Dieta Scheidecker's Blog
August 10, 2025
When Holy Spirit Tells the Story
I didn’t make this story up.
Not really.
There were moments—whole scenes—that came faster than I could type, and I knew this wasn’t my imagination. The buzzing feeling, the revelation leading into the unexpected. I wasn’t creating; I was receiving.
It wasn't something I could push along. I tried, and then had to erase my own writing to follow the flow of Holy Spirit. I argued about some areas, wondering if that was really where I was supposed to go. But over and over, I was shown the way.
Images would form. Scripture would speak directly to the situations I was struggling with. Someone would say something, not knowing they were speaking about my character—or my issue. The story never left me, no matter where I was or what I was doing. (This is still ongoing with Book Two.)
Characters were formed, their secrets discovered—their hurts, their strengths. Backstories emerged. I spent hours just thinking through transitions, reactions, the intricacies of relationships. Not everyone was who I thought they would be, and it was exciting discovering this along the way. But I had to make sure I was thorough in catching all the changes, going over and over their conversations and situations.
I created a Google Doc just for pictures—pictures of the characters, Kenna’s compass, the circular city—so I knew the logistics of how things looked and would work. I researched how to ford a river and thought about the feelings I had when frozen on a bridge, unable to cross because of my fear of heights.
Let’s not forget the hours and hours of pouring over the rules of dialogue and correct quotation marks, showing not telling, POV choice, and the ever-frustrating cover formatting. How not to repeat words. Not always start a sentence with “I.” And avoid overusing adverbs (remembering what an adverb is!).
I can’t count how many times I thought I had things down, and then Holy Spirit guided me to a better way. I made so many mistakes as a newbie writer—things a reader never notices until they're broken. The actual story was written in two months, but the editing took a year.
This was the most frustrating and rewarding part of the whole process.
But God.
There are times when you just know that God is providing. I thought I was doing a good job, but the anointing on this story put a fear in me to do better. To be trusted with something God felt was worthwhile to tell—that is sacred. Not to be taken lightly. So I took longer than I planned, going over and over it until I felt He said, “Enough.”
The layers of my writing are the layers I encounter daily in life. Living with the fire of God inside you changes your perspective on everything. Nothing seems impossible—everything is a story. While the characters on a page are fiction, what they feel and do is not. The veil between what is seen and unseen is lifted, and reality is clearer.
The voice of God speaks in many ways. Those with ears to hear will find the mysteries hidden in symbols, parables, and cryptic words. He wants us to search and know. He’s looking for vessels to reveal His stories.
So, I keep writing.
I keep listening.
Because the Flame is still speaking.
Not really.
There were moments—whole scenes—that came faster than I could type, and I knew this wasn’t my imagination. The buzzing feeling, the revelation leading into the unexpected. I wasn’t creating; I was receiving.
It wasn't something I could push along. I tried, and then had to erase my own writing to follow the flow of Holy Spirit. I argued about some areas, wondering if that was really where I was supposed to go. But over and over, I was shown the way.
Images would form. Scripture would speak directly to the situations I was struggling with. Someone would say something, not knowing they were speaking about my character—or my issue. The story never left me, no matter where I was or what I was doing. (This is still ongoing with Book Two.)
Characters were formed, their secrets discovered—their hurts, their strengths. Backstories emerged. I spent hours just thinking through transitions, reactions, the intricacies of relationships. Not everyone was who I thought they would be, and it was exciting discovering this along the way. But I had to make sure I was thorough in catching all the changes, going over and over their conversations and situations.
I created a Google Doc just for pictures—pictures of the characters, Kenna’s compass, the circular city—so I knew the logistics of how things looked and would work. I researched how to ford a river and thought about the feelings I had when frozen on a bridge, unable to cross because of my fear of heights.
Let’s not forget the hours and hours of pouring over the rules of dialogue and correct quotation marks, showing not telling, POV choice, and the ever-frustrating cover formatting. How not to repeat words. Not always start a sentence with “I.” And avoid overusing adverbs (remembering what an adverb is!).
I can’t count how many times I thought I had things down, and then Holy Spirit guided me to a better way. I made so many mistakes as a newbie writer—things a reader never notices until they're broken. The actual story was written in two months, but the editing took a year.
This was the most frustrating and rewarding part of the whole process.
But God.
