Don’t you just hate novel writers with an agenda? It’s exhausting to drive through a good romp with one hand protectively on the wheel of perspective, one eye on the guardrails of convention. It’s so much more relaxing when everyone stays in their own lane.
And so, I have to apologize.
As a writer of thrillers, my overt goal is to entertain. Growing up, I found so much safety in reading. The stress of bullies, school and life in general faded to manageable when I snuggled up with anyone from Doyle to DuMont and a bag of Hershey’s kisses. It was a gift from my favorite authors, and I want to pay that forward, to provide a safe cave in the storm of life where readers can hide out and let the weather rage around them unmolested.
My covert goal is something else entirely. We live in an age where miracles seem to have lost their magic. Nothing is beyond reality. Science can seem to be the answer to all of life’s mysteries. As a medical doctor and scientist, I often stand on the forefront of innovation and explanation. We know more and can do more every day. It’s breathtaking, but science can only ever answer “how”. It never truly answers “why.”
Science and faith are never at odds with each other. Both search for truth, just in different fields. As a scientist, I can tell you how a baby takes a first breath, or sometimes, sadly a last. Explaining why, is an act of faith.
In these books I hope to expose you, the reader, to some of the mysteries and miracles of my faith, Catholicism. We have a lot of cool stuff. We witness bread become flesh, read about and experience relics that heal beyond medicine. We have giants and demons and devils. We venerate the wonder of a virgin birth – it struck me the other day, how awesome is that? All mothers are blessed, but imagine being offered the chance to mother God. Imagine watching your child grow up, knowing who his father is, then watching him perform miracles, preach like no one has before, allow himself to be murdered then rise again from the dead. Holy smokes. Truly, the Blessed Ever-Virgin Mary lived a singular life.
You certainly don’t have to turn Catholic, although I hope you do. You are always welcome to come worship with me.
To my Catholic bretheren, I pray that you will forgive me where I have written around the edges of our traditions to craft a story. I refer all and encourage all to turn to scripture for guidance and clarification. Remember, these are, ultimately, the entertaining adventures of characters I love. They are not substitutes for true study of the word. They are an invitation and a reminder that,
The Lord be with you
Douglas L Campbell, MD
