Most days as an artist, or even in ministry, you don’t get a huge amount of encouragement. That’s not to say it’s not there, nor do we do what we do based upon encouragement alone. But every now and then something comes along that makes you stop and say, “Wow, that’s why I’m doing this.” I’d like to share two with you that came in within 24-hours of each other.

Yesterday I got an e-mail from a mom, Uta, who’s son Stephan is currently serving in Iraq. Partly because of my own family’s long military service to this country, and partly because of my current proximity to Ft. Drum, I have a tremendous heart for our soldiers. So it’s a speechless delight when I’m able to have an impact on there lives, even in the smallest of ways. I’ll let the photo do all the talking.

Didn’t notice anything? Zoom in on the book on his night stand.

You are in our thoughts and prayers, Stephan! God bless you, Mighty Dibor!

Lastly, today I got an e-mail from Dr. David Dunn, the Director of the Roberts Cultural Life Center at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY. As many of you know, we played there on June 19th for the National Bible Quiz Finals. The next morning, the staff collected all the comment cards from the week, and David wrote this to me:

“This young lady said she enjoyed the college experience – food could have been better and really enjoyed the Jolt Cola that we put in the rooms prior to their arrival. Then at the end of the comment card, she wrote, ‘And last night I rededicated my life to Jesus.’ (We picked the cards up on Saturday, so she rededicated here life to Christ at the concert!).”

You never know who’s life you might be touching in the midst of your work day, or while “stuck” at home. You never know who’s watching, who’s reading, who’s modeling you. I’m fortunate to get letters every now and again. But for those who don’t, what you do is equally as priceless.  So allow me to encourage you today. Keep going. Souls are waiting on the other side of your obediance.

Thanks for reading.

CH 

This month’s Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog Tour highlights an incredible author, Mr. Robin Parrish. His works, known in the secular and Christian circles alike, come highly recommended from people far more esteemed than I. But also note-worthy is his amazing blog-based e-zine website, a gorgeous stop I frequent often.

For me personally, I’ve learned most of what I know about Robin through his friends, having not yet had the privilege to meet him myself. I hope that day is coming. But until you get a blog entry about me personally sitting down for a mocha-chino-latte-frappe-hoo-haa and talking about the latest way to start your temperamental weed whacker, here is a cool story to tide you over.

While on the recent Fantasy Fiction Tour with Wayne Batson, Sharon Hinck & Bryan Davis, we stopped at a Borders in a city that I honestly can’t remember. Charlotte perhaps? Maybe Raleigh. Dunnno’. But as we stood setting up our table, Sharon blurts out, “Oh, look! It’s Robin!”

“And face-out, I might add,” says Wayne, noting Robin’s latest book, Fearless, was sitting on the front table, facing the first people to walk in the door. (Quite a feat if you are familiar with publishing at all).

Little did I know that Sharon and Robin are friends, and share a “graduating-class-into-the-same-publisher” stature together. Sharon went on to tell me “how cool a guy” he is, and how amazing his works are. Then again, I’m not sure Sharon could speak poorly of anyone, but there was a genuine sense of appreciation for him.

So long before I meet the man personally, and even after his numerous accolades, endorsements, and “face-out” status, I understand that he is “one cool guy,” and from reading between the lines, a genuine article in the faith.

So I happily endorse you my not-yet-met-friend-of-a-friend, and gladly promote your work from my small island in the cyber sea.

Thanks for reading! And please be sure to check out Robin’s sites and Amazon presence.  Leaving lots of comments is always goo, too!

Blessings,

CH

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Check ‘em out! CSFF Blog Tour participants this month:

Trish Anderson
Brandon Barr
Wayne Thomas Batson
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Grace Bridges
Amy Browning
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
Karri Compton
Frank Creed
Lisa Cromwell
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Merrie Destefano
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Linda Gilmore
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Andrea Graham
Russell Griffith
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Sherrie Hibbs
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Karen
Dawn King
Tina Kulesa
Lost Genre Guild
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
John W. Otte
John Ottinger
Robin Parrish
Lyn Perry
Rachelle
Cheryl Russel
Hanna Sandvig
Chawna Schroeder
Mirtika Schultz
James Somers
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Daniel I. Weaver

For those of you who haven’t seen Wayne Thomas Batson’s outstanding interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” yet, I have it right here!

