The past six months have been INCREDIBLY busy and hectic. There’s been a book release, major changes at my old practice, moving into a NEW practice, a blog tour in the midst of that…oh, and let’s not forget Thanksgiving and Christmas. Did I mention I also have kids and a wife?
All that is to say, I haven’t been the most attentive blogger/author. Hopefully that can all change now and things will quiet down. Dear God please.
Head on over to Saturday’s Blog Tour site to see the secret word and read my guest post. Unfortunately, there was a slight confusion and the same article from Lorehaven (The Wild Spirit) was posted there. BUT, the secret word is correct.
Thanks, Ms. Cole, for allowing me to be featured on your site!
Additionally, allthe secret words are now posted in the next section below.
Never fear, though! Here is the Character Interview with Daniel and Ben that was slotted to appear there. Enjoy!
Interviewer: Today, we are interviewing Daniel and Ben Jones from Nathan Lumbatis’s Sons and Daughters series. Welcome!
Daniel: Hi.
Ben: Thanks! This is so cool. I’ve never been interviewed before. It makes me feel important.
Daniel: You’re not. Don’t let it go to your head.
Ben: Pfft. Nerd.
Interviewer: : Okay guys! Let’s get started. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
Daniel: That’s easy. Probably sleep. Play video games. Sleep again. Maybe kick around a soccer ball until my next naptime.
Ben: You’re so lazy. I’d probably ride my bike around the neighborhood, chill out with my dad. And maybe kick Daniel a couple times.
Interviewer: Classic teenagers. You two seem like you’ve been brothers your entire lives. That’s great. Next question.
What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?
Daniel: Uh, this got deep real fast. It’s kinda starting to feel like a homework assignment. I don’t know. Maybe that I’m an awesome soccer player.
Ben: How would people know you play soccer when they first meet you unless you’re bragging about it?
Daniel: Like you’re some interview expert. All right, what’s your answer?
Ben: Well, I hope people think I’m nice and helpful. And maybe cute with an irresistible smile.
Daniel: Such a doofus.
Interviewer: Well, I’m sure you both make a good impression wherever you are.
What was your favorite part in Daniel and the Triune Quest?
(Daniel and Ben look at each other)
Ben: Favorite part? The end when we were home and still alive. Do you know what we went through?
Daniel: Yeah. It wasn’t fun. Although, there was one part in the very beginning where I was asleep. That was awesome. But everything else stunk. Oh, and when I played soccer and totally beat Ben right before everything went downhill—it was awesome. That was your favorite part, right, Ben?
Ben: No. But I did like it when you were asleep and I didn’t have to listen to your obnoxious comments.
Interviewer: Okay, fine. What was your least favorite part of the book?
Daniel: I don’t think I’m allowed to say. It’ll ruin the suspense, and I’d probably get grounded. But, duh, it’s the part when that really, really bad thing happens. You know… (nods at Ben).
Ben: Do you really have to ask? I mean…could there be anything worse? It was literally the worst moment in my life. Kind of insensitive of you to ask, by the way.
Daniel: Yup.
Interviewer: Sorry! Geez. It’s a standard interview question. I’ll try to be more sensitive in the future.
How’s this one: What do you suppose God thinks of you?
Ben: Hmm. Well, even though he lets us go through some tough times, I’m sure he loves me. I guess he thinks of me as his son.
Daniel: Same.
Interviewer: You don’t want to add anything, Daniel?
Daniel: Nope. I’m his son and he loves me. I think that answers the question pretty well.
Interviewer: Okay. No sense beating a dead horse. In Daniel and the Triune Quest, you both have an experience with the Son, the second person of the Trinity. What was that like?
Ben: Ha! It was overwhelming in every way you could possibly imagine.
Daniel: I felt like I was plugged into an electrical socket. But, you know… I didn’t mind it.
Ben: Or like you were standing next to a star and any second you were just going to be eradicated by its power.
Daniel: Exactly. It was good, though. Better than good. It was probably the best experience of my life. I guess I’d say that was my favorite part of the quest, now that you mention it.
Ben: Yeah. If I could’ve just stayed with him…but, well, I asked him if I could and he said no. That’s the whole point of life though, right? To get back to him?
Daniel: I think so. But wait, you tried to stay? What about me?
Ben: I came back, didn’t I? Can you blame me for trying?
Daniel: Yes, watch me. I’m blaming you right now.
Ben: Aw, you would’ve missed me. Poor wittle Daniel would’ve been all awone.
Daniel: I would’ve missed laughing at your pathetic soccer skills.
Ben: So mean.
Interviewer: Your experience with him sounds amazing. Next question: What do you like about being brothers?
