To Blog or Not to Blog, That is the Question

With all due respect to Shakespeare, to blog or not to blog, that is the question. And it's a question I have asked myself frequently over the past few months. Like most indie authors, I frequently peruse articles regarding methods for success in the dog-eat-dog publishing world and more often that not, one of those recommended methods is to blog. In fact, it comes across as more of a command than a suggestion. "If you are an author, you must have a blog!" the articles trumpet, usually followed by, "If you have a blog, you must add new content constantly!" To which I typically find myself thinking, I'm lucky if I can find time to brush my teeth. When the hell am I going to find time to blog?

Here's the problem, and it's a problem faced by many--if not most--independent authors: limited writing time. Sure, if I had 8 hours a day to write, I would bang out a new blog every other day and twice on Sundays. But with all the responsibilities and activities that come with a full-time career and family, the available writing time gets chopped down to slivers. I get up an hour before work in the morning to write and sometimes (not always) scrape together another 30-60 minutes before bed. That's it.

Perhaps I should feel like some kind of slug because I only write 1-2 hours per day, but that is all I have to give. So with that said, should I spend that limited time blogging? More and more these days, my answers has been "no."

Here's the thing: I do not write fast. Oh, I can type pretty fast, but typing is not the same thing as writing. In those 60-90 minutes I scrape together each day to write, I am usually able to generate 1-2 pages of a  manuscript. It takes me about the same amount of time to write a blog post. So what's the better use of my time? Writing pages in the next novel or writing a blog entry?

Buy on Amazon

Your mileage may very, but I saw no uptick in book sales when I started blogging and have seen no downtick in sales since I took a 7 month blogging hiatus. And during that period of blogging abstinence, I was able to co-write and publish a new novel (Gristle, co-authored with Derric Miller). Had I felt the need to blog weekly, I doubt that novel would be done yet. While it's not all about the money, it's not NOT about the money either, and by getting a new novel out, I am making money. As it commonly does, releasing a new novel increased sales of my other books as well. Blogging did not do that for me and begs the question, why should I keep doing it?

It is entirely possible that I am going about blogging all wrong. Maybe blogging is not a waste of time but the way I blog is. To that I merely shrug my shoulders and say, "Whatever." I do not mean to discourage anyone from blogging--if it works for you, by all means, go for it--but for me, forcing myself to blog has done nothing but rob me of time that I feel would be better spent working on a new novel. I will not shut down this blog and will continue to periodically post new content, but it will be when I want to do so, not because I feel I have to do so.

So the question was, to blog or not to blog? My answer is yes ... but only when I damn well please.

INTERVIEW: Brian Drake

 

Buy on Amazon

If being prolific is the key to success, then author Brian Drake will soon grace the pages of blogs far greater than this one. He currently has three series going--The Rogue Gentleman, John Coburn, Wolf (under the Dean Breckenridge moniker) and now Steletto--and has several titles in the pipeline for 2015. Brian recently took the time to answer some questions and one thing became perfectly clear--NEVER compare his books to Archer.

MARK: You already write multiple other series, so what made you want to start a new one?

BRIAN: A couple of things happened. 24: Live Another Day was announced and that got me binge-watching early 24 episodes to lead up to it. Then Gerard de Villiers, a French author who wrote the Malko Linge spy series, passed away. These two events started me thinking about doing a straight spy series. The Rogue Gentleman is an action series laced with humor, featuring an ex-spy and his adventures, and I wanted to do something to offset that. I had hoped to release The Termination Protocol in time for the new 24 series earlier this year, but I missed that because an editor at an actual publisher had the manuscript. They ultimately didn't move forward, so I released it myself.

MARK: As they say, never let one person's failure to move forward make you go backward. (Actually, they don't say that; I just made it up.) What made you want to become an action writer?

BRIAN: My imagination gets fired up with the idea of the heroic quest. Mystery and adventure stories are full of that, either solving a crime or locating secret documents, for example. You can do anything with the form, either something traditional, or a spoof, and it all fits. I like to explore the theme of what makes humanity tick, and you may have noticed The Termination Protocol features a short discussion on why it is man's nature to "live on his knees" and be controlled by a central power. We see a lot of that in the world and, worse, not much opposition, so I thought it was an idea worth exploring, albeit briefly. You don't see explanations like that often in adventure fiction, so I hope I'm breaking some ground normally reserved for standard literary efforts.

