Into the Fire

     Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV) 

Readers of books come in all kinds of people. Some readers love fiction and some love non-fiction. As all of you who stop by here know, I'm not interested in non-fiction and it's a rare one that gets my attention. Having said that, my commentary today is about those readers of novels.

I've been reading stories and writing them ever since I could read and write. In the summer my friend and I used to make blanket tents in our backyards and sit in them to read or write. We were serious readers. Me with my Black Stallion Series and she with her The Secret Garden to mention a few. 

Some readers don't recall the authors' names of their favorite tales and others don't remember the titles, but they can tell you exactly what the book was about. 

Some readers love "the classics" and rave about authors many youths of today have no knowledge of, while others stay rooted in historical fiction, contemporary romance novels, fantasy, or science fiction. There are novels available for all tastes. 

I prefer longer novels with deeply developed characters. As most of you know, I write in one genre and read primarily in others. My favorites are good military/espionage/political thrillers with strong, relentless heroes and heroines. I also love good mysteries and suspense with maybe a touch of romance. I don't like any sexual graphics and will abandon authors who accentuate it.  

I can tell you the names of my favorite authors and the titles of the books I love. 

So what kind of reader are you? 

Father, thank you for authors, for sharing your creativity with us, for giving us the love of writing. Thank you is never enough. Please keep me writing the stories you have just for me to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Some days the nostalgia is heavy. My friend Rick and I were goofing around in this picture with our mutual friend behind the camera. This picture has been through years of packing, moving, and lots of memories. It was a special time in my life. A little chaotic, fun, emotionally charged, and all the things of youth. Rick's gone now. I will always remember our friendship which was renewed right before he passed away. 

Father, thank you for giving me the time to pray with Rick the final time I saw him on this earth. Only you know his ultimate destination. Thank you for his place in my life. He enriched it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

So what's in a name? 

Questions authors are often asked: How do you find the names for your characters? 

Speaking only for myself, they just appear to me. Not a very satisfactory answer, is it? But it's the truth. I don't use name books or scour anything with multiple names listed. 

I have been known to give some extra thought to acquiring the "right" name for a character, finally knowing when it's just "right." 

Simplistic but authentic. I know these "people" and their names must suit them. I'm satisfied I get them "right."

Thank you, Lord, for giving me character names, stories, words, the works. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Definitely the 70s. Great songs. Great bands. Chicago.

Father, you know hearts and you save souls. May each one know you and from whom their gifts are given to them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Thinking about heroes and anti-heroes . . . 

No one ever seems to need a definition for hero although there are some pretty broad perceptions of the applicable meaning in novels. 

Generally speaking, there are slightly different meanings for the word anti-hero so to make that character the protagonist might also vary his personality and conduct in the story. 

In my older novel The Famous One, Joey Parr is more of an anti-hero. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, acquiring a unique lone-wolf type of personality in his teens, experiencing a quietly fast and loose lifestyle early, he doesn't possess heroic qualities. However, he's not a bad person, he definitely cares about those he forms friendships with, he has no desire to hurt people, yet he carries a lot of hurt inside. 

Skip ahead to my latest novel Then . . . you and you have a genuine hero-type in Stone. Former military, now a recluse, he does forensic accounting and other "assignments," and when he opens his door to a woman desperate for help in the middle of the night, he becomes another kind of hero. 

For me, anti-hero or hero, I just want them to be enticing, interesting, and desirable. By "desirable" I mean I want to know what has made them who they are, what motivates them, what do they hold back from others or certain situations to protect themselves or the other person. 

My protagonists are all kinds of people. What do you want from your protagonists/heroes? 

Father, you know me and what makes me tick. Help me to be the best me I can be. You're the only One who truly can. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 

Romans 1:18-20 (NIV)

Most people look forward to Friday. For some people it's the end of the work week. For everyone it's the start of the weekend whether or not that means they have to work the weekend. 

Is Friday a special day for you? 

Do you make plans for Friday nights? 

What's your favorite day of the week? Do you have one? 

As you can see, this Friday I'm short on words, ideas, and a valid post. 

Have a great weekend, working or not. 

Father, I ask a special blessing upon anyone who reads this silly post today. May you let them know you see them, you know them whether they know you or not, and your love waits for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Romeo's Justice by James Scott Bell is Book 8 in the A Mike Romeo Thriller Series. (Originally posted on 10/30/23 as "Seeking . . . Romeo's Justice".)

Mike Romeo isn't looking for trouble, but if it comes to him, after trying to calm and distill it, he will finally decide to "bring it". In his quest for justice as his friend, attorney, rabbi, and former Mossad Ira Rosen's investigator, nothing is ever simple in their cases. Romeo's attempt to render justice often comes with violence interfering with his hard work. And their present case is no exception. 

A grieving mother who can't afford Ira Rosen has been told that her only son (Steven) has committed suicide in his room at a "spiritual" school that is clearly of the "woke" variety, making environmental robots of students with their man-made climate change dogma and other freakish "spiritual" gobbledy-gook theories. Ira insists on taking her case and Romeo sets out in his classic Mustang "Spinoza" to either confirm or deny that the boy killed himself.

His welcome to the school is "interesting" and he asks to see the dorm room where Steven was found. During his inspection he meets the janitor who appears to be handicapped, scared, and nervous. Romeo does his best to put him at ease.   

New leads pop up resulting in some more violence and back to Square One, but finally after Ira doing his "thing" with his research, a real lead starts to actually lead somewhere. Perhaps to a kind of justice?  

The Romeo Series is labeled a thriller, and there are definitely parts of these stories that are matched with that genre. However, there is yet to have a genre label to fit these amazing stories. Maybe "Sardonic Thrillers" or "Witty Noir Investigative Thrillers". I know: ridiculous. But the absolute wit and intellect of James Scott Bell shines to the max in these books, especially between him and Ira. I've read hundreds of thrillers, mystery, suspense, procedurals, and no author I've read can come close to duplicating their repartee in these novels. Romeo is as unique a character as can be found in any story, any era. And the only fault I can list in these stories is the moment I finish one of them, I can't wait for the next one which can't quite get here soon enough with Jim's multiple other writing diversions. 

Highly Recommend. Although each novel is essentially a "stand-alone", to get the ultimate experience of Mike Romeo's story, I do strongly suggest you begin with Book 1. Believe me when I say, they're quick reads and well worth the time it takes.

Father, you've blessed James so incredibly. Please continue to shine your face upon him and fill him up with the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Pick one to stay in for one week or pick them in the order you prefer. 

Father, thank you for grand designs and those to whom you give them. Thank you for sharing your amazing and endless creativity with your creation. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.