The Pageturning Report: April 2025
RIP Pope Francis, Spring photos, my first book signing, and more!
April was busier than I anticipated! Honestly, I’ve been struggling to find time to work on my passion projects in between my various responsibilities at home and at work. The accountability sessions hosted by my friend and writing coach
have been helping me stay on track with my creative goals. I’m already ~3,000 words into a brand new sci-fi/action novella. I’ve also found a few free moments to outline a fantasy short story that I’d like to submit to a fiction contest.Hopefully I’ll have more progress to share soon enough.
My first-ever book signing!
I’m so grateful to the lovely folks at Theodore’s Books in my hometown of Oyster Bay, New York for hosting my first official book signing as a published author! The event went off splendidly—especially for an unknown first-time author. About 20 people showed up for my talk and I sold 10 copies of the The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones.
Many thanks to my amazing coworkers at Raynham Hall Museum who were deeply supportive and came out in force! Also present were my dear author friends
and .Honestly, I was terrified when I was standing up giving my talk, but everyone seemed to have a good time. The Q&A session was lively and the Theodore’s crew invited me back for my next book launch! (No idea when that will be yet… Stay tuned!)
The beauty of Spring
Spring and Autumn are my favorite times of year. Nature truly pulls out all the stops during these precious seasons. Spring in particular is a time of rebirth and renewal, especially poignant as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.
Articles
I’m immensely grateful to the all the new subscribers who have signed up for Pageturning since Word on Fire published my tribute to Pope Francis and his teaching. The stats on my dashboard tell me that many of you are finding my newsletter directly from the WOF website.
Thank you for your support. It means the world to me.
Word on Fire
How Pope Francis Led Me Out of Myself and Toward Others
The pontificate of Pope Francis will be remembered for many important and influential documents, but it was Christus Vivit—the post-synodal exhortation he wrote in the wake of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment—that made an intense and lasting impression on me. It helped me to realize why my life seemed so directionless and adrift: I had not yet discovered my vocation!
Along with Catholics all over the world, I was stunned to hear of Pope Francis’s passing on Easter Monday. Despite the pontiff’s recent health crisis, I was almost certain we would have him for at least a few more months. But Our Lord had other plans for his faithful servant and called him home to the Father’s house.
Here is a prayer I wrote in memory of Pope Francis for the Catholic Writers’ Guild:
God our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life and ministry of Pope Francis and for blessing him with the gentle wisdom which touched the lives of countless people all over the world and will continue to inspire Catholic artists and writers for years to come. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. Amen.
Podcasts
Mythic Mind
Vengeance and despair, fate and valor, Heimdall’s social hierarchy, Baldr and Christ (?), the One who is greater than Odin—In the latest episode of Mythic Mind, I join
and Chase Arrington to discuss the final set of texts from the Poetic Edda.The Secrets of Middle-Earth
Tolkien’s most devastating chapter of The Silmarillion takes center stage: the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. The panel and I unpack Fingon’s fall, dwarven defiance, and Morgoth’s dark triumph over the Free Peoples.
What makes Tolkien’s dragons so unforgettable? From the sinister Glaurung to the catlike menace of Smaug, the panel and I unravel the lore, symbolism, and mythic roots of Middle-earth’s greatest beasts.
The Secrets of Star Wars
What makes a Star Wars battle truly unforgettable? The panel and I unpack the most pivotal fights across “Canon” and “Legends”, from Scarif to Umbara, Thrawn to Hoth—we explore the strategies and tactics that made them legendary.
Some final thoughts…
As I mentioned above, I’ll have more to share about my current writing projects in a future update. Until then, I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who has ever read or enjoyed my stuff. Your support gives me the courage to keep creating new stories and reflections in spite of the many setbacks and challenges I encounter along the way. It means so much to me that you’re here with me on the journey.
During this Easter season, what’s one person, experience, or thing that you’re grateful for? Let me know in the comments down below!
Until next time, take care, God bless, and happy reading!
I'm grateful for my therapist. 😅
Well done on all your projects this past season, Thomas. Thank you for being you.
Congrats on the book signing.