Interview with Perrin Lovett 2025

Is there a message you hope readers will take away from this book?

Yes, in fact, there are several, all of them related to various facets of Christian salvation. The first is general salvation: Deference and surrender to God, and the redemption of the soul through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. My extremely unusual plot device involves the speculative use of a second, very different kind of salvation, the understanding of which requires a high degree of trust, faith, and imagination. In her gracious review, Emma Cazabonne of Words & Peace called it, “...a neat use of Genesis 6 and 1 Corinthians 6—a Pauline statement mysterious enough to offer a lot of leeway to novelists!” Walt Garlington, reviewing Judging Athena at Confiteri, said, “Mr. Lovett’s use of this device elevates it to new heights at the end of his story: The tragic beauty of those scenes sears the heart with descriptions that the reader will not soon forget.”

Within the story, and in large part dependent on the Pauline mystery and a few assorted metaphors, the primary focus is on a third concept, that of joint marital salvation, the quest of a man and his wife to mirror the marriage of Christ and His Church and to thereby assist each other in reaching Heaven. In so many ways, the book is a celebration of marriage, love, and family. It is a portrayal of the glorified Christian replication of the original marriage in Eden. The coupling of Adam and Eve speaks to the supremely important nature of matrimony: man and woman are literal parts of Divine Creation, and they were literally made for each other by God. As we know too well, since those first days, things have gone awry due to continuing human temptation, error, hubris, and sin. The commitment of marriage, as exemplified by and through its three primary tenets, is one of mankind’s great, wholly unearned paths towards ameliorating original sin.

In the postmodern West, even under the guise of Christianity, we have faltered anew. I, unfortunately, know this from experience, as I suspect many who read this interview do as well. Here and there, marriage and families have sadly descended into the unserious throw-away status that afflicts our age. But we are not lost so long as we continue to maintain faith, discipleship, contrition, and humility. I hope all readers enjoy Judging Athena. Yet my primary hope is that young Christian men and women are inspired by my gentle little story and assured that they are, indeed, worthy. In defiance of the world, they can join together as one, be fruitful, be happy, and be righteous. I hope and pray that there will be many, many more Josh and Athena couples joined at so many altars.

Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?

The neat, short answer is the way I found a book publisher. Or, rather, how they found me. Ever a material nonconformist, I had never given much thought to mainstream publishing. But one day, in a funeral home, while I studied a line of George Meredith novels on a hallway shelf, the owners of Shotwell Publishing approached me. Based on the recommendation of that sad day’s guest of honor, the late, great Tom Moore, dear friend and brother, they offered, and I accepted. But, really, there is much more to it than that.

As I have surmised, there are a number of steps or characteristics necessary for becoming a writer. All of them are dependent on the gifts of the Holy Spirit as much as they are on any inherent planning by the potential author. Once the determination to do it is resolved, writing is still difficult. It requires the patience to process one’s own thoughts and imaginings in a manner that can be reduced to words on paper. And in their presentation, those words have to be calculated to be understood by the potential reader. The difficulty of this process is why few people actually write and why so little of what is written is profound, sensible, or important.

From the start, I was always a voracious reader, one armed with a rather high degree of general understanding and creative logic. My personal journey was, as I at first thought, derailed or detoured for quite some time. Yet I think for me, it had to be that way. The various experiences of living, even on my convoluted path, helped lead me to a point where I was finally able to replicate some of what I had read so many years earlier and to present my stories my way. The understanding and acceptance of my place in this grand journey is probably its most significant aspect for me. Well, and that aspect is rivaled, I think, by simply knowing that even as it's about me, it really isn’t. I’m just here to tell tales!

What’s your biggest challenge in balancing writing time with your other responsibilities?

The timing, as odd as this might sound, takes care of itself. Those of us who, as John Gardner once suggested, have to write are always able to find the time. Or make it. My main problem is mustering the physical and mental energy to make good use of the time. For those learning to walk this strange tightrope, just know that with steady practice, it can be done.

How do your faith and spiritual life play into the picture and affect your storytelling?

