Okay, I’ll admit it. I have stress dreams. For many years, my stress dream was the same as everyone else’s. The typical one of showing up in a public place, usually in class, or at work, or at church, in my underwear or with even less on. And what’s interesting is that that dream is … More Stress Dreams
This is the second semester of my 21st year of teaching college level students. And believe it or not, after teaching 42 semesters of classes, I still get nervous when I think about my classes. Do I know what I am talking about? Am I prepared? Will the students see through the facade I put … More What, Me Worry?
Last night was the long-awaited season premiere for The Walking Dead that answered the question: Who was Negan going to kill? I won’t include any spoilers here, because I know there are probably some readers out there who haven’t seen the episode yet, and I hate it when that happens to me. But on top … More It’s the Kobayashi Maru All Over Again
“Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” -Yogi Berra Football season is almost upon us, and I am fondly watching my own Oakland Raiders getting into training camp and getting ready for their first official game in September. This, I hope, will be the year that Oakland returns to the playoffs … More Bringing Back the Swagger
“Why did God make us all so different if he wanted us all to be the same?” — Mary, Saved One of the things the students in my Editorial Techniques class learn is that when you’re an editor–and a serious writer, for that matter–you never stop looking for story ideas. And so it was that … More Diversity vs. Control: The Great Conflict
Three years ago I wrote a blog entitled, “Is There Such a Thing as Christian Horror?” The premise was that some Christians believe they should not read, discuss or know of anything negative or horrible in the world because of Philippians 4: 8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is … More More Thoughts on Christian Horror
A while back, I shared with you just one scene from my current project with Celeste Perrino-Walker entitled Salome’s Charger, due to come out this summer. I describe it as Indiana Jones meets the Maltese Falcon. Here’s a scene where the two villains finally meet, face to face. There’s a first time for everything. Of … More Teaser #2: Salome’s Charger
If you’re like me and have been writing for a long time, chances are you think you have a pretty good handle on how to write. Your writing has fallen into a predictable pattern, something we tend to call a writer’s “voice.” But I believe that someone who is serious about writing will never stop … More Changing My Voice
I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m making good time. Actually, I know where I am going. Sort of. I have my story mapped out, I am starting chapter 15 out of 19 or 20 (still debating that one). The story is coming along. The problem comes when you compare fiction with reality. This … More Taking the Good with the Bad
My students today are always surprised when they discover that I used to be a singer, actually a pretty good singer. All through college and the first 15 years of my career, I sang solos, in duets and trios, and in larger groups. I also wrote music for quite a while. I chose my college … More The Bravest Thing I Ever Did
The Great Adventure 