My 13-year Odyssey To Getting Published

Making of Christian Historical Fiction

 An American Family Portrait

Audio Podcast

Play

Show Notes

In this series of podcast episodes, I take a look BEHIND THE PAGES at the making of the Christian historical fiction classic, An American Family Portrait series. Today’s topic: Why it took me 13 looooonnnnnnggggggg years to get my first book contract.

  • Three key moments in my life converged to make me a writer of Christian historical fiction:
    • Changing my B.A. major from Bible studies to history
    • Having a writers seed planted in my mind while in seminary
    • Realizing the power of stories while speaking and preaching
  • After meeting Dr. Sherwood Wirt, founding editor of Billy Graham’s Decision magazine, I began attending writers critique groups and conferences.
  • The door to Christian fiction opened with the successes of Janette Oake, Frank Peretti, and Brock and Bodie Thoene.
  • At Mt. Hermon Writers Conference an editor from Victor Books told me they were looking for someone to write an American history series.
  • After submitting a proposal, I was offered a four book contract; after I submitted the first manuscript, the contract was extended to seven books and I began writing full time.

 CLICK HERE to start reading An American Family Portrait in minutes!

Jack’s Next Post
INSPIRATIONAL HISTORY: John Winthrop, Puritan hero

Share

Sports on Sundays

Heroes in history

An American Family Portrait

Audio Podcast

Play

Show Notes

In this series of podcast episodes, I take a look at the Way We Were as Christians in the past. In this episode, keeping the Sabbath in the days of the Puritans.

  • With all the Sunday distractions today, you’d think this was a modern struggle. Not so. 
  • In the 4th Century, Chrysostom complained about worshipers running off the chariot races at the hippodrome.
  • In the days of the Puritans, King James’s Book of Sports required all Englishmen to play sports on Sundays.

 CLICK HERE to start reading An American Family Portrait in minutes!

Jack’s Next Post
BEHIND THE PAGES: Why It Took 13 Years to Get Published!

Share