Discover the Next Generation of Christian Storytellers…
Featuring R.L. Nguyen
As a child of Vietnamese immigrant parents, R.L. Nguyen found her place to belong in fictional worlds. Now, she forges her own fantastical safe havens where survivors of hard things can heal, dream, and fight for a better future. She sometimes daydreams about helping Kaz Brekker’s Crows pull off their next heist using her operatic high notes and bánh mì taste-testing skills (surely those would be useful somehow . . .). For now, she focuses on crafting hopeful endings for her imaginary friends, reading Homer without footnotes, and trying to teach her dogs to talk.
About Her Short Story
All Camilla Phương has left of her dreams is her plants. After the death of her fiance and fellow botanist Roger, she spends her days caring for the nursery they started together—and the rare magical nightflower he gave her before his passing.
Then, days before what should have been their first wedding anniversary, Camilla realizes the nightflower is dying. And as she fights to keep the rootbound plant alive, she slowly comes to understand: Roger left her with everything she needs to build a new life—if she can find the courage to bloom without him.
Her Accomplishments
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Drafted three novels and numerous short fiction pieces, and received full manuscript requests from editors and agents.
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Was a finalist in The Writer’s Sanctuary Storyteller’s Contest in 2024, placing in the top 10 out of 660 entries.
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Spoke at the Young Writers Can Change The World Summit to an online audience of over 350 in August 2024.
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Attended the Gilded Writer’s Retreat hosted by Mary Weber and C.J. Redwine of The Writer’s Sanctuary in September 2024 .
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Had 5 flash fiction pieces published by Havok Publishing in 2023 and 2024, including 3 which were selected for their Season 10: Legendary and Season 11: Remember When anthologies of the years’ best stories.
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Founded a small business in 2018 and grew her email list to almost 500 subscribers in three years—practicing traditional publishing, self-publishing, marketing, networking, teamwork, and editing skills in the arts & crafts industry.
Meet the 11 other authors in the anthology!
sarah
abegglen
caroline
guajardo
alayna
niblack
helen
curtis
annika
crum
Rebecca
washburn
Eden
joy
Shannae
Grace
Kimberly C.
Grace
katharine
Stacy
Support the next generation of writers
100% of the proceeds from this anthology go toward helping up-and-coming writers attend writing conferences where they can pitch their work to agents and publishers.
About the Author Conservatory
Conservatory, noun: “A school specializing in one of the fine arts.”
The Author Conservatory is an online apprenticeship-modeled program that teaches students the writing & business skills they need to get published and support themselves financially. The Voices of the Future anthology features short stories from nine of our 2024 graduates.
