I met Mike when I first stumbled across his blog Wide-Eyed fiction. His post about excessive violence in the CBA writing caught my attention especially since I just finished reading a book I thought had excessive and unnecessary violence. I began reading his blog and knew this guy had something to say. When a spot opened up to write for Writer…Interrupted, Mike was the first person who came to mind and he graciously accepted my offer to write for me! Then he got cancer, and was scheduled for Chemo the same time his first novel was to release. There was no question in my mind the people at Writer…Interrupted had to step in to help this interrupted writer. We did, and the result is this wonderful blog tour. The rest, as they say, is history, but I’ll let Mike fill you in on everything else!

I was less than three months from the big release of my first novel, The Hunted, planning for this big brouhaha of a launch, trying to get myself organized and in promotion-mode when I got the call at work and the doctor said, “I’m very sorry but you have colon cancer.”

Wow. Stop the presses. Stop life.

Cancer? You’ve got to be kidding. I’m 35, no family history, healthy. You know those medical screening questionnaires where they ask if you’re allergic to anything, have heart problems, smoke, drink, wear glasses, blah, blah, blah? I answer NO to everything. Everything.

And talk about poor timing. I found out on March 17, had surgery April 16, started chemotherapy May 20. My book releases June 3.

Lord? You sure you know what you’re doing here?

Silly me, of course He knows what He’s doing. He’s molding me, shaping me, chiseling away the junk. I heard a story once about a famous sculptor who carved this majestic lion out of solid granite. An admirer asked the sculptor, “How do you do it? It looks just like a real lion?” The sculptor replied, “It’s really not that hard, I just chisel away everything that doesn’t look like a lion.”

In my life, at this time, I’ve accepted that cancer is the chisel in God’s hands, cutting away everything in my life that doesn’t look like Christ.

You’d be amazed at how much your life can change when you’re literally looking death in the face. Cancer isn’t something that will go away in time. It’s not the flu. It’s there to stay and grow and kill unless something radical is done to get rid of it. That’s pretty eye-opening. Pretty humbling. Pretty scary.

So I’m a writer, right? I’m supposed to be writing. Every day. That’s what they say. But how do I fit cancer into my writing schedule? How do I fit cancer into my life?

How? Priorities. When you’re staring death—that repo man from the great beyond coming to collect—in his beady little eyes it has a way of sorting things out. All those things in life that used to be so important, the things I used to fret and worry about, the things that used to spike my blood pressure? They don’t seem so important any more. What’s important is my family and my purpose here on earth. What’s important is making sure I leave some fingerprints when I depart. Fingerprints on the lives of my daughters and wife, fingerprints on those around me, fingerprints on my readers.

Some things have decreased in importance—things I used to think were non-negotiables. And some things have increased in importance. My writing was always been important to me. It’s my passion, my dream, my gift. I love writing. When I write I feel God’s pleasure. But never has it seemed more important than it does now. And not just writing to craft a great story that will keep readers turning pages, but weaving a tale with meaning, with importance, with lasting take-away value. Giving the reader something to walk away with, and hopefully, prayerfully, something life-changing.

And that’s how I know I’m doing what God wants me to do, that He wants me writing. Only the things most dear to my heart survived the “big shake-up.”

Cancer is also a pretty stern schoolmaster. There are lessons to be learned for sure and either you submit to learning them or you’re in for a hopeless journey. Here’s just a few of the lessons I’ve learned.

• My life is but a vapor. Make it count.
• God is in control and He works in some strange and mysterious ways. If I’ll let Him out of that box I like to keep Him in and let Him work, I will see Him do things way beyond even my wildest expectations.
• When I’m at my lowest, at my most helpless point, Jesus is there. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
• My writing is a gift from God, and He has blessed me with an avenue for sharing what He has put on my heart with others. Don’t abuse it, don’t neglect it.
• Pain and discomfort identifies me with Christ.
• There are abundant blessings in even the most trying times. I just have to look for them.
• There’s no better community to be surrounded by than God’s family.

Speaking of community, one thing I’m finding out is that this community of Christian writers is wide-spread, generous, and loyal. We have a common bond (glorifying Christ through the written word) and we take it seriously. There is no attitude of competition. We’re all in this together and we’re all serving the same Master. I’ve been so blessed by the overwhelming support I’ve received from my fellow writers. The prayers, the encouragement, the support have been awesome at times. What greater testimony, right? By the love we show one another the world will know we are followers of Christ.

Thank you, Gina, for letting me throw down some of my random thoughts and feelings. I could go on for hours about my experience with this cancer and how it has affected my life and writing. Thanks for letting me take a few minutes of your time. It really comes down to this: Life is hard; God is good. We only get one shot at this thing called life so make it count.

Thank you, Mike! You have already ministered to me (through this cancer) in ways you’ll never know. And I’m certain you’re ministering to people you’ll never know! I will continue to pray for you as I hope my readers will also! Readers, you can read more about Mike, his book, and battle with cancer in my interview with him. Mike also blogs at Writer…Interrupted on the first Monday of the month.

Review: Though I was in the middle of reading two other books, when I (Gina) got The Hunted in the mail I couldn’t help cracking the book open. Several days later, I shut the book. Not because I couldn’t get into it, but because I FINISHED it! That’s right. I can’t believe I read a book in less than a week! In fact, I would have finished it last night, but I couldn’t keep my eyes opened any longer.

The Hunted grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go. Joe Saunders left Dark Hills long ago, but returns when he learns his nephew is missing. What he discovers is incomprehensible. A rogue lion roaming the woods and terrorizing the town? In Pennsylvania?

Joe, along with Maggie who knows more about the “secret” than she lets on, is pulled into the mysterious and deadly attacks on the residents of Dark Hills. As he draws closer to the truth, he must choose whether or not to draw closer to the God who has let him down.

I was intrigued with the storyline and the “secret” plaguing the little town of Dark Hills. This book kept me reading way past my bedtime! The writing was exceptional for a debut novel and the pacing kept me turning pages. Though I’m squeamish with “bloody” descriptions and not a fan of “horror,” The Hunted didn’t overdo the violence (way to stick with your convictions, Mike) and told what was necessary for the story. Bravo, Mike!

WATCH THE VIDEO TRAILER:

READ: The Hunted First Chapter:

Sorry, I don’t have a copy to give away, but you can get your own here!