Chapter 4
| |

Chapter 4

The ungreased gears on Saw Yatha’s door brought him back to consciousness and put him in an off mood.  He opened his one good eye to see a medical intern occupying the doorway.  It had been four days stuck in this room where Saw had to patiently wait for whoever was in charge to release…

Chapter 3
| |

Chapter 3

Zungher Dol looked out over the capital city of Valdrin from the top floor of his tower.  It was a grand sight.  So much had happened in the forty-three cycles that had passed since he’d won the right to be Chieftain of the Merlain people, and so much left to do before he passed his…

Chapter 2
| |

Chapter 2

Eye Patch’s feet danced down the stairs toward street level as Harold tried to keep up without falling headlong into his master.  The man in black reached the front door and started to head west to the end of the block.  Harold snatched at Eye Patch’s sleeve, stopping his progress.  The inky stranger gave a…

Chapter 1
| |

Chapter 1

Athens, Kansas lies on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills.  It is nestled between two rivers, the Neosho to the north and the Cottonwood to the south.  Native mythology exists that it is these two mild-mannered rivers, which protect the original town from destructive tornadoes. It was founded as the American fascination with setting…

Slow Down and Write: Unlock the Gift of Writing

Slow Down and Write: Unlock the Gift of Writing

The gift of writing is a passion project for me right now. I want to tell many stories. Yet, finding time to write amid work, family, and ministry responsibilities is challenging. God has called me to all three of those responsibilities before writing books. I used to write “by the seat of my pants” but…

Daring Fear: A Dad’s Tale of His Little Girl’s Bravery

Daring Fear: A Dad’s Tale of His Little Girl’s Bravery

“I want to learn to skate,” my little girl told me.  She held in her hands a new-to-her pair of roller skates. The possibility of independence and adventure sparkled in her eyes. “Sure,” I said, “Let’s put them on and see how they fit.” The skates were roller rink quality lace-ups with white leather and…

Brian Thomas Cropp - regretful man

Crow’s Feet and Regrets: Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 2

Original When forty winters shall besiege thy brow And dig deep trenches in thy beauty’s field, Thy youth’s proud livery, so gazed on now, Will be a tattered weed, of small worth held. Then being asked where all thy beauty lies— Where all the treasure of thy lusty days— To say within thine own deep-sunken…

Stop Wasting Your Youth, Young Man: Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 1

Stop Wasting Your Youth, Young Man: Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 1

Original From fairest creatures we desire increase, That thereby beauty’s rose might never die, But as the riper should by time decease, His tender heir might bear his memory; But thou, contracted to thine own bright eyes, Feed’st thy light’s flame with self-substantial fuel, Making a famine where abundance lies, Thyself thy foe, to thy…

The Beautiful Craft of Story: Dan Harmon’s Story Circle

The Beautiful Craft of Story: Dan Harmon’s Story Circle

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge into the wild world of storytelling. Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a journey filled with creativity, late nights, and probably a few too many cups of tea (I have a thing about coffee). But before you start hammering away at your keyboard, there’s one thing you should…