Bestselling author Brandon Mull had lost his muse.
Mull, inspired by the works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J.K. Rowling, had been a prolific writer since 2006 when his first book in the popular Fablehaven series came out. His track record for success has held, too—Mull has written a total of four series that have made The New York Times bestseller list in the last decade and a half.
But five years ago, Mull went through a divorce, and the impact it had on him was devastating. So the Dragonwatch series (a continuation of Fablehaven published by Deseret Book’s Shadow Mountain Publishing), was put on hold.
“[The divorce] felt like it crushed me spiritually. ... There was a moment when I got specific help from God that confirmed my faith and sort of brought me back to life. After that day, I had energy to go back and keep trying,” Mull told Deseret News. “Because of that help, I still write books.”
In October of this year, Mull’s fifth book in the Dragonwatch series, Return of the Dragonslayers, was released. The author considers it to be his finest work. He has also since remarried, joining his family of four children to his wife’s seven kids, making a home of 11 children combined.
“It was a true journey through pain that brought me closer to God. It also deepened my appreciation and awareness of my family,” Mull said. “I can say I’m happy to be alive. I’m happy to have my job. I feel like life is sometimes so brutally hard, and it’s also good.”
Read more about Mull’s writing journey at Deseret News.
