School Visits

Today I will be visiting the Masters Academy school in Oviedo, FL, my third visit there since my dragons series debuted. I was reminded again of the importance of these visits when I visited a Borders bookstore in Winter Park, the town where I live. Strangely enough, I haven't visited any schools in the immediate Winter Park area, so when I went to the Borders, I wasn't surprised to find only one copy of one of my books. I spoke to the bookstore manager and mentioned that I will be visiting a school in the area soon, and she said she would order "a few" copies.

In contrast, there is a Borders within a half mile of the Masters Academy, and I have visited several schools in the same area. The bookstore manager says he can't keep my books in stock. In one week they sold 61 copies of just one of my books, and that was without a signing. He orders caseloads at a time and asks me to warn him when I'm getting ready to visit another school in the area.

These sales are in addition to what I personally sell while I'm at a school. I tell the students if they don't have money now, just drop in on the Borders. They always carry my books.

This synergy has really worked out well. Because of my efforts, this Borders places my books prominently, thereby increasing sales through customers who might not have seen them otherwise, and Borders gets customers from my referrals who might not otherwise go there.

In short, it's helpful to an author to work together with a friendly bookstore. The teamwork helps us both.

An Old Poem

While going through my files, I unearthed this poem I wrote years ago. I hope you enjoy it.

There is a path
That goes I know not where.
Though savage beasts may prowl its edge,
I trust the one who laid it there.

What is faith?
A path unknown
Whose builder’s name
Is signed in stone.

There is a road,
A course without a bend,
Though blinded in the storms of night
I run as one who knows its end.

What is faith?
A road so straight
That never turns
From Heaven’s gate.

There is a way,
A light of truth and life,
Though wrapped in humble cloths of flesh
He breaks the chains of sin and strife.

What is faith?
A way to see
Who lights the world
And sets us free.

There is a journey
Of nails and thorns in flesh.
Though blood and tears obscure the way
They purify the martyr’s steps.

What is faith?
The journey home
Is veiled in tears
Yet fully known.

Goals

I am going against the tide and setting goals before the beginning of the year. Since I will be writing Enoch's Ghost in earnest for the next few months, it's a good time to set writing goals as well as physical goals.

Writing goal - Write 40,000 words in Enoch's Ghost in December, 40,000 words in January, and 40,000 words in February. That should finish the book. I will keep my running word count on my blog.

Physical fitness goal - I want to bench press 300 pounds by my 50th birthday and run a half marathon on that birthday. I have been working out with my 21-year-old son for the past few months, and my maximum bench weight has increased from around 170 pounds to around 225. The next 75 pounds will be a lot harder, but I hope I can get there in the seventeen months I have alloted. I ran a marathon in 2004, but I have not kept up my running. In fact, during my three-month book tour, I hardly ran at all, so I'm back to running a measly two miles. Still, I think I can get back to 13 miles by the time I'm 50.

I will keep posting about my progress on these goals as well.

Book signings

I have two book signings today. The first is from 11 am to 1 pm at the Calvary Chapel Church bookstore in Melbourne. The second is from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Borders in Oviedo. If you are in the area, then come out and visit.

I booked these signings long before I knew when the annual Florida vs. Florida State football game was being played. They scheduled the kickoff for noon, so I will miss this huge rivalry game.

Go Gators!

Back in the Saddle

After an arduous book tour, I'm finally home. I did about 115 talks during my tour, and the process took a toll on my health--not as bad as last year, but I have a cold, and I feel pretty drained. Thank you to those who prayed for me during these difficult days.

Now I will rest for a couple of days rest before getting down to the business of writing my next book. I would appreciate it if some of you kind souls would continue to pray for me. I need God's protection and guidance as I try to write books that will please Him and extend His love and grace to thousands of readers.

