I just wanted to let everyone know that I have started recording and releasing “study videos” on my Youtube Channel. These videos can be used to study along with me as I work through the Bible, or they can give you a look into how I prepare to teach for the church, at the seminary where I am a professor, or at the future Isaac Hunter Community (working title) we plan to launch in the near future.
As always, you can access all of my course assignments for the uThM program here.
So, let’s get started….
Why Study With Me Videos?
Honestly, I have no idea. It is a trend I found on YouTube over the last several years and I really like the idea. I’m always trying to find music to listen to while writing or preparing my teaching lessons, or studying the Bible.
Here is the playlist:
I’m typically on my laptop for 2-3 hours each morning (usually get up around 5am), and I worked out the OBS software so I can record my desktop while I’m working. YouTube makes it easy to add good music to the background, so I figure I would try it and see how it goes.
Can’t hurt, right? Let me know what you think of them in the comments below.
Possible Options in the Future?
What kinds of projects am I looking at in the future? Well, there are many, so I figure I would go through them. Let me know which ones sound interesting.
I’ve always wanted to do a podcast. And, now that I have a family, I have people that I would be interested in talking to. It might be a podcast with the kids on schooling, or just a family podcast where we all talk about theology, homeschooling, the coast and field trips, etc. We are really wanting to do a YouTube video series when we build the three boats in the future (we are planning on buying three pontoon boats and tearing them down to the deck and build houseboats to park at the Eden property in the next few years).
My wife and I are really excited about launching Workbooks in support of the fiction books. I thought of this concept a few years ago but never really did anything with it until I told my wife. It took a few attempts at explaining it before she got on board. Now she is more excited about them than I am. Basically, they are a means to an end: giving me the ability to “hang out my own shingle” as did the philosophers in Ancient Greece, living in the gardens, teaching on the streets until their disciples were numerous enough to raise funds for the support of a school. As I’m sure you know (maybe you don’t), but all of my books and stories are derived from my personal research in Christian Philosophy, theology, God, and the Bible. These are fundamental and existential questions I’ve had for many years that pour out through my writing. I’ve always wanted to teach these topics but the abysmal state of academia today precludes this. So, workbooks are asynchronous tools with video lectures from myself, written lectures in the workbook, discussion questions, and activities, all geared to get you thinking deeply about different philosophical and theological ideas. Students simply purchase the workbook online, and are immediately “enrolled.” They work through the videos and activities in the workbook at their own pace, submitting assignments directly to me via a submission form (with feedback provided – mostly because I really like talking about theology and philosophy and God and stuff). It short-circuits the need for costly learning management systems and allows both the student and myself the ability to communicate simply by email. I’m hoping to have the first workbook course out in the next year (but please don’t hold me to that).
The Online Isaac Hunter Community. This project is still in its planning stages, though I have to say I am quite exited about it. Suffice it to say, this will be an expansion of the workbooks while utilizing the workbooks as well. It will be an online membership community that hosts all things Isaac Hunter. From book clubs to all the workbook classes, but with added live zoom discussion sessions, special virtual workshops, etc. It is a way to build a robust community of readers and learners in the Isaac Hunter sphere.
Of course, there is quite a bit of other pressing personal projects that need to get done first or in tandem with the above. First, I need to keep writing – this is very important. There are many stories in my head to write and I don’t want to lose any of them. Second, my wife and I have some real estate that needs to be disposed of. She has a house that we need to fix up and sell because it is a huge drain on our current finances. We have, in fact, canceled our upcoming scheduled trip (we were supposed to leave Jan 1) across the country in an RV so that we can instead focus on getting this house repaired and on the market. Third, we need to do some work on the Eden property. The docks are dilapidated and need to be replaced. We need to pull most if not all the pilings. We need to build a new dock and new ramp and catwalk. The entire property needs to be cleaned up because there has been a hermit living there for the last eight years and he was a bit messy. Fourth, we then need to do repairs and remodel my house for our adult daughter and my mother to live in. On top of all this, I am also homeschooling the two middle kids, with more hands-on direction for the teenager, and will soon be picking up with our youngest (who will be 3 soon). I have also been given the responsibility (privilege) of teaching Sunday school at our church, where we also would like to eventually start evening classes (where we hope to record the lectures for the workbooks). I am also teaching at an online seminary as well as volunteering at a Christian Institute online.
