Mind-mapping, originally understood, is a right-brained way to explore a topic by making a diagram of bubbles and lines and drawings and colors and little pictures on a piece of paper. There are a few applications, notably Buzan's original iMindMap, that aim to give the same experience on a computer; and there are many more … Continue reading A Better Mind-Mapping App
Interview: Julie Davis on Jesus and Dracula
I did an interview with Julie Davis about her new book, Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life, a couple of weeks ago; it was published at Aleteia, and I just realized that I forgot to post it here. Among other things, she talks about what she learned about Jesus from Bram Stoker's Dracula: During that time … Continue reading Interview: Julie Davis on Jesus and Dracula
Running After Very Truly Run After
Some while back I said that I'd finished my next book, Very Truly Run After...and then I sent it off to Julie and discovered that I hadn't. Most authors have first readers. My process is a little different. As I'm writing the book, I read the new material to my wife Jane and my friend … Continue reading Running After Very Truly Run After
Pedant Errant: Beauty and the Beast
A little something I wrote back in 2002. As everyone with children already knows, Disney has just released Beauty and the Beast on DVD. My kids had never seen it, and as it truly was the great musical (animated or otherwise) of its day Jane nabbed a copy the next time she visited Costco. We … Continue reading Pedant Errant: Beauty and the Beast
At Aleteia: Praying the Luminous Mysteries for Vocations
My latest at Aleteia: Praying the Luminous Mysteries for Vocations: One Sunday, our pastor asked us to concentrate on praying for vocations the following week. More specifically, he challenged us to pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary for this intention. He went on to propose a set of petitions, one for each mystery, and … Continue reading At Aleteia: Praying the Luminous Mysteries for Vocations
Wodehouse and Haggard and Adams, Oh My!
Julie Davis has written a lovely review of my new book, Through Darkest Zymurgia!. You should go read it. (And the book, too!) Here's the money quote: Through Darkest Zymurgia! is what you'd get if you crossed P.G. Wodehouse with H. Rider Haggard and sprinkled a generous dose of Douglas Adams over the whole. I'm … Continue reading Wodehouse and Haggard and Adams, Oh My!
The Year of the Catholic Conspiracy
Today is the feast day of St. Catherine of Siena, which means that The Catholic Conspiracy has been trying to set the world on fire for a full year as of today. (Are we what we should be? We're trying, at least. Sometimes we're very trying.) (Rimshot.) In honor of this achievement, we conspirators are … Continue reading The Year of the Catholic Conspiracy
Through Darkest Zymurgia!
My latest book, Through Darkest Zymurgia!, is now available in print or as an e-book. It's a Ripping Yarn of Exploration and Adventure in a faux-Victorian world with some surprising features and a good deal of understated humor. You'll like it, I promise. It's cheaper as an e-book, but buy the print edition—it's gorgeous.
Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life
I have on my desk a copy of Julie Davis' new devotional book, Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life; and let me begin my review by saying that as soon as it was available I immediately ordered copies for the six people in our RCIA class who will be baptized or confirmed at Easter this year. … Continue reading Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life
A Fast Take at Aleteia: Vikings at Dino’s
So I did a mini-interview for Elizabeth Scalia and the gang at Aleteia regarding Vikings at Dino: What inspired the book? ...and then I said, I want to write a novel that starts with a completely implausible situation … and then have great fun making sense of it. The Vikings showed up in the hamburger … Continue reading A Fast Take at Aleteia: Vikings at Dino’s
Zymurgia House 