Exactly one year ago today, I gathered with family and friends to celebrate the launch of my first novel, Realm.

When the idea for Realm first came to me, I held the concept loosely because it had a sci-fi element, and I didn’t write sci-fi. But I mentioned the story to my mother and expounded on some plots points and character construction that I thought would make the tale interesting, and she was hooked. She encouraged me to begin writing, at least to see where it would take me.

And, since I didn’t have another story swirling around my brain, demanding to be brought to life, I set to work. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a plotting-panster, so without an outline, I pounded away at the laptop, and Realm began to take shape.

I credit everything that Realm is to Adonai alone because, as I said, I didn’t know what the story was going to be until I typed it. Even though I had a few plot points and characters, Realm literally unfolded every time I sat down to work on it.

The story was going well until I reached a point where I had to decide what kind of story, exactly, Realm was going to be. There were elements of science, but as my brilliant beta reader soon discovered, it wasn’t about the science. I wasn’t interested in creating an alien aspect for my novel even though it was set far in the future. Clearly, Realm isn’t true sci-fi or science fantasy.

There are some people my protagonist meets who aren’t humans, and he meets them when he’s not on Earth. Still, those points weren’t the crux of my story. So, what kind of book is Realm? Into which genre should it be placed?

The deciding factor for Realm happened when I needed to build a world for these special people. However, more than their world or their physical appearance, I realized it was extremely important to define the way these off-worlders led their lives. And that’s when it hit me.

Why shouldn’t the Realmers believe in the one and only living God?

I’ve read a couple books that attempted to create a new belief system or borrow tenets of true faith and blend it with their own creations, and in both cases, it was done quite poorly and to the point of distraction. I didn’t want that for Realm.

So, I set about forging a relationship between the Realmers and the One who, in their language, they call the Liabish Tag, or Infinite One. And that’s when the writing really began to flow!

I always wanted Realm to glorify HaShem alone. That was my goal for publishing, and that is why Realm is the success it is even though its genre isn’t one hundred percent accurately depicted by the labels I was required to attach to it for the sake of marketing. Realm is the type of book that must be experienced, and then I leave it up to the individual to decide what genre they read.

It may seem strange to some people to use fiction as a mode of conveyance for El Elyon’s truths, but words have long been a favorite medium of El Shaddai, and I’m humbled and honored that He bestowed upon me the ability to imitate Him in my creative endeavors by also using words. Think parables, if you’re still not convinced.

Last year, I chose to launch Realm after Pesach because I didn’t want anything to distract my loved ones from keeping one of Adonai’s most holy moedim, i.e., appointed times. This year, I’m privileged to be celebrating the one-year anniversary of Realm in the week leading up to Passover. Baruch HaShem for His perfect timing yet again.

This past year, I’ve enjoyed the book signings I was blessed to attend, but even more, the friendships that were established because I stepped out in faith, turned everything over to God, and wrote a book that glorified my Savior.

Haven’t traveled through the Realm yet? Fear not, dear readers. It’s never too late to become a Realmer. Come join us! We’re a good bunch of people all on the same journey toward a glorious conclusion.

Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai!

With much love,

HL Gibson