After correspondence with a serial killer some years ago, a story that resulted in the novel A Killer’s Grace, I learned that many of us are compelled to explore difficult and challenging realities. This includes trying to understand what many would call evil, which necessarily gives way to considering grace, forgiveness and even inherent innocence.

Much to my astonishment, not only did readers enjoy this new genre, the psycho-spiritual thriller, they wanted more. So when one reviewer said they couldn’t wait for the sequel, I began to explore still more compelling ideas.

The result was that I stumbled upon the idea of post-traumatic growth, a remarkable contrast to all the terrible things we hear about trauma. It is from this vein that The Dark Side of Grace came into being.

The Dark Side of Grace is an exploration of post-traumatic growth and how it can be used as a means of transformation. It takes advantage of the extraordinary characters from A Killer’s Grace, investigative journalist Kevin Pitcairn and his beloved Emmy, as well as the amazing environment of New Mexico, all of which are based on real people and settings. These become the springboard for a plot that then ranges deep into Appalachia, following a trail of devastation to encounter amazing circumstances and people, all of which leads to transformational outcomes.

As you’ll hear in this video, the story, including more novels to follow, has become my own Soul’s Journey Home. (That’s a whole additional story about which you can learn at my piece, The Three Halves of Life.) For me, and perhaps for you, the journey is about our own deepening growth and development, one that can lead to the realization of our purpose, potential and fulfillment.

The Dark Side of Grace publishes in May 2023.