Gale Sears’ path to becoming an acclaimed LDS historical fiction author began with writing screenplays. She earned a bachelor’s degree in playwriting from BYU and a master’s degree in theater from the University of Minnesota. For decades, Gale’s creative life revolved around the stage—acting, directing, and crafting stories for live audiences.
“I didn’t start writing novels until I was almost 50,” she shares, yet storytelling had always been part of her nature. “When I was about seven or eight years old, just after I’d learned about words, we had a little shed out in our backyard in Lake Tahoe, where I grew up. It was a magical place. I’d go out there with paper and pencil and write stories.”
Exploring Different Genres
The transition from playwriting to novel writing came naturally. “I had a story in my head that I thought would be a very cool play, but it was kind of epic, and it didn’t fit the genre,” Gale explains. “So, I started jotting down thoughts and a skeletal outline of chapters for a book, which I’d never thought of before because my mind always thought in terms of plays. I had to learn a different writing process because plays are composed of dialogue, but novels must include descriptions of place and setting.”
That story became Autumn Sky, the first book in a trilogy published by Covenant Communications.
Writing as a Divine Calling
For Gale, writing is a sacred practice, centered on divine guidance. “I pray constantly. I have no ego when I’m writing my books. I believe that EGO stands for Edging God Out, and I’m not ever going to do that. When I dedicate my work and consecrate it to His purposes, I must include Him in the process.”
The Spirit guides Gale throughout her process. “It’s as if I’m walking along and all of a sudden, I stumble, and something makes me pause. I stop and say, ‘Okay, something’s wrong here. Either I’m pushing it too much, or I’m not telling the right story, or I’m not going in the right direction.’ That’s how I know.”
The Power of Research
This spiritual foundation shapes every aspect of Gale’s work, especially her research approach. She is tenacious about accuracy. “If you’re going to write historical fiction, it needs to be true to the history,” she emphasizes.
For The Silence of God, which explores communism and Christianity in revolutionary Russia, she immersed herself in Russian history and communist theory. “I wanted to tell the story of what a society looks like when they rip God out of their lives,” she explains. She thought she’d have to create a fictional Orthodox Christian family—until she experienced what she calls a “God wink.”
“I thought to myself, I’m never going to find an LDS Russian family back in that time,” she recalls. “Well, I was at the Church History Library and found this article about the Lindelof family—the one and only LDS family in Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution.” This moment of divine serendipity became central to the novel.
For Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, set in China under Mao Tse-Tung, she studied Chinese culture and government systems. The book juxtaposes Mao’s communist regime with the gospel as experienced by early Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong.
Belonging to Heaven draws from George Q. Cannon’s actual journal entries about his mission to Hawaii, exploring his relationship with Jonathan Napela, one of the first Hawaiian converts to the Church.
Her novella, Brilliant, required research into autism, Indian culture, mathematics, and Eastern philosophy to authentically portray its protagonist—a young autistic college professor from India. Gale met with Indian families and individuals who understand autism and reviewed autobiographies to ensure accuracy.
But Gale doesn’t just rely on books. She travels to the locations she writes about—Italy, Russia, Hawaii—with her husband, George, acting as photographer and videographer. She interviews people from the cultures she depicts and visits ethnic markets.
“I’ll go up to people and say, ‘Do you have a minute? Can we talk about Indian food?’ or whatever I need to learn,” Gale explains. “Most of the time, people are gracious and thrilled to help.”
“It’s so important in historical fiction that readers feel as though they’re there,” she says. Whether it’s the food her characters eat, the clothes they wear, or the streets they walk, Gale ensures every sensory detail rings true. Each book ends with an extensive bibliography and notes explaining the historical context. “I stick to the facts as much as possible, but if I need to deviate because of the story, I let readers know.”
Blending Faith and Story
When depicting conversations about faith, Gale uses a subtle touch. “I want to tell the story of God’s Saints in a way that all my readers can appreciate, and weave in Christ’s teachings without beating people over the head with the gospel.”
For example, in The Silence of God, the LDS character Agnes discusses the law of consecration with her Bolshevik friend, Natasha, while chopping cabbage for borscht. The exchange feels natural rather than preachy. “You can push doctrinal discussions too far to where readers feel like they’re in a Sunday school room, or you can just put a little flavor of it,” Gale explains. “You have to honor your readers and trust that they’re smart enough to interpret the story through their own lens.”
This approach has connected with readers beyond the LDS community. “I have a lot of readers who are not LDS who appreciate the structure of the story and how I involve Christ in it,” she says. Universal themes of faith, courage, sacrifice, and family resonate across religious boundaries.
Writing Process and Craft
Despite her theatrical background’s emphasis on structure, Gale describes herself as “pretty much a pantser.” However, she acknowledges the value of structure, particularly in historical fiction, where “the journey has to go through certain historical processes.”
“Normally, I start with a character,” she explains. “Then I ask, ‘What is this character’s journey?’ With historical fiction, that journey is kind of mapped out for me.”
Character development comes through revelatory moments. In Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, the protagonist, Chen Wen-Shan, receives a box from her grandfather containing paintings and letters. This catalyst unfolds her family’s story under Mao’s regime.
Advice for Aspiring Writers
For young LDS creators and writers, Gale offers perspective gained from her unique journey:
- Don’t worry about starting late or about success, fame, or money. Just stay true to the story you’re called to tell.
- Focus on impact, not numbers. If your book only touches 10 people, that’s wonderful. If it only touches your family and they love it, that’s wonderful too. Remember, it’s a success just to get your story down on paper…Well done, you!
- Remember the importance of the individual reader’s testimony. You’re planting a gospel seed, and you may not see it grow, but someday the Lord will use it. Eternity is long.
- Write stories that inspire. For example, if you’re writing fantasy, you can still include the quest for good against evil. Your character’s struggles and triumph can encourage and lift a young person who’s questioning their abilities and whether life is worth the effort.
- Consecrate your work. “When I dedicate my books to the Lord, I say, ‘Lord, take this little offering that I’m making and do with it what you want.’ I might not have a huge readership, but that’s not my path, and I don’t really mind.”
A Legacy of Faith
Gale’s work now extends beyond novels. Her children’s book, Christmas for a Dollar, based on her father’s experiences during the Great Depression after losing his mother and contracting polio, has been adapted into a Christmas movie.
No matter what form her writing takes, Gale ensures it is an act of discipleship. She reminds fellow writers that life is a tapestry, and we’re only seeing the back side. In seasons of trial, the threads look tangled. But eventually, God will turn that tapestry around, and we will see His divine design. Until then, authors can help readers through difficult times by writing good stories that show them there is light ahead.
“These stories, these people’s lives—what a blessing it is for me to be able to share them,” Gale reflects. “And hopefully, prayerfully, the stories will resonate with someone and help them and strengthen them. That’s what I want.”
Kami Pehrson
