Charting a new course!
Charting a new course!
A report on my creative adventures.
I know it’s been almost a month since my last post. Things have been rather hectic in my personal life but I wanted to let you all know about an exciting new project that I’m working on and also keep you up to date with my other creative ventures.
I’m working on a children’s book!
Yes, that’s right! I’ve long felt a call to write stories for children and teens, books that will entertain, educate, and inspire young people to dare great things. Until recently, I’ve let self-doubt and fear of failure quash these good inspirations. What if I’m really not talented enough? What if no one reads my books? What if I receive nasty criticism?
In her spiritual autobiography, St. Teresa of Avila wrote: “I would recommend anyone to whom a good inspiration repeatedly comes, never neglect it out of fear. If he turns nakedly to God alone, he need not be afraid of failure, since God is all-powerful.”
When I finally chose to put aside fear and start writing my first children’s book, I experienced a powerful sense of peace and purpose. I knew that my decision was right because I was heeding a call to service. My fondest wish is that my stories will inspire a new generation of readers to never stop wondering. We’re starved for a sense of wonder and awe in our cynical, gloomy world. But as the old saw says, it’s much better to light one candle than curse the darkness. Writing for children is my way of kindling just one more small light.
I hope you’ll follow along with me as I chart this new course. I’m currently working on the second draft of a children’s nonfiction book about the life of one of my favorite saints! I’ll share more details with you as I get closer to finishing this manuscript. I may soon have the opportunity to pitch this book to publishers at the upcoming Catholic Writers Guild online conference!
“The Christbearer” releases in March!
Speaking of books, there’s still plenty of time to pre-order The Christbearer, the latest book from Voyage Comics. Copies will ship this March.
What does The Mandalorian have in common with the lives of Christian saints? Find out in this exciting collection of essays and legends! I was an assistant editor on this project and wrote one of the many brand new essays.
Learn more about this really neat book in my last post:
Podcasting for SQPN
I’m still a regular panelist on Secrets of Middle-Earth and Secrets of Movies and TV Shows for the StarQuest Network. Here’s some of our most recent episodes!
Secrets of Middle-Earth
“Who is Tom Bombadil? Thomas Sanjurjo, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Salerno, and Jeff Haecker discuss the enigmatic Tom: Who is he? What did Tolkien have to say about him? And what other similarly enigmatic characters are there in the Legendarium?”
“Faith is the topic for Jeff Haecker, Thomas Sanjurjo, Thomas Salerno, and Kaitlyn Facista as they discuss Tolkien's own Catholic faith and how he saw it in his works, plus the faiths of the people of his creation in Middle-Earth.”
“Tolkien's stories are filled with tales of romance and friendship, and Thomas Salerno, Kaitlyn Facista, Thomas Sanjurjo, and Jeff Haecker discuss all the great love stories, including their favorites, like Beren and Luthien, Aragorn and Arwen, and even Gimli and Galadriel.”
Secrets of Movies and TV Shows
“With a sequel to the 1988 film now out, Thomas Salerno, Robert King, and Patrick Mason revisit the beloved original, examining its connections to other fantasy, like Tolkien's works, and the bigger themes the story addresses.”
“Is it the best Spider-Man movie? Andrew Hermiz, Thomas Salerno, and Robert King discuss this animated superhero movie that brings together many versions of Spider-Man into a story that gets to the heart of the superhero vocation.”
“The Dark Crystal was an innovative puppet-based fantasy story when it came out in 1982, and Thomas Salerno, Kathryn Laffrey, and Patrick Mason discuss why it continues to be a fan favorite 40 years later as well as the movie's exploration of the duality of good and evil.”
It’s been just over a year since I launched this newsletter and it’s gone through some drastic changes in that time. Thanks so much for sticking with me and supporting my creative journey! Expect another post very soon.
Until we meet again, “the Road goes ever on . . .”