Today I'd like to introduce you to a debut author who writes dystopian fiction for young people (and those young at heart) who are fans of a twisting plot and engaging story (with no romance so if you are a parent of boys, Jeremiah Friedli is an author they'll enjoy).
Meet Jeremiah Friedli
Suzie: Welcome to the diamond mine, Jeremiah. I am looking forward to introducing readers to you and your new release.
Let's get started with something easy. What is your favorite writing drink or snack?
Jeremiah: Definitely coffee! Just a medium roast with half and half. That’s a staple of my morning writing routine. For later in the day, I can still do coffee, but I often go for iced green tea and occasionally Alani.
Suzie: Caffeine to fuel your mornings is sometimes necessary, isn't it? Name three books on your tbr right now.
Jeremiah: I recently finished Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas. The American War for Independence
is my favorite historical period, and this book did a terrific job of dropping the reader into that era, along with the issues relevant to that time, including faith and religion. But what I also loved was the pacing. Though Preacher on the Run didn’t quite move at thriller speeds, it certainly kept me turning pages!
I’m just about to start Trusting God by Jerry Bridges—the second time. This book was an incredible blessing to me years ago, and I’m excited to re-read it. Trust goes hand-in-hand with fear, the theme for CORE Deception.
Also, I just finished The Mental Game of Writing (James Scott Bell). Written for writers, this book is an easy read that’s packed with ideas to help authors with
the various mental obstacles they may face in their careers.
Suzie: Okay, my TBR just got bigger. Where is your favorite place to write? Why?
Jeremiah: Well, there’s favorite and then there’s practical favorite. A favorite place might be in the mountains or by a flowing stream. But since I’m in West Texas and neither of those are very accessible, I often end up at a coffee shop-like setting. Really, just anywhere moderately quiet with good coffee.
The exception is when I’m dictating a first draft. In that case, I prefer to sit in my truck with my computer and microphone. Vehicles have terrific acoustic qualities!
Suzie: Coffee shops are also great for people watching. Who makes up your writing tribe?
Jeremiah: I write fiction for teens with a Christian background and who like stories with suspense and intrigue. As I sometimes say, I create Christian YA thrillers. Right now, that happens to be sci-fi/dystopian. But that doesn’t mean readers won’t eventually see some post-apocalyptic, medieval fantasy, kingdom adventure, or modern royalty stories. I have a lot of ideas, and I can’t seem to write them fast enough! But whatever the genre, readers can expect fast-paced stories with teen characters.
Suzie: It's nice when ideas flow freely. If only time didn't move so fast, right? What inspired you to write CORE Deception?
Jeremiah: The idea was largely birthed during 2020 when I faced fears I didn’t know I had. It was an odd, disruptive time for many, and somehow the unknowns of a strange illness and the changes that came to just about every aspect of life triggered fear in me. I’ve struggled with fear of acceptance, fear of failure, and fear of incompetence before—to name a few fears. But this was new to me. It was fear that dominated my thinking and tried to control my actions. (And really, doesn’t all fear do that?)
Something told me this wasn’t right—more like Someone. As a Christian, I shouldn’t fear like that, not if I believe the Bible. After all, our future is secure, no matter what happens to us physically. And as Christ-followers, we have more hope than anyone else.
So why was this fear so strong? It was a while later that I came across a quote by Max Lucado from his book Fearless. He put it really well: "Fear, at its center, is a perceived loss of control." (https://maxlucado.com/fearless/)
Ouch, that was me. He nailed it. It felt like I had lost control of almost every aspect of normal life. Not that I had control in the first place. And that was the foundational deception of my fear. Life had been going fairly well, and I’d built my stability around that instead of the hope I have in Jesus. Experiencing this fear was painful because it forced me to face a reality—I wasn’t trusting God like I thought I was, like I wanted to think I was. But as painful as that was, it was a gift.
That’s the struggle for the main character, Seth, in my book CORE Deception. But that’s not all. Throw in some espionage, a little hacking, a dystopian government, and another ice age, and soon you have both an exciting and thought-provoking read.
Suzie: Security and control are hard to release to God sometimes, aren't they? We think we understand what's best for us while He knows what's best.
What led you to write YA dystopian?
Jeremiah: Speaking first to YA, it was somewhere around my teen years that I gained my love of good fiction. I really enjoy YA stories. Maybe I’m still a teenager at heart. But over the years I’ve been creating stories, I just tend to dream up ones featuring teen characters. Nearly every time a story sparked in my imagination, it was YA.
But why dystopian for the CORE Series? I love stories of espionage, undercover, and page-turning suspense. I also like some level of technology. Before the CORE Series, my stories with those elements were set in current-day America. But placing YA characters in situations with espionage and undercover work posed a continual challenge. It’s hard to keep it realistic in a modern setting, at least if the teens aren’t criminals (which doesn’t work so well for a Christian writer trying to encourage other Christians to do the right thing).