Daniel: Ugh! Not more deep stuff! Can’t you ask me about my favorite video games or movies or something?
Ben: What Daniel means is, he loves sharing a room with me because now he doesn’t feel so lonely. And becoming my brother gives his life the meaning he was always looking for. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Right, Daniel?
Daniel: (Rolls his eyes) More like, the best thing about being your brother is that standing next to you makes me look taller and hotter, and more girls notice me.
Ben: All except Gabriela, huh?
Daniel: Hey! What the heck, man? Way to take it too far!
Interviewer: My goodness. For those who don’t know, who is this Gabriela?
Ben: Oh, you better let me answer this one. If Daniel tries, he’ll start blushing and get all giggly.
Daniel: What the—
Ben: Gabriela is this girl we met in Peru during our first quest. She’s really pretty and nice, and super brave, and Daniel’s got a crush on her. But now she’s off serving the Three somewhere and doesn’t have time for dating.
Daniel: I’m going to kill you. As soon as we’re alone, I’m calling one of the Enemy’s monsters and inviting them over to eat you for lunch.
Ben: Ha! You’re blushing. That was too easy. I win!
Daniel: (Folds his arms and glares back)
Interviewer: Well, she sounds lovely. Adoption or no, you boys sure do act like real brothers. While we’re on the subject of supporting characters in the book, how is your ex-adoptive sister, Gator?
Daniel: Huge.
Ben: Probably clipping her Aunt Barf’s toenails again.
Interviewer: (Chuckles) Yes, well…do you think she is doing well? For those who don’t know, it’s been 8 months since her father lost custody and she’s been living with her Aunt Barf. Unfortunate name, really.
Ben: Let’s not lose sight of the fact that her dad lost custody because he allowed her to beat me and Daniel up, and he tried to turn Daniel into a slave. So, you know, go easy on the sympathy. But, when she popped in at the end of the book, she looked more like a normal human, so that’s good.
Daniel: Ben, man…have a little compassion. She did look better, though. Her eyes had less of that “I’m going to pound you into the dirt” kind of look, and more of a “I think I just had a feeling” look. I think she’ll turn out okay. Living with Aunt Barf is probably helping her realize how a normal home is supposed to work. Hopefully.
Ben: I wish I had an Aunt Barf.
Daniel: Aw. Me too. That’d be hilarious.
Interviewer: Okay. Last question. But, I have to say, it’s a serious one. It was clear at the end of the book that the Enemy has some ominous things planned for the world. How will you focus on saving Raylin when so much hangs in the balance?
Ben: Uh, I don’t even know how to focus on my math homework, much less balancing Raylin and the world. So, I have no idea. We’ll just do what we have to do, I guess.
Daniel: Yeah. We have to save Raylin in order to save the world, anyway, so… it’s all the same. Rescuing her, beating up a monster, defeating the Enemy—the Three will work it all out.
But, you know, these quests usually begin and end with some nasty monsters popping up. It’s not like we have a choice but to focus on defeating whatever’s trying to kill us in the moment. I imagine the quest for Raylin will be the same. Sorry world. If it’s between saving you and blasting an oozing demon that wants to eat me, I’m going to handle the demon first.
Ben: Like any monster has tried to eat you! It’s me they go after, Daniel. Every time!
Daniel: Not true! They try to….No. You’re right. You’re the one who all the monsters try to eat. Yep.
Interviewer: You guys are hilarious. It’s been a pleasure picking your brains for these ten minutes or so. Let’s do this again sometime after your next quest.
Find all the secret words found in each participating blog post, combine them into a complete sentence at the end of the tour on Saturday, then follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter the sentence as your answer.
If you’ve read either Daniel and the Sun Sword or Daniel and the Triune Quest and enjoyed them, please review them on Amazon! Here are the links:
Praise for Sons and Daughters Series
Christian Fiction Review by Peter Younghusband
5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon)
Better Than Its Predecessor. Takes This Series To The Next Level. You Won’t Be Disappointed.
By: Peter Younghusbandon September 15, 2017
Every author and every reader anticipate that a sequel will be just as good or better than the previous….Well, I can say that this is a better story than its predecessor (Daniel and the Sun Sword)….
Lumbatis has shown more of the biblical aspects of who God is, the Trinity, and the Gospel message….
The account where Daniel meets Jesus is powerful but gentle and bypasses the head and ministers straight to the heart….
I know Lumbatis researched the mythology and culture….[and] translated this research into the plot and setting of the novel very well. It is great world building….Makes it very credible and real.
Daniel and the Triune Quest is a blast—a breathtaking thrill ride!
