So. What’s Iron and Thunder about?
How do I explain what makes a story so special without giving the whole thing away? I’ve learned that this is the plight of a new author when trying to promote their first book. How do we get people to understand just how awesome the tale sandwiched between the front and back covers actually is without giving away at least a few of the best parts? A new author doesn’t have the benefit of a previously successful book or flashy reviews to get readers to trust that what they are trying to sell them is worthy of their time and money.
New authors rely largely on faith that their labor of love will land in the right hands, show up on the best pages, and travel by word of mouth to those who will love it the most. That little nugget is poignant and a bit ironic in my case based on the fact that the subtitle of my book is “A True Story about Faith, Purpose, and Timing”.
I’m certainly leaning into my faith that all of the above will happen and that this book can become a success. Through all of the tragedy and triumph in Iron and Thunder, faith is the central theme, the rock which we all had to lean on through the unexpected twists and turns of the story. I speak extensively on the topic of purpose throughout the book, about how I found mine and how you can find yours. And Timing- I couldn’t even begin to describe here in this limited space how important timing is in all that we do.
When you read Iron and Thunder, you will discover the divine power of timing in all of our lives and how once you discover the gifts of faith and purpose, the timing of all of life’s lessons suddenly makes perfect sense. Like the stubborn fool that I can be, it took me 40 years to accept the gift of true faith that was always just there for the taking. And then, once I accepted it, like a flash my life’s purpose revealed itself. Suddenly all of my failures, hardships, and shortcomings finally made sense.
I don’t sweat too many things these days since accepting that gift, I have faith that this will all play out exactly as it is supposed to in God’s grand plan, a plan that is sometimes very different than the one in my mind. I know for sure that this will all happen exactly the way that it is supposed to, however, reading statistics such as the average self-published author sells 250 copies of the book that they poured their heart and soul into leaves me feeling a tad nervous at times. After all, it is my goal to get this story into the hands of everyone possible. I have faith that things will work out, but that doesn’t mean I can just sit back, do nothing, and hope for the best. That’s not what faith it, its not magic, and for it to work you not only have to believe, but you have to put forth some effort and trust in some things along the way.
I wrote Iron and Thunder for the sole purpose of honoring all of the people discussed within its pages. This isn’t a selfish project to help me feel better about myself or look good to my peers, something that I could have seen myself doing many years ago. As a matter of fact, I reveal many personal shortcomings, revelations, and stories that show some major weaknesses in my coat of armor. Snippets of my life where at the time I did all that I could to look like I was in control and on top of my game when in reality I was anything but. Things that I never would have told anyone in the past for fear of looking weak or less than the image I was trying to portray. Things that may just be the key to you discovering your calling and purpose in this world. Something that I know we all struggle with at some point in our lives.
On one level, Iron and Thunder is an absolutely amazing underdog story, full of growth, life lessons, love, and character. A story of how small towns, coaches, and sports can change lives for the better and how the power of the human spirit can be unbeatable under the right conditions. It is a story that I believe stacks up with some of the all-time greats like “Remember the Titans”, McFarland USA, and “Facing the Giants” to name a few.
I think that Iron and Thunder could stand on its own in that genre if that were all that it was about. I truly believe that it could compete with those heartwarming favorites. I also believe that a closer look reveals what makes it a truly special story that will inspire others and change lives for the better. A deep dive into its pages will show how living a life in service to others can forge truly remarkable results by removing one of the biggest barriers that exists in discovering our own purpose… selfishness. How spending our time creating relationships with God and other people may just be the whole reason that we are here.
It is my belief that we are all intertwined in God’s plan that was set in motion long before any of us were born. Each person we meet in life, no matter how small or large their influence, was placed just where they were supposed to be to serve out their function in our story. Furthermore, everyone in their lives, clear back to the beginning of time was meant to influence the outcome of someone else, inexorably linking us all to each other in the grand scheme of things.
The young men who are the topic of Iron and Thunder would be quick to tell you that none of it would have been possible without their coach (although I do not deserve that much credit). I would be quick to point out that I wouldn’t have even been there to help make it possible if it weren’t for my coaches, and they would then be quick to point out the same about their coaches and mentors. I believe you could trace that clear back the line through every past generation. If even one of those people didn’t exist along the way… This story never happens.
So. What is Iron and Thunder about? I guess to put it as simply as possible, it’s just like it says on the cover, “A True Story of Faith, Purpose, and Timing”.
Why is it called Iron and Thunder? Well, that part I can’t tell you yet, you’re just going to have to read it and find out!
I appreciate you and all of my followers so much. You will be instrumental in spreading the word about this awesome story, that I truly believe everyone will enjoy. You don’t have to be an athlete or coach to appreciate the message. Please remember to like, follow, and share my pages and posts with your friends. I truly think that everyone can benefit from reading this book!
