Finding Light in the Darkness

In my last series on Elizabeth’s birth story, I wrote about my fantasy story, Fiona’s Choice. I submitted this piece to a local author collection on February 29, 2020. I remember sitting at a table at my local Barnes and Noble, sipping hot coffee as I put the finishing touches on my submission. Who would have thought that, only two weeks later, all of Michigan would be on lockdown?

This week, Sterling Script 2020: A Local Author Collection is finally available in print. The collection showcases short stories, poetry, and artwork by Detroit area writers. Its original publication date was July 2020, but, like many other things, the pandemic delayed the editing and printing process. As a result, Sterling Script 2020 is filled with stories written just before COVID-19 changed nearly every aspect of our lives.

And yet, this book’s delayed publication does not make its stories irrelevant or obsolete. As I mentioned in a recent post, Fiona’s Choice is about a young mother who makes an impossible decision to protect her husband and sons. When I wrote it in February 2020, the story's premise seemed kind of dark: a happy family falling into unexpected tragedy. One month later, however, Fiona’s Choice felt like the timeliest piece I’ve ever written.

Fiona's life, while not perfect, was very good. She had a loving and faithful husband, two sweet sons, and a home in the lovely medieval world of Avalon. But one fateful ride in the woods changes everything. When treachery and terror beset Fiona on every side, can she still choose to love?

Fiona’s Choice has some dark moments, but like most of my writing, it is a story of hope. Even when things do not go well for us in the outside world, we can still be happy. At the very least, we can be at peace. When every other choice is taken from us, we are always free to love.

On the left is an art piece from an exhibit at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art in 2017. This striking image was my inspiration for Fiona’s Choice. In this piece, I saw a picture of a woman, beautiful and brave, but caught in a moment of crisis:

“I stayed frozen on Willowgrace, tousled hair thrown over one shoulder, nervous teeth gnawing my lower lip, blazing yellow fear paralyzing me in place.”

Why is this woman so afraid? What does she have to lose? How can she find light in her moment of darkness?

These are the questions Fiona’s Choice tries to answer.

These are the questions, perhaps, we are all trying to answer. When we are faced with the darkness and isolation of this past year, what will we choose? What are we choosing now? How can we find our own light in the darkness?

If you are interested in reading Fiona’s Choice and other stories written by Michigan writers, please leave a comment on this post. I will enter your name into a drawing for a free copy of the book.

Writing this blog has been a light in the darkness for me this year. Thank you very much for being a part of it! I am praying for all of you and your intentions.

“God indeed is my salvation;

I am confident and unafraid.

For the LORD is my strength and my might,

and he has been my salvation.”

- Isaiah 12:2

Jesus, I trust in You!

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Thank you for reading! These past two months, I have written about my spiritual journey before and after the convent. Next week, I will enter into the heart of my convent story: the road that led me to religious life and the Sisters of Saint Cecilia.

About the Author:

Mary Rose Kreger lives in the metro Detroit area with her family, where she writes fantasy tales for teens, and blogs about her spiritual journey: before, during, and after the convent.

Mary also shares faith-based poems and fantasy quotes on her Instagram account, @faithandfantasy1.