Into the Fire

Not quite at world’s end . . . yet.

It’s impossible to name my precise, absolute, number one “favorite” anything just about. Those of you who visit here endured my pre-Christmas onslaught of “Books I Recommend and Why” in four parts. Last year you might have read my list of favorite films—I think there were 30+ named there. In addition to those lists somewhere I’m sure you’ll find my favorite television shows. So, more lists ain’t gonna happen again for now.

What I will say is that this year wrapped up in a fun fashion when the two copies of The Famous One sold right off the shelf before Christmas at the SuperMall Outlet Christian Bookstore. And they ordered six more! I only had four to take them but ordered more. I know, I know. Two lousy books, you say? Hey, that’s better than no lousy books on a shelf in a Christian bookstore.

When I went in to speak with the manager, her assistant asked me if I wrote The Famous One. When I acknowledged that I had, she went on to tell me how much she loved the book, difficult as it was for her to read about the lifestyle of Joey Parr. She really liked “him”. It’s a thrill to know someone appreciates your work, that they care about your characters, and that they want to talk about the story. Thank you, Jesus.

I’m going to make one more pitch on this New Year’s Eve post. If you know someone who likes to read fiction, maybe he or she is searching for something to believe in and they haven’t hardened their hearts to God, The Famous One is a contemporary story which chronicles the life of a lonely young man who gets “discovered” and moves into a life of difficult fame and notoriety as an actor while searching for real love and a family. When life finally begins to deliver his desires, he realizes there is still something missing. It’s an old story retold a thousand ways but every time it makes sense.

If you need “hype” to be sold on a book, author Robert Liparulo wrote the back cover endorsement after reading the story in manuscript form a couple of years ago. Both men and women have found the story meaningful. I’m not going to tell you it’s a book everyone should read because it’s not. For those readers who have a hard time taking in a story where the protagonist thrashes through life with the assistance of alcohol, drugs, and sex, it’s not for you. However, the two women who read it for the bookstore admitted that as hard as it was to read through his lifestyle, they understood why it was necessary to tell it the way it was.

So there you have my pitch. If you want the novel, you can buy it on Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, Christianbooks.com, and WinePressPublishing.com.

As we move into the year 2009, may we grow ever closer to Jesus, honor and dedicate all we do to God, increase our obedience, gain faith, persevere through difficulties, pray without ceasing, love without limits, listen and discern, war against the enemy of our souls, and forgive as the Lord forgives us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.