A blast—a breathtaking thrill ride! Tantalizing prose, and…deliciously well-written. I fell head-over-heels for the witty, sarcastic dialogue. Daniel and Ben’s adventures are action-adventure spelled out, along with a hefty dose of drama, comedy, and memorable characters.
The action-packed narrative undoubtedly has the power to lure kids away from video games, and the spiritual messages are core, buoyed by dazzling anime-like visuals presented through…clear-cut learning arcs for the two boys.
Parents…should jump at this one and bookmark Nathan Lumbatis for future reference.
Wow! My husband and I couldn’t put this book down. It sure got our hearts pumping! Exciting, surprising, inspiring — but also arresting. It made me stop and think about the realities of God’s purpose for our lives, the very real “battles” we face, and His power & strength available to us in the midst of it all. Rich imagery. So good!
Head on over to Friday’s Blog Tour site to see the secret word and read my guest post at the Speculative Faith website. Here’s an excerpt…
The Wild Spirit
(or Zombie Christianity)
(Random Sappy Christian Movie or Book Scene)
“Good afternoon, Timmy.” Mr. Heartsworth waved to Timmy from his garden, his face framed by the red roses he was planting in the dark, rich earth. “How was school today?” He stood and ambled to the fence, his knees creaking with each step.
Timmy shook his head, his curly, blond hair bouncing as he did. “Not good. Anger got the best of me again, Mr. Heartsworth. Kicked a teacher in the shin and stole a candy bar from a friend. I wish I wasn’t so bad! If I don’t get a handle on myself, I’ll probably end up being a drug-dealer, atheist, and maybe a human trafficker. What is wrong with me, Mr. Heartsworth?”
The old man brushed off dirty hands and waved for Timmy to follow him into the garden. With one quick movement, he took his phone out of his pocket, opened Spotify, and turned on Bill and Gloria Gaither’s Just As I Am.
Find all the secret words found in each participating blog post, combine them into a complete sentence at the end of the tour on Saturday, then follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter the sentence as your answer.
If you’ve read either Daniel and the Sun Sword or Daniel and the Triune Quest and enjoyed them, please review them on Amazon! Here are the links:
Praise for Sons and Daughters Series
Christian Fiction Review by Peter Younghusband
5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon)
Better Than Its Predecessor. Takes This Series To The Next Level. You Won’t Be Disappointed.
By: Peter Younghusbandon September 15, 2017
Every author and every reader anticipate that a sequel will be just as good or better than the previous….Well, I can say that this is a better story than its predecessor (Daniel and the Sun Sword)….
Lumbatis has shown more of the biblical aspects of who God is, the Trinity, and the Gospel message….
The account where Daniel meets Jesus is powerful but gentle and bypasses the head and ministers straight to the heart….
I know Lumbatis researched the mythology and culture….[and] translated this research into the plot and setting of the novel very well. It is great world building….Makes it very credible and real.
Daniel and the Triune Quest is a blast—a breathtaking thrill ride!
A blast—a breathtaking thrill ride! Tantalizing prose, and…deliciously well-written. I fell head-over-heels for the witty, sarcastic dialogue. Daniel and Ben’s adventures are action-adventure spelled out, along with a hefty dose of drama, comedy, and memorable characters.
The action-packed narrative undoubtedly has the power to lure kids away from video games, and the spiritual messages are core, buoyed by dazzling anime-like visuals presented through…clear-cut learning arcs for the two boys.
Parents…should jump at this one and bookmark Nathan Lumbatis for future reference.
Wow! My husband and I couldn’t put this book down. It sure got our hearts pumping! Exciting, surprising, inspiring — but also arresting. It made me stop and think about the realities of God’s purpose for our lives, the very real “battles” we face, and His power & strength available to us in the midst of it all. Rich imagery. So good!
Head on over to Thursday’s Blog Tour site to see the secret word and read Peter’s interview with me. Here’s a snippet to whet your appetite…
What inspired you to write the Sons and Daughters series?
I work a lot with children and teenagers who come out of broken homes, many of whom have been adopted or were in foster care at some point. One thing they all have in common was a hunger for identity—a place to belong to, a family heritage to call their own, a history they can be plugged into. Really, that’s a desire we all have, it just seemed emphasized in these children. And, ultimately, that need is fulfilled in salvation, in our adoption into God’s family. That need and fulfillment were the inspiration for Sons and Daughters. How would you describe the Daniel and the Triune Quest in a text message?
Find all the secret words found in each participating blog post, combine them into a complete sentence at the end of the tour on Saturday, then follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter the sentence as your answer.
