Why I Still Read
Reclaiming the Page in a Distracted World
In today’s issue…
Why I Still Read Essay…
What I’m Reading this Summer…
Eon City Kickstarter Update…
I wear a lot of hats.
Some days, it feels like I’m switching them out every few minutes. I’m a senior manager at a multimillion-dollar direct marketing company, juggling meetings, deadlines, and the high-stakes decisions that keep the whole machine moving. I’m also the director of marketing for Realm Makers, a writing organization that supports over 2,000 authors around the world. That’s not a title I wear lightly—I believe deeply in helping creatives find their voice.
Then there’s my church. I serve there faithfully, not because it’s one more thing to do, but because I believe every believer has a role to play in the life of the local church. Add in family Bible studies, time with my wife and kids, writing my own books, supporting a mastermind group, pitching in on side publishing projects—and that’s before we even get to my hobbies.
Did I mention I garden? I’m not talking a planter box and a couple of herbs. I’m talking 60 green bean plants. Eighteen tomato plants. Hundreds of carrots. Nine cucumbers plants. Eight squash plants. Eight peppers plants. Six okra plants. The works. My hands are in the soil as much as they’re on a keyboard.
Life is full. In some seasons, it feels like it’s overflowing.
And yet—I read.
Every single day, I carve out time to read. Anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. Sometimes more. It doesn’t make sense on paper. But it makes sense in my mind.
Because reading, to me, is sort of an act of rebellion in our world. And that’s sad.
Reading is my way of pushing back against a world constantly vying for my attention. It’s how I refuse to let myself be carried away by the stream of noise—social media feeds, clickbait headlines, passive scrolling that leaves me emptier than before. Reading grounds me. It reminds me I have a mind and a heart that need more than just information, they need imagination, reflection, and truth.
And let’s be honest: it’s hard.
I almost never get a full, uninterrupted stretch of time to read. I read in micro bursts—ten minutes here, five minutes there. In the waiting line to get a haircut. On my lunch break. While dinner simmers on the stove. I’ve stopped chasing the perfect reading time much the same way I stopped chasing the perfect writing time and started taking what I can, when I can. It adds up.
So how do I do it?
I’ve had to make deliberate choices. I limit TV. I use social media sparingly, and only in ways that serve a clear purpose—Instagram, Substack, and the rare Facebook check-in (usually brief, because that place wears me out). I’ve accepted that most of my reading won’t be in a quiet room with a steaming cup of coffee and perfect lighting. Sometimes it’s while kids chatter in the background or while I’m winding down late at night. But I read anyway.
Because something in me knows this matters.
Ray Bradbury once said Fahrenheit 451 wasn’t about censorship, not really. It was about distraction. He warned of a world where books weren’t banned—they were simply ignored. Replaced. Forgotten. Not because people were forbidden to read, but because they chose not to.
That struck me. Because I see it happening. The slow, quiet erosion of attention. The way stories—real stories—are being replaced by reels and memes. And I don’t want that to happen to me. I don’t want it for my kids. I want them to see books in our house, in our hands. I want them to know that stories are worth their time.
So I fight for time to read.
Not because I have time lying around, but because I’ve learned to take it back. Ten minutes at a time. It’s not about reading more, it's about not letting go of something essential. Reading reminds me of who I am. It keeps my mind sharp, my spirit stirred, and my imagination alive.
In a world that wants us to be passive, reactive, distracted… We read.
Because I believe that paying attention is an act of resistance. And every page I turn is a small victory.
What I’m Reading this Summer
Top Five Books I'm Reading This Summer
I’m diving into some hard sci-fi this summer. That is a little out of character for me, since I don’t usually read books that feel smarter than I am. But I’ve been completely absorbed by Red Mars, Green Mars, and Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. So far, the world-building is dense but fascinating, and I’m enjoying the challenge.
I’m also rereading The Long Walk by Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman), getting ready for the movie adaptation coming this September. Mark Hamill is in it, which makes me even more excited.
And speaking of rereads, I’m also planning to revisit The Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers. It’s been a while, but I remember loving the post-Return of the Jedi vibe, and I’m curious to see how it holds up now.
🚀 Eon City Burnout – June Update!
Hey everyone!
Quick and exciting update: all the books have been ordered! Whether you backed for the paperback, hardcover, or ebook, your copy of Eon City Burnout is officially on the way to being printed and prepped for delivery. We’ve also placed orders for all the swag—bookmarks, stickers, and other extras are in the works too!
If you backed at the Writer’s Pack level, keep an eye out—we’ll be reaching out soon with next steps and how to schedule your brainstorming session.
Also, be sure to check your inboxes this week: we’ll be sending out digital rewards and ebooks shortly! If you don’t see anything by the weekend, check your spam folder or reach out and we’ll make sure you’re taken care of.
Thanks again for helping bring Eon City Burnout to life. We’re so excited to get these into your hands (and hard drives) soon!
Burn bright, friends.