Guided by Truth, Stirred by Story

Introduction

I write fiction, essays, and reflections with the conviction that words are never neutral. Language shapes imagination, imagination informs conscience, and reading itself takes part in the way we come to understand the world. Whether I am working in allegorical fantasy, literary criticism, or cultural commentary, my aim is the same: to write in a way that honors truth, depth, meaning, and above all, Christ.

My writing reflects my belief that all of life, including art, literature, and scholarship, falls under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Truth does not generate itself; meaning is not random, and understanding always entails responsibility. Writing, therefore, is not merely expressive but covenantal: it illuminates truth, engages the world as it is, and speaks from within a life ordered by faith and obedience.

Over time, this conviction has led me to develop what I call Covenant Literary Theory, an ongoing effort to articulate how literature functions within a covenantal view of reality. Drawing on theology and literary criticism, this project seeks to view literature as a unified whole through truth, context, and the inner life of faith. It is not a finished system, but an extensive work in progress that will continue to develop through essays, fiction, and sustained study.

In addition to my writing, this blog explores historical questions. I’m especially interested in Christianity’s influence on Western civilization and the United States’ origins. I’m particularly drawn to the Black Robed Regiment and researching the clergy’s role in the American Revolution. I also want to explore how theological conviction shaped ideas of liberty, law, and moral responsibility. My reflections are based on historical inquiry, drawing on primary sources and contextual content. I believe that God’s providence influences history and individual lives, and that we can trace His hand throughout.

What You’ll Discover Here

— Works in progress, including short and long-form fiction, poetry, historical research, and developing literary theory

— Essays on reading, literacy, and formation, with attention to worldview, culture, and writing as a form of ministry

— Recovered reflections from earlier seasons, shared under Deep from the Archives, preserved not for nostalgia but for their enduring theological and literary weight

— Reflections on literature, history, faith, and the responsibilities that attend all three

The long tomorrow awaits. Please join me.

C. L. Stansberry

C. L. Stansberry is a Christian writer and blogger whose work spans fiction, poetry, essays, and theological reflection. She writes to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him beautiful and glorious in the eyes of the people.