Summer Thoughts For A Summer Book

Greetings and salutations!
    Still working on that post for the mysterious large book I’m working on. Times have been busy enough that I haven’t been able to get with my Chief Editor (my wife, Kimberly) to look at the post and decide if I’m saying too much or too little about the project.
    But, currently, I find it to be a beautiful Saturday morning, with plenty of household chores I could be doing. So I think I’ll sit and type out some thoughts. (Can’t wait for Kimberly to read this.)
    Since I am only a hobbyist of a writer (for now), I am currently working at a Summer Camp and Conference ministry. Needless to say, Summer is kind of a big deal around here. I’ve been helping in several areas over the past few weeks, including facilitating games. In those classes I’m teaching games that staff can play with campers at anytime as well as teaching them the why behind the games. This, along with the glorious feel of being outdoors in the borderline-summer weather, has me thinking about The Game, which, at its heart is a book about the wonder and adventure of playing on a summer day.
    You guys have heard me talk at length about Joe and his shenanigans, so I won’t dive too much into that territory again. But I do want to underline how relatable his journey is: going from a young man, content to stay inside and play video games for the bulk of his summer break, to a bright-eyed adventurer exploring the wonders of the outdoors with a community. There’s something in us that delights in living out that transformation with Joe; people like the wonder of discovering something new and being welcomed into a group.
    Now, to be fair, I enjoy taking time to play a game or read a book by myself, so I’m not completely trashing those ideas. I just think that we need to put forward the effort not to lose the type of life that Joe discovers and the type of friendships he makes through those shared games and experiences. I know I for one look back on those days in my life fondly, and I’ve seen more than one reader of The Game get that same wistful expression on their face when they talk about the book’s themes. They, at least for a time, revisit those imaginative days and live the adventures anew alongside Joe, The Commander, and Riley (yes, I absolutely put myself into the book—most authors do, I’m just being fully transparent with it).
    Anyways, as a camp guy, I’m grateful that I still get to be in an environment where I see that wonder and adventure light up children’s imagination on a regular basis (including my own kiddos). Even the staff perked up as they began to see purpose behind the games I was walking them through in training classes. They fully embraced the idea of enjoying a game in community and for the purpose of building community.
    Like Joe, they learned a cool new game that they can enjoy playing with others; also like Joe, they found new friends by the end of the game.
    That will go with them long past a single round of that game.
    If you’re intrigued by what I’m describing click here to get your own copy of The Game and see what games with purpose and community can look like. Enjoy your summer everyone!

    P.S. Being that I’m working at a summer camp, it might be after the summer before I have any notable writing progress to report. Don’t worry, I am still thinking about story ideas throughout the day even when I can’t write consistently.