I’m a struggling author trying to break into the traditional publishing world. It’s an uphill battle (two hills, actually). The first, and arguably the steepest, is landing a literary agent. That step can be more difficult than securing a contract with one of the Big Five publishers.
My debut novel, The Secrets of Wilford Creek, won first place in a Seattle literary contest. My third book, Rosters of the Dead, took third place in the same contest in 2024. But in the eyes of the industry, those accolades won’t buy me a cup of coffee at Starbucks.
The Big Five Publishing Houses (as of 2025)
I’m a struggling author trying to break into the traditional publishing world. It’s an uphill battle (two hills, actually). The first, and arguably the steepest, is landing a literary agent. That step can be more difficult than securing a contract with one of the Big Five publishers.
My debut novel, The Secrets of Wilford Creek, won first place in a Seattle literary contest. My third book, Rosters of the Dead, took third place in the same...
Wilford Creek and Adam, Eve, & Isabell are the first of two books I published. I own the mistakes, and there were a lot:
I have a friend who recently bought a boat, not a canoe or a yacht, just a boat. He timed the purchase just right (“They’re cheaper at the end of the season!”), and on a sunny Sunday in September, he made it his.
Within a month he wanted to take it to a few other lakes. He needed a truck for that. Then someone told him he should buy a lift to keep the boat out of the water. Off-season storage keeps it nice, someone else whispered. That $45,000 boat quickly became a money pit.
And then the...
Sometimes, all you need is a hug. But occasionally, a swift kick in the ass is necessary.
King David is my favorite character in Scripture. Friend of God. Fearless in battle. Born into an unimpressive pedigree yet chosen to lead a nation. David was a poet and a warrior, a king with the blood of giants dripping from his sword—and yet, his crown couldn’t mask his many character flaws.
Spoiler Alert: David had a dark side. The giant-killing king was equally known for his deeply flawed leadership...
In the summer of 2004, after 25 years of playing Army, our family arrived at Fort Lewis, knowing it would be our final assignment. It was time to retire and put down roots. One of our most important decisions was choosing a local church. For years, we had attended military chapels, but we wanted to become part of a local congregation.
It was an easy choice, and after a few visits, Lake City Community Church (LC3) felt like home—an eclectic mix of people; rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief....
Sometimes, all you need is a hug. But occasionally, a swift kick in the ass is necessary.
King David is my favorite character in Scripture. Friend of God. Fearless in battle....
In the summer of 2004, after 25 years of playing Army, our family arrived at Fort Lewis, knowing it would be our final assignment. It was time to retire and put down roots. One...
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I write a weekly newsletter on LinkedIn: @ The Speed of Story. The newsletter is a collection of articles about life, the Gospel, and all things in between. I am bundling about 10 newsletters at a time and will post a Study Guide for high school and college aged groups. Free of charge. Check back this fall.