Local author follows passion for writing

By Steffanie Costigan - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on August 31, 2023.

Books can hold so many meanings, lessons, and symbolism within them: like a painting, a story created contains layers upon layers of detail artistically put together in order to paint the bigger picture. It is in this art form a local author has come forth with her newly published works.
Local author Brit Stanford, founder of Cardston Writers Group, has published her new work, “The Timespeaker,” a young adult dark fantasy.
“It’s about a boy who is born with the ability to manipulate time. And it is a forbidden power for him that these powers are reserved for the gods. And so, he’s kind of spends his whole life trying to smother his gift. He’s super pious, and he loves the gods, and he’s trying to be kind of just hide who he is. And then he’s found out, and there’s adventures that ensue,” said Stanford in a recent interview.
Stanford was offered a publishing contract through Future House Publishing in Utah, where her book was published.
The book is about faith and the influence belief can have on actions.
“I talk about the things, I guess, faith, the things that we believe and how that influences our actions. . things that we do the way that we feel about ourselves. And then just not just religion, or faith, but the way we grow up and how we view ourselves.”
“The Timespeaker” has been nominated for the 2023 Whitney Award which was established in 2007 by a non-profit organization affiliated with the LDStorymakers, a guild for LDS authors.
The award was named after Orson F. Whitney, a prominent early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints.
Stanford shared her experience growing up and how she found books to be a home for her.
“Growing up, I was a big reader; my family moved around a lot. And I was a really shy kid. So books were my home that I could just kind of pack up with me and take wherever I was. And so, growing up, I always wanted to be a magical author, person that created worlds that kids could take with them in their backpack. And that’s always been my dream to be an author and publish something that someone else would enjoy.”
Stanford began her studies in nursing at the University of Lethbridge, but after having her first child, she realized she needed to be an example of following her passion and returned to writing.
“The thing that I wanted most for my baby was that he’d grow up and have the confidence and courage to chase his dreams and to be do the things that he really was passionate about. And so I kind of just realized that if I want my kid to do that, I need to set the example of chasing my dreams and doing the things I’m passionate about. So that’s when I started writing again,” shared Stanford.
Stanford has since gotten her degree at BYU-Idaho in journalism. She said upon returning to Canada she expressed there were not many writing groups in her area, inspiring her to create one.
“I started up a writing community in southern Alberta, and we meet every month. And we have I think, for four or five years now. And we have a pretty big group. But we have people all the way from Lethbridge coming out.”
“The Timespeaker” is a trilogy story, and Stanford is already working with Future House Publishing on the second volume. Stanford encourages others to follow their passion and says the surprise it is when opportunities present themselves.
“I think just if there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do, just start, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly opportunities come up and doors open. And it’s just it’s a really fun way of living to just carve out space in your life, even if it’s a little bit of time.”
“The Timespeaker” can be found on Amazon for purchase at https://www.amazon.ca/Timespeaker-Dark-Fantasy-Adventure-ebook/dp/B0C7JS4RJB

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