If it doesn’t play for you, please use this link:

http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/media/Wayne_Thomas_Batson_-_Fox_and_Friends.mov

Or click HERE.

CH

Hey’a gang!

We just posted the entire 2007 Video Journal Library on www.fantasyfictiontour.com, including days 8, 9 and 10. I’ll have them up on vod:pod shortly, it’s just being slow at the moment.

Also, please don’t forget to watch Wayne Thomas Batson tomorrow morning on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” at 8:45am ET. Go Wayne!

Again, thanks to all those who came out to support the tour, and those who watched and cheered from afar. You are the greatest book fans in the world!

CH

 

Finally home and putting the kids to bed, but not before some big news!

While at Timeless Treasures in Time Square, Wayne Batson got a call from his publicist:

“Your book is on the front page of the Washington Post!” And so was an article about Christian Fantasy, our tour, and a photo of Wayne, Sharon Hinck and myself. Not sure why they excluded Bryan Davis. But he was there for the interview.

Not only was the article extremely positive, but Wayne got some other big news:

“Stay in New York. Fox News wants you live on Fox & Friends on Friday morning!”

So I’m asking for four very important things:

1.) Please go to the article on The Washington Post and post comments. They need to hear from the Christians.

2.) Please watch Fox News on Friday morning and send Fox comments.

3.) Go to your local bookstores and ask for more Christian Fantasy books. Tell them about the Washington Post article and the Fox News interview with Wayne.

4.) Lastly, please go to Wayne’s blog and congratulate him. We are so pumped!

More than trying to promote each other, our tour was about promoting the Lord Jesus, and about making the world aware of what we believe is the most powerful genre for reaching young people: fiction.

What people need to realize is that the Church as a whole largely abandoned her role in writing fantasy and fiction after Lewis, Chesterton and Tolkien, until the late 80′s when Peretti came out with This Present Darkness. For too long we’ve abdicated our responsibility and allowed the world to succeed while we sat by. I’m so proud to be among a growing number of authors and publishers reclaiming what is rightfully ours–imagination and creativity.

Thank you for standing with us, and for all your overwhelming support!

CH 

Just had an amazing signing in Brooklyn at Timeless Treasures, the book store of The Brooklyn Tabernacle. We even sat in for their famous Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting, but had to duck out early. Speechless.. Simply amazing.

Had a wonderful time catching up with Pastor Ron & Anna Mandile here tonight at Living Waters, our home base in Brooklyn. After gorging myself on a famous BBQ bacon and cheese turkey burger, I’m ready to hit the hay and let it turn into five pounds of needless fat.

Video: DAY 7 part 2 is up and running! Enjoy!

Nite!

CH 

Hey gang…DAY 7 part 2 is up on the Fantasy Fiction Tour Site, as well as in my little vod:pod column to the right (as always).

Enjoy!

CH 

Ahhh…finally back on my home turf, or at least close enough. Driving through the south with NY plates is a little uneasy, but driving through NYC with NY plates gives you a sort of “right of passage” to drive like a crazy city driver (which I learned from my cuz, Michael). Zipping through the busy Brooklyn streets is quite fun, though sometimes costly.

While coming into town, a severe car accident occurred in the left lane just beside us on the Belt Parkway. We literally drove through flying glass and smoke. Everyone had a reality check for sure. But the Lord’s hand was upon us. Actually, it felt more like being in NASCAR than anything else (North American Sport Commonly Associated with Rednecks).

We’ve officially landed at Living Waters ministry center in downtown Brooklyn. After getting our valuables out, we parked the vehicles and miraculously found back-to-back street parking (anyone who knows Brooklyn knows that’s crazy).

So we’re sitting here updating our blogs until this evenings signing at 5:00pm.

Thanks for reading!

CH 

Howdy!

Writing to you from the lovely Panera Bread on Main Street in Newark, DE. The gang just finished a fantastic day roaming around Maryland and Delaware! We started off at Christopher Matthew’s Christian Book Store in Bel Air, MD. Jennifer and I were running 30 minutes late due to a long overdue (5 years!) reunion with the Trionfo family in Kingsville. Love you Sue, Adam and Bramble!

Next we dropped into the Borders and the Family Christian Store in Newrak, DE. While the Borders was one of our impromptu “drive-bys,” the warm folks at FCS were eager to welcome us. A special shout out to JUSTIN who regularly comments on my blog here–thanks for coming out, bro! Great to meet you in person, and please let me know how you like The Lion Vrie!