MARK: You know what else you don't see? Intestinal maladies. Seriously, imagine how cool it would be to read an Executioner novel where Bolan missed an opportunity to take out a target because he was suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and had to rush off to find the nearest toilet? Anyway, are there certain authors you draw inspiration from?

BRIAN: Most of the guys I read are dead now. If I had to name a top three, it would be Jerry Ahern, Ian Fleming, and Dashiell Hammett. I suppose the next question is how, but we don't have enough space for an analysis.

MARK: Since everyone you read is dead, if you would mind not reading my books, I would appreciate it. You are on record as stating you sometimes write your manuscripts by hand. Do you just enjoy cramped fingers or is there another reason you occasionally eschew a keyboard?

BRIAN: I like the sound of a pen scratching on paper. I like the idea of creating something by hand, whereas typing straight into a computer seems so remote, and I don't like the feeling of detachment. I like the idea of not having to find a power source if I want to write somewhere other than home (such as jail). Everything gets typed eventually, of course, and along the way I'm able to make improvements, so the written draft is really my first.

MARK: They say you never forget your first. Speaking of firsts, The Termination Protocol is the first in a new series, so how would you describe your new character, Scott Steletto?

BRIAN: Tom Clancy once said that the CIA is a large office complex that empties out at five o'clock every day. Another author, Barry Eisler, who worked there, said the CIA is like the Post Office with spies. I wanted to approach Steletto as a working man who has the same complaints about his job that everybody else does, then races around the world shooting bad guys. I think it will make him more identifiable to readers. Ian Fleming did the same thing, if you look closely, especially in Moonraker, where James Bond spends the first chapter sifting through paperwork at his desk. Hardly the stuff of the movies.

MARK: I can hear it now: "Somebody fetch me a bloody martini, shaken, not stirred, while I fill out this report accounting for every bullet I fired yesterday." OK, these days, if your name isn't Lee Child, it seems difficult to generate much noise in the action-adventure market. What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to a author aspiring to find success in the genre? (And no, "write erotica instead" doesn't count.)

BRIAN: That's funny, because I had a chat with one knuckleheaded friend of mine the other day who suggested I do just that. She even suggested titles: 50 Shades of Agent 69 and Double-0 Seven Inches Is Not Enough. But I told her I could never do that because I don't know how to spell "cock."

I have no idea how to answer your question. In fact, I should ask you. How many copies of your novel, The Assassin's Prayer, have sold just in the time it's taken to read this? I've given up trying to find the magic combination. Some of us are going to hit a home runs, some of us will make base hits, and the rest of us won't get off the bench. I seem to do a little better with each book, even if only for a short time. The Termination Protocol sold ten copies its first month, seven its second, and now it's stalled. No amount of advertising seems to work and I've exhausted so much money on this effort that things are going to be tight for the remainder of the year. I have an ambitious 2015 planned, a book every two months (stockpiled, if nothing else, unless I can afford the covers that frequently), and if it doesn't turn around, then it's time to hang up the pen and find another way to fund my addiction to Jammie Dodgers. Right now the only people making money off my work are my editor and cover artist. It's the sad reality of self-expression. F. Scott Fitzgerald said there are no second acts in America, but I'm trying to hang on through the intermission.

MARK: If it makes you feel any better, I had to go Google Jammie Dodgers. What do you think is the single worst mistake new authors make?

BRIAN: Holding back. Forget what people tell you about how to write. Follow your instincts and write your book.

MARK: My instincts tell me to write dinosaur porn, but thus far I have ignored them, and I'm pretty sure the world is a better place for it. While your earlier books all feature violent action, The Termination Protocol seems to be a bit more graphic about what happens when the bullet hits the bone. (Yes, that's a nod to .38 Special.) Was it a deliberate choice to ramp up the explicitness?

BRIAN: Actually, it was Golden Earring who sang "When the Bullet Hits the Bone," and now I have that song stuck in my head, so thanks a lot.

I wanted Steletto to be a throwback to the men's action novels of the '70s and '80s. I read a few of those before I started writing, so there's more violence, more suggestive sex, stuff like that. That tone may or may not transfer to the other series. It is kind of fun to write that way.