In all ways. I just mentioned that none of it is really about me. It isn’t. I’m just the bumbling messenger trying to perform the duties given to me by God. We know that “Christian” fiction can range from on-the-sleeve dialectic recitation to deep implication or allegory to merely proceeding from a Christian worldview, whether stated or not. The trick, as I see it, is balancing the subjects and methodologies in a way that both effectively conveys whatever message is at hand and that does so in a manner pleasing to God.

And it is not always a simple process. It isn’t always easy to know what to do, how to do it, whether it needs to be done, and so forth. As I progress in this journey, in addition to trusting in my faith, I’ve learned to confirm that trust by checking it against the plain wisdom of the Bible, the astute observations of the Saints and Patristic Fathers, and the accumulated understanding of the Church as amassed over the past 2,000 years. The times change, but the issues we face really don’t; if we see it today, someone else likely saw it before. At the end of the day, I’ve found it never hurts to seek a little personal guidance as needed, either from a spiritual advisor or mentor, or via thoughtful prayer.

What do you consider the greatest moment of your writing/publishing career?

I’m tempted to say, “I’ll let you know when I get there!” But I really think it’s the relatively recent critical reception of Judging Athena. With this book, I wanted to do something different, something better than and beyond my previous stock of polemical works. When I wrote the book, I was confronted with all the usual doubts and phantoms that plague the writer’s mind. Additionally, my plot device, the whole plot, really, broke new ground. I am aware of a few other authors who have attempted something similar, but in my opinion, their reasoning was very different, much of it seemingly in bad taste. My goal was to encourage and delight instead of confounding or putting anyone off. I felt that if my contrived theological take on certain matters was accepted as sensible—though not necessarily given anyone’s imprimatur—then I stood a decent chance of delivering my intended hopeful message to readers, especially to young couples.

So far, Athena has garnered three strong editorial reviews. From them, I have confirmed that my story is on the right track. In her review, as mentioned above, Emma Cazabonne revealed that Athena is the first work of Christian fiction she has ever reviewed. She wrote:

“[E]ven though I am deeply involved in the Christian Orthodox Church, I have never read nor reviewed a Christian novel. And only very rarely do I read romance.

When Perrin Lovett asked me to review Judging Athena, ‘an inspiring tale of Christian romance’, my first reaction was, no Christian novel for me. But then, he specified that ‘It’s a rather innocent love story, steeled with Orthodox apologetics, and an unusual plot device/twist.’

So I had to take the plunge and try it! And I’m glad I did. Reading Judging Athena has been one of the most unique reading experiences so far this year.”

Those words mean so much to me because they affirm something I deeply believe in. And if that confirmation translates into anyone finding a spark of Divine inspiration in Athena, then that would surpass all the accolades and commercial success the world could possibly offer.

Where do your story and character ideas come from?

In large part, they come from my many and various observations of the world around me—the human, corporeal, and spiritual dimensions I witness. Some of my ideas come as a flash, while others simmer and take shape over years or decades. I’ve come to view my fiction almost as I do the better works of others: the best of it either takes a beautiful example and showcases it, or else, the story allows for a vehicle for improving some condition, thereby painting a portrait of a potential way forward. As I’ve previously said, “Fiction provides a forum for letting be what should be, even if the imagined vehicle approaches the fantastical.”

And examples and suggestions for stories, plots, purposes, and characters are all around us. We have considerable creative leeway in our presentations. I’ve seen a lot of things and met a lot of people. I’ve, of course, read about a great deal more of both. It’s given me quite an arsenal of material for my imagination to work with.

What literary character is most like you?

I rarely, if ever, think about this transposition. So my answer, here and today, might change tomorrow! I am and always have been a Tolkien fan, and the good professor didn’t let me down with several suggested literary doppelgangers. While part of me wants to identify with someone a little more humble like Meriadoc Brandybuck, I will risk a little pretension and say I am most like Beren Erchamion of the House of Bëor. How’s that? While Professor Tolkien always suggested that of his character, he’d be a Hobbit, he still had “Beren” inscribed on his tombstone. For my part, I will, however, note that I do still converse with people and that all of my interactions heretofore with wolves have been cordial.