Fewer Posts

For the few who read my blog, I'm sure you've noticed my lack of posts. During my midwest tour, my father, who suffered from a terrible brain disease, passed away. I spoke at his funeral service and read this poem I wrote for him:

When Heroes Die

Bryan Davis

When heroes die on bloody fields
Or ships on foamy seas,
Parades of mourners doff their hats
Saluting golden deeds.

For sacrifice deserves the praise
From those who freely stand
Unshackled by the hero’s touch
To live in freedom’s land.

Yet soldiers marching home alive
So rarely hear our cheers;
Though sacrifice continues on
Throughout their golden years.

As fathers they lay down their lives;
Their daughters they protect.
They build new heroes in their sons
To follow in their steps.

As husbands they reflect the Christ,
Our savior from above.
They honor, cherish, give their lives
A sacrifice of love.

The tales say soldiers never die
From hither to beyond;
They merely fade from flesh to dust
And rise again at dawn.

And I for one declare this truth;
This hero lives still now.
His heart resounds within my breast,
Reminding me of how

He pushed my shaky bike and then
Released me to the wind.
He picked me up and dried my eyes
And swabbed my bloody shin.

But heroes never mourn a fall
And wallow in their tears;
This heart I’ve gained has taught me how
To rise and conquer fears.

So cheer this soldier’s homeward march
Whose fragile shell grew old;
Now broken, gray, and motionless;
Now lifeless, dark, and cold.

But soldier heroes merely fade;
They rise when trumpets call.
A hero’s heart cannot be stilled
It beats within us all.

For sacrifice can never end;
It multiplies and thrives
‘Till trumpets sound that last shrill note
Concluding all our lives.

And then in triumph we’ll ascend
For finishing the course;
We’ll see the Hero Son of God,
The sacrificial source.

So now we bury but a shell,
Our hero’s aged cocoon;
We know from heartbeats in our breasts
We’ll see our hero soon.

Moderated comments

I changed my blog settings so that all comments go through moderation before they appear. Someone took issue with one of my earlier posts and decided to respond with a comment containing profanity. I suppose that's to be expected in this culture, but I want to make sure this blog remains a place for civil discourse, not mindless rants.

Edenstar Blog Tour

I am taking part in a blog tour highlighting the Edenstar Books and Games website where you will find all sorts of products for Christians who enjoy Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Here is what Bill and Cheryl Bader, the founders of this company, wrote about their purpose:

The traditional Christian bookstore shelves science fiction with other fiction. So we sort through prairie romances to find the occasional science fiction or fantasy title.

In the general-market bookstore, Christian science fiction is shelved with other science fiction, if it's carried at all. So here again we sift through inappropriate material to find the books we like to read.

That's why we started Edenstar Books and Games in February 2003. We believe there are many others like us, who would love to read more Christian-themed science fiction and fantasy, if they just knew where to find it.

I applaud this effort. This genre needs more exposure, and Bill and Cheryl are to be congratulated for highlighting a product line that is frequently criticized in Christian circles.

Here is the link to their website: http://www.edenstarbooks.com/

You will find reviews on products, particularly books. Unfortunately, Cheryl's review of my book, Raising Dragons, took issue with how I developed my characters. She wrote:

Unfortunately the level of characterization doesn’t quite match the epic plot line. As often happens with Christian fiction, the lead character is too good to be true. Model student Billy attempts to restrain the troublemaker intent on setting off the school fire alarm, only to wind up accused himself. Billy and his friends come off as good examples rather than real kids.

I disagree with her strongly. I passionately defend the fact that real kids can be good, holy, and virtuous. Her stand that "real" kids can't be that good is a myth, and her false notion is a plague that contributes to the downfall of our youth culture. I wrote my characters the way I did intentionally, and the amazing feedback I'm getting from hundreds of readers, telling me that these characters have dramatically transformed their lives, is proof that they are hungry to hear the truth that God is powerful enough to make real kids holy.

Even though I passionately disagree with Cheryl's review, I still applaud and support the Baders' efforts. This genre is important, and it takes courage and steadfastness to make such an effort work.

