A guest post by Valerie Howard
I’ve been publishing realistic Christian fiction stories for 15 years, but the book I’m talking about today was by far the most challenging for me to write. My newest book, Dragonfly Summer, tackles some pretty heavy topics—mental health, anxiety, the life of former prisoners, trauma, and painful family secrets— through the eyes of two main characters: Dani Garcia and Tom Lavine. Dani is a young special ed teacher’s aide in an elementary school, and Tom is a middle-aged ex-con who recently served thirty years in prison for his third “strike” felony in California.
Heavy topics like these can be hard to read and write about, but as Christians who view such things in the light of God’s Word, we don’t have to be afraid of them. Our God can carry the heaviest of burdens, and He doesn’t run away when we go through something difficult. It’s in our darkest, weakest hours that we learn to depend on, love, and trust Him more fully.
Sadly, topics like mental health are often taboo in many churches and Christian circles. They can become the “elephant in the room” that everyone wants to sweep under the rug. But God’s Word has much to say about the state of our minds, hearts, and emotions. (Just read through the Psalms!) Our conversations with fellow Christians should openly deal with this topic. Our fiction books should, too.
In Dragonfly Summer, Dani deals with a mental health condition that eats away at her life until nothing much is left, but by God’s grace (and with the help of her unexpected friendship with Tom as they meet on a cross-country train ride), she doesn’t stay hopeless.
And that’s how it should be with us as Christians. With God’s grace and fellow believers ministering God’s truth into our lives, we don’t have to be afraid to tackle any mental, emotional, spiritual, or physical issues that arise—big or small. We don’t have to be ashamed to admit that we struggle with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, OCD, a phobia, or PTSD. We can own up to our struggles, realize we live in a sin-cursed world where nothing is perfect, not even our minds, and we can get help. We can pick each other off the ground and lift up one another in prayer. We don’t have to remain hidden and hopeless.
I pray that’s the message I’ve conveyed in Dragonfly Summer. If you struggle with your mental health, you’re not alone. I do, too. We’re not out of hope, and we don’t need to hide. God knows what we’re going through, anyway, so we can freely talk to Him about it. I urge you, if you’re struggling with something hard to talk about, take the first step and reach out to a trusted member of your church family. Let them in. Let them help you. Then when someone comes to you for prayer and guidance in the future, you’ll be equipped to give them just what they need.
Dragonfly Summer by Valerie Howard will be available in ebook form on Amazon on May 3, 2026. (Included in Kindle Unlimited.) Paperback, hardcover, and audiobook editions are also in the works!
More about Valerie:
Valerie has been writing stories since she was in second grade when she wrote “The Mystery of the Missing Crayon.” She gave up trying to write mysteries, and now she concentrates on real-life stories that tackle tough issues. All of her books are filled with the hope and love of Christ and are uplifting and feel-good with happy (though sometimes tearful) endings as the characters overcome their obstacles with God at their side.
