Christian Author Interviews

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Sharon:

It is my pleasure to introduce the author of "MASKED" R.A. Vukovich. Where did you grow up and did that influence your decision to write?

R.A.

I grew up in Milwaukee, WI. I have always wanted to write, even as a child.

Sharon

What life experiences had a influence on your writing?

R.A.

Receiving Jesus Christ as my Savior changed my life and style of writing. I want to write for the Glory of God, and inspire other Christians.

Sharon

I am impressed with your credentials. Will you please share them with our readers.

R.A.

I have a BS in sociology, MA in divinity. I have also pastored churches and ministered for over thirty years. I feel my experiences and understanding of the Word of God could be beneficial to others who are where I have been, and have felt what I have felt.

Sharon

What sub-genre do you write?

R.A.

I write to the broken and wounded in the Body of Christ because I use to be one of them. I know that God loves them, and desires to restore and use them.

Sharon

Has a certain passage in the Bible inspired your book?

R.A.

Jer. 29:11 (KJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Sharon

Are you writing a book right now?

R.A.

Yes, I am working on another book on the wilderness experience from a biblical perspective and our own personal trials and experiences we encounter as Christians, as we journey to Canaan.

MASKED

Sharon

It is my pleasure to introduce Karl Priest author of "Protester Voices—The 1974 Textbook Tea Party"

Karl where did you grow up and did that influence your decision to write? Or did you have a life defining moment that lead to writing?

Karl

Charleston, WV. God gently guided my life experiences leading to the writing of this book.

Sharon

When did you become Christian?

Karl

November 1968 in a Navy barracks at Bainbridge, MD.

Sharon

I understand you have a lifelong committment to education, starting with an education with that goal in mind. What is your education?

Karl

BS in elementary education, MA in education administration

Sharon

What subgenre of Christian do you write and why?

I am working on a novel that will be of interest to Christian men and male teens.

Sharon

Has a certain passage in the Bible inspired your book?

Karl

No. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matt. 18:6)

Sharon

What life experiences had a influence on your writing?

Karl

The main experience was participating in the Kanawha county Textbook Protest.

Sharon

Why is that 1974 event important for today?

Karl

Today’s Tea Partiers may think the subject of my book does not apply to them and has no bearing on the Tea Party movement. Please believe that it does.

It has almost become trite to say (in one form or another) “Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it.” Nevertheless, it is so very true. As we approach a point in American history that will be largely determined by the Tea Party movement we must grasp the meaning of that warning.

The event that occurred in West Virginia in 1974 that liberals loathe and conservatives need to comprehend. That event is is extremely relevant to today’s Tea Partiers just as the Boston Tea Party had a major impact upon American patriots after 1773.

The West Virginia event launched the modern conservative movement. Those 1974 Tea Partiers are now into old age or deceased. It would behoove today’s conservatives to study the 1974 Textbook Tea Party. In doing so they will be encouraged to persevere as events transpire in the days ahead that will be difficult. Also, Tea Partiers will be strongly reminded that compromise with liberalism will not work!

We are engaged in what is likely to be the final battle for the heart and soul of America. There is only one book that provides a first-hand protester perspective of the event that launched the war. That book is Protester Voices—The 1974 Textbook Tea Part.

Protester Voices—The 1974 Textbook Tea Party

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Sharon:

I am pleased to introduce Barney Browne author of Equip Your Mind with the Word of God; Volume 1; Foundational Truths for Living.

Barney will you please tell a little about your book?

Barney:

This Bible verse reference and devotional book is currently available in two Bible version editions: the New International Version and the King James Version. The New International Version edition is available in either an 8.5 X 11 paperback or as a PDF eBook. The King James Version is currently available as an eBook only. Coming soon will be a New King James Version which will be initially available as an eBook.

Sharon:

Where did you grow up and did that influence your decision to write?

