154. How To Become A Published Author

I sat down with Matt Nunes, author of Last Call to learn what it takes to become a published author. If you’re interested in writing and publishing your work, this interview will give you what you need to get started. The insights Matt brings are great. I know I learned a lot, and I’m sure you will too. Listen or watch below.

Why we need more authors

It’s important not only to discuss ideas, but to write them down. I find that as I write, my ideas become clearer and better defined. If we are to improve our discourse we have to engage in long form conversations. And, books are a great way to have those extended, thought-out dialogues. Because I find that important, I sat down with Matt to have him explain what he did to become a published author.

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“Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will.”
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Some of the keys of being an author we discussed:

Different writing and editing processes
Finding the right publisher
The publishing process
Working with an agent
Differences between Fiction and Non-Fiction

More about the book and the author:

Last Call is the first of a series of mystery novels featuring former Naval Officer Paul Costa, a man who thought he was seeking a quieter life for himself and his daughter in civilian life, only to find the biggest threats still lie ahead.

Matt is a former Merchant Marine Officer, bartender and often times cog in the corporate machine. He has done a range of jobs to give him, which includes bartending – and that’s what gave him the idea for this book. Matt is an interesting person, and I’m glad to have the privilege to talk to him about how he completed this amazing feat. You can connect with him on Facebook, find him on Amazon, and learn more on Booksie.

235. Naturalism & The Human Person | The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly – Conversation of Our Generation

According to Wikipedia, Naturalism is "the idea or belief that only natural laws and forces (as opposed to supernatural or spiritual ones) operate in the universe. Adherents of naturalism assert that natural laws are the only rules that govern the structure and behavior of the natural world, and that the changing universe is at every stage a product of these laws." In this episode, I'll take a look at some of the good points and valid concerns of Naturalism. Then, I'll discuss how it falls short, and what corrections it needs. Valid Concerns and Good Points One of the good points of naturalists is that we can attribute most things to natural laws and forces. Every little thing that happens doesn't have to be a supernatural intervention. And, we know it isn't random due to the consistency of events. There is a time in pagan cultures when everything was attributed to the supernatural. Even in the Judeo-Christian world much of the natural order was attributed to angel's intervention. I don't begin to say that I know how Heaven governs this world and it's laws. But it appears to me that there are natural laws and that God created the world with a discoverable order. When looking into that order, it is good to work within it's bounds, which is why we have science. Errors of Naturalism The cause of why I burn my tongue on hot coffee or the sun rises everyday can be naturally accounted for. But, the fact that all these beings exist as well as the laws that govern them, none of which fully account for the existence of the universe, has to have some other explanation. Naturalism cannot account for that. Instead, it seeks for a self-explaining cause that's within the natural order. Furthermore, there are well-attested events that do not fit into the natural world. Inexplicable miracles are one. But, there are phenomena like love and beauty that we do experience. However, the naturalist cannot explain these fully by neurons and brain chemistry. We need a deeper, spiritual explanation if we want to cohere with our universal experience. Corrections There is one major correction a naturalist needs to incorporate all truth into his worldview. That is a recognition of the spiritual. Miracles, religious experiences, emotions, and beauty aren't simply natural phenomena. Rather, they are true experiences of something outside of the natural order. To see this in art, read The Soul of the World, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, or Tolkien's Lord of the Rings to see how this plays out. They demonstrate that there is more to this world than the naturalist can explain. And, they do it both with philosophy and story-telling. Related Episodes in this Series What is Objective Reality? What is Subjective Reality? Unity of Subject and Object The Golden Mean for Understanding Objective and Subjective Reality — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/conofourgen/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/conofourgen/support