By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

Arnita C. Wright always knew she wanted to write.

The Hays native returned home this weekend, and celebrated the realization of this dream -- and the release of her second novel -- with two book signings.

"I've always loved to write," she said. "I was avid reader ... you've got to learn from the best, you've got to learn from the greats."

Wright's latest release, "The Stone," is a fantasy novel with an underlying Christian theme.

Wright said she loves similar works like the "Chronicles of Narnia" and "Lord of the Rings," and hopes her planned trilogy also will appeal to a broad audience.

"Anybody could pick it up and not even realize that it's Christian, but it has the underlying stuff like 'Narnia' did, where it has underlying faith values," Wright said.

Wright, who resides in Topeka with her husband, Jeff, and their two children, Zoie and Brianna, was in town this weekend for the book's first signing.

She was at The Rock Good Book Store from 1 to 3, and at Hasting's from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

"God is using these people in big and mighty ways, bigger than I even know, in this area, so we just want to facilitate that," said Jackie Wehrli, owner of The Rock Good Book Store. "I hope that a lot of people recognize this is a very unique genre of book.

"Having it come from here is really cool."

And this was only the beginning -- the family likely will become busy as she continues to travel the state and market the June release, available online and at local bookstores.

"The Stone" will be the first in a trilogy about a mysterious land called Varveria, where a young teenager is locked in a battle between good and evil, she said.

Wright already has begun planning for the next of the series, which likely will be dubbed "The Rise of Mora."

"I think the Christian book media needs more fantasy novels that are faith-based," she said.

Wright's previous novel, "The Journey," was released in 2005. This piece is more of a supernatural thriller than a fantasy piece, and is more targeted toward a Christian audience, she said.

The book also was inspired by Wright's autobiography -- her real-life experience is narrated throughout the fiction piece.

"I had real yearning to write that story, and I felt like God was wanting me to write my story, but write it in a different manner that would speak to more people," she said.

Wright also has been featured in short-story compilations, such as "Life Savors for Women" and A brothers and sisters edition of "Chicken Soup for the Soul."

Wright will return to Hays in November for another event at the Hays Public Library.