The House on Buckner Street
We sat around our dining room table and I listened in amazement at my parents’ stories. The year was 1999 and I had taken my parents many photos and produced an old fashioned slide show for one of their anniversaries. Now, I wanted to hear the stories behind those photographs. I pointed my video camera at the screen as each black and white photo appeared. A carefully placed microphone in the center of the dining room table picked up the running commentary from my mother, father, and my brother as they related their memories.
We passed through photographs from the 1920’s and the 1930’s and arrived at the beginning of the 1940’s. It was at this point, the comments became more serious. My father and mother moved from the tiny country town of Saline, Louisiana to the big, bustling town of Shreveport in 1941. They rented a house “on Buckner Street” with many bedrooms. My father went to work for the post office. My mother worked now and then, children’s needs permitting, at the downtown Sears & Roebuck department store.
Then, December 7, 1941 happened. The world turned upside down and changed forever. What became known as World War II began. My father was slated to be drafted in June, 1942 but a bill by Congress passed restricting the upper age limit for draftees and my father was too old to be drafted. Just thirty days from deployment. And it helped he was a federal employee at an important government entity, the post office.
My many uncles were not so fortunate. Those men whose experiences in life were mainly spent behind the swaying backend of a plowing mule suddenly found themselves sent far away to Europe or to the Pacific. The wives, mothers, and children ended up coming to “the house on Buckner Street” as the war waged on. Sisters would move in to a room at my parents’ house until they found a job and moved into an apartment. My father enclosed the back porch and made two additional bedrooms for more migrant relatives.
The colorful and at times, painful stories all came out at that dining room table. Stories of hardship and sacrifice. Stories of lost loves and missing relatives. Stories of the grit and resolve of “the Greatest Generation”.
These men and women lived through the harsh times of the Great Depression which prepared them for the necessary sacrifices of the years ahead as the world plunged into war. They were ready, prepared having learned how to use everything in the pig but “the oink”. A generation of true patriots who loved God and loved freedom and loved their country.
We will not see their like again, I fear. But they were there when this country needed them.
On this day, December 7th, Pearl Harbor Day I salute my parents’ generation for most of them have gone on to their eternal reward. And they have left us with haunting memories and fading photographs and a legacy we can only begin to appreciate.
That session at the dining room table inspired me to write a play, “The Homecoming Tree” produced in 2005. In 2016, I released my novelization of that play and it is available to purchase at all book sites. I never imagined that simple hour spent around the dining room table would lead to a book that some of my readers say they re-read every Christmas.
Here’s to Lena and Slayton Hennigan and the example they set for me and my generation and generations to come. I love you and miss you. Thank you for your quiet, constant example of hard work, sacrifice, and unconditional love.
Free Books Followup
For those of you who might have been put off downloading “The Chronicles of Jonathan Steel Volume 1” from BookFunnel because it asked for you to confirm your email, I have turned off that feature. Feel free to download the free book. There are still copies available of the first 30!
I am also so THANKFUL for those of you who have joined in my journey with Jonathan Steel and Ruth Martinez and Roy Anderson and Daniel Collinsworth and Josh Knight and Jack Merchant even Vivian and Raven for the last 15 years! I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to tell stories that illuminate the redemptive power of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you are considering gifts for Christmas, I have had wonderful reviews of “Shadow Merchant” and “The Homecoming Tree”. Both stories take place during the Christmas season. Shadow Merchant is a medical thriller for those who have, in the past, enjoyed Robin Cook’s stories.
The Homecoming Tree has received such reviews as “I re-read this book every Christmas and love the feel good warmth of a Christmas story”. If you have ever enjoyed classic movies such as “Miracle of 34th Street”, “White Christmas”, or “It’s a Wonderful Life” I know you will LOVE “The Homecoming Tree”. Both books can be found at any and all online bookstores.
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope you and your loved ones have a safe, peaceful and loving Thanksgiving Season.
Free Books!
As the year 2023 draws to a close I have to admit I have not written a new book. However, I have done something I have wanted to accomplish for some time. I have taken “The 13th Demon”, “The 12th Demon”, and “The 11th Demon” and reworked them into one volume of an “author’s” cut.