Below are the other bloggers who are taking part in the blog tour. Check them out to learn more about what people are saying about the Edenstar website.

http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/ Jim Black
http://www.journeyintograce.blogspot.com Jackie Castle
http://invalslittleworld.blogspot.com/ Valerie Comer
http://bethgoddard.blogspot.com/ Beth Goddard
http://foundationsofhope.blogspot.com Leathel Grody
http://www.karenhancock.blogspot.com/ Karen Hancock
http://clawoftheconciliator.blogspot.com Elliot Hanowski
http://writingchristiannovels.blogspot.com/ Katie Hart
http://sphibbs.blogspot.com/ Sherrie Hibbs
http://www.sharonswriting.blogspot.com/ Sharon Hinck
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/ Jason Joyner
http://tinakulesa.com/weblog/ Tina Kulesa
http://www.shadowofthewood.com Rachel Marks
http://shenandoahdawn.blogspot.com/ Shannon McNear
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/ Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://www.unseenworlds.blogspot.com/ Cheryl Russel
http://mirathon.blogspot.com/ Mirtika Schultz
http://jerkrenak.blogspot.com/ Stuart Stockton
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/ Steve Trower
http://www.faithfiction.blogspot.com/ Joleen Howell

Signs?

Have you ever wondered if a strange event or "coincidence" was a sign from God? If so, has it been confusing or odd enough to make you clueless as to what it could mean?

I drove to Tallahassee yesterday with my wife and three daughters to visit my parents and watch a football game. Since it was so late, we spent the night. My father (79 years old) has a severe brain disease that has made him lack coherence most of the time. It seems that he is in a quasi-dreamlike state most of the time, making comments that sometimes relate to the enviornment yet frequently blend with illusions or hallucinations. When I said goodbye this morning, he said, "So what are you going to do with the twelve?"

I replied, "The twelve what?"

"The twelve people."

I tried to figure out how the comment related to any surroundings or recent conversations, but I was at a loss, so I said something like, "I'm not sure what you mean, but I'll think about it." That seemed to satisfy him.

When we left, I stopped at the first corner convenience store to fill up with gas. As I finished and opened the driver's door to get back in, I noticed a dime on the ground. When I bent over to pick it up, I saw two pennies next to it, so I gathered all three coins.

"Very strange," I told my wife. "Just yesterday, I found exactly this combination of coins at another convenience store when I filled up with gas to come up here."

"You're kidding!" my wife replied. "I found a dime and two pennies on the ground in the Walmart parking lot the day before that!"

"Three days in a row! The same coin combination!" Then it hit me. My dad asked me what I was going to do with the twelve. "Twelve cents!" I exclaimed. Then I told my wife what my father had said just minutes earlier. "What could all this mean? It's too coincidental to be an accident."

Twelve cents three days in a row. "What are you going to do with the twelve?" my father said.

Strange? No doubt. Is it a sign? I think it is. What does it mean? I have no idea.

Right now I'm leaning toward the idea that I should use it in the next story I'm writing, but I don't know how to do it yet. In any case, I'm keeping my eyes and ears open and my spiritual perception in tune for another possible solution. Twelve is a biblical number, so I'll be meditating on how it applies.

Any of you out there have an idea? Do you have a story about a strange circumstance that you thought was a sign?

I'm all ears!

The Tragedy of Ignorance

I read an opinion piece in the Orlando Sentinel today by Yanis Rock Click Here that made me think of the following passage:

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (1 Timothy 1:5-8)

It amazes me that Mr. Rock would write with confidence about what Jesus would do when he himself is apparently ignorant of Jesus' teachings.

Astoundingly, he writes:

Well, Jesus wasn't arrogant or pompous, so he wouldn't deliver his message in such a way to exclude rather than unite. The very idea that Christianity or any other religion, for that matter, has a monopoly on morality or divinity is absolutely preposterous.

Was Jesus arrogant? No. Did He have a message that excluded? Absolutely! And did He claim a monopoly on morality or divinity? Without a doubt!