MARK: Golding Earring ... doh! Way to keep me honest. (For the record, I was thinking of "Bone Against Steel" by .38 Special, but don't ask me why.) In The Termination Protocol, there is a minor character named Mark Allen. Was that just happenstance, or do you actually borrow the names of people you know for your characters?

Buy on Amazon

BRIAN: Hahahaha ... yes, it was an accident, I swear, and calling him a "minor character" is being generous--he's only there for a scene or two. (You're the second Mark Allen I know, by the way--I sold a car to the first one a few years ago, when I worked for GM.) I've borrowed many names from people I know. I did a book in 2010 called Show No Mercy, which has since been unpublished because I hated it, and in that one I named a nympho femme fatale assassin after a goodie-two-shoe I knew at church, and that gave me a big laugh. I don't worry about people finding out. Friends and family don't read my stuff. A prophet has no honor in his own home, as Jesus said. I should try using my girlfriend as the next nympho femme fatale assassin; it might be a kick ... or get me kicked in the head. A buddy tried to read The Rogue Gentleman once, only to tell me he felt like he was reading an episode of Archer. I'd given him a signed copy but took it back. He's lucky I didn't smack him with it. Seriously, an Archer episode??!!

MARK: Smacking him would have been justified. Just sayin'. What's your favorite action movie and what makes it special?

BRIAN: The go-to answer that nobody will argue with is either Goldfinger or Die Hard, but I'll go for the odd choice: The Magnificent Seven. Not only a stellar action movie but one that has true character arcs. The characters either change, or don't change, but know they need to change. There are some great scenes about the morality of the gunfighter and the fact that time is marching on and they have less and less time to exist in their chosen lifestyle. If they don't die, they will be forced to change, and you're left with Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen riding off into an uncertain future. Great show.

MARK: You'll probably want to smack me when I admit that I have never watched The Magnificent Seven. Some writers say to write whatever you damn well please, others insist you have to build your brand. What's your position on the subject?

BRIAN: Write whatever you damn well please ... and if it displeases somebody, write more of it.

MARK: Be true to yourself and follow your own path is always good advice ... unless your true self is a serial killer. Let's wrap this up by having you tell us what's next for you.

Buy on Amazon

BRIAN: Steletto #2: The Fairmont Manuever is in the can, and ups the ante on action. Steletto #3: The Graypoole Resurrection is almost ready as well. The Rogue Gentleman #3: Another Way to Die is coming in 2015. I think the Wolf series, which I write under the name Dean Breckenridge, has had its day, but I may do one or two more to properly end the series. I'd like to try a western or sci-fi but I have no idea where I'll fit those in.

www.briandrake88.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/briandrake

BOOK REVIEW: "The Termination Protocol" by Brian Drake

Buy on Amazon

If you're seeking an action novel that is heavy on the bullets and light on the bloat, look no further than The Termination Protocol by Brian Drake. The prose is as tight as anything Lee Child or Vince Flynn ever put to page, but with quadruple the action. If you're a fan of the guns 'n' guts genre and that last sentence didn't get you salivating, I don't know what will. (Maybe giving away a free Glock with every book purchase?)

In the interest of full disclosure, Brian Drake is part of a network of authors I occasionally converse with via social media. But he did not give me a free copy of this book--I bought it with my own hard-earned royalties--and all the thoughts contained in this review are mine, not his. If they were his thoughts, there would probably be a lot of stuff about 'Murica, Ebola conspiracy, and pumpkin spice tampons, judging from his Facebook posts.

But social media proclivities aside, Drake is an accomplished author and he recently unleashed his newest creation, CIA operative Scott Steletto, upon the literary world. Genre fans who ignore this novel deserve to be terminated like an ISIS terrorist wrapped in disease-drenched rags. The story rockets forward so relentlessly that it redefines the phrase "rapid-paced." Lean and mean is the name of the game here.

The most vital component of any action-adventure book is, well,
action (duh) and The Termination Protocol offers a plethora of gunfights. Even better, many of those firefights feature one of my favorite weapons, the Heckler & Koch UMP .45. (Seriously, I need to get my trigger finger on one of those suckers.) So if you like bullets a-blastin' and blood a-sprayin', then you'll be plenty happy here. While not exactly a gore-fest, Drake definitely goes more graphic with the carnage than we typically see from him. As a self-professed action-splatter aficionado, I wholeheartedly approved. Hell, I think I even gave him a standing ovation at one point ... which was awkward, since I was in church at the time.

