Joseph Bentz -- Bonus Interview and Drawing!

Sometimes I'm doubly blessed in one week, and this is one of those weeks. Not only did we meet the lovely Amy Wallace on Monday, but we have yet another excellent author featured today. And he's giving away a copy of his latest novel for one of this week's readers.

First, let's hear the tease on his latest novel: A Son Comes Home is a contemporary novel that tells the story of a life-changing summer in an American family when a grown son returns home to face his father's illness and to confront the unresolved pain and secrets of years past.

Today we meet multi-published author Joseph Bentz.

Joseph Bentz is the author of four novels and two non-fiction books. His most recent releases are the contemporary novel A Son Comes Home (Randall House, 2007) and the non-fiction Christian living book, Silent God: Finding Him When You Can't Hear His Voice (Beacon Hill Press, 2007). His other books include contemporary novels published by Bethany House and a fantasy novel, Song of Fire, published by Thomas Nelson. Some of his books have been chosen for the Guideposts and Crossings book clubs and have received various honors. Bentz is a professor of English at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where he teaches courses in American literature and writing. He earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in American literature from Purdue University, and he graduated with a B.A. in English from Olivet Nazarene University. He and his wife Peggy and their two children live in Southern California.

Really, Joseph? That's all you've accomplished so far?

Mercy, something tells me you don't spend as much time in front of the TV as I do. So, tell us in more depth about A Son Comes Home.

It took the news of his father's illness to bring him home for the summer. After fleeing Indiana following the tragic death of his idolized older brother, Chris LaRue struggles to set aside his bitterness and to renew the fragmented relationships abandoned two years earlier. But he discovers that his brother's presence still echoes through the house and time has not healed the wounded.

Battling a deep sense of loyalty to his brother, Chris tries desperately to patch together his family. But new challenges rock its foundation and threaten to undo their fragile progress. Chris yearns for a future free from the past—will it require revealing the betrayal his brother took to the grave?

The cover alone makes me want to read the book. Gorgeous. Why will readers enjoy this book?

The comment I have heard most from readers is that they recognize aspects of their own families in this book. The novel deals realistically with family dynamics, manipulative relationships, sibling rivalry, and emotional and spiritual reconciliation.

Which character most interested you while you wrote? Why?

A Son Comes Home is told by three alternating first-person narrators--the father Jack, his grown twenty-something son Chris, and his nineteen-year-old daughter Robin. To write these characters I had to get inside their heads and "be" them. The one I had the most fun with was Robin. She's impulsive, constantly in trouble, but lovable and lively. As I sat down to write her chapters, I never knew quite what she might do or say. As she fought with her boyfriend or hid things from her parents or ran off to try to escape her troubles, she kept me constantly on edge.

What facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you? Explain.

Coming up with ideas is the easiest part of writing for me. I have enough book ideas right now to last me for the rest of my life, and they still keep coming. Getting the actual writing done is the hard part.

What do you struggle with in your writing?

I struggle with seeing a book through from start to finish. It's so easy to get bogged down in the middle. That's when the doubts and insecurity rise up and threaten to kill a book, and that's also when I'm most prone to let procrastination and excuses sidetrack me. This summer I've been working on sticking to a writing schedule and getting those words written each day no matter how distracted or insecure I feel at that moment.

Oh, my goodness, I completely identify! And it's such a great feeling at the end of a day when you've stuck with it. What are you working on now?

Right now I have two books going. I'm under contract for a non-fiction book on the Tipping Point between doubt and faith. I'm looking at what allows people to move from being sometimes passionate atheists or agnostics to being devoted followers of Jesus Christ. I'm also interested in how that pattern of doubt and belief repeats itself throughout the Christian life as believers go through spiritual crises or come up against faith-challenging questions. I've been looking at lots of conversion stories, and it's been inspiring.

I'm also working on a novel that combines supernatural elements with history. It's a supernatural thriller set partly in the present and partly in Germany during World War II.

What's the last book you read that impacted you? How did it affect you?

Right now I'm reading a spy thriller called The Company of Strangers, by Robert Wilson. It is set in Portugal during World War II, and I'm impressed by the author's ability to create that time and place so richly. When I'm reading it, I feel like I'm right there with those fascinating characters. It's hard for me to read a novel purely for pleasure anymore. I'm either looking at it from a teacher's perspective if it's a book for one of my courses, or from a reviewer's perspective if it's a book I've been assigned to review, or from a novelist's perspective if it's anything else. Part of me always wants to peek "behind the curtain" to see how the writer creates.

What is something about your life, right now, that thrills you?

What I'm most grateful for right now is that I'm at a point in life where I'm able to do many of the things I've always wanted to do. I love teaching and writing, and now that's what I'm able to spend my days working on. I also love family life, and I have a beautiful wife and two lively children, ages 10 and 9, who bring balance and joy and keep me humble.

Wonderful words to hear from such a busy writer! Where else can readers find you or your writing online? Please include the link for purchasing your book!

The best place to find more information about my books is at my website: www.josephbentz.com

A Son Comes Home is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, christianbook.com, and other online bookstores. Here is the Amazon.com link: A Son Comes Home

Joseph, thanks so much for telling us about yourself and your latest book. Readers, Joseph will give a signed copy of A Son Comes Home to the winner of next Thursday's drawing. Simply leave a comment for Joseph below to be entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. And if you subscribe to my blog, at right, or if you're already subscribed, you'll automatically be entered another time.

Also, check back on Monday to see who wins the signed copy of Amy Wallace's Healing Promises and to meet novelist Stephanie Whitson and hear about her latest book.