There are times when you just know that God is providing. I thought I was doing a good job, but the anointing on this story put a fear in me to do better. To be trusted with something God felt was worthwhile to tell—that is sacred. Not to be taken lightly. So I took longer than I planned, going over and over it until I felt He said, “Enough.”
The layers of my writing are the layers I encounter daily in life. Living with the fire of God inside you changes your perspective on everything. Nothing seems impossible—everything is a story. While the characters on a page are fiction, what they feel and do is not. The veil between what is seen and unseen is lifted, and reality is clearer.
The voice of God speaks in many ways. Those with ears to hear will find the mysteries hidden in symbols, parables, and cryptic words. He wants us to search and know. He’s looking for vessels to reveal His stories.
So, I keep writing.
I keep listening.
Because the Flame is still speaking.
August 6, 2025
A Season to Dream
Do you have a dream?
I mean that deep-down, quiet kind. The one tucked away in your heart—the one you want so badly it almost aches—but you rarely talk about it because… what if someone laughs? What if they don’t understand?
Or maybe you do talk about it. Maybe you’ve even written it down, shared it with a close friend. But still, it feels so far off, like a dot on the horizon that never seems to get closer.
Maybe it’s a dream vacation, or a job that feels like purpose. Maybe it’s opening your own bakery, writing a book, starting a ministry, launching a business, staying home to raise your kids, going on a mission trip, building that cabin on the lake, or finally starting that hobby farm.
Whatever it is—big or small—it matters.
Because we all carry something inside of us that we long for. And more often than not, it’s not the size of the dream that stops us… it’s the impossibilities.
Fear.
Finances.
Timing.
Not knowing where to begin.
Feeling too old. Too young. Too behind.
But what if… this is the season for answered dreams? What if God is calling you now—right now—not to leap into the full picture, but just to take the first step? What if that quiet nudge in your spirit is a holy invitation?
How many books have gone unread because they were never written? How many inventions never discovered because someone gave up too soon? How many stories and songs and businesses and ministries are still waiting—just waiting—on someone who will dare to dream with God?
I’m an author today because I dared to write the first line of a story. That story is now changing how people see Christian fiction. It’s lighting a fire. Not because I had all the answers, but because I said yes.
I didn’t know then how perfectly it would align with God’s timing and purpose. But looking back now, I see it clearly—how every step, every delay, every lesson, led here.
This isn’t just about a book. It’s about a calling. A movement to ignite creativity in the Kingdom. To stir up the embers in God’s people.
To pass the flame and provide the tools.
More is coming. God is already downloading the next steps. Writing was just the beginning.
And I believe—if you’re reading this—it might be your beginning too.
So what is your dream? And what is your first step? I dare you to take it!
I mean that deep-down, quiet kind. The one tucked away in your heart—the one you want so badly it almost aches—but you rarely talk about it because… what if someone laughs? What if they don’t understand?
Or maybe you do talk about it. Maybe you’ve even written it down, shared it with a close friend. But still, it feels so far off, like a dot on the horizon that never seems to get closer.
Maybe it’s a dream vacation, or a job that feels like purpose. Maybe it’s opening your own bakery, writing a book, starting a ministry, launching a business, staying home to raise your kids, going on a mission trip, building that cabin on the lake, or finally starting that hobby farm.
Whatever it is—big or small—it matters.
Because we all carry something inside of us that we long for. And more often than not, it’s not the size of the dream that stops us… it’s the impossibilities.
Fear.
Finances.
Timing.
Not knowing where to begin.
Feeling too old. Too young. Too behind.
But what if… this is the season for answered dreams? What if God is calling you now—right now—not to leap into the full picture, but just to take the first step? What if that quiet nudge in your spirit is a holy invitation?
How many books have gone unread because they were never written? How many inventions never discovered because someone gave up too soon? How many stories and songs and businesses and ministries are still waiting—just waiting—on someone who will dare to dream with God?
I’m an author today because I dared to write the first line of a story. That story is now changing how people see Christian fiction. It’s lighting a fire. Not because I had all the answers, but because I said yes.
I didn’t know then how perfectly it would align with God’s timing and purpose. But looking back now, I see it clearly—how every step, every delay, every lesson, led here.
This isn’t just about a book. It’s about a calling. A movement to ignite creativity in the Kingdom. To stir up the embers in God’s people.
To pass the flame and provide the tools.
More is coming. God is already downloading the next steps. Writing was just the beginning.
And I believe—if you’re reading this—it might be your beginning too.
So what is your dream? And what is your first step? I dare you to take it!
