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Since the late 2000s, children and grownups have been getting drawn into their mobile devices and tablets. Before then, some were also hooked on TV and video games. Yet how could anyone create those devices without training their imaginations on great works of art? Carolyn Leiloglou, author of The Restorationists fantasy series, returns to help us recall the biblical purpose of art and stories, and how we help children learn to love them.

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1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm
2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews
3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden

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Carolyn Leiloglou

Backstory: Carolyn Leiloglou

Carolyn Leiloglou (lay-LAW-glue) is the author of the middle grade fantasy novels Beneath the Swirling Sky and Between Flowers and Bones as well as the picture book Library’s Most Wanted. Carolyn is the granddaughter of art collectors, daughter of an art teacher, and homeschooling mom to four wildly creative kids. She’s an award-winning author whose poems and short stories have appeared in children’s magazines around the world, including Clubhouse Jr. Carolyn also reviews her favorite children’s books on her platform, House full of Bookworms. Her newest book, middle-grade fantasy Beyond the Far Horizon, released this month.

• CarolynLeiloglou.com
• TheRestorationists.com

Listen here to our first episode with Carolyn Leiloglou.

1. How to resist the digital screen takeover

• Stephen recalls life before computers and certainly mobile devices.
• Even TVs were guarded in his young age, with mixed-positive results.
• Yet now screens are everywhere, creating dependency and addictions.
• Overuse of devices can damage children’s developing imaginations.
• Christians with other parents and leaders consider more screen rules.
• Zack gives his kids “digital training wheels” at different ages to learn proper use of technology, rather than an all-or-nothing approach.

2. How books can restore kids’ imaginations

• Great artworks remind us that God, not man, is our ultimate Creator.
• They often reflect Jesus in their celebrations of sacrificial heroes.
• And they echo the Holy Spirit who changes people to worship Him.
• Such artworks also reflect God’s world, with beauties and challenge.
• They also reflect people with all their complexities and simplicity.

3. Creating the Restorationists fantasy series

• Quick origin recap of this series, starting with book 1’s 2023 release.
• In book 1, Vincent finds he can leap into paintings to save their worlds.
• Then in book 2, Vincent and his cousin Georgia fight the Distortionists.
• Book 3 ends this trilogy, yet more might lie beyond that artful finale.
• Final homeschooling and imagination-training tips from Carolyn.

Com station

Top question for listeners

• When the distortionists attack, how do you fight for restoration?

Next on Fantastical Truth

Distortionists in the real world corrupt the beautiful, good, and true. Some individuals who fall into such a dark side might make themselves beyond repentance—that is, reprobate. We might call them “ghouls.” Ultimately that is God’s decision, not ours. Yet we discern their actions and beliefs that are ghoulish. Nonfiction tells us this. Great stories, however, have a different purpose: to show this truth. Bethel McGrew returns to explore with us how Christian creatives can best combat the worldview ghouls among us.

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