The Front Page of the Abilene Reporter News

Yesterday I found myself on the front page of our local newspaper, the Abilene Reporter News. I think this qualifies for my 15 minutes (or 580 words) of fame.

What made the occasion particularly nice was how two good friends were involved. First, the article about my book was next to an article about another book written by my good friend Mike Cope. Megan's Secrets is the story of the short but prophetic life of Mike and Diane's mentally-handicapped daughter Megan. From the book description:

She was a beautiful pint-sized girl with a big love. And the best scholars in the world couldn't teach what she did in her brief life. Megan died at age ten. But her life has exposed some of the insanities of the world and revealed four life-giving secrets.

One secret is simply this: Second choices don't mean we miss out on life. Sometimes our second choices define and shape us in ways we'd never change even if we could.

Lovingly written by Megan's father, this unique inspirational book wraps these four secrets in stories that will restore hope to those grieving a death or second choice, and all who have a heart for a spunky little girl whose only spoken words were, ''I'm Megan!''

All readers who long to see modern-day examples of the ''little ones'' Jesus held on his lap and loved will be inspired and moved to laugh and cry and exult in God's incredible wisdom spoken through a disabled child.

What Mike discovers is that life with Megan--who slept only three hours a night--was exhausting, challenging, even disappointing, but also filled with joy and secrets that he is ready to tell the world.

The other joy of the ARN article was that the photographer assigned to my story was Greg Kendall-Ball. Back when I started blogging Greg was a big help and encouragement to me as he shared advice and insight running his popular and epic (no other word for it) blog (Greg also helped Mike with his blogging as well). Since those days, Greg's blog has shifted gears, where it now features Greg's work as a photojournalist. If you want to know what life in Abilene, TX looks and feels like, follow Greg's blog.