About the Book

Book: Thalia in Exile

Author: Allen Brokken with Thalia Schertzer

Genre: Middlegrade Christian Fantasy

Release Date: June 26, 2026

Thalia never expected to be taken. But the Darkness has plans of its own.

When the dreaded Steele Brothers and their Giant allies raid her home at midnight, Thalia and her friends are forced on a harrowing journey to the mysterious academy at Emohnomed. Like the young men of Judah chosen for the King of Babylon’s service, they are dragged towards a land of shadowed luxury to learn the language and literature of a culture that serves the Darkness.

Thalia finds brief respite aboard a luxurious train. But when Headmistress Imogen adds a “gift from the bishop” to the students’ punch, Thalia’s keen senses catch the putrescent smell of a counterfeit light. Clinging to the Good Book she smuggled into her bag, she refuses the smoke-laced food that turns friends into unthinking foes. In a world of beautiful lies, Thalia must stand firm against false accusations and prove that the only true strength comes from the Light that cannot be tainted.

Because this isn’t just about escaping her captors. It’s about saving the people who no longer know they need to be saved.

Author Q&A 1

• What inspired Thalia in Exile?
  • I wanted to retell the story of Daniel’s exile to Babylon, exploring how to follow one’s conscience and persevere in a world with values that conflict with your own. However I was already writing two other books, running Towers of Light and had a day job in Big tech. So I didn’t think it would ever happen.  Then I received an email from  #1 fan in Canada, Thalia Schertzer, an 11-year-old homeschooler who asked if she could help write a story in the Towers of Light world and I knew the story had to be told in the landscape of the Heathlands.
• When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
  • I learned to read before school by following records with books; by second grade, a story I wrote was published in the newspaper, and seeing my name in print hooked me.
• Who was your biggest inspiration or influence?
  • I’ve always been a big reader, so Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, George Lucas, and L.Ron Hubbard had a huge influence on my fantastical storytelling. Then A.W. Tozer was a huge influence on the need to share my faith through my writing and Wayne Thomas Batson and Morgan Busse really showed me the way how.
• Tell us a little about yourself.
  • For the past 18 years I’ve worked for and around with Big Tech companies traveling for work. I found it hard to connect with my family while on the road and learned that through story we could create a bond that transcended our location. Now that my kids are grown they’ve come to work for and with me in my endeavors to improve biblical literacy by helping families with practical literacy. Tech
• When did you write your first book and how old were you?
  • Variant A: My mom challenged me to enter a writing context when I was 12 years old.  I wrote the page novella  “The Shock Troops Year of Conquest,” which was an epic mash-up of Star Wars, GI Joe, and Transformers that I also illustrated.

Missed a Set of Questions? Go Here:

About the Authors

Allen Brokken is a teacher at heart, a husband and father most of all. He’s a joyful writer by the abundant grace of God. He began writing the Towers of Light series for his own children to help him illustrate the deep truths of the Bible in an engaging and age-appropriate way. He’s dedicated 15 years of his life to volunteer roles in children’s ministry and youth development. Now that his own children are off on their own adventures, he’s telling stories and sharing clean humor on social media.

 

Thalia Shertzerr is a dedicated writer whose Christian faith is the central part of her life and the heart of her storytelling. Outside of writing, she has a strong interest in science and hopes to pursue a future career in clinical medicine. Thalia balances her time between her academic goals, her faith, and her love for reading and capturing moments through the lens of her camera.