Donovan Neal has devoted several decades to the ministry, community service and dealing with life’s gritty problems, ranging from hunger and child abuse to homeless women and adults with disabilities.

But in his off-hours, the Commerce Township author and retired minister shifts to writing about fantastical worlds and — in his words — “cosmic conflict between good and evil.”

The result: 15 books, including fiction, nonfiction and graphic novels. Storylines have featured angelic mythology, Christian themes and larger-than-life characters.

Throughout, the works pull from Neal’s faith-based, if eclectic, experience and interests. His unique resume includes some 20 years as a minister and Bible teacher, a graduate degree in management and a passion for the Gospel, video games, chess and backgammon.

“Most of my life has been a labor of love and helping people in disempowered populations,” said Neal, 58, a 1985 graduate of Livonia Churchill High School and graduate of the University of Michigan and Walden University.

That commitment included leadership roles with an assortment of community services. Among those are the Judson Center in Royal Oak, Hospitality House near Commerce Township and the TEA program (Teach, Empower, Achieve) for metropolitan Detroit.

Neal traces his love of writing to his days at Churchill High, where he scored an “A” in a creative writing class.

“That’s where it started,” he said, “but it was into the ‘90s before I started writing again.”

Once reignited, his affection for writing burned brightly.

Among his nonfiction results was “The Gospel Explained,” intended to guide new converts to a deeper understanding of their commitment to Christ.

Along the way, he has written some 50 songs of praise and worship.

Neal’s most recent fiction — “Hutari: Scion of Prophet and Crown Book 1” — is intended as the first in a series. In it, Neal spins a richly imagined tale about a prince with supernatural abilities confronted by “kingdoms, elemental powers and apocalyptic stakes.”

From exile, the prince must decide whether to unleash his powers and risk destruction of all around him.

“I wanted to create a story that explores the weight of responsibility, the cost of power and the courage it takes to confront destiny,” Neal said.

The book, he said, is targeted at readers who savor epic fantasies such as those by J.R.R. Tolkien in “The Lord of the Rings.”

The idea for “Hutari” came to Neal in 2012, but “it took me this long” to complete the effort this year.

Ideas, he said, came in a variety of ways. It pays, he said, to remain curious and open to surroundings that can provide content and color for yet another story.

For that, he said, he often jots down observations for potential use. A recent example, Neal said, came on a trip to the Detroit Zoo, where he was intrigued by the colorful activity in the Butterfly Garden.

“I wrote some notes,” he said, with the intent of using the scene in a future book. “I’ll pull that out later.”

Ultimately, he said, his goal is to reach people through fiction.

“It’s a labor of love,” he said.

“Hutari: Scion of Prophet and Crown Book 1” is 348 pages and is available through Amazon for $14.99.