Dawn’s Unending Horizon

Coming soon (this Tuesday, shortly before 3:13 pm) to an inspirational shelf near you … I’ve decided to give up on this whole speculative thing. Instead, it would much better serve Jesus, and the people in churches — at least, […]
on Aug 13, 2010 · Off

Coming soon (this Tuesday, shortly before 3:13 pm) to an inspirational shelf near you …

I’ve decided to give up on this whole speculative thing. Instead, it would much better serve Jesus, and the people in churches — at least, the ones who buy and read novels — if I just gave them what they want.

So, I’ve plotted a whole series, and even done a rudimentary cover design for volume 39 there.

Yes, it has a self-published-like flair. When the real cover is photographed, with models, edited and arranged, it will look much better.

Ha, ha! Just a little Friday-the-13th prank for all of you. As you’ve already guessed: not. Instead, that’s an image I put together a couple of years ago. The cover photo features myself and my then-fiancée, Lacy, in November 2008. My sister-in-law was taking engagement photos, and that one just happened to remind us perfectly of one of Those Covers. Ergo: Dawn’s Unending Horizon, volume 39 in the Sierra Samantha Series.

Yes, I know; I’m too often wont to make cheap jokes at the expense of Inspirational novels. I will stop now.

Instead, it’s your turn: for Dawn’s Unending Horizon, what should be the back-cover copy?

E. Stephen Burnett explores fantastical stories for God’s glory as publisher of Lorehaven.com and its weekly Fantastical Truth podcast. He coauthored The Pop Culture Parent and creates other resources for fans and families, serving with his wife, Lacy, in their central Texas church. Stephen's first novel, the sci-fi adventure Above the Circle of Earth, launches in March 2025 from Enclave Publishing.
  1. Esther says:

    “He was the man of god she’d always dreamed about. But would she be able to give up the rest of her dreams to follow his dreams? Could she submit to follow him and allow her future to be put on the shelf? Was being with him going to empty her life forever of the hopes and plans in her heart? Could she give up her bright and promising future to follow the man she loved into a dull existence as a home maker?

    Only God knows…”

    Heheh. How’d I do?

  2. Lacy Rhiannon says:

    Are you trying to derail his career already? No self-respecting Christian romance reader wants to hear about a girl who settles down and becomes a wife and mother!

    No no, she needs to have to choose between the nice hard-working fellow, who loves her desperately and has secret depths and talents that few know about, but isn’t very exciting to most folks, or the dashing rogue who wants to take her to the big city where she thinks she can use her talents, but who doesn’t care about a family and really isn’t much of a guy after all.
    But she doesn’t know that
    And she’s an heiress,
    But she doesn’t know that either.
    Oh, and an orphan
    And the nice guy wants her to use her talents too, she just doesn’t see it at first.
    Somebody probably dies too.
    I think my eyes are too squinchy to look angsty in that pic. Ah well, can’t have everything 😛

  3. (Is anyone else having trouble seeing the photo on this page only?)

    Haven’t either of you left out the parts in which the girl actually turns to the *third* man, a Bad Boy Type whom she must “tame” with her charms and good looks and of course Faith in God, even though it’s being Put to the Ultimate Test?