Sojourners

Sojourners
Friday, April 24, 2026 by Dieta Scheidecker

Categories: Friday's Fiction / GUEST AUTHORS

PLEASE WELCOME

DIETA SCHEIDECKER

FICTION FRIDAY

THE AUTHOR’S STORY

In the fall of 2023, something began to stir in my soul. I was continually drawn back to the fire of God. Scripture was jumping out at me, creating an ongoing dialogue that kept getting longer and longer.

Then one day, Isaiah 35:8 jumped off the page and came to life.

A Highway of Holiness.

I saw a vision of a road with deep ditches on either side. I saw decision points where it split into smaller paths. I saw it winding through prairies, forests, and mountains. Then I saw a girl walking on the road. Sometimes alone, sometimes with others, not all of them friends. Some would come and go, others never to return. And finally, I saw that only the main road went to a magnificent, light-filled castle. All the other little offshoots wandered away to nothing.

This vision haunted me. A deep yearning to do something with it burned inside me. One night, the ‌words of a friend set it afire. “Just write it. It doesn’t matter where you begin. Just start, the rest will come.”

The next day, The Fire and The Serpent series was born.

Isaiah 35:8 was the catalyst for the story, but the Holy Spirit is the true author. I had concepts from scripture and knew the main character would be tied to me personally. As for how the storyline worked out, that was a total surprise.

God challenged me on a lot of the ideas. Or I should say, I challenged Him! “Lord, this will offend people. Is this how You want to be portrayed? Are You sure this is where it’s supposed to go? Does this even make sense?”

Each time, an answer came with a scripture and a revelation. A different aspect of His character was revealed, and challenged my thinking.

Then the hidden layer under the main story began to emerge, and it became two stories in one. The surface story follows a girl struggling with identity. The deeper layer reveals the Trinity and the age-old battle between good and evil.

What started as a narrative turned into a journey.

Not just for the characters, but for me. I became the main character. Her insecurities, doubts, and fears were mine as well. And through a crazy trek in a world one layer away from ours, I began to heal and let go of years of lies and false beliefs about myself.

This story was never about building a fantasy world or writing an interesting tale. It was about wrestling with Truth, discovering true identity in Christ, and letting go of offense.

It was an invitation to surrender my doubts and let God speak in ways I could not—through His fire.

And this journey is one that continues to grow and deepen. Book Two: Outcasts dives deeper into identity and the corruption of power. A release date will be set for late 2026 or early 2027.

MORE ABOUT THE FIRE AND THE SERPENT/BOOK 1 SOJOURNERS

2026 Christian Indie Awards First Place (Speculative Fiction)

2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Finalist Awards (Christian/Religious Fiction & Spiritual Fiction)
2025 Readers’ Favorite Finalist Award (Christian Fiction)

Kenna thought she knew who she was, but it was all a lie.

“Ahhh, my dear girl,” the creature croons. “I have been waiting for one such as you. How fascinating that my adversary has chosen someone so… insignificant. Who would have thought…”

An invitation to travel a path many have chosen to abandon…

A calling hidden in the weakest vessel….

An enchanting enemy with a wicked agenda…

A king who isn’t all he appears to be…

The path before Kenna is one few choose to follow. Darkness is seeping into the hearts and minds of the people, whispering lies and twisting the truth. Nothing is as it seems. To follow the Path of the King is to risk everything she thought she knew—about the world and about herself. This journey is more than a test of strength; it’s a test of identity.

PURCHASE LINK:https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Serpent-Book-One-Sojourners/dp/B0F1ZQR34P/(Amazon)

MORE ABOUT DIETA SCHEIDECKER

Dieta Scheidecker is a Wisconsin-based author, worship leader, and songwriter. Inspired by stories that stir the soul and challenge the mind, she brings a reflective voice to fantasy adventure and speculative fiction. Her multi-award-winning debut novel, SOJOURNERS, launched THE FIRE AND THE SERPENT series, which explores spiritual truth through allegory, suspense, and action. Her short story “IN THE BETWEEN” offers a powerful glimpse into the emotional and redemptive themes that shape her work.

Dieta is also the founder of Spoken Flame Company, a Christian-based coaching and editing service dedicated to helping authors bring their stories to light.

When she’s not writing, reading, or creating music, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors—hiking rugged trails, camping off-grid, or chasing mountain views out West, always searching for the next spark of inspiration.

More about Dieta Scheidecker

https://www.spokenflamecompany.com/authorpage

Social Media Links:

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