As I write this, a full year has passed since my wife Angela entered into victory. First, I want to thank all of you who reached out with cards, texts, emails, calls, and prayers. I appreciate your concern and encouragement. Some of you asked if I did anything special to commemorate the day. In a… Continue reading The One Year Mark
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Writing Minor Characters: Bar-Abbas
I’m excited to share that my first novel, Coin and Dagger, is now available in audiobook format. Chris brought the characters to life with voices that expertly interpret and portray their unique personalities. Not only did Jesus, Matthew, and Simon receive such careful treatment, but so did the supporting cast. In prior entries, we examined… Continue reading Writing Minor Characters: Bar-Abbas
My Favorite Books of 2024
Hello friends! With the end of the year approaching, I decided to do something a little different and highlight some of my favorite new releases from the past year. According to Goodreads, I read about 15,000 pages across 58 different books in 2024. For today’s purposes, I’ll focus only on new releases. Books that were… Continue reading My Favorite Books of 2024
Wrestling With God
For the second time this year, I’ve gone more than a month without posting a new blog entry. I’d like to tell you that my silence is because I’ve been busy finishing my next book. That is partly true. I’ve exceeded my original 40,000-word target. I’ve even added its projected release to the book page… Continue reading Wrestling With God
The One About the Daisy
We all like a good origin story, right? We see a new superhero or villain in a movie and we want to know where that person came from. Where did the hero get his powers? What precipitated the villain’s descent into malevolence? Filmmakers know we have these questions, so they make a point of giving… Continue reading The One About the Daisy
Laying Track
It has been over a month since I began drafting my next book. As of this moment, the draft sits at just over 15,000 words. I expect the finished result to end up somewhere around 40,000 words. I’m happy with my progress, but I still have a way to go. Today, I want to share… Continue reading Laying Track
Drafting Season
I realize it has been over a month since my last update, and I apologize for the delay (and I thank you for even noticing). But I am happy to tell you that there is a good reason for the delay: I recently began drafting my next book. Even though I am early in the… Continue reading Drafting Season
Writing Minor Characters: John Mark
Earlier this year, I started a series highlighting the prominent minor characters in my novel, Coin and Dagger. First, we caught up with Bartimaeus, the blind beggar from Jericho. In this installment, we’ll get to know John Mark as we examine his place in scripture, unpack the rich traditions about him, and explore his role… Continue reading Writing Minor Characters: John Mark
God Sustains Us in All Seasons
As I write, it is the final week of the school year, the temperatures are rising, and the birds are filling my backyard with music. We must be entering the summer season. What I like most about this season is that it is easier to get away from my desk and set up in my… Continue reading God Sustains Us in All Seasons
The Presence of God
As I write, it is mid-morning, and already I have accomplished quite a bit. I’ve dusted, enjoyed a short workout, swept the kitchen floor, put away the clean dishes, and removed some junk from the basement. It must be drafting day. If you laughed at the previous line … you might be a writer. We… Continue reading The Presence of God