I know it’s been a while since my last general update. Thanks for sticking with me! I plan to release these Pageturning Reports at least once a month. Though if I can swing it, I’d like to try for twice a month in the future.
We have a lot to cover in this post, so let’s get started!
A BIG announcement!
You may remember that back in February I announced that I was working on my first children’s book and that I was planning to submit my manuscript to publishers this year.
Well on May 1 I received some fantastic news: My children’s book HAS BEEN ACCEPTED by a notable Catholic publisher and is slated to appear in 2025!!!
Honestly, this came as a total surprise to me (indeed, it’s sometimes still hard to believe this is real) and I couldn’t be happier that my little book will soon be brought to life and will one day be in the hands of young readers.
I can’t share any more details at present other than that the book is nonfiction, it is written for a middle-grade audience, and it will be fully illustrated. I will announce the title and the publisher as soon as I am able. Watch this space!
What’s more, the publisher sees series potential in my concept and I’m already doing some preliminary planning for a sequel.
My latest for Voyage Comics
I’ve started writing regularly for the Voyage Comics Blog once again. The new blog editor Mike Schramm and I have big plans for a new series of essays on science fiction that will launch this summer. In the meantime, please check out some of my latest articles:
In this excerpt from our recent Voyage Comics anthology The Christbearer, I explore the surprising connections between the story of Din Djarin (the hero of The Mandalorian) and the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
What can a comic book character teach us about our vocations? It turns out quite a bit! Read my analysis of the inspiring themes found in the fantasy graphic novel Twig.
I’m writing a novel!
In April I started working with writing coach Katelin Cummins on outlining a middle-grade fantasy novel using the Blueprint for a Book method. If I continue to stay disciplined, I should have an outline finished by the end of May so that I can begin writing a first draft in June. I’m so excited about this novel and Katelin is such an enthusiastic and supportive teacher. I highly recommend using one of her services. like the accountability group, to take your writing to the next level!
I think it would be a really cool idea to involve you, my subscribers, in this exhilarating (and kind of scary!) journey of writing my first novel. I think what I’ll do is post brief daily updates throughout June, including my daily word count and perhaps even some brief snippets of my writing.
Podcast life!
Although my own Perilous Realms podcast has taken a backseat as I work on my book and my freelance writing, I’ve continued to appear as a panelist on a variety of awesome shows for the StarQuest network and elsewhere.
The Gracious Guest Show
I joined my good friend Mike Creavey from SQPN’s The Secrets of Star Wars on his podcast The Gracious Guest Show for a fun deep-dive into The Mandalorian Season 3 to shine a spotlight on the many fascinating Judeo-Christian themes found in this Star Wars saga.
The Secrets of Middle-earth
I’m happy to report that The Secrets of Middle-earth podcast is still going strong. I and my fellow panelists Jeff Haecker, Kaitlyn Facista, and Thomas Sanjurjo are having a lot of fun. We have plans to record some really exciting reviews and character deep-dives to fill out the 2023 schedule so stay tuned! Our most recent episodes were a discussion of the godlike Valar (including a fun “create your own Valar” game!) and a Middle-earth Mother’s Day special!
The Secrets of Movies and TV Shows
With so many awesome movies (past and present) to discuss, the possibilities for the Secrets of Movies and TV Shows podcast are truly endless. I joined Fr. Cory Sticha, Fr. Andrew Kinstetter, and David Handlos for a rollicking celebration of the recent Super Mario Bros. Movie. “Let’s a-go!”
Farewell, for this time!
Thanks for reading and subscribing to my author newsletter. As my career grows, I hope this community will grow with it. Please share Pageturning with anyone you think might be interested in my musings. And please, feel free to make suggestions about the kind of content you’d like to see here in the future.
Until we meet again, “the Road goes ever on . . .”
Congratulations again on the book!
Big congrats on your children’s book, Thomas! 🎉