August 3, 2025
Faith in Fiction: Why Christian Stories Still Matter
There’s a reason we return to stories when the world feels dark.
When headlines blast tragedy, anger, and war daily, something in us longs for more than facts or escape. We crave meaning. We long for light. And we want to believe that goodness—not just fantasy—can overcome the darkness.
That’s why Christian stories still matter.
Not because they tie everything up with a bow. Not because they offer easy answers. But because they carry truth—the kind that burns through the page and into the heart.
Faith isn’t a crutch for the weak. It’s a lifeline for the drowning.
When I write, I don’t do it to preach. I do it because I believe stories have the power to awaken something eternal. Because I’ve been the one clinging to faith when everything else has given way. I’ve seen how God meets us in the storm, in the grief, in the fight, and yes—even in fiction.
Christian fiction doesn’t need to shout. It simply needs to tell the truth.
The truth that we are not alone. That mercy can always find us—even here. That light still breaks through, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
In my stories, the Fire is more than a metaphor—it’s sacred. It represents the tangible, powerful presence of God—refining, guiding, burning away what cannot stay. And that Fire walks with my characters just as it walks with us: through trials, through failure, through impossible choices. It’s not always safe. But it’s always good.
That’s what makes faith in fiction powerful. It’s not about the presence of Scripture or church scenes, or even people praying. It’s the thread of holy truth that runs beneath it all—under the battle scenes, the heartbreak, the questions that go unanswered.
Christian fiction reminds us that the unseen is real. That grace is fierce. That even when the world is breaking, redemption is still possible.
So yes—these stories still matter. Maybe more now than ever.
Because people are still searching for hope. And sometimes, it’s a single line in a book or a moment of clarity in a character’s arc that opens the door to something deeper.
To all my fellow storytellers: Don’t underestimate the weight of your words.
And to every reader who’s ever whispered, I needed that after closing a book—know this was written for you.
Keep seeking the light. Keep telling the truth that burns. The world needs to hear that Fire.
When headlines blast tragedy, anger, and war daily, something in us longs for more than facts or escape. We crave meaning. We long for light. And we want to believe that goodness—not just fantasy—can overcome the darkness.
That’s why Christian stories still matter.
Not because they tie everything up with a bow. Not because they offer easy answers. But because they carry truth—the kind that burns through the page and into the heart.
Faith isn’t a crutch for the weak. It’s a lifeline for the drowning.
When I write, I don’t do it to preach. I do it because I believe stories have the power to awaken something eternal. Because I’ve been the one clinging to faith when everything else has given way. I’ve seen how God meets us in the storm, in the grief, in the fight, and yes—even in fiction.
Christian fiction doesn’t need to shout. It simply needs to tell the truth.
The truth that we are not alone. That mercy can always find us—even here. That light still breaks through, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
In my stories, the Fire is more than a metaphor—it’s sacred. It represents the tangible, powerful presence of God—refining, guiding, burning away what cannot stay. And that Fire walks with my characters just as it walks with us: through trials, through failure, through impossible choices. It’s not always safe. But it’s always good.
That’s what makes faith in fiction powerful. It’s not about the presence of Scripture or church scenes, or even people praying. It’s the thread of holy truth that runs beneath it all—under the battle scenes, the heartbreak, the questions that go unanswered.
Christian fiction reminds us that the unseen is real. That grace is fierce. That even when the world is breaking, redemption is still possible.
So yes—these stories still matter. Maybe more now than ever.
Because people are still searching for hope. And sometimes, it’s a single line in a book or a moment of clarity in a character’s arc that opens the door to something deeper.
To all my fellow storytellers: Don’t underestimate the weight of your words.
And to every reader who’s ever whispered, I needed that after closing a book—know this was written for you.
Keep seeking the light. Keep telling the truth that burns. The world needs to hear that Fire.
May 2, 2025
A New Path: Overcoming the Past and Trusting the Journey Ahead
It’s funny how the past always seems to show up when you least expect it — sneaking up like a thief in the night. We’ve all got mistakes, things we regret, fears that linger and try to control our every move. And somehow, those past moments have a way of running the show — even when we’re trying to move forward.
I’ve seen it in my own life, and in my writing, I see my characters wrestle with the same thing. They carry their past with them, whether they want to or not. But what really gets me is how those mistakes or fears make the decisions for them without them realizing it. And if we’re not careful, they keep us stuck in a place we don’t belong.
