The story continues…If you missed the first part, look at the previous entry. Jonathan took the lead in their climb up the cliff in the dark. Ziba was in no hurry to get to the top and meet whatever awaited them there, but at the same time, he was having a hard time catching … More “Chosen: The Battle of Michmash, Part 2”
I rarely read romance novels, even ones with a fantasy twist, but I do have a weakness for Christian indie writers. I came across Ralph Smith and his book series, which starts with “Seal of the King” on Twitter. We struck up a conversation, and that led to my read and review. “Seal of the … More Review: “Seal of the King” by Ralph Smith
I suppose I should have expected the “Hallelujah Chorus” or some such stained glass music. Instead, I was awakened to the strains of my favorite song. I reached for the inevitable snooze button to shut off the horns and bass guitar of “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon, but then realized that I … More “Heaven 2.0”
I can still remember the day that I was introduced to Contemporary Christian Music. I was on a business trip and listening in my rental car to WMBI in Chicago. It was the late 80s, and I had never sung anything but traditional hymns and southern gospel songs in my church before that. On came … More Secret Ambition
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story by Donald Miller. Thomas Nelson, 2009. 257 pages. A couple of weeks ago, the University library asked me to put together a list of five books that I would recommend to students. One of those books was Blue Like Jazz … More Review: “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller
A few years ago, I can’t remember how many, I wrote a blog about visiting my daughter’s high school in east Texas, where I was the guest of their creative writing club. Seven girls and one boy grilled me about the harsh reality of being a freelance author. Finally, one of them asked me, “How … More Getting Paid
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” –Arthur C. Clarke With input from my fellow writers in the Rough Writers, our campus creative writing club, I have been talking about magic and science, fantasy and science fiction, and how one can and should relate to it. I have already expressed my bias against … More Does God Do Magic?
I am somewhat of an odd duck when it comes to my writing. I have positioned myself (with a lot of exceptions) as a Christian suspense writer who also writes science fiction. Here’s why: I am a born-again Christian who also loves science fiction. I believe each has something to teach the other. And I … More Magic, no. Supernatural, yes.
When I turned 30, it was a tough year. Somewhere along the line, I’d heard someone say, “If you’re not doing what you love by the time you’re 30, you’ll never do it.” Thirty meant that I had left my teen years and innocent 20s behind me, and had to become an adult. Thirty meant … More 60
I teach a class called Writing for Publication at my university, but for me, writing is writing. I never pass up the opportunity for my students to learn something new. Part of that is simply getting them to experience life–and to write–outside their comfort zone. And so this morning, I took my students to the … More Rest in Peace
The Great Adventure 