I honestly, really, truly never thought I’d write another Christian book. I was happy just scribbling on this goofy little blog.
But: I have spent the past decade and a half of my life trying to help girls and women understand that the Church cherishes them and wants them to become saints. Every member of the church? Aaaaabsolutely not. But the Church itself, the one Jesus founded, the body of Christ—we believe women are smart, capable, interesting, holy beings. We believe they have gifts as different as the wildflowers. And we believe every single woman, if they become who they were meant to be, can set the world aflame1.
It’s a fictional series, inspired by the lives of some of our favorite female saints when they were 9-year-old girls.
These books are meant to entertain, to teach, and to disciple. But most importantly, they were a gift of love. They are, truly, from my heart to the hearts of your girls.
I wrote them in the spirit of American Girl meets The Chosen: historical novels based on real people, featuring things that very well could have happened and taking these saints from statues to real, lively, interesting girls.
I’m so grateful to Lorena Cerqueria for the stunning illustrations, as well as Amy Welborn for scribing the Saint Spotlights that will be in the back of each book. Each spotlight will help girls understand that while these stories are fictional, they’re about very real girls (and sometimes describing very real events! I can practically recite Story of a Soul at this point. 😉)
These books are true chapter books: early readers meant for girls ages 6-11. They have lovely illustrations but are not technically picture books2.
There is never an easy time to raise children. There’s certainly never an easy time to raise girls. The particular challenges of 2026 include everything from the manosphere to boneheaded attempts to revoke a woman’s right to vote to a secular culture that refuses to see them as anything but cogs in the workplace machine. It treats them as ropes in an endless game of tug of war: yanking them between a #girlboss who disdains anything labeled ~feminine~ and a perfect little tradwife who believes sports are, what did the Heritage Foundation recently say? Pushing girls away from traditional feminine graces? 🙄
We’re bowing out of the culture wars, and we’re taking our daughters with us, thank you very much. We’re focused on sainthood, not winning the latest hot take or political point. We have things to do.
The first book in each series (Therese book #1, Rose book #1, and Teresa book #1) ship the first week in October, but it would mean the absolute world to me if you would preorder them today. Christmas shopping in July, anyone? ;) Preordering via the links to the Ascension website ensures you get the books when they release and also helps Ascension get a sense of how many people will be wanting to read them.
And by the way? This is just the beginning. There is so much goodness in store for the Fiat Girls that I have to share over the coming months. I am bursting at the seams, but all things will come in God’s timing. Thank you for being on this ride with me.
The Fiat Girl books are an unqualified delight—faithful, engaging, rich in humanity, and beautifully written. Claire Swinarski has done a masterful job of making the saints come alive for young readers, and I am so grateful that my daughter will get to grow in friendship with Therese, Teresa, Rose, and other amazing women through these books. They are a gift to moms and daughters alike!
Fiat forever. ❤️
In Him Through Her,
Claire
PS: After turning down almost every Christian podcast/blog/magazine interview request the past few years, I’m dipping my toes slightly back into the media game to talk about Fiat Girls. Reach out if you’re interested in a collab: claire@thecatholicfeministpodcast.com.
Paraphrased Catherine of Siena
They would, however, make for great read alouds!
No posts
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.