In this episode of Created to Write, author coach Colin Murugiah shares a writing journey that began at fifteen and hasn't slowed down since. A sprawling, scripture-rooted adventure at the intersection of Christian writing and speculative fiction.

Colin blends science fiction and fantasy to reflect biblical principles and the nature of God's kingdom, making him a distinctive voice in Christian creativity. His current world-building project spans twenty-five years and multiple author collaborations, the kind of long-game vision that challenges every Christian writer to think beyond the next deadline.

His message cuts through the noise: stop chasing external validation and start pursuing divine collaboration. Consistent spiritual discipline, he argues, is the true engine of creativity and patience, grace, and deep scriptural connection are whatseparate a maturing craft from a stalled one.

For any new writer wondering whether their niche is too unusual or their timeline too long, Colin's story is the answer.

Colin has been writing since he was around seventeen or so. Before that, he had sporadic spurts that resulted in several pages of writing, but it was more indicators of a burgeoning writer rather than actually being a writer. Since then, he has worked on numerous projects including various collaborations with friends for fun. His main project is a labour of love, a science-fantasy epic, that has been twenty-five years in the making and still counting.In the last three years, he has gone pro as an author coach and has been working with other authors to help them with their books. At the time of writing this bio, one book out of a fantasy series is on its final chapter, and another science fiction series is also under construction. He also helps with nonfiction. When he isn’t doing that, he’s overseeing a writing group, researching, or doing other non-writery things. He is easily found on Facebook, so contacting him there is a good bet. https://www.facebook.com/colin.murugiah

In a fun twist, the tables turn this episode and Michelle Dennis Evans becomes the guest, giving listeners a rare, intimate look at the heart behind the host of Created to Write.

Michelle writes young adult contemporary fiction that doesn't flinch. Her verse novel was inspired by a true maritime tragedy and the Spiralling trilogy was born from a desire to explore redemption for girls navigating depression and desperate circumstances, the kind of stories that meet readers in their darkest moments and refuse to leave them there.

Her upcoming projects push even further, with a Gold Coast story exploring the destructive pull of peer pressure. For readers with emotional depth and real-world stakes, Michelle's pipeline is something to watch.

Central to her writing process is a simple but powerful test - if a scene doesn't move her to tears or laughter, it isn't ready. Her writing philosophy rests on one unshakeable conviction... grace and forgiveness are always accessible, no matter how far someone has fallen.

For Michelle, writing as a Christian means telling the stories others are too uncomfortable to tell.

https://michelledennisevans.com/Spiralling Out of Control

Spiralling Out of the Shadow

Spiralling SoloSink, Drift or Swim

In this episode of Created to Write, we meet Maria Crane, author, educator, and a beautifully grounded voice in the Christian writing community whose creative process is as organic as it is intentional.

Maria's portfolio spans children's literature, poetry, artwork and Christian devotionals - but it's her book Silver Song that stops you in your tracks. An autobiographical story written to help students navigate the pain of bullying through the transformative power of forgiveness, it's the kind of faith-based writing that reminds you that stories can genuinely heal.

Her writing process is refreshingly unforced. Rather than following a strict formula, Maria describes a spirit-led journey of "divine downloads" capturing ideas as they arrive and trusting the creative process to unfold. For new writers intimidated by rigid systems and plotting methods, her approach is both liberating and deeply encouraging.

Beyond her own projects, Maria has contributed to multiple faith-based anthologies and is actively involved in community prayer ministries, living proof that writing as a Christian extends far beyond the page.

Her message to beginner writers is simple and profound - start small, start now, and know that the moment you put pen to paper, you are already a writer. It's a spiritual legacy built one word at a time.

Maria Crane is an author, artist, songwriter, teacher and speaker. As an excellent communicator and a credentialed teacher, Maria has taught children and adults art and a variety of subjects for over three decades in different schools and community settings. She incorporates the Multiple Intelligence Theory and inspires her students and clients to reach their full potential by believing in themselves and persevering until they experience mastery and breakthrough. Helping others discover and confidently live out their passions and identifying their learning styles is one of her passions. In addition, she has created art galleries and public art spaces, retreats, community building trainings, neighbourhood organisations and prayer ministries. Several non-profits benefit from her compassionate leadership as a board member and she has been a catalyst in starting three of them: an inner-city art program in Oakland, a homeschool educational coop, and a nonprofit for sex trafficked women and children in Sonoma County. Her first children’s book and song collection, Silver’s Song, helps students discover how loved and special they are, as well as deal with the pain of being bullied. Her desire is to help heal wounded hearts so they can then help others heal and experience restored health: body, mind and spirit. She is also a contributor in 3 Amazon best-selling devotional and Christian books.connect: mariamcrane@me.cominstagram: mariamcrane www.mariacrane.com

In this episode of Created to Write, we meet Christine Dillon, a multi-genre Christian author, full-time missionary, and one of the most methodical voices in the Christian writing community.

Christine's move into fiction was never part of the plan. She resisted novels for years until her background in oral storytelling gave her both the voice and the confidence to make the leap into contemporary and biblical fiction, a journey that will resonate with any writer who has felt unqualified to try something new.

Her writing process is built around deep scriptural research and a structured forty-card plotting system that manages pacing and character balance with real precision. Combined with the Snowflake Method, it's a practical, replicable framework that makes her approach invaluable for new writers.

Christine also speaks passionately about community, crediting peer accountability and professional networking as essential to her growth because writing as a Christian was never meant to be done alone.