If you’ve read either Daniel and the Sun Sword or Daniel and the Triune Quest and enjoyed them, please review them on Amazon! Here are the links:
Praise for Sons and Daughters Series
Christian Fiction Review by Peter Younghusband
5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon)
Better Than Its Predecessor. Takes This Series To The Next Level. You Won’t Be Disappointed.
By: Peter Younghusbandon September 15, 2017
Every author and every reader anticipate that a sequel will be just as good or better than the previous….Well, I can say that this is a better story than its predecessor (Daniel and the Sun Sword)….
Lumbatis has shown more of the biblical aspects of who God is, the Trinity, and the Gospel message….
The account where Daniel meets Jesus is powerful but gentle and bypasses the head and ministers straight to the heart….
I know Lumbatis researched the mythology and culture….[and] translated this research into the plot and setting of the novel very well. It is great world building….Makes it very credible and real.
Daniel and the Triune Quest is a blast—a breathtaking thrill ride!
A blast—a breathtaking thrill ride! Tantalizing prose, and…deliciously well-written. I fell head-over-heels for the witty, sarcastic dialogue. Daniel and Ben’s adventures are action-adventure spelled out, along with a hefty dose of drama, comedy, and memorable characters.
The action-packed narrative undoubtedly has the power to lure kids away from video games, and the spiritual messages are core, buoyed by dazzling anime-like visuals presented through…clear-cut learning arcs for the two boys.
Parents…should jump at this one and bookmark Nathan Lumbatis for future reference.
Wow! My husband and I couldn’t put this book down. It sure got our hearts pumping! Exciting, surprising, inspiring — but also arresting. It made me stop and think about the realities of God’s purpose for our lives, the very real “battles” we face, and His power & strength available to us in the midst of it all. Rich imagery. So good!
View the Trailer for Daniel and the Triune Quest ♦
Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter♦
Daniel and the Triune Quest Blog Tour and Giveaway
Head on over to Wednesday’s Blog Tour site to see the secret word and read Christianity and Mythology: A Reprise
Those who were around for the release of my first book, Daniel and the Sun Sword, will remember that I wrote about the subject of Christianity and Mythology then. I decided to expand on this topic for the release of the sequel in hopes to further explore the traces of Christianity sprinkled throughout worldwide mythologies.
Speculative Fiction begins by presuming the basics of a Christian worldview and then asking “What if?“. One of the central What if’s of Daniel and the Triune Quest, and the Sons and Daughters series as a whole, has to do with the origin of worldwide mythologies: What if every culture’s myths grew out of man’s fallen memory of the one true God, his plan for redemption, and the rebellion of dark angels? Wouldn’t there be traces of truth and the thread of redemption in those ancient stories?
Find all the secret words found in each participating blog post, combine them into a complete sentence at the end of the tour on Saturday, then follow the Rafflecopter link below to enter the sentence as your answer.
If you’ve read either Daniel and the Sun Sword or Daniel and the Triune Quest and enjoyed them, please review them on Amazon! Here are the links:
Praise for Sons and Daughters Series
Christian Fiction Review by Peter Younghusband
5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon)
Better Than Its Predecessor. Takes This Series To The Next Level. You Won’t Be Disappointed.
By: Peter Younghusbandon September 15, 2017
Every author and every reader anticipate that a sequel will be just as good or better than the previous….Well, I can say that this is a better story than its predecessor (Daniel and the Sun Sword)….
Lumbatis has shown more of the biblical aspects of who God is, the Trinity, and the Gospel message….
The account where Daniel meets Jesus is powerful but gentle and bypasses the head and ministers straight to the heart….
I know Lumbatis researched the mythology and culture….[and] translated this research into the plot and setting of the novel very well. It is great world building….Makes it very credible and real.
Daniel and the Triune Quest is a blast—a breathtaking thrill ride!
A blast—a breathtaking thrill ride! Tantalizing prose, and…deliciously well-written. I fell head-over-heels for the witty, sarcastic dialogue. Daniel and Ben’s adventures are action-adventure spelled out, along with a hefty dose of drama, comedy, and memorable characters.
The action-packed narrative undoubtedly has the power to lure kids away from video games, and the spiritual messages are core, buoyed by dazzling anime-like visuals presented through…clear-cut learning arcs for the two boys.
Parents…should jump at this one and bookmark Nathan Lumbatis for future reference.
Wow! My husband and I couldn’t put this book down. It sure got our hearts pumping! Exciting, surprising, inspiring — but also arresting. It made me stop and think about the realities of God’s purpose for our lives, the very real “battles” we face, and His power & strength available to us in the midst of it all. Rich imagery. So good!
5.0 out of 5 stars (Amazon)
Nathan Lumbatis 