Today
on my blog I’d like to welcome back Pastor Michael Duncan. He wrote the Book of Aleth
series you can find on Pelican Books. But
today I want to tell you about his new book, Shadow Remnant.
Blurb:
When
truth is lost, liberty dies.
For a
hundred years the United States has been gripped by martial law, with freedom
and faith a forgotten memory. In the summer of 2132, Peter Sheridan learns this
the hard way when he finds himself on the wrong side of the government–but the
right side of freedom.
All he
wants to do is escape the notorious education center and find his parents. But
when he is shot and left for dead, he is rescued by a mysterious recluse and
finds himself drawn into a world of chaos and intrigue.
Racing
against time and the government to try and complete his father’s mission—Peter
must reignite the call for freedom. To do so, he turns to the last hope for
America, the mysterious group known as the Shadow Remnant.
Review:
An
amazing read that keeps you gripped to the pages. I laughed and cried and read
long into the night on two occasions. Mr. Duncan has crafted an incredible
story with plot twists a plenty, as Peter discovers the truth and then tries to
keep the truth from being buried again.
Interview:
Welcome to the
blog, Michael.
M: Thank you! It is great to be here.
Are you a
plotter or a pantser when you write?
M: Actually… a little bit of both. I begin a new story with an
overarching theme that I want to explore, then put a setting together and stick
characters in it. After that, it’s all “by the seat of your pants” writing –
exploring along with the characters. I often feel as if I’m simply watching the
story unfold page by page, and just writing it as I see it.
As a pastor do
you find it hard not to preach when you write fiction, or is writing fiction a
welcome respite from sermons? ;-)
M: Not really. I don’t find it hard to preach when I’m writing
fiction – because I’ve been doing both for so many years. I’ve been preaching
for over 25 years, and it is what God has gifted me to do. But I am also called
by God to write – and my love is to write fiction. It does become a welcome
respite, not from sermon writing (I love to do that), but from grappling with
all of the other challenges of ministry.
Can you tell us
briefly how you became a Christian? And a pastor?
M: I’ll try, but I’ve not ever been accused of being brief. As
to becoming a Christian, it happened while I was serving in the United States
Air Force. I was stationed in California, and my roommate was a Christian. Now,
before this, I had heard of Jesus from a very close and dear friend who had
prayed for me for many years (we knew each other in High School). So, this
roommate of mine continually pressed me to come with him to a weekly Bible
study that he attended. After several months of this, I finally relented and
went with him. It was at the Bible study that I learned about the tragic state
I was in without Christ, and, after several weeks of participating in the Bible
study, I finally yielded my life to Christ and received His mercy and
Forgiveness. I hope this was brief enough.
Now, for becoming a pastor, that is also a long story. It
begins with the first Scripture I ever memorized, Colossians 1:28-29, “We
proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all
His energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Who would have thought that such
a statement would become the life-verse of all that God called me to become!
So, while in the military, I began working as a volunteer with the base chapel.
My chaplain saw in me something that I didn’t and he asked me to fill in for
him—to preach at a rescue mission in a nearby town. Reluctantly, I agreed and
went to the down-and-out of society and brought them the word of God. Three men
came to believe on Jesus that night and my chaplain was there (he snuck in to
listen). He came up to me and told me that he believed I was called and gifted
to preach God’s word and that I needed to pursue the work of ministry. So,
after several other confirmations from many Godly men, I embraced God’s call
and started my long, arduous journey into the world of being a pastor. There is
much more to the story – but I’m trying to be brief again.
Where did the
inspiration for Shadow Remnant come from?
M: It came from the 2008 election cycle here in the United
States. I hold very deeply to the ideals of truth and liberty and I began to
witness both falling away with the state of our nation. So I began to write a
story, depicting what America might become if we continue down a road away from
truth and liberty. And, what would need to be done to reignite the fires of
freedom in the heart of the American people. So, with that, I created Peter
Sheridan, a young man who discovers the truth for himself and has his life thrust
into a mission to bring it to light.
I love the way
each chapter has a verse that summarises the events of that chapter perfectly.
Which came first? The chapter or the verse? (that sounds very Biblical somehow
lol)
M: The chapter did. I added those verses to the opening of the
chapters to help the reader understand the Biblical underpinnings of all that I
was writing.
You left the
book on kind of a cliff hanger. Is there going to be a sequel?
M: Yes… the “cliffhanger” was intentional – because I wanted
the final words of the first book to be the first words of the Constitution of
our United States. There will be a sequel.
How long am I
going to have to wait?
M: Years and years! Just kidding. I’m working on the sequel
even now. I hope to have it done by next year.
What are you
currently writing?
M: I am working on three novels right now and two non-fiction
books. The novels are first, a sequel to my “Book of Aleth” series, second, a
medieval mystery and the third one, of course, is the sequel to Shadow Remnant.
The non-fiction books deal with the current issues facing the church.
Where can people
find you on line?
M: Please come and visit me! You can find me, my books,
sermons and other things at my website – http://www.michael-duncan.net.
Thank you so
much for taking time out of your day to talk to us J
You can pick up
a copy of the book here:
Buy links:
And while you’re there how about picking up
A Life Worth
Living for only a few pence
Many wonder
about the significance of their life - is it really worth living. God has given
us life, and He wants us to live with great purpose and vitality.
In this little
book, you will discover the value of life and what might be hindering it. If
you listen, you will hear God calling you to a life worth living.
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