Jesus preached in public, much like the man Mr. Rock derides, and he demanded repentance of sin (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, and others) and proclaimed that those who would not repent would perish (Luke 13:3 and 5).

Jesus also claimed divinity and that unbelievers would die in their sins (John 8:24). Not only that, Jesus claimed to be the only way to salvation, a clear proposition of an exclusive message (John 14:6).

The one who is preposterous is Mr. Rock. He wrote that piece using Jesus as a model in order to proclaim the opposite of what Jesus actually taught. Mr. Rock, through his utter lack of knowledge, research, and credibility, has held up a flashing neon sign that says, "I'm Ignorant!" and he doesn't even know it!

This is sad. This is tragic. In our culture, the teachings of Jesus have been reduced to a popular consensus of opinion that is the opposite of truth. Most readers, and apparently the editor of a major newspaper, have no problem accepting this ridiculous notion that Jesus taught a sweet, let's-all-have-a-group-hug kind of message that wouldn't offend anyone, when, in fact, Jesus made this amazing declaration:

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)

To those who don't believe, this is a divisive and offensive claim. Either love Jesus more than anything and be willing to die for Him, or you will die. The words of Christ cut, and they cut deeply. They expose the soul and demand repentance of sin and adherence to His teachings. There is no other option.

Mr. Rock is just one of many who believe his nonsense. It's up to real Christians to shout the real teachings of Christ from the rooftops and expose ignorance like Mr. Rock's for what it is.

Great Beginnings

As I'm writing the early portions of Enoch's Ghost, the second book in the Oracles of Fire series, I'm once again reminded of how difficult writing the beginning of a book, especially a sequel, can be. I have no idea how long it has been since a reader has finished the previous book, so I have to reintroduce characters, bring in reminders of the old storyline, and create a new stage for an engaging story. This problem isn't exclusive to sequels. In most first books there is an important backstory, so the story acts as a sequel to whatever set up the events of the first chapter.

Here are some of the potential pitfalls:

Contrived dialogue - This happens when the author makes characters say things to each other they normally wouldn't say in order to inform the reader of what's going on. It usually results in experienced readers grimacing at how stilted the characters are.

Backstory information dump - This usually occurs in narrative or interior monologue where the author informs the reader of what has happened in the past. I see it most often with a primary character thinking about what recently happened. This is similar to contrived dialogue. When it's done in narrative, it is usually boring, and it certainly slows down the story.

Sketchy characterization - In order to get the story going and hook the reader, the author jumps right into the action. Sure, it might be exciting, but if the characters aren't developed, the reader won't have an emotional investment in the outcome. The action won't evoke the kind of edge-of-your-seat response the author is looking for. This isn't as difficult to avoid in a sequel, because most readers will be familiar with the characters and only need a brief refresher.

Boring introduction - Sometimes an author will try to avoid the previous problem by introducing the characters slowly in their normal everyday environments. This develops characters well, but it can lose readers because the story just doesn't grab them. If a reader puts the book down, the author has lost. The author won't be there to scream, "at least get to chapter four! That's where it really gets moving!"

Are there other pitfalls? Please share them with me. Then, I'll try to relate some potential solutions.

Hitting the Road Soon

I updated my on-line schedule this morning: http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/schedule.html

I have about eight more appearances I'm working on to fill in a couple of gaps. If you're near one of locations I'm visiting, please stop by at one of the scheduled appearances and chat. I'd love to meet you. If you want me to speak to a school, church, homeschool group, etc., I still have some time available in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and the Atlanta metro area, especially in the evenings, so please let me know.

These road trips are always exhausting for me, and I sometimes get sick near the end. Please pray for my family and me as we travel.

Dancing Word Chat Tonight

I will be the guest in the Dancingword.net chatroom tonight (September 8) at 9 pm eastern time.