Here’s where faith comes in for me. I believe the past doesn’t have to define you. It doesn’t have to control what’s coming next. You’re not meant to stay trapped in the mistakes of yesterday. God’s grace is bigger than any of that — and there’s always room for redemption, no matter how heavy the past feels. But you have to make the choice to let go of what’s holding you back and trust that there’s something better ahead.
In my stories, I try to show my characters facing their fears, confronting their past, and realizing they can choose to let go of what’s dragging them down. It’s a reminder for me, too — faith isn’t about looking back with regret, but looking forward with hope. We don’t have to let the past control our future. We can choose to trust that God’s plan is bigger than any mistake we’ve made.
So, if the past is trying to hold you hostage today, take a moment to breathe. Ask yourself: who’s in control here? Fear or Faith? You’ve got the power to choose, to move forward, and to trust that the future is still in His hands.
I’ve seen it in my own life, and in my writing, I see my characters wrestle with the same thing. They carry their past with them, whether they want to or not. But what really gets me is how those mistakes or fears make the decisions for them without them realizing it. And if we’re not careful, they keep us stuck in a place we don’t belong.
Here’s where faith comes in for me. I believe the past doesn’t have to define you. It doesn’t have to control what’s coming next. You’re not meant to stay trapped in the mistakes of yesterday. God’s grace is bigger than any of that — and there’s always room for redemption, no matter how heavy the past feels. But you have to make the choice to let go of what’s holding you back and trust that there’s something better ahead.
In my stories, I try to show my characters facing their fears, confronting their past, and realizing they can choose to let go of what’s dragging them down. It’s a reminder for me, too — faith isn’t about looking back with regret, but looking forward with hope. We don’t have to let the past control our future. We can choose to trust that God’s plan is bigger than any mistake we’ve made.
So, if the past is trying to hold you hostage today, take a moment to breathe. Ask yourself: who’s in control here? Fear or Faith? You’ve got the power to choose, to move forward, and to trust that the future is still in His hands.
April 24, 2025
Where Fire Burns Brighter Than Magic
Writing fantasy as a Christian isn’t simple. There’s a line between imagination and conviction, and sometimes it’s hard to see. I want to tell rich, layered stories—stories with struggle and depth—without losing sight of biblical truth. I’m not interested in shock value (sorry, no steamy sex scenes here) or throwing in magic just because it sells. I want stories that burn with purpose. Stories that stay clean, not because they avoid darkness, but because they confront it with something stronger.
The world in The Fire and The Serpent series doesn’t run on spells or ancient enchantments. There’s no need for wizards or whispered incantations. Here, the power is older. Wilder. Alive.
The Fire is the driving force—fierce, unrelenting, and full of purpose. Once found, it doesn’t flicker quietly. It blazes. It battles the darkness and consumes what can’t stand in its light; breaking down strongholds and transforming hearts.
This is fantasy without the familiar trappings. No elves, no potions. Just a world where shadows stretch deep, and the Fire burns beneath it all—ancient, alive, and never indifferent. It’s a story layered in meaning, where the battle between light and darkness shapes both the world and the hearts that walk through it. But even in the brightest light, something stirs in the dark—and it’s coming for those who carry the Fire.
The world in The Fire and The Serpent series doesn’t run on spells or ancient enchantments. There’s no need for wizards or whispered incantations. Here, the power is older. Wilder. Alive.
The Fire is the driving force—fierce, unrelenting, and full of purpose. Once found, it doesn’t flicker quietly. It blazes. It battles the darkness and consumes what can’t stand in its light; breaking down strongholds and transforming hearts.
This is fantasy without the familiar trappings. No elves, no potions. Just a world where shadows stretch deep, and the Fire burns beneath it all—ancient, alive, and never indifferent. It’s a story layered in meaning, where the battle between light and darkness shapes both the world and the hearts that walk through it. But even in the brightest light, something stirs in the dark—and it’s coming for those who carry the Fire.
April 18, 2025
Wait, Who Just Died?!
Early in my story, I struggled with one of my characters. She only had a minor role, barely any backstory, and zero depth. She was just there to move the plot along, and I was fine with that—honestly, I didn’t like her. I figured she would die before the halfway mark, so it wasn’t much of a problem.
Except… the story didn’t go the way I thought it would, and there was never a good place for her to die.
Seriously. Every time I tried to write her out, it felt forced. The scene wouldn’t work. The pacing got weird. Somehow, this unwanted character kept trudging along with the rest of the group—mildly annoying maybe, but still doing her part.
