Grand Marshall E. Pluribus Unum was bored. Bored and worried. He looked out through the picture window of his home overlooking the small country of Lilia and sighed. It had been five years since peace and independence had been declared. And not much had happened since then. Nothing but prosperity it seemed. Farmers had returned … More Short Story: “The Great Cantaloupe War”
In my bookcase of my office (which is currently in transit across campus) is a book that includes an essay by author Stephen Lawhead talking about J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer he says had the largest influence on him. In it he talks about when he learned the reality that who you are as a person–your … More Called To Be a Hero
Little do most readers know, that there are two ways they can pay the author for the story that they read. First, there is the obvious: pony up some shekels and pay the old fashioned way. But in this new age of social networks, authors depend more and more on word of mouth to sell … More Payback from Readers. Or Not.
This is graduation weekend, and this morning I sat on the stage, looking out on students I have been teaching (and trying to teach) for the past four years, as well as their parents. In addition, I am bumping into recent graduates who are here because younger siblings are finally getting their diplomas. Some are … More It’s Not About How Good You Are
Kingdom Come by Justin Coogle. Amazon Digital Services. 406 pages. This is the second book that I have read and reviewed as a result of a thread I joined on Goodreads directed at those who write Christian speculative fiction. While the first book was a bit of a disappointment, this one was a pleasant surprise. … More Review: “Kingdom Come” by Justin Coogle
Hiya Gang: I’ve been busy with the last few weeks of school, so that’s the most likely reason why you haven’t heard much from me. I teach my very last class of the school year in about an hour. Then finals are next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Grading tests shouldn’t be much of a problem; … More Final Exams, Moving and Decisions
Invasion (Tales of Mighty Men Book 1) by David Bergsland. 218 pages. For purposes of transparency, I need to state that I came upon this book when I was assigned it on Goodreads as part of a thread on Christian speculative fiction. The authors and readers there agreed to review each other’s books for the … More Review: “Invasion” by David Bergsland
Killing England: The Struggle for American Independence. Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard. Henry Holt Publishers. 340 pages. I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I picked up this book from our university library. I’m not a fan of Bill O’Reilly, although I am familiar with the “Killing” series. Bill O’Reilly is, of course, famous … More Review: “Killing England” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard
Al Franken: Giant of the Senate by Al Franken. TwelveBooks.com. 406 Pages. I teach one of my classes in a classroom in the university library. I also tutor students there. When things are quiet, I like to wander over to the New Books section of the library and peruse through what’s coming out, both for … More Review: “Al Franken: Giant of the Senate” by Al Franken
Cibola Burn (The Expanse: Book 4) by James S.A. Corey. Orbit Books. 611 pages. I’m always a little skeptical of an author’s ability to sustain a series through several books, and there have been several times I’ve fallen in love with the first book in a series, only to be disappointed later. This is not … More Review: “Cibola Burn” by James S.A. Corey
