The Pageturning Report: September 2024
"Field Station Delta", LegendHaven 2024, The Rings of Power (Season 2), and more!
Just a “brief” (ha ha!) last-minute update this month! Enjoy!
Works in progress
Nicolas Steno biography (middle grade nonfiction)
The children’s book I’ve been working on since 2022 (an illustrated biography of Blessed Nicolas Steno) is finally off to the printer’s!!! Earlier this month I received a delightful care package from my publishers at Word on Fire Votive. My wonderful editor
has shepherded this project with care and enthusiasm. The illustrator did a fantastic job bringing my vision to life! I couldn’t be happier. We are preparing for an early 2025 release date, so stay tuned to Pageturning for all the latest details!
Field Station Delta (paranormal thriller novella)
This summer, I completed my first-ever novella! Field Station Delta is just over 24,600 words — far and away the longest manuscript I have written to-date. If you’re a fan of The X-Files or Close Encounters of the Third Kind, I think you’re going to enjoy this adventure! I plan to self-publish the book on Kindle sometime next year. I’ve already engaged the services of a professional editor and I’m also in talks with an artist to design a cover. If you’re interested in a special sneak peek at the story, I’ll be hosting a readaloud session at the LegendHaven 2024 SF/F convention (see below).
LegendHaven 2024
’s third annual online convention is fast approaching! LegendHaven is aimed especially at Catholic and Orthodox sci-fi/fantasy fans and creators, but all are welcome! This will be the first year I will be participating in my capacity as an author. I hope to see you there! 
StarQuest (SQPN) Panel: Echoes of Faith in Secular Storytelling
Have you ever noticed hints of the Gospel in movies and TV shows that aren’t intended to be Christian? We’ll bet you have! Join podcasters Thomas Salerno,
, , and Robert King from the StarQuest Production Network (SQPN) for their fun group discussion followed by a live Q&A session. (Saturday, Oct. 19, 8:00 pm EST)
Author Event: Rediscover the Joy of Writing
Writing is not a serious business! Author Thomas Salerno shares why he believes joy should be the guiding star for every writer. Thomas will then read excerpts from his current work-in-progress: the paranormal sci-fi novella Field Station Delta. After the readaloud, stick around for a live Q&A! (Sunday, Oct. 20, 5:00 pm EST)
Reading life
Charles de Foucauld (Modern Spiritual Masters Series) ed. by Robert Ellsberg — The life of this humble hermit in the Sahara desert struck me like a thunderbolt. Foucauld’s commitment to imitate the “hidden life” of Jesus’s years as an obscure carpenter in Nazareth inspired me to break free from the comparison game (the unwinnable loop of constantly chasing honor and “success”). Foucauld’s writings contain vital spiritual wisdom about embracing true inner freedom by intentionally seeking “the lowest place.” What a counterintuitive message for our achievement-driven culture!
He Leadeth Me: An Extraordinary Testament of Faith by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J. with Daniel L. Flaherty, S.J. — My only regret after finishing this spiritual masterpiece is that I wish I had read it long ago. Ciszek’s short book is a chalice full to the brim with spiritual wisdom. Ciszek reveals how devotion to the will of God in the present moment was his guiding light through years of solitary confinement in Moscow’s Lubyanka prison and brutal forced labor in the Siberian gulags. A compelling must-read!
With God in America: The Spiritual Legacy of an Unlikely Jesuit by Walter J. Ciszek, S.J., ed. by John M. DeJak & Marc Lindeijer, S.J. — This remarkable collection of Walter Ciszek’s later writings contains a wealth of practical spiritual guidance and compelling insights into the inner life of one of the twentieth century’s great spiritual masters.
Hildegard of Bingen: Selected Writings ed. by Mark Atherton — I don’t think I truly understand St. Hildegard’s prophetic visions at a first reading. And that’s probably by design. I suspect her writings are meant to be re-read again and again and meditated over in silence. This book was a fascinating introduction to one of the brightest minds of the Medieval world.
Franz Jägerstätter: Letters and Writings from Prison ed. by Erna Putz, et al. — A revealing glimpse at the inner faith life of a modern-day martyr. Blessed Franz Jägerstätter was an Austrian farmer, devoted husband, and loving father. He was put to death by the Nazis in 1943 for refusing compulsory military service. While Franz was not perfect (his writings display common theological blind spots of his time) he is without a doubt a model of heroism and steadfast loyalty to Christ in the face of murderous opposition.
Podcast life
With the release of The Rings of Power Season 2, I’ve been as busy as ever recording podcast episodes for SQPN. I love being a part of this podcasting family! (And I love that I get to share these nerdy discussions with you all!!)
The Secrets of Middle-Earth
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is here! The panel and I dive into the first three episodes. There’s a lot to discuss: Sauron's manipulations of Elves, Dwarves, and Men; Pharazôn’s schemes for power in Númenor; and the return of Isildur.
Tom, Ents, and Wights, oh my! I join the panel to discuss the latest episode of The Rings of Power. Find out what we thought of all the callbacks to The Lord of the Rings. Plus we speculate about the outcome of Elrond and Galadriel tension, as well as Theo's possible future.
The best episode yet?! I certainly thought so! The panel and I dig into Sauron's manipulation of Celebrimbor, the corruption and greed of King Durin, Pharazôn’s repression of the faithful in Númenor, and Galadriel’s finding an ally of convenience in Adar.
Where is he? The panel and I discuss the latest episode of The Rings of Power, including Elendil's faith, the tyranny of Pharazôn, Miriel's symbolic baptism, and Annatar's continuing manipulation of Celebrimbor. Plus: Happy Hobbit Day!
The Secrets of Star Wars
How many times have R2-D2 and C-3P0 saved the day? I join the panel to re-live these iconic moments in both classic & new Star Wars. We discuss what makes this comedic droid duo so beloved in storytelling history.
The Secrets of Movies & TV Shows
A monster movie with a heart! I join the panel to discuss this surprising entry in the Godzilla franchise, including its deep themes of post-war trauma, guilt, and redemption. We praise the film’s emotional depths and raw character drama.
Thanks so much for reading this month’s Pageturning Report. If you’ve just discovered my little corner of Substack, I invite you to subscribe and to share this post with someone, perhaps a fellow writer or podcaster who might be interested in my work. This newsletter only exists with the support and interest of my readers and followers.
And please don’t hesitate to leave a comment! I love chatting with my readers.
Until next time, take care, God bless, and happy reading!
Well done, sir! Can't wait to see the upcoming books :)
Thank you for your generous service to God's people through all of your projects, Thomas. It's exciting to see!