Then I hit this powerful, story-shifting scene and thought, This is it! Finally, I can get rid of her!
But no. She makes it out just fine—okay, not fine, but she’s still alive.
Instead, one of my other characters dies. Someone I thought would have more of a part in the overall story. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t a favorite, but I never plotted his demise. It just happened.
Totally distraught by this unexpected twist, I ran down to my daughter’s room in a full-blown writer crisis, ranting about what had happened. She blinked at me and said, “Mom... you’re the author. How could you not know what was going to happen?”
And that’s when I realized—I’m not writing the story. The characters are. I’m just trying to keep up.
Except… the story didn’t go the way I thought it would, and there was never a good place for her to die.
Seriously. Every time I tried to write her out, it felt forced. The scene wouldn’t work. The pacing got weird. Somehow, this unwanted character kept trudging along with the rest of the group—mildly annoying maybe, but still doing her part.
Then I hit this powerful, story-shifting scene and thought, This is it! Finally, I can get rid of her!
But no. She makes it out just fine—okay, not fine, but she’s still alive.
Instead, one of my other characters dies. Someone I thought would have more of a part in the overall story. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t a favorite, but I never plotted his demise. It just happened.
Totally distraught by this unexpected twist, I ran down to my daughter’s room in a full-blown writer crisis, ranting about what had happened. She blinked at me and said, “Mom... you’re the author. How could you not know what was going to happen?”
And that’s when I realized—I’m not writing the story. The characters are. I’m just trying to keep up.
April 10, 2025
More Than a Story
The Fire and The Serpent began as a simple, imagined story, but soon turned into a deep well of biblical truth and revelation veiled in an allegory.
What in the world is an allegory, you ask?
An allegory is more than just a story—it’s a journey layered with hidden meaning. On the surface, it may look like a fantasy filled with adventure, danger, and wonder. But beneath all that lies something deeper: truths about life, faith, and the human heart.
In an allegory, characters, events, and places are more than they seem. They represent greater ideas—hope and redemption, temptation and offense, fear and forgiveness, even identity itself.
That’s why these stories are worth reading more than once! With every return, the meaning deepens, revealing fresh insight and unexpected wonder.
So enjoy the adventure… but look closely. There's meaning woven into the mystery, and each revelation unveils another level of intrigue and truth.
What in the world is an allegory, you ask?
An allegory is more than just a story—it’s a journey layered with hidden meaning. On the surface, it may look like a fantasy filled with adventure, danger, and wonder. But beneath all that lies something deeper: truths about life, faith, and the human heart.
In an allegory, characters, events, and places are more than they seem. They represent greater ideas—hope and redemption, temptation and offense, fear and forgiveness, even identity itself.
That’s why these stories are worth reading more than once! With every return, the meaning deepens, revealing fresh insight and unexpected wonder.
So enjoy the adventure… but look closely. There's meaning woven into the mystery, and each revelation unveils another level of intrigue and truth.
April 3, 2025
The importance of a name...
This is actually a big deal for me. As an author, all of my characters' names have a unique meaning, and are chosen intentionally - though some do choose to name themselves 😂
For example, the main character in The Fire and The Serpent series is Kenna. I wanted a name that would resonate with who she is called to be, rather than who she sees herself as.
One of the Gaelic meanings of her name is "fire-born" 🔥
This revelation is life-changing for Kenna, who has long struggled with self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness. The journey she embarks on is not just a physical one, but also a profound journey of identity and personal growth.
Her journey is a reflection that I feel a lot of us go through in life. Trying to live up to a standard or an expectation, but not feeling worthy enough.
Kenna's journey is hard, and she genuinely struggles, but I have faith she is going to overcome her fear and step into her destiny.
She will be truly be one who burns.
For example, the main character in The Fire and The Serpent series is Kenna. I wanted a name that would resonate with who she is called to be, rather than who she sees herself as.
One of the Gaelic meanings of her name is "fire-born" 🔥
This revelation is life-changing for Kenna, who has long struggled with self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness. The journey she embarks on is not just a physical one, but also a profound journey of identity and personal growth.
Her journey is a reflection that I feel a lot of us go through in life. Trying to live up to a standard or an expectation, but not feeling worthy enough.
Kenna's journey is hard, and she genuinely struggles, but I have faith she is going to overcome her fear and step into her destiny.
She will be truly be one who burns.
