I am a grateful cradle-Catholic, born in New Zealand, studied in Fiji and France, grew up in Australia, and rooted myself in the USA.
Growing up, I was voracious at drawing and reading. But, I was not interested in learning my Catechism. In fact, I even used to hide the book behind the bulky TV in the living room.
It didn’t work though. Whether I liked it or not, my Faith impacted me.
I found a lot of freedom in stories and creativity, and proudly finished my first novel at 13. I self-published it at 22, with wonderful reviews from families and children.
A few years later, I finished a 2 year course with the Institute for Children’s Literature.
That started a lifelong love of worldbuilding and writing. I’ve written tons of stories, hordes of poetry, perhaps a thousand blogs and articles on marketing, my Catholic thought, the theology of fiction, wrote a 60,000 non-fiction book on marketing, and have a stack of novels I dream of writing.
A Decision to be Catholic
Several moments impacted my young life.
- One was spending the Easter Triduum in Lourdes with friends. That was a moment when prayer came as easy as breathing, in a night studded with lines of candles and lurching processions.
- Another was marching in the mud alongside thousands in the Paris-Chartres pilgrimage, 3 days of blisters, grit, and grace. We all anticipated the great Mass filled with banners and breathless blessings.
- Third, I was privileged to attend a year at Christendom College, where the core curriculum shook me from my simple faith. Seeds sank deep and started reworking how I saw faith and fantasy as deep human needs.
Lastly, I have met many Catholic men and women in my life who inspired me with their witness, through authenticity and kindness. I wanted the joy and goodness that they had.
My Faith is a great gift I’ve been given. The more I explore the stories I want to tell, the more I realize that I want to be more than just an author.
I want to be a Catholic author.
This course pulls together my own thoughts as I set out into the deep unlit seas of my inner journeys to the center of my psyche. We all find a little door there, at the end of all things, when we think ourselves most alone. Through that door is a world made up of everyone’s Narnias: Heaven.
Every generation needs more than yesterday’s teachers.
We need a regular renewal of our minds with the tropes, themes, and tales of each new generation.
This is not always an easy or happy road. But it is an elven road through the stars. Which means it’s full of danger and comforting misunderstanding, and full of a light and relief that can break our hearts.
I’m glad to be on it with you.
0 Comments