Author of Inspirational Fantasy... with horses
Meet the Author
I don't like seeing my face on the internet, so I settled on creating this logo.
NO AI involved!
Official Bio (Short Version)
Lavay Byrd is an independent author of inspirational fantasy, including her "radically equine" children's adventure series "Light Horse Dark Horse", and her YA series "The Aethon Chronicles". Born and raised in Germany, she has been writing stories for as long as she can remember, influenced by her lifelong love for horses. From a 9th-grade English extra-credit project inspired by a Christian equine allegory, Lavay composed her debut book, The Miraculous Birth, the first book of "Light Horse Dark Horse," at the tender age of 14. In 2013, a NaNoWriMo project of more than 50K words led her to the unexpected creation of "The Aethon Chronicles".
Today, she lives in Georgia with her family, exploring fictional worlds, working her dream job at a library, taking up painting, and holding on to her lifelong dream of owning her own horse.
Learn More Here!
How I came to write (Long Version)
I was born and raised in Germany in 1991, the eldest of four siblings, until my family moved back to the United States in 2008. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved horses—but I believe my greatest passion is writing stories.
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When I was little, I would retell some of my favorite Bible stories through illustrations and share them with my family and younger children. As I grew older, my God-given gift for storytelling blossomed as I began writing my own stories—often featuring horses or “horse-like” characters that galloped through my imagination.
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In 2010, a 9th-grade English extra-credit project led to the creation of my first published book, The Miraculous Birth—the first in my children’s fantasy series, Light Horse Dark Horse. And I’ve been writing ever since.
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When I’m not writing, I work at my dream job as a library assistant. I also enjoy western horseback riding, chocolate, walks in nature, cowgirl boots, dressing up as an elf maiden, movies, and, of course, reading fantasy fiction. I’m still holding on to my lifelong dream that God will one day bless me with my very own horse.
What does "Inspirational Fantasy" mean?
Someone once asked me this question when I told them I write inspirational fantasy. To put it simply:
I write stories that inspire.
No, my books aren’t “fluffy” or what you might consider “squeaky clean.” Most of them portray real hardships—from battles to inner struggles. Some of my future books for older audiences may even include a few darker elements.
On the other hand, my stories often feature romantic subplots with a few sweet, loving kissing scenes.
But you’ll never find any R-rated content (such as sex scenes, foul language, or extreme gore). I don’t enjoy those elements in books—or even in movies—so I choose not to include them just for the sake of “entertainment.”
What you will find in my books are adventures—stories that focus on hope and light in the midst of darkness, with characters who are flawed yet striving toward something greater. Whether it’s epic fantasy full of heroic journeys and battles of good versus evil, or gentle, quiet tales that whisper to the soul, my stories aim to inspire hope… and to point to the One Who Was, Who Is, and Who Is to Come.
Books that inspired me
Ever since I began my journey as an indie author, fantasy has held a special place in my heart. In its purest form, this genre (like sci-fi) allows the imagination to soar beyond what’s “normal”—to explore new worlds, meet different races and characters, and be inspired.
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Of course, like any other genre, fantasy can have its “extremely dark” elements (such as excessive coarse language, glorified violence, dark sorcery or witchcraft, or overtly sexual content)—often added merely for the sake of empty entertainment.
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But there’s always hope. There are fantasy books that truly spark imagination, inspire wonder, and amplify light. It was these kinds of stories that ignited my own writing journey.
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Because it’s so hard to pick just one, I’ll share a few of my top favorites! Click on a cover to learn more!