Craft, calling, and scripture. Christine holds all three with equal intentionality.

Christine Dillon is a missionary and the daughter of missionaries. She was raised in Taiwan and went to school in Malaysia and the Philippines before spending 22 years in Taiwan. Writing was an unexpected journey and started with writing non-fiction (discipleship and evangelism/storytelling). She has now written a 6-book series of contemporary Christian fiction and the first five books in an Old Testament-era series. In the spaces of life, she enjoys the great outdoors and birdwatching. www.storytellerchristine.com

Your Body Is Your Creative Vessel: Michelle Dennis Evans onWriter Health and Longevity

In this episode of Created to Write, Michelle Dennis Evans tackles something most Christian writers ignore until it's too late - what prolonged sitting is doing to your body and your creativity.

Drawing from her own past health crisis, Michelle makes acompelling case for disciplined self-care as part of every Christian author's writing life. Regular movement, proper posture, outdoor time and frequent breaks aren't luxuries, they're necessities for anyone serious about the longgame.

She also flags voice-to-text technology as a practical toolfor staying active while writing, a tip every new writer building daily habits should know about.

The message is simple and urgent, you cannot pour out wordsfrom a body you've neglected. Writing with purpose requires protecting the vessel that makes it possible.

In this episode of Created to Write, Christian author Roberta Brown opens up about one of the most raw and redemptive memoirs you'll encounter on A Mother's Wilderness Journey.

Roberta's story is not for the faint-hearted. A widow raising eight children, fighting to save her daughter from drug addiction, navigating serious health battles, and through it all, documenting her faith-driven resilience with unflinching honesty. Her journey to publication is as powerful as the book itself, including a transformative sabbatical at Cambridge University that shifted her focus from academic ambition to a deeply personal calling to share her testimony.

For writers wondering whether their story is worth telling, Roberta's answer is an unequivocal yes. She believes that every documented testimony has the potential to offer hope and direction to someone walking a similar road, and her life is living proof of that conviction. It's the kind of faith-based writing that doesn't just inform, it rescues.

Her creative output extends well beyond memoir. Roberta also writes songs, paints, and is currently working on a novel centred on spiritual warfare - making her one of the more creatively expansive voices in the Christian writing space.

For anyone overcoming writer's block as a Christian or wrestling with whether their hardships are too heavy or too personal to share, this conversation is essential listening. Roberta's message is simple and urgent: your trials are not just your story, they're someone else's lifeline.

Roberta Brown is a widowed mother of eight and grandmother of seventeen. Born in Scotland, raised in Canada, and now living in Australia, her life has been marked by faith, family, and resilience.After her husband’s sudden passing, Roberta raised her children alone while returning to nursing. Her greatest challenge came as she fought for her daughter Sarah, who struggled with addiction and loss. Through prayer and spiritual warfare, Roberta witnessed God’s miraculous restoration.Her first book shares this journey of courage and faith. Inspired during a sabbatical in Cambridge, it took eight years to complete. Today, Roberta continues to write devotionals, fiction, and poetry, her life a testimony to hope and the power of God’s love.

In this episode of Created to Write, Melbourne-based Christian author Simon Camilleri shares a writing journey that is as intentional as it is inspiring, rooted in fatherhood, rhythm, and a deep love for making faith accessible to children.

Simon writes theologically grounded children's books designed to help parents introduce Christian faith and prayer in ways that are engaging, age-appropriate, and beautifully crafted. For parents and Christian writers alike, his approach to biblical literacy through storytelling is both refreshing and deeply purposeful.

What makes Simon's Christian author process particularly fascinating is where it begins... not with a plot outline, but with rhythmic poetry. He crafts the sound and feel of a story first, then collaborates with illustrators to add symbolic visual layers that deepen the theological meaning. It's Christian creativity at its most deliberate and its most artistic.

His self-published book When Santa Learned the Gospel is a standout moment in this conversation — a personal project that grew into a traditionally published international success, warmly embraced by the professional Santa community worldwide. It's the kind of story that reminds every beginner writer that you genuinely cannot predict where faithful, quality work will take you.

Simon also speaks about the need for intentional quiet space in the writing process, a counter-cultural conviction that the best words come not from busyness, but from stillness and attentiveness to language.

Simon is a Christian writer based in Melbourne, Australia, where he lives with his wife and two awesome kids. He loves creating gospel-focused resources, learning magic tricks, training people in public Bible reading and labouring over a rhyming paragraph where the metre just works. And rocky road. He LOVES rockyroad. Just in case you're looking for a gift. Follow Simon: / simoncamilleri "When Santa Learned the Gospel": https://www.santagospel.com/"Wow God! Thank You, Sorry, Please" & "Read, Think, Pray, Do": https://www.kidsguidebooks.com/

In this episode of Created to Write, Michelle Dennis Evans tackles one of the most avoided conversations in the Christian writing community… how do you actually pay for your writing career?

From editing costs to publishing expenses, the financial reality of being a Christian author is real. Michelle reframes it around creative stewardship - managing your time, energy and resources as gifts entrusted to you for a purpose.

For Christian writers juggling career and calling, she offers practical strategies for finding time to write. Because writing as a Christian means carving sacred space out of an already full life.

She also shares her personal journey through home-based businesses, from candle making to her current wellness venture, making a compelling case for supplemental income that buys you the freedom to write without financial stress.

Christian creativity flourishes when the practical foundations are in place.

https://michelledennisevans.com/contact/