It is with great pleasure that I inform all of you that “Assault On Saint Agnes” has been named a finalist in Operation First Novel for 2013.

2013 Finalist

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I think this is normally where novelists tell you all the amazing things they’ve found about their book and how it will change the world.

Who am I to buck tradition?

I really love the book. It has done remarkably well in two major contests (Athanatos Christian Ministries Christian Novel Contest and Operation First Novel by the Christian Writers Guild) and I am confident it will be published soon. It has been some of the hardest work I’ve ever done getting it ready for competition. I have spent countless hours editing, writing new material, consulting with critique partners, and praying for guidance. It’s still amazing to me that the level of work that goes into a book is so darned high.

It’s paying off. Last night I had dinner with a friend who isn’t a reader of Christian Fiction. He’s reading the book. He’s engaged at the story level. Some of this audience will immediately cringe when I say that he’s not spiritually involved. “But that’s the point of Christian Fiction!”

I beg to differ. You can write Christian Fiction, or you can be a Christian who writes fiction. I’m opting for the latter. My stories will have a faith element in them to be sure. I love God: he’s been good to me. But if the story stinks nobody cares about the faith element. My first goal is to write a great story and know that God will guide me in presenting Him in the process.

I have some stories to tell. More books in my head than I could write in what’s left of my life. More being born all the time. But this story, Assault On Saint Agnes, is my best to date. I’m proud of the characters. I’m proud of the plot. And, most of all, I’m proud of the fact that it isn’t a cookie-cutter book that you can guess the ending by page 100. Nope. You have to read the last sentence to know how it ends.

If you aren’t screaming at me when you read that last sentence, I’ve failed. I want you yelling for more. I want you begging for another chapter. I want you to buy the next book because this was so danged good. I think I may have hit that mark right on the nose.

Pray for me. Pray for the success of the book. I know it’ll be a great read. Most of all, I know it will open doors for nonbelievers and invite Christ through the opening in their lives. If I can do that, I’m victorious.

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