So, needless to say, my pot is particularly full at the moment. But, it was one of the stipulations when God told me he was going to give me a wife (like I can give God stipulations), I would present my books to her at some point early on, and she would ultimately decide if they were good enough for me to pursue writing as a career. I did this probably a month into our courtship and, come to find out, not only is my wife a deep lover of books, and also a ferocious reader, but she seemed to love the stories I write and is probably my biggest fan. She has made it clear since we first were married that my job is writing and that I am not allowed to take any other job outside of writing (except for the seminary work which is part time).
Current Projects
Let me break down my writing projects so you have a better idea of book releases in the future.
Writing Kathy and Charlotte was finished about a year ago. I lost the last quarter of it to a computer failure (and a failure to back up my data), but this has been re-written and now just needs to be edited. This is the first installment in the Jack Shaw Journey trilogy.
From His Rib was a story idea given to me during the torrential months when God was preparing me for my future marriage. One night, after having argued with God for quite awhile, the story simply and literally poured out of me in the matter of about 30 minutes. I remember writing frantically on my laptop in tears, just trying to get all the details down. Well, this story has actually become quite personal to my wife and I. It is essentially the story of our meeting, but as a distinct iteration of its own. It involves angels and God and man and woman and love and loss and the brokenness of faith. It has been recently finished and now needs to be edited.
Sacred the Sent has actually been written for many years but has stalled in the editing process. It is the second book in the Sacred series and is a retelling of the first three chapters of the Book of Revelation. One day it will be edited and released, but I do not know when.
Beautiful the Meadow is the last book in the Meadow Series. It is dear to my heart and has been written. But, unfortunately, it will require extensive rewriting as I shortchanged it the first time around out of fear that my wife or my kids might think they have some kind of monster living with them. It involves the culmination of evil personified, vengeance, rage, demons, and a serial killer coming into his own. It is a dark story with brutal and grotesque depictions. It will be a struggle for me to finish. But, it has to be done in order to move on to Zack McKensie’s Chronicles (working title).
I’m currently writing Single Shooter Protocol, which is a prequel to Zack McKensie’s Chronicles (working title). It introduces an important character that will be in future books, establishing his motivations and the driving force behind what he does. It also indirectly introduces another character that will play a vital role opposite the Isaac Hunter character. That’s right. Didn’t you know? I’m actually in my own books? Or is the Isaac Hunter character different from myself? What? How? You’ll have to wait to find out……
What’s On Deck?
Of the stories that I really want to write:
Among Dark Woods is ready to write. I just have to schedule it. This is a story of Jeremy and a native American curse and the love he never thought he would ever find in this world or in any other. I can’t wait to start writing it.
Our Son needs an outline and to be written. It is the second installment in the Witch Gnostic Heresies Series and continues the story of Katie as a teenager and her new life with Larry and Moreen (characters introduced in Our Daughter). I really want to write this book so I can move on to the last book in the trilogy: the Family Falls.
Ashen Monk Sacrifice, the second book in the Ashen Monk Chronicles, also needs to be outlined and written, continuing not only Christopher Ward’s story, but also another character from Writing Kathy and Charlotte.
Books I Want to Write One Day
These are books that I would love to write but either need to wait for other books to write first, or they are far down the list:
The Papered Scroll.
The Bunker.
Writhe.
Seeing Through (I can’t wait to write this story because it will spawn a whole new realm of possibilities in the Isaac Hunter universe).
