Dennis Wiens, host of the Unconventional Ministry podcast, published his interview of me recently.
In the 20-minute conversation I talk about the how and why of writing Someplace North, Someplace Wild.
I also answer Dennis’s questions about the book and some of my experiences that led to its creation.
Here are the options for listening.
Pages: 1 | 2 | Single Page
It may have escaped your attention that today, July 22, is National Day of the Cowboy.
Likely, you already marked this on your calendar. But just in case, I thought you might appreciate a reminder. 😎
An event labelled Day of the Cowboy might evoke images of John Wayne or Clint Eastwood.
For me, it’s the perfect opportunity to make a big announcement: I recently signed with Elk Lake Publishing to produce my novel, Someplace North, Someplace Wild!
That’s the fruit of a six-year project, and a big answer to prayer.
This post is to introduce my readers to a little-known, powerful resource for anyone interested in writing. Or reading.
In March my wife and I were in Panama and I had occasion to recommend this little book to someone who identified herself as a reader of Tolkien. And I realized I should blog about it.
My friend and colleague Darrow Miller put me on to this volume that contains three lesser known works by J.R.R. Tolkien. I’m writing here about the opening essay, “Tree and Leaf.” I thought I knew Tolkien until I read this astonishing composition. Reminds me of the first time I saw Crater Lake in southern Oregon and realized I had never seen the color blue until that moment. If you retain a sense of wonder and appreciate the careful use of language you need to read “Tree and Leaf.”
Tolkien begins very humbly. His first paragraph disarms the reader who, drawn into the charm of his prose, wanders into the essay heedless of the master’s spell. Too late, you realize you have been seized and carried off by beauty.
I propose to speak about fairy-stories, though I am aware that this is a rash adventure. Faërie is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold. And overbold I may be accounted, for though I have been a lover of fairy-stories since I learned to read, and have at times thought about them, I have not studied them professionally. I have been hardly more than a wandering explorer (or trespasser) in the land, full of wonder but not of information.