Anyway ... lest you erroneously believe that the book sacrifices plot in favor of all-out action, rest assured that a nifty plot does indeed exist, full of betrayal and crises and even a smidgen of romance. And sex. Not exactly the 50 Shades variety, but suffice it to say that the HK UMP .45 isn't the only gun Steletto gets to shoot.

So yeah, the bullets may blaze and the brains may splatter, but the savage action is in service to the story and characters. Presumably Scott Steletto will grow more fleshed out as the series progresses, but as it stands, he is given more than enough personality to make him a welcome addition to the pantheon of pistol-packing action heroes. Only something as terminal as decapitation would prevent me from reading the next book in the series, and such an event seems unlikely unless I run into one of the aforementioned ISIS scumbags.

Bottom line, when all is said and done and boiled down to bare brass cartridges, if you like action-thrillers, you'll like The Termination Protocol. Even if it doesn't come with a free Glock.

BOOK REVIEW: "Mexican Heat" by Stan R. Mitchell



Buy on Amazon

I should probably preface this review by confessing that I know Stan. Well, know him about as well as you can know someone you've never actually met but chat with for hours every month on Facebook. And you know what? He kicks ass. No, seriously, the guy's a martial artist, so he actually does kick ass.

 

He's also a kickass writer in the "guns 'n' guts" genre, having created with his debut novel, Sold Out, a kickass (are you sensing a pattern here?) hero in the form of warrior-sniper Nick Woods. Well, Stan recently released Mexican Heat, the second novel in the series of Nick Woods thrillers, and if you're wondering if it also kicks ass, well, read on.

 

This second Nick Woods adventure finds him reluctantly hired by the CIA to take a team of hot-shot trigger-pullers into Mexico to tackle the powerful Godesto cartel after it slaughters a SEAL team and targets the president. Now, boiling the plot down to its bare skeleton makes it sound a bit thin, but trust me, it's not. The story is actually quite ambitious for an action novel, full of the kind of political intrigue that made Vince Flynn a household name.

 

To say things get hot would be an understatement on par with saying a .45 packs more punch than a BB gun. And the heat isn't limited to explosions and firefights--though there are plenty of those--it also comes from Isabella, a curvaceous team member with sensual Latina sizzle to spare, the kind of woman that can turn even Nick Woods' head. Mitchell wisely avoids turning this into a romance novel, but let's just say not all the action comes from the end of a gun.

Listen, if the thought of a novel that reads like Tom Clancy on steroids gets you excited, prepare to pop wood like you chugged a bottle of Viagra. Mexican Heat spins an intricate, political story much like Clancy, but cranks up the gunplay, hand-to-hand combat, and overall action quotient while chopping out all the boring stuff. (Don't look at me like that; you know damn well Clancy has plenty of boring parts.) Much like Nick Woods himself, this book is lean and mean and packed with hard muscle. Mitchell knows how to write a book that moves at high velocity with prose that is stripped to the bone.

Bottom line, if you enjoy stories where the good guys kick the crap out of the bad guys, then this novel needs to be in your hands most ricky-tick.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Age of Apollyon" by Mark Carver

Buy on Amazon

I first stumbled across author Mark Carver on Goodreads, through the Action/Adventure Aficionados group, where he was seeking recommendations for Gothic-flavored action stories. In a shameless bit of self-promotion, I recommended my very own novella, Resurrection Bullets, which he promptly read. Well, it turns out that Mr. Carver not only enjoys reading Goth-slathered thrillers, he writes them as well, and I immediately grabbed one of his novels, The Age of Apollyon.

Turns out it's not just a good thriller, it's a good Christian thriller.

You're forgiven if you consider the phrase "good Christian thriller" to be oxymoronic. The realm of Christian speculative fiction is populated by authors who tend to play it safe, but Mark Carver is not one of those authors, and the result is one of the best Christian thrillers you'll read this side of Dekker or Peretti.

This is an end-times scenario, occurring in the aftermath of what is called the Manifestation, when Lucifer Incarnate revealed himself to the world. Satanism becomes the dominant world religion and Christianity is driven underground. As religious genocide steamrolls across Europe, it appears God has fallen silent, the guardian angels' swords sheathed. Believing that violence is the only option, a righteous man named Tourec picks up his guns and starts assassinating Satanic priests and waging a bloody war against the forces of darkness.