Seeking Publishing Deal or Agent
So, at this point, we are seriously considering the search for a book deal, either directly or through an agent. I tried this futility and quite briefly about twenty years ago, but I could not handle the constant and incessant rejection. But, I believe (and so does my wife) that she was brought to me as a help mate for this expressed purpose (among a whole host of other reasons as well), to help with my confidence issues and to prod me along when I just want to sit down and sulk over my beer (I don’t actually drink beer). We are not sure how to go about landing a book deal, so we will need to do some research in the future. We will keep you posted. Please pray for us while we undertake this endeavor. And if you know of anyone in the book publishing industry, please get them a copy of one of my books.
In the interim, we will also be doing some marketing efforts of our own. I have already started posting YouTube study videos, and we hope to get all knew book covers (professional ones) for all the books published to-date. I hope to also streamline all the copywriting on the Kindle landing pages and also on the main Isaac Hunter website. We are also discussing the option of releasing all published titles to print (paperback) as well as possible hardback for all trilogy collections. There is also talk of releasing audio books through Amazon, but all of this is very tentative at the moment.
At some point, as already discussed above, I would like to launch the Isaac Hunter Community (working title). But more details to follow.
I would also like to develop and release one complete workbook for a trilogy series, most likely the Meadow Series or Ashen Monk Chronicles or even the Aurora Series. I will post updates as they materialize.
Conclusions
All in all, I am ridiculously busy with more projects that I think I could ever accomplish in several lifetimes, let alone the half of a lifetime I have left (if I even have that much). But, as Paul says, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:15).
Until my next update….
Please consider supporting my writing, my unschooled studies, and my hermitic lifestyle by purchasing one or more of my books. I’m not supported by academia or have a lucrative corporate job – I’m just a mystical modern-day hermit trying to live out the life I believe God has called me to. So, any support you choose to provide is GREATLY appreciated.
Excerpt from Sacred the Circle:
There was a knock at the door.
Campbell got up from the chair and crossed the small distance so he could open it.
A young man stood in the doorway, probably in his early twenties.
Campbell could tell he looked a little disheveled.
Confused.
He had deep rings around his eyes, as if he hadn’t been sleeping much, and he kept checking the hallway in both directions, as if half expecting someone to be stalking him.
“Hey,” Campbell said.
“Uhm….is…this….?”
The kid was stumbling over his own words.
Campbell leaned out into the hallway, checking to make sure there was no one else listening.
This guy wasn’t the only one who was becoming paranoid.
There were two students hanging out at the foyer, near the stairs, but the rest of the floor was clear.
“I’m sorry,” the kid said. “Must be the wrong place. I’m mistaken.”
He started to leave.
“Wait,” Campbell said, putting a hand out. “Hold on a second.”
The kid paused.
“What’s your name?”
“Uh, I’m….Lloyd…”
He fidgeted with his collar.
“I know it sounds crazy, but – ”
“You’re not crazy, Lloyd,” Campbell said, grinning.
“Did you – ? ”
The kid paused, as if unsure if he should continue.
He looked back toward the stairs, then at Campbell.
“Did you know I was coming?” he finally asked. “I mean, that’s not possible, but, were you expecting me?”
Campbell chuckled to himself.
“What’s so funny?” Lloyd asked.
“Well – “
Campbell pushed the door open all the way so Lloyd could see inside his dorm room.
The entire room was full of them, students, non-students, ranging from what looked like eighteen to even a few middle-aged men, scattered about the room, sitting wherever they could find a comfortable spot.
Lloyd’s mouth dropped open.
“I wasn’t really expecting them, either,” Campbell said. “So, I hope you don’t hold it against me when I tell you, I had no idea you’d be showing up here. Do you care to join us, anyway?”
Buy my book Sacred the Circle to find out what these men are hearing from the supernatural realm. Will they answer the questions tugging at them? What are the visions saying? Who are the Multitude? Why are all these men being brought together? By whom? And why, above all else, are they being convicted….to pray?
Get your copy of Sacred the Circle today! Get the upcoming sequel, Sacred the Sent as well so the story never ends !
But, trust me when I say, you’ll be white knuckling this one with every turn of the page!
What do you think?