As a crass promotional matter linked to Judging Athena, I AM NOT Josh Williams. Within the book, if I even have a place, I might like to say I’m good old Sam or, possibly, Professor Hale Johnson. But to be realistic, if I were to be cast as a cameo in a film version, then I’d probably be Mr. Dalton, the gate guard. That cat wears a snappy uniform…

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you as an author?

I met “fans” in person. I’m not kidding. While people who know me know that I write, and while I’m aware of some folks beyond these interwebs who read my stuff, I’d never seriously considered that I might have a real fan base. A few years ago, I attended a non-literary convention. At intervals, strangers kept coming up to me and asking if I was the author of so much geopolitical malarky. Once I noticed their hands didn’t hold weapons and were, in fact, outstretched for shaking, I readily admitted I was. Some of them were aware, even then, of my then-nascent and now still-developing fiction. If they were pleased by the interaction, then I was simply amazed and humbled in a delightful way. If any of y’all read this, then thank you, God Bless you, and I love ya!

What do you think makes your style of storytelling unique?

I have a style?! Oh, my… This is one that I really wish someone else would answer for me. Yet, as it is up to me, then to a large degree, I say it has to do with my sometimes apparent fearlessness. It comes from a desire to just tell the truth, even in fiction, balanced by the necessary grace of doing so in a way that does the most to encourage rather than admonish, to entertain while educating or elucidating. It’s sometimes fiery, passionate, reckless, or, as crazy as this might sound, even a little fearful. In a way, it’s the spirit of fiat justitia ruat caelum, though tempered to honor and highlight the good, the true, and the beautiful.

I try to adhere to measured realism in my writing. And by concentrating on what I hope are well-developed and presented plots, scenes, themes, purposes, and characters, I, like all writers, want to actively engage a reader’s heart as much as his mind. A decent story is one that gives the reader a degree of ownership in the experience.

Other than that, please bear with me—it’s still a work in progress!

What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?

Acquiring gray hairs, assorted aches, and wrinkles. No, seriously, those come along regardless of enjoyment! I lead a bit of a hermit’s life these days. And I read. A LOT. And I try to balance the mental and emotional aspects of reading, writing, and thinking by exercising, either by walking, weightlifting, or by just doing yardwork. By the way, for any aspiring writers or even the professionals out there, Haruki Murakami and I agree that walking is a great way to stay physically fit and hone ideas at the same time. Try it!

Lately, I’ve been reaching out to other authors and artists I admire. It might be something as simple as a “thank you,” or a book review, or words of encouragement. But I think it’s important to acknowledge kindred spirits, especially if they’re doing great things. I don’t keep track, but I’d guess the successful contact rate is around 75% and the odds of making legitimate friends must be at least 25%. I advise any and all to try that too if they feel like it. The process invariably leads to the kind of learning absent from the classrooms of the world. That learning, or the constant attempt to learn, is my penultimate hobby, whether writing-related or not.

In many ways, I’m ever on a quest to live out the fundamentals of true Chrisitan tradition. My ultimate pastime is giving or trying to remember to give grateful thanks to God for everything, even or especially for those things that foster a little regret or that require a humble admission or apology. That’s where the heart of humanity, in our proper place, lies.

What books are next on your to-be-read list?

Bodaciously True and Totally Awesome by Chris Orcutt
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Thorn and the Carnation by Yahya Al-Sinwar
The Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great as introduced by Edmund Gardner
The Unlocked Book: Booth by Asia Booth Clarke
A Light to Enlighten the Darkness as edited by Emma Cazabonne
Тоннель (“Tunnel”) by Jana Wagner
Empire of Constantinople (1-4) by Konstantin Malofeev
…and many, many more…

Finish this statement: If I were not an author, I would be...

in trouble!


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Kathy McKinsey lives in Lakewood, Ohio, with her husband Murray and the oldest of their five children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille drawing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with their rambunctious cat. https://www.kathymckinsey.com