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Meet Mouse Lover and Catholic Writer Maria DiFranco

Meet Mouse Lover and Catholic Writer Maria DiFranco

Last updated on: March 27, 2026 at 1:20 am by Mark Wilson

Meet Mouse Lover and Catholic Writer Maria DiFranco 2026-03-27T01:20:00-05:00 Mark Wilson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our next writer is just a great friendly ball of sunshine who just happens to love mice and writing Catholic fiction. She just radiates a decent person you would want to go out to lunch with and talk about books and writing and Catholic faith and various other interesting things like robots. And Mice. So, I would like you to…

Meet Catholic Author Maria DiFranco

1. Tell something interesting about yourself.

I like mice. Since second grade, they have been my favorite animal. I can’t really explain why, but I think it stems from a mouse stuffed animal I received at that age, and something about that little brown guy led me to realize how gosh darn cute they are. I’ve had six pet mice over the years, but after the sixth died, I swore off any more pets. I just got too sad when they died.

George Shuklin (talk) – Own work

2. What makes a good Catholic writer?

A good Catholic writer is anyone so invested in their faith that it seeps into everything they do, every word they write. I don’t think they need to actively try to evangelize or write explicitly Christian media. I myself write fantasy without a word about our God, but the worlds I create reflect Him. A good Catholic writer is someone who listens to the voice of God and writes down what he hears.

3. What do you like about being a Catholic/Christian Writer?

I enjoy sharing my faith, even subtly, or maybe especially subtly. If I wrote purely about Christianity, only Christians would read it. There’s nothing wrong with that. That, I believe, is very important, but it can’t be all. I take delight in knowing that, whether obvious or not, anyone who reads my work is slowly being brought to Christ, so long as I cooperate with Him. And I think that’s what I enjoy most about writing as a Catholic: I get to cooperate and co-create with God Himself!

4, What is the Main focus of your particular Writing or what do you like to write about?

I typically write fantasy and typically fantasy that involves dragons. As Number Three of five siblings, siblings usually make an appearance in my writing, as well. Often, I focus on themes of forgiveness and repentance, as well as hope. Romantic subplots are a lot of fun, too, so I’ll sprinkle those in anywhere I can.

5. How does your Catholic Faith influence your writing?

Gosh, how doesn’t my Catholic faith influence my writing? My stories always reflect some truth the Catholic Church proclaims, whether I set out to do that or not. When I was twelve and I decided I wanted to write for the rest of my life, I promised the Holy Spirit I would always consult with Him before writing, and He does a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Every story has AMDG stamped at its start, because at the heart of anything I do, I want to glorify the God who loves me enough to let me write.

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam -Pere López – Own work

6. What’s your favorite article/Post/book/story you have written?

Currently I only have one published book, The Prophesied, and as it is the first novel I have ever finished, it is one of my favorites. However, I don’t think it’s my favorite of all time, as I have many first drafts in the works I plan to get around to eventually. One of these I have titled The Princess in the Tower, and as you might have guessed, it’s a pretty stereotypical fairytale. But it was a blast to write, and I love the characters in it, not to mention the Christ-like hero, Frederic, and his Christ-like sacrifice to save the princess he loves.

7. What is your favorite topic/subject to write about?

I share a lot of my writings with my sister, and once she commented, “It’s always nice to get a story from Maria because I always know it’s going to be about another knight.” But I think I write about knights and dragons and heroes and princesses because they are the easiest way I can write about good versus evil, which I think is what all my stories come down to at their heart.

8. Favorite scripture verse.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -Matt. 5:16

9. What Are you currently working on?

Currently I am working on a YA fantasy – the sequel to my debut novel! The Prophesied, book one in A Man with a Wing, follows two brothers, Peter and Harold, who save a young dragon and are banished because of it. In book two, The Two Kings, they fulfill their exile in a country that is less than kind, and they take a stand against the unjust king of their new home. It is now in print. Amazon.com

10. Name a favorite saint or Catholic or some other figure who inspires you in your life.

It’s difficult for me to pick just one. I have so many heavenly friends, and they seem to help me out at different times. Right now, I’m feeling a lot of heavenly love from St. Carlo Acutis. His love for the Eucharist and the poor are things I hope to emulate more and more.

11. Who is your favorite Living Writer?

I teach first grade, so most of my favorites are children’s authors. Mac Barnett is a great picture book author, but my favorite novelist is probably Kate DiCamillo. I think her writing is beautiful, both technically and thematically. The Tale of Despereaux is one of my all-time favorites, and the messages it has to share – forgiveness, love, hope – are so important for children to hear. I’m so grateful to her for writing fun stories with good messages!

12. If you could have lunch with any deceased writer who would it be, what would you eat and what would you talk about?

I would choose to eat lunch with A. A. Milne, and hope that he would bring Christopher Robin along. We’d eat hot dogs, because somehow, I think Christopher Robin would like them, and all three of us would talk about the Hundred Acre Wood and the joys of Childhood Imagination. But if Christopher Robin was there, we wouldn’t call it that. We’d call it Real.

13. Name a favorite movie/tv show or music you find worth sharing with others.

Normally I am pretty firmly against live-action remakes of old classics, but the live-action Cinderella starring Lily James is an exception. Visually beautiful, fun, and true (because all fiction tales should be), it is one of my comfort films. Plus, Richard Madden isn’t too hard on the eyes, either.

14. Can you see one of your books being made into a movie or tv series?

I humbly think any of my books would make a great movie (but probably not TV series) as long as it is classically 2D animated. Animation is just so beautiful, and it fits the vibes of the stories I write so well.

15. Favorite Historical event.

The first lunar landing. How incredible is it that humans looked up at the stars, said, “I want to go there,” and then did? I envy that first man to look at Earth from afar.

This interview was published on March 27, 2026

1935 – Blessed Stanley Rother (March 27, 1935 – July 28, 1981) is born. was an American Catholic priest from Oklahoma who was murdered in Guatemala in 1981.

1953 – The Simple Things Starring Mickey Mouse and Pluto premiers in theaters.

2014 – Mother Angelica (April 20, 1923 – March 27, 2016) founder of EWTN dies.

16. What else do you want people to know about anything.

Did you know they made robots controlled by mushrooms? I have no idea what this means for the future of anything, but it’s pretty neat!

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