NEW BOOK: Unexpectedly Catholic

Seeds of the Gospel in 20 Popular Stories.

Jan 14, 2025

Hey there! I’m so excited to announce the upcoming release of a new book collaboration that has been in the works for a while: Unexpectedly Catholic: Seeds of the Gospel in 20 Popular Stories is a new nonfiction anthology from Voyage Comics and Publishing.

The essays in this collection uncover the surprisingly Catholic themes hidden in the stories and novels of a wide range of popular authors, both Catholic and non-Catholic. It was a privilege to work on this project alongside a stellar team of talented contributors, including several friends of mine—Mike Schramm, Hunter Leonard, John Tuttle, and Joseph Tuttle.

Inside this splendid book you’ll find three chapters written by yours truly!

“Robert E. Howard and the Adventures of Conan”
“How Robert Jordan Became a Modern Mythmaker”
“Walter M. Miller, Jr and a Canticle for Faith”

Unexpectedly Catholic is currently available for pre-order and copies will begin shipping by February 18. Until Friday, you can get $2 off the retail price!

God is the supreme Storyteller and every time we create a story, we participate in the larger Story He created. On occasion even non-Christian authors can tap into that reality whenever they communicate a narrative that points to what is true, good, and beautiful.
This book presents a variety of essays on popular authors who unexpectedly wrote Catholic stories. It is not a book about “saint authors,” but about authors who struggled with their own demons (such as Bram Stoker, Frank Herbert and Walker Percy) and were trying to tap into the deepest desires of their hearts.
God can use the unlikeliest of instruments for his purposes and this book examines the seeds of the Gospel found in these surprising places.

You can read more of my essays in these other fine Voyage Comics anthologies:

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Until next time, take care, God bless, and happy reading!

Pageturning with Thomas Salerno

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