June is synonymous with honoring that special man in your life: Dad. With Father’s Day fast approaching (June 15), we’d like to introduce you to three authors whose stories, spanning from contemporary England to ancient Rome, hit at the core of what it means to be a man.
In honor of Dad, we will be giving away one copy of each book (The Advocate by Randy Singer, Wish by Jake Smith, and The Fight by Luke Wordley). Just leave a comment below about a favorite memory with your dad or father figure and be entered to win one of these great novels. Winners will be chosen and contacted next Wednesday (June 11).
Now let’s hear from authors Randy Singer, Jake Smith, and Luke Wordley on fatherhood.
What is the best advice your father or a male mentor in your life has ever given you?
RANDY SINGER
My father had two pieces of advice that he hammered into my skull. He would frequently say, “If anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” This commitment to excellence was reflected not just in what he said but the way he lived.
The other saying was original to him. Whenever we had a race, he would say, “Start fast, pick it up in the middle, and sprint to the end.” In other words, do everything with passion and don’t ever quit. And he made it clear that we should never do things for our own praise but to glorify God.
Taken together, I think his advice is best summed up in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
JAKE SMITH
I’ve received two pieces of advice from my dad that have really made a lasting impact on me and that, in turn, I have passed on to my almost-teenage son. The first is “Surround yourself with successful people.” It forms a perfect environment for you, too, to succeed by infusing you with ambition . . . and it helps keep your nose clean.
The second is “Life is all about choices, and your choices matter.” This is probably the most important when you have to make a choice—in your attitude or actions—about how to react to something negative.
LUKE WORDLEY
My father is a practical man—a farmer and a man of few words. He’s also very deaf. When he does speak, his advice is generally the “Check the oil in your car” type. But he has modeled great behavior and character to me. I think his gentleness, love of nature, strong work ethic, and love and care for his family have spoken to me most.
As a father, what about your book resonates with male readers?
JAKE SMITH
So often we think of the father as the leader of the family, but Wish shows that for a dad, there are times to lead and times to be led—by your spouse, even by your kids—and that you have to be both brave enough and smart enough to know the difference between those times. And then you have to, again, be brave enough and smart enough to accept it and act, either by leading or being led. Dads need motivation and encouragement too—they can’t only be expected to give it. I think it comes through in Wish that James is both strong and weak. In his strong moments, he leads; in his weak moments, he allows himself to be led by another family member who can be strong at that time.
LUKE WORDLEY
The Fight centers on a father/mentor relationship. It’s a slightly cautionary tale, in fact, of the danger of living your hopes and dreams through your children. Thankfully, the father figure in my story comes to realize that the happiness and welfare of his “son” matters far, far more than the passing fame and fortune the world can sometimes offer.
RANDY SINGER
The Advocate is a book that speaks to the big issues in a man’s life. What is my destiny? What cause am I willing to die for? How do I protect my family in the midst of a hostile culture and pass my legacy to my children? What is the true meaning of courage?
The protagonist, Theophilus, wrestles with all of these issues in a Roman culture that is very much like ours—bloodthirsty, hedonistic, and spiritually confused. How does a man stand firm when the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against him?
How did you spend your first Father’s Day?
LUKE WORDLEY
It might sound strange, but until my wife brought me a present from my newborn son, it didn’t occur to me that Father’s Day was for me too! It had previously only been about seeing my dad. To be honest, I can’t remember what we did on my first one. Tried to recover some sleep from having a newborn, I imagine!
JAKE SMITH
Well, with a six-month-old in the house, I think I was probably trying to catch up on some sleep!
What’s the funniest Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
JAKE SMITH
It’s not really a funny gift, but it’s a little Easter egg I included in the book—James’s America’s #1 Dad baseball hat. My middle son, Mark, got that for me one year.
RANDY SINGER
My then-six-year-old daughter bought a stuffed animal (a walrus) for me because she knew I would give it to her. Is anybody surprised that this daughter is now practicing law with me?
Share a father memory in the comments and be entered to win one of these three father-friendly novels. You could even give it as a gift to the father or mentor in your life. Giveaway closes Wednesday June 11th.
(this giveaway is for US residents only)
BONUS:
Author Jake Smith is offering readers a bonus chance to win a copy of his debut novel, Wish. Ever heard of the Twitter hashtag #shelfie? Check it out! It’s a fun way to share images of your books and bookshelves online. If you share a shelfie that includes Wish, you will be entered to win a signed softcover copy of the book to give away as a gift! Use the hashtags #shelfie and #WishNovel and include his Twitter handle, @JakeSmithBooks, so he can be sure to get in touch with you! Giveaway ends Wednesday June 11th (this giveaway is for US residents only).
Have a lovely weekend and share those memories below!
