The Pageturning Report: March 2024

Have a blessed Holy Week. Also, an update on my "dragon book". . .

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Welcome to Pageturning! To all the new subscribers: First of all — Thank you! Glad to have you along for the ride. Second of all, I’d like to introduce you to the Pageturning Report, my series of monthly update posts about my writing and podcasting adventures.

It’s hard to believe that Palm Sunday has come and gone already! Holy Week is upon us once again. If you observe Lent, I hope you’ve had a blessed season of prayer, reflection, and fellowship.

And now on the the “report” — I only have time to post a brief update this month.

The “Dragon Book”

Last month, I announced that I was pitching a book about dragons at the Catholic Writer’s Guild online conference.

The pitch was a success. The editors I spoke to asked to see my manuscript. I duly submitted it, along with a book proposal.

I just received word a few days ago that the book was ultimately rejected. Getting that email at the start of Holy Week was a grievous blow. Yet the editor who contacted me was kind and gracious enough to provide some constructive criticism.

Although I was discouraged and depressed at first, I’m beginning to view this rejection as an opportunity and a blessing. On reflection, I don’t think my “dragon” manuscript is all that it could be. Based on the feedback I got, I believe that I could transform it into something truly special.

Watch this space! I think I might share my progress with the inevitable rewrites.

Articles

Busted Halo

Pray, Fast, Give: My Decision to Part with a Possession Each Day of Lent

It’s true that, as a Catholic layperson, I have no obligation to take a vow of poverty like a professed religious brother. And yet, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, I am called to live simply and modestly, prioritizing people over possessions. More often than I would like, I find myself emulating the rich young man who encounters Jesus in Mark’s Gospel. When Jesus invites him to sell all he has and become a disciple, the youth “was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions” (Mark 10:22). Like that poor soul, I time and again find myself a prisoner of my possessions.

Podcast life

A good crop of StarQuest podcasts came out this month: The Silmarillion, The Bad Batch, Godzilla, and more!

The Secrets of Middle-Earth

Awakening. . . I’m joined by Jeff Haecker and Pat Mason as we continue our walk through The Silmarillion, covering the creation and awakening of Elves, origins of orcs, the first binding of Melkor, and themes of power, sacrifice, and morality.

The theme for Tolkien Reading Day 2024 is “Service and Sacrifice,” so Jeff Haecker, Patrick Mason, and I shares our favorite quotes from Tolkien's works on the subject. Indeed, service and sacrifice permeate the entire Middle-earth Legendarium.

The Secrets of Star Wars

Cornered! I’m joined by Jon Koral, and Josh Beeghley to discuss this two-part adventure where the Bad Batch are hunted by their clone brothers. We discuss the themes of loyalty, the ethics of following orders, and the treatment of clones as disposable.

Getting answers is never easy for the Bad Batch. I join Robert King and Kathryn Laffrey to discuss the Batch's negotiations for answers about Omega with “frenemy” Fennec Shand as well as Crosshair’s search for answers on his shaky hand. We uncover some surprising insights!

The Secrets of Movies & TV Shows

The Monsterverse! I’m joined by Patrick Mason, and Jeff Haecker to discuss the Monarch series on AppleTV+ and its impact on the wider Godzilla x Kong Monsterverse, as well as the themes of collateral damage and the human/societal impacts of real-world catastrophes.

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I hope to have a more substantial update for you next month. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or would like to say “hi”!

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