1. Let’s start with your latest release, Surrender.

Victoria and Blaine’s story dives deep into trust, faith, and danger. What sparked the idea for

this book, and how did you balance the suspense with the spiritual message?

I can’t really say that anything sparked it as I had never written anything unless under

threat from a frowning teacher standing over me with a heavy ruler in hand (I’m old and

our teachers were no joke). I knew nothing about writing. I’d never heard of point of view

or concepts such as show, don’t tell. And I had the same concern about grammar as I did

of the mating rituals of the west African wombat. I honestly couldn’t care less. So, I have

absolutely no idea why but one morning after work (I worked nights as a police officer) I

went to bed and by the time I got up later in the day, the whole story was in my mind. It’s

like the Lord opened an input port in my brain and poured it in.

And just like with everything I do, I had to do it backwards. I hammered out the story and

then started studying how to write. It wasn’t until I had my first draft completed that I

started going to writing group meetings and connecting with other writers. I was blessed

to meet Lynette Eason when she was still pretty new to the craft, although she knew far

more than me. Keep in mind, I wrote this originally around eighteen years ago. Lynette

spent an amazing amount of time going over my draft and making corrections, which I

would estimate to be in the multi-thousands. She was meticulous and brutal but in a

good way. Sadly I haven’t been able to connect with her in many years but I can’t thank

her enough for all the help she gave me. I hope to one day be able to get a hold of her

again.

As far as the spiritual message I believe that was what came to me the strongest. So

many people are convinced that they’ve simply been too bad-too evil-for the Lord to save

them. Or they use that as an excuse to avoid surrendering to the Lord. I woke up that

morning and saw in my mind, an angry, heartless, bitter and lonely woman who crashes

headlong into a crowd of genuine but deeply flawed Christian people. And through

navigating the many shortcomings on both sides (Victoria’s vs the other characters in

the book) the reality of God’s incredible ability to piece together a shattered life and

rebuild the person into a child of God comes into focus. One thing I really like about the

story is, Victoria isn’t the only one with major baggage and a horrible past.

2. Writing a “Christian Romantic Thriller” is a unique combo!

Do you start with the faith element, the romance, or the suspense, or do they all just crash

into each other mid-draft?

I feel the story must ignite from faith but the romance and the suspense are so

intertwined that if any one of the three is lost, the story falls apart. I see in Victoria a

person who, on the outside, has built wall upon wall, protected by high energy shields

and covered with barb wire but underneath it all is a vulnerable girl who instinctively

yearns for what she’s learned to hate the most. But before the girl can come out and see

the world, the barriers must come down. In comes Blaine. He’s everything she needs but

is determined to despise. And the fact that they are drawn to one another through a hint

of recognition yet are as diametrically opposite as any two people can be makes for an

explosive romantic connection. Add in the outside danger with the accompanying terror

and the trio of faith, romance and suspense is super engaging.

3. Victoria is a powerhouse who’s forced to give up control, something many of us

struggle with.

Was her journey inspired by real experiences or people you’ve known?

Not directly but certainly my life and experiences come out in the story. I have been

asked if Blaine is me. I have to say yes and no. Sure, he’s a cop and a country boy with

very traditional values that some might even call a bit chauvinistic, but yet most of his

story diverges very far from my own. That and the fact that the guy is a giant.

I wanted to write from the perspective of a dude and wanted that to come out in the

writing. A bit more in your face, than maybe some others might write. Hence there’s

some of the gender based humor that modern culture would label as sexist, along with

very old school chivalry that would make feminist growl. Plus I injected my own

antiquated values on how traditional Christian relationships are supposed to work. I

think fiction writing and sales trends over the last few decades indicate that people yearn

for a simpler and more traditional time. I believe that part of the fun in this book is

watching the modern upscale Victoria battle with the seed within her that yearns to leave

that all behind.

4. Blaine has that classic steady hero energy.

If Surrender were turned into a movie, who would you cast as Blaine and Victoria? 

Wow, that’s actually hard because I don’t really watch many modern movies so I’m not

super familiar with contemporary actors and actresses. When I envision Victoria I guess

the one that comes to mind would be Rachel McAdams although she’s likely too old at

this point. Scarlette Johansson would fit the bill. And where do you find a 6’ 6” actor? I

don’t see Blaine as a muscleman like the Rock. I view him as more of an in fit family man.

My wife thinks Chris Helmsworth or David Corenswet (I don’t know who that is). I don’t

know. I think Helmsworth is maybe too model looking for Blaine. I see him as a bit more

average. More rugged good looks.

5. You also have a ministry teaching and encouraging men in biblical manhood and

leadership.

