My New Book is Out Today! Here's Why It Was Hard to Write

May 2025

If you weren’t aware, I have a new book out, and today you can buy it from retailers everywhere!

Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile is a children’s novel by category, sure. Indeed, it has an eleven-year-old main character. However, don’t be fooled into believing that it pulls any punches or that I wrote it solely for my younger audience.

Kids will love this novel, and adults will too.

My belief in that fact is staked on what the novel wrestles with, which is non-violence. This key theme is something all readers—especially readers of fantasy books—may not have seen explored enough in fiction. I’ve mentioned it before in the newsletter, and where every one of my stories tackles a different complex topic, Bashir Boutros’ character journey sees him wrestling with his refusal to commit violence.

And wrestling with this theme was HARD!

After all, how many books, movies, shows, and video games out there does a hero punch (or shoot) their way through a problem? Trying to write a story where the main character tries to avoid that is easier said than done.

Now, Bashir doesn’t try solving the problem of fighting an immortal demon through peaceful protests or anything of the like.

There are fight scenes, and they are epic.

Yet Bashir remains intentional throughout about the impact of his actions, and he takes every measure to avoid harming those trying to harm him in turn. The story, therefore, grapples with questions of when violence is necessary, and how to deal with those who are seeking to hurt us, one way or another.

It’s my hope that this isn’t your typical fantasy novel and that Bashir isn’t your typical hero. This is a novel that asks deeper questions, and the question of if/when violence is necessary continues to weigh heavily on me today.

Anyways, read the book and share it with your friends. We can grapple with tough topics and have a great time, and I look forward to Bashir Boutros and the Jewel of the Nile accomplishing just that!

Again, grab a copy at your local bookstore, request/check it out from your library, or simply get it through here.