This was a busy weekend. Last night I played Santa. I mean, literal Santa, with the white beard, extra padding and red suit. I was Santa at our University Christmas party. I was nervous beforehand, but it ended up being loads of fun. Some of the kids got up in my lap, no problem. Some … More Turning the Page
In case you haven’t been keeping up with my latest news, I had a book come out December 1. It’s called The Key of Solomon, and I think it’s pretty good. But one of the harsh realities I’ve learned in writing books is that you can’t just write books and expect the public to beat … More Signing Books Is Tiring Work
We’re in Dead Week, the last week of classes at Southwestern Adventist University, before final exams begin next Monday. It’s been a light semester for me, and I have taken advantage of it to launch one book and work on the eventual launch of another in March. In addition, next semester looks to be a … More Dead Week
I used to tell my students, “The difference between a professional and an amateur is that a professional gets paid.” Well, yes and no. But it’s not that simple. To explain myself, let me tell you about my fence. When we moved to Texas in 1998, we had a fence on one side of our … More The Professional versus The Amateur
Do you know what “awe” is? I mean, well beyond a dictionary definition of the word. Have you ever been awed? I have had times in my life when awe has overcome me, and they are moments I will always remember. Such as walking into St. Stephan’s Cathedral in Vienna with the pipe organ playing, … More Are You Awesome?
I just crossed a milestone, of sorts, this morning. I posted my ten thousandth Tweet on Twitter. This isn’t a blog to congratulate myself. Instead, it’s a moment to take stock of what all that means. Statistically, I joined Twitter in November 2008. Since that time I have attracted 26,300 followers and added 111 photos … More Ten Thousand Tweets
I have a confession to make. It’s been bothering me a long time, in fact my whole life. The reality is, I don’t tie my shoes the way everyone else does. It started off innocently enough. When I was little, my father taught me how to tie my shoes the “right” way, and I did … More The Truth About Tying Your Shoes
For those who haven’t been keeping up with my life, we are dealing with an aging cat that has congestive heart failure. After the sadness goes away, comes the medication, and the reality: how do we get pills and nasty liquid medicine down a stubborn tomcat’s mouth twice a day? The videos on YouTube make … More Tuna, Texas
I have to tell you about Booker. He’s my cat. He didn’t start off being my cat. My daughter Melissa rescued him 13 years ago on the street when he was just a scrawny worm-ridden kitten. She almost ran over him and immediately fell in love with him. She brought him home, and he immediately … More A Writer’s Cat
My wife says that I’m a very productive person. But I know the truth. I’m just as much a procrastinator as everyone else. Take, for example, my latest project. It’s been on the drawing board for at least two years, if not more. We live in Texas, which means the ground moves, and our foundation … More Getting Things Done
The Great Adventure 