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Meet Catholic Supernatural Thriller Writer R. E. Chard

Meet Catholic Supernatural Thriller Writer R. E. Chard

Last updated on: June 16, 2026 at 8:20 am by Mark Wilson

Meet Catholic Supernatural Thriller Writer R. E. Chard 2026-06-16T08:20:11-05:00 Mark Wilson

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R.E. Chard is an author who follows in the footsteps of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in crafting and creating a world in which he is greatly immersed in shaping as the chief architect. He is very interested in developing his plot and characters and fleshing them out and making the story come to life in the words that will bring readers into his story via their imagination. His life experience has helped to lay the foundations of his work and his struggles with ADHD only help his writing further. If you’re going to write you should love the creation you are making so that others will also. The fact that his Catholic faith is the underlying background of his world helps to ground it in a spiritual reality that will resonate with the reader. So, let’s get to know the creator of this literary world as you…

Meet the Catholic Supernatural Thriller Writer R. E. Chard

1. Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I have lived in eight states and two countries, and have visited many others, all of which has deeply fueled and informed my writing. I also have ADHD which, believe it or not, actually helps my writing process as well.

2. What makes a good Catholic writer?

I think it’s what I call the “cradle Catholic encoding.” That upbringing gives me a strong, foundational sense of the works of mercy, which serve as the bedrock of my writing. It’s a quality that shines through in the work of legendary Catholic writers like Flannery O’Connor, Graham Greene, and J.R.R. Tolkien. It is a distinct worldview that pervades and naturally informs the entire narrative.

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

I love that my books can speak to people about deep ethics and core morals without ever feeling preachy.

4. What is the main focus of your writing, or what do you most like to write about?

My main focus is the Ryker Universe. Right now, there is one published volume, with two more volumes coming out in the next few months. Overall, I have nine main stories planned, alongside several novella-length books that constitute what I call “The Reliquary.” These shorter works allow me to explore other peripheral characters and dive deeper into the history of the universe.

Book Description: Enter the world of The Chronicles of Chad Ryker: Supernatural Justice – an acclaimed supernatural mystery series where suspense, psychological depth, and Jesuit mysticism collide. Praised by The US Review of Books for its vivid, suspenseful storytelling and Chad Ryker’s compelling psychological journey, the series draws readers into a world of hidden evil, spiritual conflict, and unforgettable mystery. Nominated for the 2026 Eric Hoffer Award, this gripping saga is perfect for readers who love atmospheric fiction, supernatural suspense, and stories where faith and darkness meet. @ Amazon.com.

5. How does your Catholic faith influence your writing?

On a practical level, it influences the tone; my books are all “PG,” so to speak. But in a broader, more thematic sense, I use the faith to explore two core concepts. First, it allows me to examine the idea of light and darkness locked in a seemingly perpetual battle. Second, I use the hyper-awareness and visions experienced by Chad and other characters as a metaphor for neurodivergence.

In Catholicism, we are taught the concept of discernment—we don’t just hear a voice or see a vision and blindly assume God is talking to us; we have to test it. With ADHD, for example, your brain throws a massive influx of ideas at you, but not all of them are good. It’s the voice that says, “Hey, before you finish Book 1, go ahead and write Book 9 so you know where you’re going with this story!” Discernment is the process of sorting through those impulses and deciding what to act on, which is why it serves as such a perfect metaphor.

6. What’s your favorite article, post, book, or story you have written?

My favorite story is actually something that won’t be published for quite a while. It centers on Chad’s younger brother, Joachim (“Jo”). I seriously cannot wait until the sequential stories leading up to it are published so I can finally share that specific piece with the world.

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

I love writing about relationships and human behavior. I view “relationships” through a very broad lens: the connections between people, the bonds between people and places, and even the relationship individuals have with their own beliefs.

8. What is your favorite scripture verse?

Matthew 5:15 (“Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”)

Candles | Sturla Þengilsson | Flickr

9. What are you currently working on?

I am currently putting the finishing touches on volumes two and three of the Ryker series: Haunting of the Hallowed Halls and Cursed Bloodlines. Those two books finish out the first trilogy and really set the foundation for the whole “Ryker Universe.”

10. Name a favorite saint, or another historical/Catholic figure, who inspires you.

In terms of recent history, Pope Leo and Pope Francis before him really inspire me. When it comes to saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, is my patron saint and a constant inspiration.

11. Who is your favorite living writer?

John Irving. I love how his characters seem so profoundly real and alive; his work feels like he is writing about the inner lives of people you might actually know in real life.

I think Anne Tyler does this incredibly well, too.

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

It would have to be J.D. Salinger. I’d love to grab a casual meal and ask him if he ever wrote unreleased stories focusing on the peripheral characters in his books. I’d also love to get some deeper insight into Holden Caulfield or Seymour Glass that only he knows about, the secrets he took with him.

13. Name a favorite movie, TV show, or album you find worth sharing with others.

For a television show, Star Trek: The Next Generation. I absolutely love the way its episodic and overarching stories are integrated, and I try to emulate that structural balance in my books.

For a movie, the original Point Break. On the surface, people dismiss it as a simple “surfer story,” but at its core, it’s really a brilliant study of relationships, human behavior, and how those dynamics define a person’s entire experience.

14. Can you see one of your books being made into a movie or TV series? Who would you want to star or direct?

Yes, absolutely, specifically the book about Chad’s younger brother, Jo, that I mentioned earlier. I have actually already written a screenplay adaptation for it. Because of the specific arc and nature of the character, it would definitely require an unknown actor to play the lead.

15. What is your favorite historical event?

I would have to say my mom and dad’s wedding day. Because without that event, I wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t have my awesome sister!

This interview was published on June 16, 2026

The day these events took place

1846 – The Papal conclave of 1846 elects Pope Pius IX, beginning the longest reign in the history of the papacy.

1858 – Abraham Lincoln delivers his House Divided speech in Springfield, Illinois.

1904 – Irish author James Joyce begins a relationship with Nora Barnacle and subsequently uses the date to set the actions for his novel Ulysses; this date is now traditionally called “Bloomsday“.

1960 –Psycho Opens in New York

2002 – Padre Pio is canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

2016 – Shanghai Disneyland Park, the first Disney Park in mainland China, opens to the public.

16. What else do you want people to know about your work?

Ultimately, my books are about people, their relationships, and how they interact and react to the extraordinary things that happen to them. All of those human dynamics unfold within the context of a Catholic school that is steeped in mystery and possesses a very “interesting” past.

Finally, to any other authors who are struggling to get their work out there, I have a story for you. I was turned down by literally 15 agents and two major publishers—including one that specifically focuses on Catholic literature. I was ready to give up, but my sister told me to keep going. She said, “It’s good, and you know it’s good.” She reminded me that Tom Clancy originally had to self-publish The Hunt for Red October, and we all know how that story turned out.

So, I took her advice and kept going. A year later, my debut novel was recommended by the US Review of Books and nominated for an Eric Hoffer Award. So, just remember: trust your instincts, believe in your work, and keep going.

Learn More
Amazon.com: R. E. Chard: books, biography, latest update
R E Chard (Author of The CHRONICLES of CHAD RYKER) | Goodreads

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