So those forces slither up to Patric, the half-brother of Tourec, and command him to neutralize his sibling, threatening to destroy his fiance and unborn child if he fails. Because, ya know, that's what demonic dirtbags do.

In this age of sanitized Christian fiction, Carver dares to go for dark and edgy with violence (though rarely explicit), profanity (mild stuff), and sex (suggested, never graphic). While none of these elements would raise an eyebrow in the secular literary world, they are rather bold for a faith-centric novel. I mean, a demonic seductress performing oral sex on a Satanic priest? Yeah, this ain't Grace Livingston Hill ... and the Christian fiction market is better for it. The world is a nasty place and it would be even nastier if the devil himself manifested here and his infernal church ruled supreme. When we're talking about Hell incarnated on earth, it's probably reasonable to expect people to say things like "damn" and "son of a bitch" and occasionally get laid and/or violently slaughtered.

As an action writer myself, I would have liked to have seen a bit more gun-blazing and bullet-blasting, but that is not a legitimate negative, merely a preference. Carver was clearly aiming for more of a thriller scenario than a pure action story, and he pretty much nailed it with extra helpings of Gothic atmosphere and plenty of twists and turns. That's not to say there is no action, because there definitely is; just don't go in expecting a glut of guns 'n' guts. This is The Age of Apollyon, not the latest installment of The Executioner series.

Bottom line, if you're seeking something dark, daring, and different in the Christian thriller genre, carve out some time to read this novel.

INTERVIEW: Stan R. Mitchell

Buy on Amazon

I first came across fellow guns 'n' guts author Stan R. Mitchell when another action author, Jack Badelaire, reviewed Stan's stellar novel, Sold Out (ain't networking grand?). It sounded exactly like my literary cup o' bullets and as it turned out, it was. Eventually I reached out to Stan and through Facebook, phone, and text, we got to know each other. But just because I know him doesn't mean you do, something you won't be able to say after this interview. Read on to find out what makes Stan tick ... and try to forgive him for liking rap music.

MARK: What is it about the action genre that draws you to it?

STAN: Interesting question with no quick answer. The short of it is, I wrote a fair amount of literature in one of my writing phases right after college. At that point, I was a bit disillusioned with action books. Having chased my childhood dream of serving in the Marine Corps, I'd learned the harsh truth that actually being in the infantry isn't nearly as fun or glamorous as the books make it out to be.

That's when I wrote a fair amount of literature, which I'd generically define as writing about "real life." But the literature I wrote was really dark and black and hellish ... much like real life!

Long story short, I'll stick to writing fun stories, since for me, there's nothing that beats a great book that pulls me out of my present reality and transplants me into an awesome life-and-death struggle.

As for why I write in the action genre over mystery and other genres, that's pretty simple. Action books are what I've read my entire life. I feel I know and understand the genre and it's where I'm most comfortable trying to make it as an author.

MARK: Any interest in eventually branching out into other genres?

STAN: Some, but I think it's best to stay disciplined as an author and try to create a recognizeable brand.

MARK: Well, disciplined and driven are definitely two words that describe you. What made you that way?

STAN: Part of it is an inner-city school thing. You face so many obstacles and temptations growing up in an inner city that if you're lucky to break free from it all, you'll find yourself intensely confident that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Plus, growing up without money makes you desire the security it provides more than you can possible explain.

A second part of my intense drive stems from the Marine Corps, which injected into me a lot of something--not sure what--but most people just call it brainwashing. The Corps taught me I can do whatever I set my mind to if I'm just crazy enough to never give up and outwork those around me, and I adhere to this philosophy wholeheartedly. Most people think Marines are crazy, and I won't disagree that I fall into that category. Let me add, though, that I am very thankful that I do.

MARK: Craziness and creativity are often traveling companions. What do you consider to be the best action novel ever written?

STAN: That's such an unfair question. I will say that, while it's impossible for me to answer that, Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter is probably right up there. It's what influenced me to write Sold Out and it made--and still makes--a heck of an impression on me.

MARK: Anyone who enjoys Hunter's Bob Lee Swagger series will also enjoy Sold Out. What kind of music do you listen to while you write?