What is an “author’s cut”? When an author signs a contract to produce a work, that author is now an employee of the traditional publisher. The work is no longer completely the author’s. The publisher is a business and, as a business must produce a work that will bring in money. This means shaping that work into something that can sell and, at the same time, not break the bank. Thus, publishers demand strict word count limits. Word count limits translate into page numbers. Page numbers, in the world of printed books, costs money. There must be some kind of break even at 80,000 words as this seems to be the sweet spot for printed books. Any larger than 80,000 words and the basic cost of printing goes up.
Since I have formed my own publishing entity, I am keenly aware of this. The problem for me as an author was trimming my first two works down from over 100,000 words to 80,000 called for substantial artistic sacrifices. Admittedly placing a word limit can be advantageous. It forces the author to be more creative in the editing process. But, I had to sacrifice entire characters and their story arcs to fit the word limits for these books.
Now, I own the works and I have chosen to restore these dissected parts back into the whole. I have also tuned up the “bread crumbs” I placed that led to future story lines. “The 11th Demon” never suffered from the word limit problem. If anything, it was too short to begin with. I have fleshed it out some more to fill in details on the storylines and the “bread crumbs”.
All three books are now available in one ebook volume. The printed version runs over 1200 pages so I am sticking with the ebook version for now and it can be found in any online book source.
Look for “The Chronicles of Jonathan Steel Vol. 1” and enjoy. The work includes new versions of the first three novels, “The 13th Demon: Dark Covenant”, “The 12th Demon: Wolf Dragon”, and “The 11th Demon: Chimera”.
Now here is the really good news. For a limited time, the first thirty readers who access this link to my “bookfunnel” source can download an ebook version of this collection for free! But hurry! The free books are limited to only 30! FREE BOOKS for first 30 readers!
Jonathan Steel, Where are you?
What’s Been Happening with Jonathan Steel?
It has been almost a year since I released the last Jonathan Steel book. So, what have I been doing?
First, I have semi-retired from my medical practice. I’m still working part time. This means more time to work on my writing as July 1st. Here are the projects I am working on:
Rewrite of “The 13th Demon”, “The 12th Demon”, and “The 11th Demon”.
That’s right! I am restoring all three books to their original, long story format. In my agreement with a major publisher, I had to make a LOT of concessions on all three books. Word count limitations forced me to make significant cuts to the first two books. And content restraint required me to make concessions on “The 11th Demon” which is STILL in the hands of Westbow Press!
Here’s what I have done. I have restored “The 13th Demon: Dark Covenant” and “The 12th Demon: Wolf Dragon” to their original length. I am still working on updating “The 11th Demon: Chimera”. Soon, the new versions of 13th and 12th will be available everywhere! Look for the new subtitles. I am hoping to get 11th out by the end of the year.
This has necessitated me holding back on the final two books in “The Chronicles of Jonathan Steel”.
Next Jonathan Steel Book
“The 2nd Demon: Tales of the Grimvox” will explore the backstories of Jonathan Steel, the Captain, Lucas, and a certain new character that emerged in the last book whose name I will not mention because “Spoilers Sweetie!”. It sets up the final confrontation between good and evil as Jonathan Steel must finally defeat the Council of Darkness and the Vitreomancers.
I am working on “The 2nd Demon” rough draft right now.
Next Jack Merchant book:
The response to my Jack Merchant Medical Mystery series has been phenomenal! I am shocked at how well the book, “Shadow Merchant” has been received. I am currently working on the second book in the series “Slice Fatigue”.
Jonathan Steel “spin off”:
If you’ve been reading my books, you have seen hints and suggestions of “The Node of God”. This will be a continuation of the story of the Children of the Bloodstone and will feature a trilogy. The first book is halfway done. World building takes time! Tentative title: “The Node of God: Darksyn Rising”.
Steel, P.I.
In the future, I will be launching a continuation of Jonathan Steel’s story as he moves into the job of a regular private investigator who doesn’t always have to face off with demons. Well, not always.
Non-Fiction books:
“The 5 Minute Atheist” is my personal story of a crisis of faith and my journey of recovery from that crisis through the discovery of Christian Apologetics.
And there are more books in the pipe.
BOOK FAIR!
NOW — If you live in the Shreveport/Bossier area, come see me and a lot of other excellent Christian authors at the upcoming “Wholesome Book Fair”. It will be held at Barksdale Baptist Church, 1714 Jimmie Davis Hwy, Bossier City, 71112 on Saturday, October 28th from 11 AM to 2 PM.
