Reader Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions readers ask most often — about the books, the man, and the work.
About the Books
Q.What inspired A Sound Of Distant Thunder?
Years of studying the Civil War, combined with a lifetime of military service and Christian faith. The Stoner family came out of asking, 'What did this war actually cost the families who lived through it?'
Q.Are the characters in A Sound Of Distant Thunder based on real people?
The Stoners are fictional, but their experiences are stitched together from countless real diaries, letters, and accounts of Virginians during the final year of the war. The battles, the prison camps, and the destruction of the Shenandoah Valley are all historically accurate.
Q.Is Life Is A River autobiographical?
It draws heavily on real memories of fly fishing the streams of the North Carolina mountains as a child, and on the grandfather figure who taught those lessons. The voice in the book is intentionally close to my own.
Q.Who is A Conversational Gospel written for?
Anyone who wants to understand what the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually says — readers new to the New Testament, longtime believers wanting a clear summary, and small groups looking for a starting point for honest conversation.
Q.Will there be a sequel to A Sound Of Distant Thunder?
There are more stories in this world worth telling, and I'm exploring them now. Subscribers to the reader's list will hear first when anything new is on the way.
About the Author
Q.Where are you from?
I was born in Bryson City, North Carolina and currently live in Greenville, South Carolina.
Q.What is your military background?
I joined the Army in 1973, later served in the Army Reserves, and then in the South Carolina Army National Guard, including combat service in Iraq as a combat medic. I retired in 2008 with two Meritorious Service Medals, a Combat Action Badge, and four honorable discharges.
Q.How did your military service shape your writing?
It taught me what soldiers actually sound like, what fear and courage actually look like, and how faith holds up — or doesn't — when life is on the line. All of that finds its way into the pages.
Buying, Reading & Events
Q.Where can I buy your books?
All three titles are available on Amazon in print and digital editions. Direct links are on the Books page.
Q.Do you visit book clubs?
Yes — virtually and, when geography allows, in person. See the Services page or use the contact form to arrange a visit.
Q.Are signed copies available?
Yes. Reach out through the contact page for signed copies or signed bookplates.
Q.How do I subscribe to updates?
Sign up for the reader's list on the homepage or in the footer — you'll hear from me only when there's something worth saying.