STAN: I'm on vastly different ends of the spectrum. Mostly, I listen to either rap or country. And if I'm not listening to that, I'm listening to rock. That's a weird spread, I know, but I grew up in an inner-city school, which taught me to love rap. But on the other hand, my family roots are mostly out in the country, which of course taught me to love country music.

MARK: I'd rather eat a hollowpoint than listen to rap, but enough about me. How would you describe your writing style?

STAN: I'd love to say hard-hitting and super-fast, with very little description, but honestly, I think this is something only the reader gets to judge and describe.

MARK: Fine. Since I'm a reader of your work, I'll describe it as hard-hitting and super-fast. What would you say is the most important thing a writer needs in order to achieve success in the action genre?

STAN: I think you better be able to move the story along at a fast pace while constantly ramping up the tension and making things worse and worse for your main character or team.

MARK: What do you think is the single worst mistake new authors make?

STAN: Publishing too soon. Then quitting and giving up. Life is going to punch you in the face. My philosophy is that you need to pick yourself up, smile as sick as you can, and say, "Is that the best you've got?"

Also, while there are some who publish too soon, there are probably just as many who never publish at all. I think there are hundreds of talented writers who never, ever publish. Their fears keep them from putting it out there. Goodness knows, I've faced those same demons. But at some point as a writer, you have to believe in yourself and say your story is good enough. And don't be too hard on yourself for not believing in your book. Remember, even Stephen King trashed Carrie. But thankfully for all of us, his wife saw it, yanked it out, and encouraged him to finish it.

MARK: Good wives always save the day. How do you respond to critics who dismiss the action-adventure genre, alleging it glorifies gun violence?

STAN: I don't.

MARK: Nice! Is there any subject matter you consider taboo?

STAN: I think you should go easy on descriptive sex scenes. Better to imply rather than show. At least, that's how I approach it.

MARK: As already mentioned, you are a big Stephen Hunter fan. What did you think of the movie Shooter, based on Hunter's classic novel Point of Impact?

STAN: Not much of a fan. I mean, you have a chance to produce a movie based on Bob Lee Swagger and you give the role to Mark Wahlberg? And that's not a dis on Wahlberg. I like him a lot and think he pretty much nailed the part they wrote for him. I'm just saying, where's the grumpy old man that we all love so much? And how do you take a story as amazing as Point of Impact and decide it would be better to use a character that's younger?

Buy on Amazon

MARK: You have written two novels: Little Man and Sold Out. Which one is your favorite and why?

STAN: Man, you're cruel! I guess if I had to pick one, I'd pick Sold Out. I spent twelve years on that book and it took everything that I had. Plus, I think the main character, Nick Woods, is the strongest character I've ever created and hopefully he's as badass as Bob Lee Swagger, aka Bob the Nailer.

MARK: Nick Woods is badass and let no man say otherwise. Let's wrap up this interview by having you tell us what's next for you.

STAN: I'm wrapping up the final touches on Mexican Heat, the follow up to Sold Out. I even have the third book of the series, in which Nick Woods gets sent to Afghanistan, about halfway done, so I'm clearly in love with Nick, his crew, and the way the storyline is going.

www.stanrmitchell.com
www.facebook.com/stan.mitchell.usmc
www.twitter.com/stanrmitchell

FAITH UNCENSORED #1: "The Messiah and the Muskellunge"

The hammering sun nudged things toward the uncomfortable end of the heat spectrum as the rays shimmered and danced across the river’s surface. Thankfully, the soft breeze as well as the slow but steady motion of the fishing boat dulled the edges of the blazing sunbeams enough to make things bearable. I kept an eye on the poles secured in the rod holders, lines trailing behind us as the boat trolled up and down the river. The gentle wake was not churning enough to conceal the large lures—seriously, these things looked like bait for a Kronosaurus—spinning in multi-colored motion just beneath the surface twenty or so feet behind us.

I am a deer hunter, not a fisherman, far more comfortable with a rifle in my hand than a fishing rod. This was my first time fishing for muskellunge, or “muskie,” as the fish is commonly called. An apex predator fish that is notoriously hard to catch—it’s nickname among anglers is “the fish of ten thousand casts”—the muskie was the preferred prey of my companions, Jud Decker and his son David. I don’t know if I would go so far as to call this pair rabid in their quest for muskies, but I certainly would not call them lax either; one does not spend $20 on a single lure if you’re half-assed about the sport.

