by Peter Leavell, @PeterLeavell

A writer’s life is awesome. Even on Christmas morning.

We wake to family screaming for presents.

Or…

We bounce from bed looking to spend the day with friends.

Or…

We arise to a slow day filled with soft music, books, and 24 hours off.

We refill our souls today with joy, love, and peace. We sit back and take in the scene of crackling paper, sparkling Christmas tree lights, glorious food, squeals of laughter, and fervent goodwill that coats the home with memories forever. Hugs and kisses, love and smiles, ahhh, Christmas.

Peace, goodwill to all men and women, because Jesus is the reason we celebrate this day.

As writers, after we’re done cooking and cleaning and the late afternoon buzz wanes, we cross our arms and nod, and sometimes we partake in the late-day-games. And we can with confidence because we know something that no one else in the room knows.

Tomorrow, we’re torturing characters. Killing them slowly through horrible relationships. Intentionally putting them through hell. There’s no peace or goodwill for anyone in our manuscripts. And we do it so well all of us are probably being watched by the FBI.

So, while the agents listen to your festive holiday cheer, kick back and enjoy the wonderful scene of Christmas.

For tomorrow, the fun continues.

From writers and readers everywhere, Merry Christmas all!

Bwahahahahaha.

Dino Hunters: Discovery in the Desert

Siblings Josh and Abby Hunter don’t believe their parents’ death was an accident. After taking pictures of the most incredible find of the 1920’s—proof humans and dinosaurs lived together in the same time and place—desperate outlaws armed with tommy guns are on their tail! Only Josh and Abby know where the proof is hidden—in the canyons of Arizona’s desert. When an intruder searches Josh and Abby’s bags inside their new home, the two convince their uncle Dr. David Hunter to return to the canyon and find the pictures they’d hidden. But the outlaws are just as eager to find the proof before Josh and Abby. Can Josh use his super-smart brain to outfox the villains in time? Will Abby’s incredible physical abilities stop full-grown men? And will their uncle believe them?
Dino Hunters is an apologetics-adventure series aimed at the middle reader to help them trust the Bible from the very first verse.