I will have ALL of my books available in print format and Ebook coupons for downloading from Bookfunnel.com. That’s right! You can purchase any of my books for only $2.50 as an ebook and download the book with a special code I will supply to ANY book reader. No need to fool with Kindle, or Apple Books, or Nook, etc. And this will be the ONLY way right now you can get all three updated, 13th, 12th AND 11th demon books!
I will also be featuring books by two other authors, Mark Sutton and Marcus Buckley. For more information on the books available check out hopeagainbooks.com.
I hope to see you THERE! I’d love to meet you!
Local Authors at Upcoming Book Fair!
On Saturday, October 28 the local chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers will hold a “Wholesome Book Fair” at Barksdale Baptist Church. It’s a great opportunity to get books for Christmas presents. And, I will be there with ALL of my books. I reached out to C. D. “Chuck” Sutherland, the president of our local chapter for an interview about the upcoming book fair.
What is the “Wholesome” Book Fair?
The October 28th Wholesome Book Fair, being held at Barksdale Baptist Church in Bossier City, is an opportunity for the community to look at and choose from a wide selection of books written by local Christian fiction authors. While not all of the books displayed fit in the traditional category of “Christian Fiction,” the vending authors have agreed to limit their selections to books that do not contain profanity, graphic sex, gratuitous violence, or other objectionable material. It’s a safe place for attendees looking for material suitable for general audiences, young adults, and children. Family safe.
What is the ACFW?
Founded in 2000, the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) is a professional organization devoted to meeting the needs of new and seasoned authors alike by training in the craft of Christian fiction, educating in the market, and advocating in the traditional Christian fiction publishing industry.
Engaging its members through online classes, email discussion loops, genre loops, special writing/editing/polishing month-long programs, critique groups, a wealth of resources, contests for both published and unpublished Christian fiction writers, and the premier Christian fiction annual conference, ACFW impacts writers and the stories they create.
With nearly 3,000 members, ACFW has 30 local chapters across the country and an online international chapter. ACFW offers a venue for readers of Christian Fiction to learn more about their favorite authors and discover the vast array of choices available from the Christian Fiction market in general.
ACFW helps writers tell their stories by inspiring them to partner with God in the creative process, learn the craft, and find their audience.
I understand you are the president of the local ACFW chapter. Can you tell me more about the local chapter?
To join any local ACFW chapter, you have first to be a member of the national organization. Joining a local chapter gives you a chance for fellowship, prayer support, and encouragement face-to-face, not only during monthly meetings but also during other events, and of course, many members develop life-long friendships with other members. ACFW Louisiana has a robust Professional Development program, which focuses on developing writing skills, and we have three annual projects: the Wholesome Book Fair, an Annual Aspiring Writers Workshop, and an opportunity to volunteer for an Authors Posse that collaborates with a local publisher to produce an annual anthology.
I understand the local chapter puts out an anthology of short stories each year. Can you tell us more about that?
Our annual anthology project functions much like a graduate course in creative writing. Each year, the volunteers agree upon a common thread, which provides unity for the collection. Then the authors produce their short stories, which are in turn edited by the entire posse. Editing is a tough job, but the process matures a writer, making them better at the craft of writing. Based on the collective editorial inputs, the authors, in turn, refine their stories, which are compiled into an anthology by a local publisher.
The anthology becomes the centerpiece of that year’s Aspiring Writers Workshop. Because the workshop and the anthology are a community outreach effort, the eBook editions are offered for free at Smashwords.com. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NWPLLC
Over at Amazon, printed editions, including some hardcovers, are available for purchase. You can usually find your best prices by buying directly from individual authors selling signed versions in various venues—like the Wholesome Book Fair.
What are some of the books you will be featuring at the Book Fair?
Each vendor has the leeway to display the books they choose. I intend to offer my Antediluvian Steampunk series, which is an amalgamation of literary Biblical fiction and traditional Science Fiction, the last six years of our Christian Fiction anthologies, and a Children’s picture book about the Christmas Candy Cane—maybe a couple of others.
