Coffee & books
"Coffee is a language in itself," Jackie Chan
LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO DRINK CHEAP COFFEE
I think you can tell a lot about a person by the coffee they drink. I don't think of myself as a coffee snob, but if you tell me your favorite coffee is Starbucks, then I'll do my best not to burst out laughing. Starbucks mastered, marketing the coffee experience, despite using the worst grade beans in the industry and burning them in the roasting process to boot.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE?
To begin with, you should be able to drink it black. If you have to add spoonfuls of sugar, flood it with cream, whip cream, syrups, or artificial sweeteners, then you aren't drinking real coffee (you're probably ordering at Starbucks).
The fresher the coffee the better the taste. At the very least, that means grinding your beans. Of course if you grind crappy beans then... (see comment on Starbucks above). Coffee trees produce their best beans when grown at higher altitudes and a tropical climate, where there is rich soil. While the best coffee beans are generally grown near the equator, there are many nuances by country; including Hawaii, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Columbia, Brazil, Ethiopia, and Kenya to name a few.
MY JOURNEY INTO WRITING
THE RYANN WATTERS SERIES
Back in 1999-2000 I read, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," at the recommendation of a friend. I enjoyed the unique writing style of J.K. Rowling. At the same time, I was telling nightly stories to my two daughters, who were 6 and 9 years old. One night my oldest said, "Dad, you should make these stories into a book so other kids can enjoy them." That got me thinking...
What would be a way to have the excitement of Harry Potter, but incorporate strong values and biblical morals into the story line? Wizards, witches and magic captivated children's attention and as I looked through the Bible, it came to me. What if I incorporated the reality of angels, demons, and the supernatural?
Ryann Watters and the King's Sword was the first in a planned series of six books based upon Ephesians 6 and the Armor of God. The opening scene has Ryann being visited by the Arch Angel, Gabriel, and tasked with finding the King's Sword. Across town, the class bully, Drake, is visited by a demon, who works with him to stop Ryann.
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