Ray Jewell

Author Bio: I am married to Annette (43 years). We have two wonderful children, Josh is married to Joy and their daughter, Carolynn (7 months old). Josh works for Wal-Mart.Our daughter, Anna, is a PhD candidate at the University of Kansas. We also have an "adopted” daughter, Miranda and her husband, Tad. They have two children, Kenny and Ginny.

I am the pastor of the Afton Community Church in Afton, WI. I am a pastor, teacher, community activist, blogger, podcaster, and now a published author. I am also the director of TO THE GLORY OF GOD! MINISTRIES. The current focus of this ministry is to promote my first book: Unity in Weakness as the Body of Christ: The Message of the first Letter to the Corinthians. It is what I call a devotional commentary. The book is designed to be used as a daily devotional and can be used by theologians as well as the person in the pew.

Author/Writer Interview:

1.What inspires you most to write?

What I write about, the Bible.

2. What is your favorite genre?

Devotional commentaries.

3. Who is one author you admire if any and why?

N. T. Wright. His style in his New Testament for Everyone commentary series is what I try to emulate. He can be quite scholarly but in this series he writes so everyone can comprehend.

4. How do you overcome blank writing spells?

I take 15 -30 minutes a day and devote it to writing on a small section each day.

5. What legal publishing advice can you give?

Make sure you have a good tax man and accountant.

6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

I have written several but have only one published so far. Bestseller? Too early to tell.

7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

Rocky, I think he should have won that first fight.

8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

They used to bother me to the point of quitting. Now I just say consider the source and keep writing.

9. What are your best experiences in your writing career?

Having the support and approval of some very good friends that encourage me to keep writing.

10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort of sound in the background? Definitely write in silence. I get easily distracted.

11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

Don’t quit.

12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I worked with a self-publishing company. They set the pricing but I am good at self-promotion. Definitely a book launch but also do not qualify a prospective buyer. In other words, make them say no, don’t say no for them.

13. Why should anyone read your book?

If they are looking for an easier way to understand the Bible this series is for them. If anyone wants to walk down the path of living for King Jesus I think my book will lead them in the right direction.

14. Did you have a book coach?

I am working with one now. She has been very helpful and understands the needs of someone just delving into the world of writing for the first time.

15. What was your favorite subject in school?

Music (Choir and orchestra also musicals).

16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

Self-published I like the fact that I maintain control of my stuff.