Western New England University Associate Professor of English, Culture, Communication and the Arts Christy Crutchfield has once again earned national recognition for her fiction writing with the publication of her latest story, “A Faith Again,” in Electric Literature—an online literary magazine known for showcasing bold and thought-provoking work.
Crutchfield, who teaches many of WNE’s Creative Writing courses and directs The Writing Center, draws readers into a deeply emotional and mysterious narrative that explores belief, memory, and the tension between faith and familial love.
“A Faith Again began with a spark of curiosity,” Crutchfield shared. "I began imagining what a parent would do when confronted with something that challenged their entire belief system.”
The story follows a Christian father struggling to reconcile his worldview when his young son begins to speak with uncanny knowledge of another life. Crutchfield first sketched the premise years ago but stepped away from it, unsure of its direction. It wasn't until a recent writing residency in Vermont that she returned to the draft with fresh perspective and deeper insight.
“What’s so compelling about these real-life cases is the lack of proof—there’s just enough detail to provoke wonder and skepticism at the same time,” she explained. “That ambiguity became central to the story. Ultimately, it’s not just about faith in the supernatural, but about the fragile trust between a father and his son.”
Electric Literature editor Halimah Marcus agrees in her introduction to the story: “Crutchfield allows the reader to see what the father can’t: this is a test of fatherhood, not faith. The question isn’t whether he can accept God, but whether he can accept his boy, who he has been, and who he will become.”
Crutchfield is also the author of the novel How to Catch a Coyote. Her writing has been featured in Tin House, Massachusetts Review, Salt Hill Journal, and elsewhere. She is also the recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council fellowship in fiction.
“A Faith Again” is available to read at Electric Literature.
