We recently had the chance to connect with Noah Lynch and have shared our conversation below.
Noah, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity more than most. Not that the others don’t have merit. Intelligence is helpful to living a good life and informs you of decisions you’ll make. Energy is crucial if you want to make any effort worthwhile and, without it, your job is going to seem just a drag on your life. But integrity is better than all these because, in my experience, people will come to you if you show that you’re reliable and a consistent worker and/or person. Recently, a friend of mine came to me to ask for help and prayer. I didn’t know him as well as some of my other friends, but I always gave him a lift when he needed it. That consistency, I believe, gained a level of trust that he came to me with his burdens before others, even within his family. That touched me. It also showed me that people will more likely trust you and come to you for advice, even if you’re not that smart, if you show you’re a man or woman of integrity.
Also, it’s not just pragmatically good to have integrity. It’s the right thing to do. You cannot, for instance, be in a church praising God and then curse out your wife or fellow employees when you come home. Living like that shows you are being deceptive. However, when you are the same person at home that you are outside it, you live honestly.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Noah Lynch. I am a writer who has published three books and a short story, all on Amazon. My main focus is in fantasy similar to Tolkien and Lewis. However, I also dabble in short stories concerning horror and science fiction. What I try to do with my books is to create worlds where my readers can immerse themselves in and lose themselves. But I also try to set my writing to a high standard and make my stories as best quality. I try to do this by ensuring that the plot and world-building of my stories are written to make sense and to be understandable and to make my characters consistent and likable for the reader to follow. Where my books are concerned,
I published Squire of Valana, The Silver Hand, and Pale Phoenix. Of these, The Silver Hand is my favorite. Mainly because the Silver Hand take a lot from my personal life in college and turns it into a narrative I hope will encourage others who have high-function autism that they’re capable of more than they think. It shows that despite the hardships of the world, people can find the strength to deal with everyday problems.
I’ve also gotten into drawing digitally and publish my art pieces on my instagram, @Silverhandpublishing. Primarily my art is for books that I enjoy such as Laurisa Brandt’s Birthright of Scars series which is among my all time favorite book series.
Currently, I am working on an Anniversary Edition of Squire of Valana which will be significantly longer, have more scenes as well as backstory for some of my characters. I am working on editing it before I being working on getting it published. As I mentioned, I want to ensure that the story is well done. As well as this, I have revisited an old story I previously gave up on, Skipper’s Tale and am writing a new draft for it. I am pleased to say it is coming along well!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
The belief that I must appeal to every person equally and I will be a failure if I don’t appeal to everyone. I still have to fight down this lie every day as our culture pushes tribalism and conformity. Also, I grew up feeling like I had to please everyone all the time. But I learned that, no matter what you write, you shall not appeal to everyone. Some people simply enjoy some literature or genres more than others. My type of writing may not appeal to my family or friends all the time. And that is okay! I learned from listening to critiques of books and movies that often the best thing is to write a good story with memorable characters. Those shall appeal to anyone and can make stories that otherwise would never be read or watched by some, watchable. And, if you stick to writing well and pleasing your core audience, whether they be epic fantasy lovers like those who read Tolkien or weird horror readers of Lovecraft, you shall not steer wrong.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Pale Phoenix, the third book I’ve published, failed miserably. Mind, this came after a long and arduous period of advertisement and editing. However, a culmination of things from the editor not finishing the edits until three days from the launch date to an accident with the sizing of the book made the whole thing rather a disaster. After that, I fell into a kind of bookish depression. I didn’t want to write anymore. The story I had been working on after Pale Phoenix, Skipper’s Tale, became an item of loathing to me. I didn’t even want to look at it! I became so upset and sad that, in spite of all my work and effort, I failed. This came after The Silver Hand did pretty well, even going up to the 70s in Christian Fiction on Amazon! However, sometime around 2024, I realized that while I may fail, that doesn’t mean I shall stay one. I remembered that Tolkien took several years before Lord of the Rings was published and it is still remembered. J.K. Rowling was rejected time and time again until she finally published Harry Potter. I committed myself to working harder on my stories and ensuring that I ask more questions of myself and rework my stories to be better. Also, I took a hard look at Pale Phoenix and, being honest with myself, could’ve been far better. Finally, I took my pain to God and asked Him for guidance and comfort. He led me back to a place where I worked constantly and found new inspiration. And I thank Him for that!
I lost a friend, a very dear and good friend. I shall refer to them as “O” for purposes of anonymity. O was someone I didn’t imagine existing. They were a Christian who loved horror, metal, and all the other generally “Forbidden” elements of evangelical Christian norms. Furthermore, O helped me write my stories and even offered advice on some of the ones I wrote. O encouraged me and gave me hope that my books would do well. But then, after a long series of misunderstanding and pain, we stopped being friends. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever endured, knowing that I never again would be able to call them or text them about something new I read or a new idea I came up with. Now, looking back on it, it was a valuable experience nonetheless because I learned that there are stages in life. Friends come and go. God stays forever. Also, I learned to be more discerning of my friends and those whom I trust. If I had thought through O’s actions and words, perhaps much of the miscommunication could’ve been avoided.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Pursuing a higher standard. It sounds odd, but I believe that we have abandoned the idea of setting oneself to a higher standard and trying all we can to reach it. In media and entertainment, we have gotten so used to getting bad content (such as the recent Marvel movies and shows) that getting something mediocre is seen as gloriously perfect while good media (such as Birthright of Scars) slips under our noses without a glance. I believe that we must be willing to endure criticism and pain and be willing to make hard choices to improve ourselves to be better, both in our craft and in ourselves. It isn’t easy. I will never claim that it is easy. But it is far better to endure pain to make oneself better now than to suffer the pain later. It is far better to cut and tear at your narrative and endure the criticisms of editors to ensure that what you produce is something beautiful that lasts beyond a few months.
In my personal life, I’ve seen how God has changed me. I used to be angry all the time. I raged at my work and the people I worked for and the circumstances I found myself in. But then I gave my anger to God, and began to police my thoughts. When I began to grumble or complain, I asked God “Take this from me. I don’t want to feel this way.” I began to push away the angry thoughts and to interrogate them. And soon, God worked His grace in me. I began to be more patient. Things that would set me off instantly, became mere annoyances. When God saved me from my sins, He didn’t say “Go back to the life you previously lived.” He says “Go and sin no more.” He encourages us to work in all we do as for Him and not for men. I believe that personal progress is only truly possible in God. Without Him, we’re struggling against ourselves and while there are good people who are not Christians, the sin nature remains in them. But with Christians, God compels us to be better and to let go of “the old man” who was born in sin. And He is willing to help us if we ask and are willing to be changed.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope they will say that I was a good friend. I hope they will say I worked had for the LORD and for others. My prayer is that those who I leave behind will speak of me that I was someone they could come to and reliably confide in. They I pray that they would see me as a hard worker who served God and others dutifully without complaining and with his full heart ands strength, even when the work was hard and constant. And with my stories, I hope that those who I reach shall say that I used my stories to bring inspiration and values of God to others. I hope that my stories leave behind people and tales that will encourage future generations to do good to their fellow man, to love God, and to pursue what is good.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noah361.wixsite.com/noahlynchauthor
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverhandpublishing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Silverhandpublishing/
Image Credits
I took these photos and the two drawings are mine. I drew them myself, that is my signature on them, and I give myself permission to share them.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
