to reveal the truth of God's Word and its relevance today.

Valerie - It’s fascinating how we can get stuck on simple messages, even though they are profound. God is love, love your neighbor—these are deep truths. Leah’s story emphasizes identity and God’s blessing. It’s neat to look at biblical characters in new ways, as you’ve done with Protector and what Liz Curtis Higgs did with her book. Every good story seems to have roots in the Bible.

Megan - It really does! Once I intentionally looked at how to take a beautiful Bible story and create an imperfect but engaging fiction story, I noticed many books that aren’t even marketed as Bible retellings. I’ve always said that Protector is an Esther retelling, but not all books are marketed that way. I started noticing stories that reflect biblical narratives, whether the authors realize it or not.

Valerie - It’s true! I took a college class on English literature, and even the teacher, who wasn’t a Christian, pointed out Jesus archetypes throughout various stories. It’s fun to see how God makes Himself known no matter what. Well, Megan, what can we expect next from you?

Megan - As you mentioned, Proclaimer, the conclusion of the Susa Chronicles duology, will be out in April 2025. I also just signed a contract for a third book that isn’t a direct sequel. The Esther story will wrap up in Proclaimer, but there’s a character in the Susa Chronicles who deserves their own story. That character will get their own book, set to come out in 2026.

Valerie - That’s exciting! You have a whole host of characters with their own stories. I can’t wait to hear which character will get more page time. So cool! Where can people find out more about you and your books?

How to Connect with Megan Schaulis

Megan - The best place is my website, meganschaulis.com. You can sign up for my newsletter, which I send out twice a month. It’s my favorite way to connect with readers and friends. I share encouraging messages, like little devotionals, and news about my writing journey, book signings, and what I’m currently reading.

On my website, you can also order signed copies of my books, which I send with fun temporary tattoos since tattoos are a big part of the book. There are also links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble, where you can find my books.

Valerie - Wonderful! We’ll make sure to include that in the show notes so people can find you easily. Thank you so much for joining me today, Megan.

Megan - Thank you! It was a pleasure, Valerie.

Valerie - And thank you for joining Megan and me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed, and let us know in the comments what the sweetest thing someone has done for you on Valentine's Day. Be sure to like and subscribe so we can discover more great books together.

Happy reading!