Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living.
Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author, who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his newest novel.
The two authors share some insider details into their latest book, Flight of Fate.
FF: What inspired the story in your book?
Flight of Fate is Book Two in our Clockwork Chronicles series. I love World War 2 history, and I love taking true stories and weaving them into fiction. This novel was inspired by the fact that Mt. Vesuvius erupted during World War 2. Pompeii has always fascinated me, and bringing in a fantasy element—so that there is a reason for this eruption—was fun to think about!
I’ve also been interested in the looting of art by the Nazis during WW2, and I specially asked a curator friend, Raffaele, about an artifact that the Germans were especially interested in. He mentioned the Farnese Cup. Nathan and I scheduled a Zoom call with Raffale, and at the end of the call, I asked him if there was anything I should ask that I hadn’t yet. He answered, “Well, you haven’t asked about the mafia.” That got our interest! So these very historical elements came together in an exciting, suspenseful way. It was one of my favorite books to write!
FF: What can you tell us about the main characters in your book?
We are, of course, bringing back Katerina and Josef, but we’re exploring two new characters in Flight of Fate. Dante is a museum curator trying to protect an ancient artifact, the Farnese Cup Tricia just mentioned. He is a bit of a nerd, and is thrown in way over his head! In contrast, we’re also seeing the mobster named Theodora. She can get in just about anywhere, and pretend to be anything! Her street smarts are both a boon and an annoyance to those close!
FF: Which character surprised you the most?
Definitely Theodora! Getting the Mafia involved in the story, just as they were involved in World War 2, made for a super-exciting adventure! For a lot of readers it might be strange to think that the Mafia could have been our allies. Getting to explore the stories of those who operate in the gray in the battle of black and white, is very interesting.
FF: Why do you think storytelling is such a powerful way to share truth?
Storytelling is a bridge between hearts. By sharing our stories, especially those of faith and personal experiences (through the lives of our characters), we allow others to discover truth and hope.
As a writer, I highlight my research, my faith, and my worldview in my novels. Yet readers also bring their ideas and questions into every book they read. While I’m sharing meaningful truths, the reader may be pulling out additional layers—ones I’d never considered.
I’ve had many readers come up to me to share deep insights they got from one of my books, and I’m amazed because those truths weren’t on my mind at all. That proves that God is the true Author who builds the bridge between writer and reader.
FF: What can you tell us about your next book?
The final book in the Clockwork Chronicles will end in a dangerous race against the clock. And I might just mean that literally…stay tuned!
FF: How do you get into the right frame of mind to write for your genre/audience?
I love to connect with young adults who love steampunk, sci-fi, and fantasy books. My husband has always watched sci-fi with our kids. The original Star Trek is a favorite! He read aloud The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings books. I also love playing board games with my adult sons, and they often have a fantasy twist. In addition to that, I’ve attended the Realm Makers Conferences with my adult sons the last few years. There is an excited energy in that group! I’ve learned to just have fun with it, to let my imagination go wild, and to try things I haven’t tried in my other novels. It’s thrilling! I’ve also started reading a lot more Speculative Fiction novels myself, and I’m constantly blown away by the creativity. So, I suppose in general, hanging out with young people and getting excited about what excites them! Yet it’s also fun because I bring my very detailed research into this book.
FF: What are the biggest challenges for you as a historical fiction author?
One of the biggest challenges is that I’m very committed to historical accuracy. I love to research the facts. In this case, the actual facts about World War 2. Yet what can be a challenge when you’re book is an “alternate world” with spider tanks and airships, it’s been terribly exciting to tie in accurate history. Within this whole series are actual news reports from that time in history. I can’t tell you how excited I get when I find the PERFECT news report to go with a specific scene in our novel. It’s a joy to share real history while also being able to push the boundaries of my storytelling with steampunk and fantasy elements.
FF: What authors or books have inspired you as an author?
Recently, I have been a big fan of Joshua Dalzelle. His novels really expanded my understanding of how a book can be written. In one series starting with Warship, he made the realistic side of space battles flow so intuitively. Hours and hours would pass for the characters, yet the action was still gripping!
FF: How has your faith or world view impacted the way you tell stories?
While writing a series set in World War 2, I think a lot about how difficult it would be for the people during the time to keep their faith when the world feels like it is ending around them. With that, the character’s spiritual side, their hearts and soul, how they view the world around them, are all affected by that.
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Flight of Fate
The Clockwork Chronicles #2
Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release June 10, 2025
Available Formats: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
ASIN: B0DNQBXQGD
ISBN-13: 979-8886052060
Book Summary:
When destined for destruction, fate must be challenged.
Curator Dante Ramono must remove the priceless Farnese Cup from its hidden vault in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli to protect it from Allied bombing. A swift betrayal places the cup in Nazi hands, but not before it reveals its mystical powers. To recover the cup, Dante must join forces with cunning Theodora. Can he trust her, or will he be deceived once more?
In Prague, Kateřina Dubová works to care for the Jews she’s hidden. In her hour of greatest need, her trusted friend, Josef, has seemingly vanished. Danger closes in, yet an unseen protector steps in again and again. Could it be Josef, hidden in the shadows?
The clock is ticking. Is the future set in stone, or can courage and faith change history? Together, these four unlikely guardians must defy the odds to stop the Germans’ dark ambitions or risk their very souls.
Betrayal, sacrifice, and destiny collide as unlikely heroes race to save a world at war from the power of a mystical relic.
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