Finally tonight, we stopped at Days of Knight game and book store. What a cool store! We got to meet all sorts of interesting people interested in fantasy and fiction. (I even bought a new board game called Thurn & Taxis!).

Tomorrow we head to NYC! And we also have a new addition to the tour: Kayla Batson! Miss Batson is 11 years old and has added much joy to the crew.

We’re pretty tired right now and looking forward to sleep. Thanks for all your prayers on this, the home stretch!

DAY 7 part 1 is now up on the FFT site, YouTube, and on my vod:pod column just to the right…

Are you enjoying the videos? Please comment and let me know!

Blessings!

CH

Hey gang…

Just a quick update to let you know that DAY 6 parts 1 & 2 are now up for viewing to the right (my vod:pod column). My sister, Hillary, sings on the featured soundtracks to both DAY 4 part 1, and on DAY 6 part 2!

I hope you enjoy!

CH 

Please visit the Fantasy Fiction Tour main site for the latest videos at: www.fantasyfictiontour.com

- – -

To quote Tommy Boy…

“I-can’t-feel-my-legs!”

We’ve been going at a break-neck speed on this Fantasy Fiction Tour, even for me. been averaging about 3 stores a day and meeting hundreds of people. But the sheer outpouring of support has made this trip worth every mile.

I’m not even sure what I wrote last (of course I could look), but I want to thank you all for your thoughts, comments, and most of all, your prayers. Since leaving TN, we stopped in Asheville, NC and stayed with our wonderful friends Shannon and Sherri McCready. At the B&N there we were visited by a lady who just happened to teach stage combat at the nearby university and proceeded to give us all lessons out front to the delight of a large crowd.

Friday we stopped in Charlotte where both Wayne Batson and Bryan Davis we’re given some incredible gifts. Sir Wayne was handed a 100-page novel form a 14-year old fan who had taken one of his undeveloped worlds and wrote a whole story out of it! (And it’s good! I read some of it!). Sir Bryan was given a beautiful dragon’s eye painting as well as a cassette tape of an original soundtrack recorded for his books!

Next we journeyed to Raleigh and were visited by numerous fans, lodging that night with my dear friends Pete & Donna Nero. Interesting enough, I stayed with them during another tour I did in 2002 with “Christopher Hopper n Money For The Poor.” We had a great time catching up and swimming in their new pool. Both Wayne and Jennifer made some fearsome 3-point shots from the far side of the pool!

Off to Richmond, VA, we again had an amazing time meeting old friends and making new ones. I’ve really been overwhelmed with all the excitement over my books. I’m really the “new guy” on the block when it comes to writing, so I feel blessed to be so welcomed the the other authors’ fans.

Driving from Richmond to Ellicott City was a nightmare. We hit horrendous traffic and thought we may in fact never make our next event. But I’m so glad we did! We arrived to a group of about 40 eager readers! Michelle at His Way had made beautiful banners and decked the store out in medieval decor! We were treated like royalty! And the best surprise of the day? Billy and Debbie Jepma surprised me, all the way from Clayton, NY! What a joy that was! I couldn’t believe my eyes. And Billy couldn’t believe his as he got to meet two of his writing heroes: Sir Wayne and Sir Bryan. (You’ll want to remember Billy’s name as he’s sure to be an up-and-coming writing legend!).

This morning we spoke to the youth group at The National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC. Although Condi Rice was there (as it’s her home church), I didn’t get to meet her because we never made it to the main service. instead we lingered with the teens and signed a few books for them.

From there we hustled off to Alexandria, VA, just over the river passed the Pentagon, and did a signing at the Barnes&Noble. The Washington Post sent a reporter and photographer out to cover the story so look for an article on us this coming Wednesday or Thursday. (Yes, THE Washington Post).

Next we skipped back up to Ellicott City to close out the day, and once again the good people there did not disappoint. We had a solid crowd of people waiting in line for almost two hours straight! We had so much fun meeting new friends and signing books for eager readers. Thank you gang!

Tomorrow we drive north to Bel Air, MD and then up to Newark, DE. Thanks for all your prayers and support! And a special shout out to Connie for coming out to support us over the last two days! Great to meet you!

Blessings!

CH