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YouTube Christian Hurst on Writing Science Fiction That Matters | 1,587
Christian Hurst writes science fiction for people searching for where they belong.
An author and creative director, Christian blends sweeping interstellar adventure with deeply human questions about identity, belief, connection, and purpose. His stories are shaped by a life spent navigating what it means to feel different, first growing up in the LDS church, and later forging his own path beyond it.
Before becoming a novelist, Christian built a successful career in design, branding, and creative leadership, helping shape national campaigns and leading major rebranding efforts for organizations including Marriott International and AARP. That background gives his storytelling a cinematic quality, combining compelling visuals with emotional depth and relatable characters.
He is best known for The Lily Starling Series, a young adult science fiction saga that explores the universal desire to find meaning, community, and hope, even in the vastness of space.
At the heart of Christian's work is a simple idea: the greatest journeys are not measured by how far we travel, but by what we discover about ourselves along the way.
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Key Takeaways
- Writing science fiction serves as a powerful vehicle for exploring universal human experiences like identity, belonging, and the search for purpose.
- Christian Hurst highlights how his professional background in design and branding allows him to infuse his storytelling with cinematic visuals and emotional depth.
- The journey of a protagonist in science fiction is often a reflection of the internal discovery process we undergo in our own lives.
- Science fiction is not just about interstellar adventure; it is a profound medium for questioning belief systems and exploring the threads that connect us all.
- Hurst’s creative process emphasizes that the most impactful stories are those that help readers understand who they are.
Christian Hurst writes science fiction for people searching for where they belong.
An author and creative director, Christian blends sweeping interstellar adventure with deeply human questions about identity, belief, connection, and purpose. His stories are shaped by a life spent navigating what it means to feel different, first growing up in the LDS church, and later forging his own path beyond it.
Before becoming a novelist, Christian built a successful career in design, branding, and creative leadership, helping shape national campaigns and leading major rebranding efforts for organizations including Marriott International and AARP. That background gives his storytelling a cinematic quality, combining compelling visuals with emotional depth and relatable characters.
He is best known for The Lily Starling Series, a young adult science fiction saga that explores the universal desire to find meaning, community, and hope, even in the vastness of space.
At the heart of Christian's work is a simple idea: the greatest journeys are not measured by how far we travel, but by what we discover about ourselves along the way.
Today’s guest: www.churstpublishing.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the importance of writing science fiction that matters?
Writing science fiction that matters allows authors to explore deep, human questions about identity and existence within the imaginative framework of interstellar adventures.
Who is Christian Hurst?
Christian Hurst is an author and creative director best known for The Lily Starling Series, which blends complex emotional narratives with science fiction.
How does branding experience influence science fiction storytelling?
Professional experience in branding and design helps authors develop a cinematic quality in their writing, focusing on strong visuals and character-driven narratives that resonate with readers.
Christian Hurst is an American author and creative director whose work blends epic science fiction adventure with emotional depth and human insight. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and raised in the LDS church, he often speaks about growing up feeling like an outsider—an experience that shaped the empathy and curiosity at the heart of his storytelling. After leaving the church as a young adult, he now identifies as a humanist and atheist, drawing on that journey to explore themes of belief, connection, and self-discovery in his work.
Hurst began his creative career as a teenage graphic design intern for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and later studied Graphic Design at Harrisburg Area Community College. Over the next fifteen years, he built a career in advertising and brand strategy, leading national rebranding initiatives for companies such as Marriott International before becoming an Executive Creative Director at AARP. His dual experience in art and storytelling informs the cinematic, emotionally grounded quality of his fiction.
A lifelong fan of science fiction, Hurst is best known for The Lily Starling Series, a young adult saga that explores identity, belonging, and the search for hope across the stars. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, their son, and three dogs.