Plus, there’s the dark side of espionage and undercover work. As much as I love that kind of stuff, I have to carefully choose what I read and watch. Evil people do evil things, and sometimes the “good guys” make significant moral compromises. Christians have to be careful what they allow to enter their minds when considering stories (true or fiction) on this topic. And so, I found myself challenged with “how can I incorporate the elements I find intriguing without showcasing the sinful behaviors that sometimes come with those topics?” Or put another way, “Can I have a moral, good spy? What sort of story could do that realistically?”
Enter dystopian, with its trope of controlling governments unjustly oppressing the populace. Now my main character had a good reason to use the tools of deception and espionage. I had the modern technology I wanted (and beyond), plus the setting allowed normal teens to step into areas they were unlikely to experience in the USA.
Suzie: The premise of the book is intrigue, and as someone who has read CORE Deception, I can confirm the story is a page turner.
What message do you hope to convey to your readers?
Jeremiah: I’d say the key takeaway is a Christian’s response to fear, as mentioned above. The key phrase from the Bible comes from Mark 5:36. “Do not be afraid, only believe.” Too often I let fear take control of my emotions instead of keeping my eyes on the Lord, even when I can see how or understand why. I also created a “mini devotional” on fear (https://jeremiahfriedli.com/books/core-series-extras/), which has 40 short insights on what the Bible has to say about fear.
Other elements naturally emerge from dystopian settings like CORE Deception’s. When written from a Christian perspective, dystopian can offer hope for those who see darker times on the horizon, including for the USA. That’s because God is always there, regardless of the time in history (or the future!), geographical location, or presence of Christianity. His love, care, and protection transcend all eras and places.
Another key element relates to technology. Touting their motto of Efficiency for Survival, the government in CORE Deception boasts a very robust technological system that runs the nation and keeps everyone in their place. And in many ways, it’s a good thing considering the global ice age rendering places like Hawaii uninhabitable—except for the right level of efficiency empowered by innovation. Characters like Seth and Krystin learn the hard way they're always being watched. I set the CORE Series years into the future, but many aspects aren't very futuristic. Look at the surveillance state of current-day China and how widely the government deploys technology to control its populace. I wanted to explore that type of thing with the CORE Series. What might happen if America took a few more steps toward widespread technology employment, all in the name of safety and security?
Closely related are controlling governments and their suppression of freedoms like religion, speech, and free-thinking. Some characters in the book go along and comply, others push against the system. More importantly, when is it right for Christ-followers to comply, and when is it right to go against the authorities? Do we keep silent or do nothing? Or do we stand up to them and face the consequences, even if it’s severe? God gave us Acts 5:29 for a reason. (Side note: this is a key theme in my prequel novella Association, available for free at my website.) One of my favorite books is God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew, and it was fascinating to see how Brother Andrew worked through this dynamic as God led him to bring Bibles to people who had little or no access to it.
Suzie: Readers, here's a quick description of what to expect in Association: When 15-year-old Krystin Jakobsdóttir’s uncle is accused of attempted murder, she determines to help him clear his name of something she knows he didn’t do. But soon she realizes she’s not just fighting a false accusation. She’s fighting against a conspiracy to take down the social activist her uncle supports. The situation is eerily similar to what happened two years ago, the devastating loss of her sister. With a relentless police inspector watching her every move, Krystin faces a dilemma—avoid the authorities and hope for the best for her uncle or align with the very thinking that tore her sister from her two years ago.
Can you tell us a little about your next project(s)?
Jeremiah: I'm well into the planning phase of CORE Deception's sequel. Readers can assume more suspense and espionage while exploring new facets of the CORE series storyworld and digging deeper into characters like Seth, Krystin, and Jhalak. The next title and plot are a secret right now, but here's a little teaser:
A relentless pursuer.
An unpredictable ally.
The opportunity of a lifetime.
Can seventeen-year-old hacker Seth Alvarez survive a daring undercover mission that could change the course of a nation…or destroy everything he’s even known and loved?
After a third novel in the CORE Series, I'm praying about what to write. Several ideas are pushing their way to the front of the line, and it’s too early to say which one will win out. It could be another sci-fi, a modern thriller, kingdom adventure—you get the idea.
Suzie: I'm intrigued.
Switching topics, do you have a favorite Bible verse or story that inspires you on a soul level?
Jeremiah: It’s hard to narrow it to one verse, but one phrase God reminded me of a lot this year is from Jeremiah 32:27. “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”
When I feel overwhelmed, experience doubts, or get confused thinking I have to make things happen, this verse helps keep me on track and reminds me of who God is. He is enough, and He loves me more than I can understand.
Suzie: That's a fantastic verse. Before we go, how can we pray for you?
Jeremiah: Thanks so much for asking. I’d appreciate prayers that CORE Deception positively impacts readers, strengthening them in the Lord. And I’m always grateful for prayers for in crafting the next story, keeping myself humble before God so His work can flow through me.
Suzie: Thank you for introducing yourself and your debut to us, Jeremiah.
Readers, don't forget to grab your free copy of Association (the prequel to the CORE series)
About CORE Deception
