*Caveat–I wrote a few months ago much kinder words about Donald Trump than you’ll find here. That was in order to speak to a much different point. Today I wanted to write how I genuinely feel about the 2016 American presidential election. I try to be light on my blatant patriotism, but the fact is, I love this country. Sure, its history has been mired at times by terrible and unjust acts. And yes, its current political culture appears to be in a bipolar tailspin from which th

When someone wrongs us or frustrates us in some way, our reaction says a lot about who we are. It’s not like we’re forbidden from being upset or bothered, but there is in general a socially acceptable level to which we can lash out or be unkind to others when they are in the fault. Yet, we ought to be wary of how we react to such things. I was thinking about this recently as I read over the nativity story: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as his mother Ma

It is crazy to think that just a year ago, I was publishing my first novel, Crystal Palace. A lot happened in 2015 with Thirteen Crossroads Publishing. I learned a lot, and I am very proud of all that I was able to accomplish. To sum it up, here is a list of what I was able to get out to you. Crystal Palace: The Coming Storm – this story of a princess searching for a king and a kingdom under the shadow of treachery and war began it all. The Mines – a group of college students

Beyond Days Lost In those days when you flounder when you lost in panic freeze for hours that drift by empty like leaves fall’n from autumn trees days that never will return though you might wish to go back and reset your dying clock such a wish your soul to rack Despite your heartache sustain dreams of hoping yet to come beyond those dark, wintry nights calmed by days of sultry sun where joy reaps from all sorrow their contrast savoring sweet cleansing as the li

“Money often costs too much” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Imagine winning $1.6 billion in the lottery. I can’t. That’s just insane. I’ve never bought a lottery ticket, and I probably never will. But I had a few friends reach out to me earlier this week, mostly from Canada, encouraging me to go get one. There’s just something alluring about the idea of becoming an instant billionaire, especially when it means paying off all of your debt–something almost everyone told me they’d do fir

So before I get to business, this happened last night: Exciting, right? I agree. The date will be July 29th, and it can’t come fast enough . This Coming Week Despite all the craziness of proposing and then planning a wedding–and working mind you, I’ve still got some stuff for you. I’m looking to have the Chapter 12 Outcast Cover on Instagram Wednesday, with Chapter 12 itself being published by the end of the week. Kristen and I will be heading down to Vegas to spend the weeke

The year’s end always fascinates me. Though the transition between December and January is technically no different than any other months, it is to us a time of endings and beginnings. This tone is well captured in one of my favorite hymns, “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light. The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. … Ring out the old; ring in the new. Ring, happy bells, across the sn