In my 21 years as a university professor, I’ve seen the same thing time and again. An exceptional student comes to college and is overwhelmed by all the extracurricular options available to him or her. I remember one particular journalism major. He was a Student Association officer, on the gymnastics team, on the elite choir, … More What are you willing to give up?
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. Little, Brown. 310 pages. This is not just a good book. This is an important book. One of the first things I realized in reading this book by Malcolm Gladwell is that his position is diametrically opposite from that of Dr. Ben Carson, who through his campaign … More Review: “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell
For those who don’t know much about me, I’m a novelist who makes a living as a university professor during daylight hours. I’ve been doing this (the professor part) for 19 years now, and before that I was an editor. I teach in the communication department of Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, and consider … More Storytelling 101: Why It’s All About Worldview
“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” –Ecclesiastes 1:9 Another school year has started–the 19th for me as a university professor (amazing!)–and I have classrooms full of students who are eager … More Old Wine in New Wineskins
Summer. Ah, yes, I remember it well. Seems like only yesterday. But hmm, well, summer’s gone, and school starts, well I guess it’s officially started. Classes start Monday and we welcomed freshmen to the campus last night. So just like all those good intentions I will have on my deathbed, whatever I planned for the … More Stranger Things Have Happened
After a dry spell of a couple of months, I finally got another review today on Amazon. Of course, the problem with reviews is that you can’t guarantee they will be good. The review was for my end time book, If Tomorrow Comes, and states simply, “The story would be interesting if it wasn’t basically … More Affirmation vs. Propaganda: Mythology in Storytelling
I’m spending my Sunday morning at school proctoring the Senior exit exam for four graduating senior communication majors in our university. More were supposed to be here, but either overslept, blew the exam off, or have already made arrangements to take the test later. It’s an essay exam in the traditional Blue Books, and I’m … More It’s Not What You Know That’s Important…
Back in 1998 I was hired to come to Texas and teach students how to be a book, newspaper and magazine editor and how to write books and magazine articles. I had 25 years experience in doing that very thing, and I figured that would be my claim to fame from that point on. But … More The Medium Isn’t the Message
“I hate writing, I love having written.” –Dorothy Parker It’s been crunch time for me, well, for probably most of the semester. For some odd reason the onslaught doesn’t seem to let up. And when real life responsibilities seem to get overwhelming, I start dreaming about writing. I long to be working on a novel, … More Being, Doing, or Having Done? What’s Your Writing Motivation?
This is for those who showed interest in “Tesla’s Ghost.” Here’s the next part to the story. Enjoy. A pack of wild dogs skittered across the wild landscape, the wreckage surrounding them reminiscent of a not-too-distant past when man had reigned supreme on the Earth. Broken and rusted cars lined a dusty street with … More “Letters from the Dead”
The Great Adventure 