Here is the link to the chatroom:

http://www.dancingword.net/chatroom.htm

Then click on the little connect icon in the upper lefthand corner, enter a nickname, then click on OK.

Please come and chat with me. I don't want to be there alone!

The Desk Jungle

My desk is a jungle. I have heard that I'm not the only one with this problem, but it seems that all sorts of paper products and other items grow in haphazard piles on my desk. Every time I clear it (about twice a year), I vow that it will never happen again, but somehow the clutter reappears.

Actually, I know how it happens. Gremlins come into my office at night, rifle through my files, and scatter whatever they find all over my desk. Really! There can be no other explanation for the randomness of what I find.

I see a bottle of vitamins, a post office receipt, a camera, a remote control for something, a pile of blank CD's, a stack of business cards collected at conferences, scattered scraps of paper with phone numbers on them (I don't know whose numbers they are), bank receipts, an apologetics book, a clipped-out magazine article, two Beanie Baby dragons, an old shopping list, letters I have to answer, letters I have already answered, a coffee cup (though I don't drink coffee), two open water bottles, a plastic spider, a pile of bookmarks, a checkbook, a bookstore gift card, a drawing of a dragon, two classical music CD's, a printout of a fellow writer's manuscript, two family magazines, and the list could go on and on.

It must be gremlins! Who in their right mind would put together a collection like that?

Okay ... maybe I'm not in my right mind. I'll clear it once again, and this time ... this time I'm going to mount a camera to catch those gremlins at work!

Why Fantasy - From Speculative Faith

I posted a new entry on the Speculative Faith blog, and I'm copying it here in my own blog. It's part three in a series called, "Why Fantasy."
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Sometimes I feel like the most blessed person on earth. Every single day I get messages, either through e-mail or postal mail, telling me how my books have affected someone's life for the better. When I first began writing Christian-based fantasy, I hoped the stories would help some readers, but I had no idea that the response would be so huge.

I put together a page of some of the responses to give you an idea of their content. Here's the link: Click Here

These are just a few, and although I haven't counted, I think the number of responses I've received is now over two thousand--from simple rebuilding of faith to prevention of suicide. And when I think that each message probably represents many, many more, I am overwhelmed with blessed satisfaction.

Why does Christian fantasy affect readers so profoundly? I don't know for sure, but I have an idea.

I believe fantasy allows us to write about characters we would all like to be. It displays heroes who are powerful, courageous, and holy. The overwhelming favorite character in my series is a teenager named Bonnie Silver. She is faithful, brave, and loyal--my ideal girl. She has fears and doubts, but she conquers them with an amazing faith.

Some have called her "unrealistic," but my readers (and I) beg to differ. They believe they can be like her. One girl embroidered "Bonnie Silver" on her cap. She told me that every time she puts it on, it reminds her to have faith like Bonnie's. Another girl and her friend memorized a prayer Bonnie says, a two-and-a-half page prayer, and they pray it together before school, putting the names of their unsaved friends in the prayer.

The fantasy hero, usually an unlikely hero, is someone we can identify with. Most of us long to do something great, to step beyond the mundane and make a real difference. When we see a fantasy character achieving that kind of great feat, our hearts are right with him. The unbelievable, at least for a moment, becomes believable, and our hearts leap.

I think God programs that desire into us. He wants us to step beyond the normal and walk into the realm of what seems impossible. As we walk in that realm with Him, He shows us how to achieve something great for His kingdom. What seemed fantastic and beyond our reach, comes into view and into our grasp, and we really can complete that fantasy journey.

So, I believe Christian fantasy, unlike any other genre, opens the door of faith to allow us to believe the impossible. It shows us that the spiritual world is real, and we can be those unlikely heroes who complete awesome adventures. We really can be strong, brave, and holy.

As each new message comes into my mailbox, I realize that my own awesome adventure, my dream of how writing can change lives, is coming true, and in a way that is far beyond anything I hoped for.