How does that ministry influence your fiction writing (and vice versa)?

I feel there is so little true teaching on actual Biblical manhood within modern

christianity. It seems that most of the effort is put into watering down the role in order to

make it more palatable to modern American culture. I’m either too old or too dumb to

care about any of that. I firmly believe that God’s way has always produced the most

stable homes and the happiest men, women and children. So, my heart is to bring that

out in my writing. I really wanted to make Blaine to be the hero so to speak but I also

wanted him to be a flawed hero. My goal was to bring out his past, his inner struggles,

and his personal battles but show that such a man can still be a solid and powerful

leader without being a tyrant or narcissist. Great leaders aren’t perfect, they simply learn

to rise above their failings in order to protect those precious to them.

6. Suspense and faith can make for intense storytelling.

What’s the hardest part about writing stories that weave together danger and divine purpose?

I was desperate to bring out the biblical truth of brokenness, repentance, redemption and

restoration without making it preachy. It was a novel, not a non fiction book on Christian

character, yet, in some ways, the goal was the same. My goal was to impart into readers

that, whether you know it or not at the time, the Lord is at work to bring you in. Contrary

to so much of what comes from pulpits today, God’s plan is not always simply about

giving you the best life now or showering you with blessings. More times than not it’s

about breaking down barriers in your life in order to bring you a place of repentance and

salvation. We can look at the horrific events that happened in the life of Victoria and

come away stunned at it all, but the point I hope came out is that without every one of

those life crushing events, she would have never ended up where she did in the end.

7. What’s one lesson or truth you hope readers take away from Surrender?

That the Lord is real and active in your life. Too many people view God as an abstract

that is out there somewhere, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I am often

amazed in my own life at how many times that a circumstance or situation will bring

anxiety and even fear, only to look back on it later and realize that it had to go down just

like it did, in order to bring me to where I am. At any point in the book neither Blaine or

Victoria would have wished their stories to unfold the way they did, but by the end,

neither would want it any other way.

8. On a lighter note, when you’re not writing or teaching, how do you recharge your

creative batteries?

Okay, I admit it. I can veg out on the couch in front of the TV watching NCIS reruns with

the best of them. Couple that with half my life with my back side digging wear marks into

school bleachers watching the grandkids basketball, cheerleading, baseball, soccer and

volleyball games, and my life is full. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

9. Let’s talk coffee vs. prayer time. ☕

Do you outline your books meticulously or just “surrender” to the story and let it flow?

This is evolving. As I mentioned, Surrender came to me pretty much all at one time but

that is not the case with the two other novels I’m working on. I’m having to flesh out the

plots and piece them all together. It’s like starting all over and relearning the writing

thing. I have to admit, I write slow. I feel like it takes me forever to hammer out a chapter,

to put in all the description and flow that I want.

10. You mentioned a second, non-fiction book. Can you give us a sneak peek?

As I mentioned above, I’m actually working on two novels. Also, as I said earlier, I tend to

do everything backwards. Hence, I have a novel that I’m like 200+ pages into but I can’t

quite figure out how to bring the plot to a climax so now I’m working on another one. In

Surrender it comes out that Tiffany and Chad went through something horrible that

nearly cost them their marriage. This novel is that story. I don’t want to put out any

spoilers but I will say that Surrender readers will be shocked at the backstory of Chad

and Tiffany. This story has a much wider scope than Surrender with a plot that brings in

world wide intrigue and impact. Chad is put in the position that he must stop a threat so

big that it’s going to take a huge amount of help, but who can he trust? This is a story of

suspense, betrayal, birthed faith, and redemption. And Chad and Tiffany will never be the

Same.

11. Quick-fire round!

● Favorite Bible verse that keeps you grounded? 

1 Corinthians 16:13 is one I need to be reminded of every day, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

● Go-to writing snack or drink? 

Coffee, coffee and more coffee. And when that runs out, I make coffee!

● A book that changed how you see faith or storytelling?

 This is a hard one as there have been so many. I guess I would say the Jerry Jenkins books.

● If you could co-write with any author (living or gone), who would it be?

 I guess I’d have to say, Dominic Bnonn Tennant and Michael Foster. Their Book on It’s Good to be a Man was fantastic.

12. Lastly, for readers picking up Surrender, what’s one thing you hope they feel when

they turn the final page?

That the Lord is always at work. He’s either drawing you to repentance or ordering your

steps as a child of God. I honestly love the story of Surrender and not simply because I

wrote it. It’s simply an amazing story of how the Lord works in our real every day lives. I

believe it brings that truth out without being preachy.