Author: Jon Carl Lewis

My Editor, My Critic, My Support

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Alfred, helping me with the plot for If Winter Comes.

I am blessed to have an editor and critic with a keen eye and sharp claws but a fuzzy, affectionate manner about him. Here, he is helping me work on the plot of my current novel project. He has not yet told me what he thinks of it, but I’m sure he will.

Thank you for your time and attention.
I’d love to know your thoughts on what you’ve read.
Please comment, below, or email me at joncarllewis@gmail.com.
May God richly bless you on your journey.

Unless otherwise noted, this page and its contents © 2018-2020 Jon Carl Lewis.

My Editor, My Critic, My Support

Book Review: Apartment by Teddy Wayne

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ApartmentApartment by Teddy Wayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading Apartment by Teddy Wayne. The story was well-written and carried me right along. The ambiguous nature of the relationship between the main characters kept me on the edge of my seat and had me in despair as it disintegrated. The climax was shocking but not out of character. The conclusion was satisfying but a little heartbreaking. This work makes me think that perhaps a coming-of-age novel is best written well after one comes of age and can reflect on one’s past self with sufficient measures of detachment and compassion to be able to tell a greater truth.

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Book Review: Apartment by Teddy Wayne

Book Review: At the Center of All Beauty by Fenton Johnson

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At the Center of All Beauty: Solitude and the Creative LifeAt the Center of All Beauty: Solitude and the Creative Life by Fenton Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fenton Johnson in rich, beautiful language has crafted a wonderful exploration of the “solitary” life which, as he demonstrates, can take many forms and shapes but relies on a person’s answering of an unwavering call to beauty, truth and love for all people and all creation. Johnson lays out an expansive vision of what it means to live as to oneself, even in the midst of relationships and society. I found this work to be incredibly affirming and freeing for my spirit, which thrives in solitude even as I manage a complex network of relationships in my external life. This work nourished my creative soul and showed me a path to my best life.

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Book Review: At the Center of All Beauty by Fenton Johnson

Book Review: Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms by Matthias Roberts

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Published on Goodreads Wednesday, 15 January 2020 at Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms by Matthias Roberts.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are certain book titles I fall in love with. In fact, I tend to fall in love with good book titles to the extent that I will often buy a book for its title, if not exactly for its cover. The types of titles I find hardest to resist are those titles which strike a chord in my heart—or a nerve. I am a sucker for a title which resonates with and promises to help me navigate deep emotional states which make me uncomfortable or hinder my enjoyment of living my life to the full. Beyond Shame was one of those books for me, especially with such a promising subtitle as “creating a healthy sex life on your own terms.” And even though some of these books sit on the shelf where I can use their titles as a reminder of values I want to incorporate into my life, I’m glad I had the opportunity to look beyond the title and experience the wisdom inside the covers of this book.

Continue reading “Book Review: Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms by Matthias Roberts” →
Book Review: Beyond Shame: Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms by Matthias Roberts

Moving past a church of “Us vs. Them”

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This morning I listened to a podcast, Newsworthy with Norsworthy, where Luke Norsworthy was interviewing David Fitch, author of The Church of Us vs. Them. Norsworthy was maddeningly frustrating as usual with his banter about football’s supremacy over ice hockey and Texas over Canada and certain baseball teams over others. However, when Fitch could get a word in edgewise, he had some interesting things to say.

Continue reading “Moving past a church of “Us vs. Them”” →
Moving past a church of “Us vs. Them”

My timer is my best writing buddy

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Photo by Veri Ivanova on Unsplash

OK. I’ve officially started the day. Not when I got up. Not when I had breakfast. Not even when I powered up the computer. The day started when I set my timer for twenty minutes which was my signal to start keeping track of what I was doing. And to start typing. I don’t know why my timer is so good for me that way. I have frittered away whole days where I had nothing to do—or, at least, nothing scheduled—except work when I have ended up doing nothing. But I have found that if I set my timer for twenty-minute increments, I can get instantly focused and get a lot done. So, what’s the take-home lesson from that? I need to be mindful about when I start my timer. It’s also usually around this time, 11:47, that I “wake up” and start doing stuff. Should I just take this as information that this is when I get started every day? Or can I “hack” my brain into starting earlier if I set my timer earlier? Experimentation will tell. I can try tomorrow setting my timer early, before I have to leave for work, and see what happens.

Wish me luck!

My timer is my best writing buddy