We have other authors who have written more books than me. Marguerite Martin Gray has at least seven novels in her Revolutionary Faith and Garden in Time series. I’m not sure how many of those she will present. Our chapter has a member who is a doctor and author of no less than fourteen books on depression and supernatural thrillers. I’m sure he’ll display some of those. Susan Hiers Foster, our Vice President, has published two children’s books dealing with tough issues like a mother in a nursing home and how to deal with bullying and forgiveness. We have several authors of multiple genres: Victorian Romances, Spy Thrillers, Time Travel, Folksy Humor, and others; the common thread is that they are all wholesome. The list of vendors is still growing; again, the vendors are empowered to display whatever they believe complies with our definition of “wholesome,” which should mean people looking for Christmas gift books will be in the right place to do that.
What do you hope visitors will get from coming to the Wholesome Book Fair?
Primarily, I hope attendees will find suitable books for their family and friends. Printed books are a bargain compared to other options. Plus, they can provide hours of entertainment. For children, books are generally used over and over, as they enjoy the familiar feel of a good story. An additional hope is to let people know there is an emerging culture of good books of all genres written with a Christian worldview for them to enjoy.
Where can people find out more information about the Book Fair and the local chapter of ACFW?
We’re on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=acfw-louisiana, where you can find general information about us.
Additionally, anybody can email their specific questions to ACFWLAWholesomeBookFair@gmail.com, which includes authors interested in getting a vendor’s slot for 28 Oct.
My Mother Wore Pants!
My mother was the greatest teacher I have ever known. She had an eleventh grade education from a small country school in Saline, Louisiana and married my father when she was 16, just a month away from her 17th birthday. She grew up on a share cropping farm with four sisters and a brother. My father and my mother lived on a farm until 1941 when my mother convinced my father they had to move to Shreveport, Louisiana and he had to find a “real” job or they would starve on the farm.
My mother drove a school bus most of my young life. Because of that, she preferred to wear pants. And she made those pants herself to save money. This is important to understand because a woman wearing pants in the church in the 1960s was forbidden. Why was this important? My father was a bi-vocational “choir director” and the entire family was at church every time the doors were open. (the photo is from our visit to Disney World in 1994 — A story for another day!)
Now my mother loved the Lord. She taught me to love God and to love others. She always told me, “Bruce, you may be better off than someone else, but you are no better than someone else. We are all the same in the eyes of God.” Maybe that kind of unconditional love is what her college kids saw when they drove a couple of hours from nearby colleges on Sunday morning to sit in her Sunday School class at Blanchard Baptist Church.
Read the rest of this entryBecoming Confidently Unique (In Christ) Summit
Check out my interview with Dr. Tim Blake.
Tim and I talked about being uniquely created by Christ with our spiritual gifts, our inborn talents, and our acquired skills. We talked about how God has a unique place of service for every person!
The Homecoming Feast
A long time ago, in a church far away . . .
In the late 1980s and early 1990s at Brookwood Baptist Church, Bruce Edwards, our associate pastor, formed a drama team. Bruce passed away recently and I have been thinking about all the dramas he pulled off.
One year, he handed me a script. It was a copy of a copy of a Mimeograph of the script, “The Living Last Supper”. The author’s name was obscure and the date on the script was 1953. Bruce assured me the author was dead and it was okay to update and modernize the script. His plan was to use the script not only as performance for Maundy Thursday, but to utilize our deacons as the actors.
Deacons? He actually thought that deacons could pull this off? We would need twelve deacons and, of course, the part of Jesus Christ. But, true to Bruce’s persuasive personality, he found 12 deacons who agreed to be a part of the performance.
The following weeks were unbelievable! As deacons, we all pulled together. We had devotions, prayer times, rehearsals and a special dinner with our wives. And the night of the performance was lightning in a bottle! The response was incredible.
“The Deacon Led Living Last Supper” continued for a few years until Bruce left Brookwood and I took over as the drama leader. Brookwood had entered the 21st century and the Living Last Supper had lost some of its unique quality. But our pastor, Mark Sutton, wanted us to perform an updated version in our new campus.
There had been an idea bouncing around inside my head. The original script ends with Jesus’ betrayal. The disciples all asked the question, “Is it I?” And Jesus tells the disciples he will not eat with them again until they are reunited in heaven.
Aha! I had an idea. I could do a “sequel” to the script. In this followup, the stage would not open with the disciples sitting at the upper room table as in the famous painting of the Last Supper. Rather, the table would be empty but replete with food and drink. Jesus appears and silently awaits as one by one, the apostles appear in heaven in the order in which they died.
