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Kyle Jantjies is a 27-year old a born-again believer and son to a Pastor. He is also a teacher and molecular biologist who is fast becoming a recognisable name in many homes as a prolific author of fantasy fiction and adventure novels. However, in a world where sorcery, witchery and spiritual beings are dominating mainstream fantasy fiction novels, this young author is always faced with the question – should Christians read fantasy fiction?
“I am one of those who like the land of the make believe as some would call it. A world that is a reprieve from reality and encourages one to use a bit of imagination,” says Kyle.
As an author, with a very active imagination Kyle creates the worlds he would like to live in and to live out adventures he would love to undertake himself. His book, the GLOAT – the Greatest Loser of All Time, is about an adventure to find a dinosaur in the Congo. This apparently is an adventure Kyle wanted to undertake, but didn’t have the funds to do, so he wrote a story about it.
He believes that reading, and particularly reading fiction encourages one to dream, to ask what if, to innovate and to challenge norms. As an exhibitor and speaker at the recent Comic Con festival, he recognised first hand the need for Christian authors to bring more influence to a genre that has been used by the enemy to manipulate and deceive people.
“As Christian authors we have an opportunity to be distinct from the culture around us,” says Kyle. “We can write entertaining content that pushes the boundaries of our imaginations whilst being discerning,” he adds.
“I firmly believe that God is a creative God and as His workmanship created in His image, we have the privilege of giving expression to his creativity in the earth,” continues Kyle. Literature is a form of art, a form of creative expression and we cannot leave the world to pervert every form of creative arts to the point where it is unsafe and unsavoury for Christians to partake of,” he adds.
His recent presentation at Comic Con was about the state of fantasy and adventure in South Africa. Whilst there are many amazing writers in South Africa and no shortage of content and creativity, the market of readers is skewed towards non-fiction books with 80% non-fiction being sold in South Africa and only 20% fiction. In his presentation he detailed how in America the opposite is true. The higher percentage of books being sold is fiction 60% and 40% non-fiction, and one can see the innovation economy booming in America with many inventors, and innovators coming from there.
“Our generation has more entertainment to choose from than any generation before us,” says Kyle. “We have to encourage a culture of reading,” he adds. “Reading is better for the mind, it exercises the brain, improves concentration and even helps to reduce stress,” he continues.
Kyle practices what he preaches. He has launched a book club at the school where he teaches as well as at his University. He is a regular speaker at book clubs, libraries and youth events and often reads out loud to his learners to pique their interest in reading.
He wrote and self-published 7 books in 2021 alone, and has a collection of 13 titles under his name. Earlier this year he undertook a solo adventure (with his dog) to walk from Mitchell’s Plain to Ceres. Adventures of this nature as well as his martial arts training and his education as a scientist helps him to delve into very deep insights to influence the content of his writings.
Kyle would like to encourage Christian authors with an interest in fantasy fiction and adventure to explore that side of their creativity and to produce content that is safe for this generation to consume.
“Fantasy fiction inspired by Christian values can be used as an allegory for the principles of the bible, of good overcoming evil, of the spiritual realm that influences our daily lives and ultimately it can be used as an art form to glorify God and ultimately point people towards him,” concludes Kyle.
To find our more about Kyle or to book him for speaking engagements visit https://www.kylejantjiesauthor.com.
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Date published: 16/05/2023
Feature image: www.facebook.com/Kbjantjies
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