My expectation of catching a muskie myself was about the same as my expectation of seeing a mermaid sunning herself on the shoreline. Frankly, my expectations for any of us catching a muskie that day were near zero. A wicked thunderstorm the night before had turned conditions less than prime, we only had a few hours on the river, and, well, these fish are just damned hard to catch, which is part of their appeal. After all, any amateur with a stick, string, bobber and worm can stand on the end of a dock and catch sunnies and perch to their heart’s content, but it takes dedication and patience to fish for muskies.

But just because I didn’t expect any of us to catch a muskie doesn’t mean I didn’t hope we would. I had been regaled with stories about the pure joy of having a muskie strike your line, I had seen impressive photos of boated fish, but I had never actually experienced these thrills for myself.

So the afternoon wore on. The sun continued to crown us with its heat. The boat continued its leisurely trolling. The lures continued to do their enticing dance behind us, occasionally snagging on some aquatic weed to give the lines a teasing tug, making you think for a moment that you might have a bite before you realized it was a false alarm. Lethargy began creeping in like a not entirely unwelcome guest, settling over us all like a warm, cozy blanket.

And then all hell broke loose.

Judd’s lure vanished, engulfed in the bony maw of an impressive muskie that was damn near Moby Dickian in mass. Jud’s rod bowed like a sapling in a hurricane as he set the hook, the sharp barbs impaling the muskie’s mouth and letting both fish and man know the battle was engaged. What had been tranquil silence was now shattered by Jud’s cry of, “I’ve got one!” As David lunged for the net, I simply did my best to stay out of the way.

I don’t recall the specifics; the memories are more like fragmented, pulsing still-shots in my mind. The arched rod. The excited yells. The rocking boat. The splashing water. The thrashing of the muskie as it valiantly fought against being relentlessly reeled in. How long it all lasted I do not know—probably less than five minutes, but what exhilarating minutes they were. All violent action and flashing fins and glinting scales and roiling water. I stood in the boat, transfixed, adrenalin pumping, struck by the dawning revelation that I had just experienced something I had never expected to experience.

After snapping some photos of the 44 inch, 25 pound behemoth, we returned it to its habitat where it swam off and disappeared into the murky depths, its pride wounded, its mouth stinging, but no doubt grateful that it had been granted salvation rather than extermination. Satisfied smiles on our faces, we resumed trolling, and it was then, as calm settled back over the boat, that it occurred to me.

The love of God is like a muskie strike.

So many people in this life are lonely, barren, hollow husks who have never known the love of God. They drift rudderless along the rugged surface of life fishing for something, anything, to save them from a loveless existence. They cast ten thousand casts, changing lures to adapt to their environment or emotions, desperate to find the perfect combination that will net them what they need. Like me in that fishing boat, knowing muskies existed but never having actually experienced one, these empty, aching vessels know on some level that is far beyond skin and bone and guts that God is there. Deep down where mortal existence ends and soul-existence begins they know that He loves them without condition and longs to clutch them close like the forgiving father hugging his prodigal son, but they have never actually experienced that purest of love for themselves. They sail and troll and cast and are occasionally fooled into believing they have found it, only to be disappointed when what they thought was something lasting turns out to be nothing more than life’s version of seaweed.

But when that strike comes … when God’s love strikes a heart with all the ferocity of a trophy muskie slamming into a lure … when your soul is consumed by the unrelenting force that is Grace Incarnate ... in that miraculous moment there will be no doubt, no confusion about what just happened. You will not fruitlessly jerk on the rod of life, wondering if something is on the other end—you will know something is there. Know it in a way that transcends flesh and blood and mind and marrow, know it in a way that goes far beyond primal to the place where Creator and Created are inexplicably joined.

The weeping wounded walk among us. The sea upon which we sail may be the cracked concrete of city sidewalks or the marble tile of shopping malls, but the ships that silently float past us in their business suits or casual attire are often nothing more than sleek hulls burdened by the cargo of questing hearts. They troll through the waters of life eternally hoping but so terribly unsure if the breathtaking love they seek, the kind of love that slams you to your knees, will ever find them. If only they knew that it always will. Somehow, someway, the love of God finds us all. And just as a muskie angler knows when his hook has been struck by the quarry he seeks, so the hungry soul will know beyond even a shadow of a doubt that it has been struck by the everlasting love of a merciful God.