A Guest Post
By Dieta Scheidecker
Then one day, Isaiah 35:8 came to life. A Highway of Holiness.
I saw a vision of a road with deep ditches on either side. I saw forks in the road 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 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.
Then the hidden layer under the main story began to emerge, and it became two stories in one. The surface story about a girl struggling with identity. The deeper layer about 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.
This story was never about building a fantasy world or writing an interesting tale. It was about wrestling with Truth, discovering 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.
The Fire and The Serpent- Book One: Sojourners
2025 Readers’ Favorite Finalist Award (Christian Fiction)
“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. Kenna thought she knew who she was, but it was all a lie.
Purchase Links:
https://amzn.to/3YULVba(print & ebook)
https://bookshop.org/shop/Dieta (print only)
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 award-winning debut novel, SOJOURNERS, launched her 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.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.spokenflamecompany.com/authorpage
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DietaScheideckerAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dietascheideckerauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DietaScheideckerAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55249664.Dieta_Scheidecker
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/dietascheidecker
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.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.spokenflamecompany.com/authorpage
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DietaScheideckerAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dietascheideckerauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DietaScheideckerAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55249664.Dieta_Scheidecker
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/dietascheidecker
Photo credits:
Author photo and book image: Courtesy Dieta Scheidecker
Notebook and Fountain Pen: Pixabay/Pexels