Barney:

I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota for my elementary school years and then our family moved to southeastern Wisconsin where I attended high school and college. Writing, vocabulary, and foreign languages were my weakest subjects all the way through school. I struggled with any kind of English composition, including essay exams. I was required to take two semesters of freshman English in college which involved writing essays each week. My one page essays usually took me about five hours and involved multiple rewrites. I barely made it through freshman English with C grades in spite of an enormous investment of time and frustration. I had absolutely no interest in writing of any kind. My wife Heidi on the other hand loves writing, scored very high on her entrance exams, and was not required to take any freshman English in college.

My writing path began to change in the early 1980's when my employer, IBM, moved to e-mail for its internal communications. To improve my productivity I learned to touch type using a PC software program. I still labored over everything I wrote, but I could make changes very quickly. After years of using e-mail and working with PC's, my ability to turn my thoughts into well organized written sentences developed and improved. I still avoided writing and typing whenever possible.

In 2002 Heidi and I decided that I needed to self-publish my personal collection of Bible verses by topic. My Bible verse collection consisted of about 60 8.5 x 11 pages in a binder. It was 99.9 % Scripture. I only decided to commit to this project because I simply planned to reformat what I had already assembled and add a preface and an introduction.

In seeking some publishing industry advice I reviewed my idea with a local owner of a small publishing company that produced Christian books for children. She said that I really needed to introduce each of the 41 chapters with a half page of text to help the reader with some perspective and context before jumping right into Bible verses. Everyone I spoke with agreed with this wisdom. I had no choice but to add this to the project. This kind of encounter happened a few more times over the next few years, leading to a longer introduction than originally planned plus six appendices. Volume 1 of my book has a total page count of 528 pages. Scripture now makes up only about 80% of the book's text and my writing makes up the remaining 20%. Self-publishing my first book spanned seven years, significant English tutoring from Heidi, and the study of several English grammar and writing style books in order to complete what I started. I should also mention that I field tested many of my book's chapters in the men's Bible study classes that I taught at my church.

Had I really understood what this project would entail I would not have started down the self-publishing path. However, now that I am here I am very thankful. It was actually a blessing that I was too naive to understand the magnitude of the English composition challenges that I would face. Although I don't consider myself to be a talented writer, this book project has resulted in my becoming much more effective in written communications.

Sharon:

When did you become Christian?

Barney:

Christianity was not a significant part of my family life growing up and therefore was not important in my life until several events caught my attention during my late thirties. These led me to investigate several foundational beliefs I held regarding reality and the existence of God. This led to my wife Heidi and I placing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in 1989.

Sharon:

What subgenre of Christian do you write and why?

Barney:

My book series, Equip Your Mind with the Word of God, falls into the nonfiction category. I have plans for at least seven volumes in total. Each book in the series is designed to be useful as a personal Bible verse reference by topic, a personal devotional book, and as a small group Bible study resource.

My calling to produce these books comes from my appreciation for how the Word of God speaks to the issues of life that we face as human beings living in this world--a world that is full of wonder, beauty, and love, yet at the same time is a fallen world where evil, deception, and suffering is commonplace.

Sharon

Has a certain passage in the Bible inspired your book?

Barney:

There are many passages that worked together to inspire my book series: Equip Your Mind with the Word of God. The following are some of my favorites:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Psalm 18:30 Psalm 119:130 Psalm 119:144 Psalm 119:160 Isaiah 40:8 Luke 11:28 Romans 15:4 Hebrews 4:12 Proverbs 3:5-6 John 8:31-32 Psalm 119:105

Sharon:

Are you writing a book right now?

Barney:

Yes and no. Right now I am working on a New King James Version of my current book: Equip Your Mind with the Word of God; Volume 1; Foundational Truths for Living. However, 99% of my effort is replacing 1700 Bible verses with New King James Bible verses to create a new edition. Although this will be an additional book in the series, I am not really composing new text. That will start when I begin Volume 2 this autumn.