Tennessee--Home of the Friendly

We've been working on our new home in western Tennessee (moving there in May, 2007), and as we go to various businesses in the area, we can't help but be overwhelmed at the friendliness of the people here. Yesterday, my wife called a business to ask for directions. On the way, we stopped for lunch. When we finally arrived at the business, the lady who had given us directions gushed that she had been so worried about us. She gave my wife a hug and said she was so glad we made it safely.

It seems that everyone waves to each other, and general courtesy is beyond the norm. I think I'm going to like it here.

Driving

I spent most of the day driving yesterday. Staring at the road always gives me time to think, so I came up with some good story ideas for future books. The three best environments for ideas, for me, are: jogging, driving, and taking a shower. Something about these activities stimulates my brain. Maybe it's the solitude or fact that my brain has nothing else to think about. I'm not sure.

Anyone want to chime in? Where do you get your best writing ideas?

Snakes?

What's with all the snake encounters I keep hearing about? I decided to check out a review of the "Snakes on a Plane" movie, and since it didn't seem fitting for viewing, I'm going to be skipping it. I did, however, have a snake encounter of my own.

My wife, three of my daughters, and I ventured down the Big Shoals trail in northern Florida yesterday. Since it follows the Suwannee River, I thought about the possibility of watching for snakes. I had injured my leg running, so it was hard for me to walk as quickly as they wanted to go, so I allowed my wife and one of my daughters to march ahead. The path seemed clear enough, so I thought it would be safe ... until I heard a rattling noise.

They had stepped right over the top of a rattlesnake! I saw it just in time to leap over it. I spun around and yelled at my other daughters to halt. After grabbing the longest stick within range, I guided the pygmy rattler well off to the side before I let my girls proceed.

Well, it was time for the old man to lead the way, but after a couple of miles, I was going pretty slowly, so my youngest said she was capable of watching for snakes, and she scrambled out in front. Again, it all looked clear, so I allowed it, but again, she walked within six inches of another rattler! I swept it away with my stick and decided it was time to head back, with me in the lead, no matter how long it took.

On the way back, I spotted a king snake--no danger in that, but still interesting to see three snakes on the path in just three miles. No telling how many there must have been out in the forest.

So what's the lesson? I guess it's pretty simple. Men, watch out for snakes. Guard your family. And thank God that He watches over your family if something keeps you from watching over them yourself.

An advertisement for my daughter

My fifteen-year-old daughter, in an attempt to make some money for investment in her future, has started an embroidery business. Her first products are a T-shirt and a hoodie that carry an embroidered Dragons in our Midst logo.

To see the apparel, here is the link for credit card orders through PayPal:

http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/DIOMApparel.htm

Here is the link for an order form you can fill out and mail in:

http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/Buyshirts.htm

She also hopes to have caps and polo shirts soon.

If you choose to buy anything from her, I thank you in advance for your support.

The God Who is There

I'm doing a Bible study with my three sons and two men from my church, and we're using Francis Schaeffer's The God Who is There as our launch pad for digging into the Scriptures. I read that book quite a few years ago, and it's good to get back into it. I recommend it highly for those who enjoy a look at the degradation of thinking in our culture--how modern man has forsaken rationality and either languished in despair or latched on to an irrational leap of faith in order to keep some semblance of hope.

Studying this book has helped me understand how most conservative evangelicals (by the way, I am a conservative evangelical) have embraced certain illogical doctrines. The acceptance of irrationality is pervasive enough to invade even the most Scripture-minded churches, as the Bible says:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires." (2 Timothy 4:3)

They seem to be fulfilling Paul's prophecy:

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

The desire to hang on to doctrines that make church-goers comfortable in their sin has led them to maintain a form of godliness, teaching that one ought to be godly, though they have denied that anyone really has the power to be godly. It's a strange, irrational position to hold, yet, it seems, that most evangelicals hold it with tenacity, some even aggressively so.

I still passionately disagree with such illogical, unscriptural doctrines, but at least now I understand a little better how they have inflitrated the church.