Each apostle would tell the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. They would then talk of the birth of the church and complete the story begun in the original script. They would each share the price they paid for following Christ.
But what to do with Judas’ seat? I could put the apostle chosen to take his place but what if we allowed someone to have the empty seat who most deserved it? And so, Paul arrives and takes the seat.
The “Living Last Supper: The Homecoming Feast” was a success and we only performed it once. I moved on from drama and posted my dramas here on this website under the “Flip Side” tab.
To my amazement, every year I get multiple requests for the scripts for both “The Living Last Supper” and “The Homecoming Feast”. Several years ago I was contacted by someone who pointed out the author was still alive! I pulled the original script and put a disclaimer on my site. I never want to be accused of plagiarism.
However, “The Homecoming Feast” is original and my script. But I do not charge for using it. If it can enlarge the Kingdom, then go for it, I tell any one requesting the script.
So, to my utter amazement, I received this email from Doug McCallum
Director of Senior Adult Ministries from St. Mark’s Methodist Church this past week:
Bruce: I can’t thank you enough. The production was a hit. A bases loaded bottom of the ninth homer over the fence. People were literally moved to tears. Jesus and the disciples received hugs, hand shakes and accolades for at least 30 minutes after the production out in the hallway from strangers. I have received e-mails, letters and personal notes on how great it was – even the Sr. Pastor came up to me and said “UNBELIEVABLE – WOW!.
Well Bruce – With Gods help I found 12 men who were perfect. Who had never acted before but were devout Christians and couldn’t say NO to me even though 5 wanted to I found out later. I hired a theater major to play Jesus who just happens to be a minister in another denomination. See pictures. He was unbelievable.
All I can tell you – It was the most incredible thing we have ever done in the Methodist Church. People are still raving about it weeks later.
So to you Sir. Thank you for allowing me and our crew to do your works. We did you proud and God said, “Well Done Good and Faithful Servants!
I was stunned and amazed at how God continues to work with those things we have forgotten or put aside. His Word will NEVER return to Him void! Well done, Doug and all of the cast and crew that made this possible. Perhaps, one day, we will appear at that feast in heaven and hear those words! I can only hope!
“You Saved My Life”
The story of our book continues to baffle and amaze me. Back in 2019, we learned that the second version of our book was no longer in print. B&H Publishing never let us know and I was trying to order copies for a seminar. That day, I realized our two books had an amazing run since the first book, “Conquering Depression” came out in February 2001. I spoke with Mark and concluded that maybe it was time to put the book to rest. An hour after our conversation, I checked my email and got this:
“Thank you for changing my life and for the tools provided to continue life. I was very close to giving up, your book made [me] change my mind and fight the darkness, with God’s help, forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you L*****e M****s, South Africa
May 17, 2019 5:34 AM”
South Africa! Somehow our book had made it into the hands of someone in South Africa. And, according to them, it “saved my life”! I immediately sent the email on to Mark Sutton and called him up. The result of that conversation was to proceed with a third edition of the book with about 40% new content published by our little independent publishing company.
Read the rest of this entryUniquely Created in Christ!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
It is my pleasure to share that I am participating in a Free-online Summit: Becoming Confidently Unique (In Christ). More on this shortly, let me ask you a few things first.
Different
Odd
Special
Weird
Off-beat
Crazy
Have you felt those words apply to you at any time?
Do you feel like you just do not fit in and fit the cliche of being a round peg in a square hole?
Do you find yourself keeping things to yourself at Church because they just will not ‘Get it’?
Maybe you just do not darken the door of the church, because…
Would you like to hear from people who have felt the same way at some point in their life?
Would you like to hear from individuals who recognize they are unique and as such exceptional, rather than flawed, broken, or cursed?
I want to introduce you to my friend Dr. Tim Blake, a unique man of God I have had the privilege to meet. He cares about people who experience being and living in ways different than what is considered “normal.” He believes the answer to confidence if found in Christ—moving from shame, isolation, and loneliness to true peace, connection, and happiness. Wonderful to think of and even more when you have experienced such!
So here is the deal, he put together the free online summit that will air from 5/8/2023 to 5/22/2023.
He has 28 inspired unique individuals who gained confidence in Christ and embraced their exceptionality.
Come join us here: www.becomingconfidentlyunqiue.com.
I will be participating in a special interview online. Available soon!
Bruce Hennigan 
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