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• Q1: Why is this story relevant for today's secular readers?There are four key themes to consider:

• The world has become overly dependent on oil. It is a driving force of our economy and our everyday way of life. Pollution is a byproduct from the consumption of oil products: discarded plastics that choke our oceans, rivers, and lakes destroying wildlife and habitat; smoke and toxins released into the atmosphere creating smog and various lung diseases for humans and wildlife. But what if all oil reserves, refineries and production facilities were destroyed? What impact would that have on our economy, our government our society, and even our means to plant and harvest food?

• The United States' government is, by far, the best political design in the world. Yet, our politicians have strayed from the principles our Forefathers envisioned. But don't believe for a second they are the ones at fault. The population, the residents, the citizens are ultimately to blame. We have grown lazy, self anointed, self serving, unaware, uniformed, yes even unconscious...we sleep. We allow by inaction, without forethought or oversight even though: We Are the People. What if executive orders were in place to establish an Agency that could replace the Constitution while we sleep? They already exist.

• A raging debate continues on "Gun Control". Some say we need to limit access. Some say we should limit the types of guns that are legal. Some say we should make all guns illegal. Some say regardless of whether guns are legal or illegal, criminals will always have them. The question should be asked, what if the second amendment was abolished and all previously legal guns were confiscated? What if an internal coup managed to over through our current government and the only way to protect our property and family was by force, but now the citizens had no weapons to fight? Without the 2nd Amendment, all others will be lost.

• Are you prepared for an event that is so terrible that it will change the world forever? How will you live, protect and provide for your family if you are unprepared?

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• Q2: Why is this story relevant for todays' Christian readers?​

• The walk with Christ is challenging, especially if you are not prepared. You prepare yourself by studying the Word of God and apply those principles to your daily life. This story reveals a man's doubts, his struggle to understand the meaning of the prophesies. What he was taught and believed may have been in error. Today's Christian cannot rely on what his parents believed. Salvation is personal and requires a relationship with Christ. One that is open with a heart that is ready to hear what God has to say. Much is revealed to those that will listen.

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• Q3: What inspired you to write?

• My inspiration to write came from my love of story-telling. When my son was in the Boy Scouts, campfire stories were opportunities to tie my experiences in the wild, and those of others I had read about, together with what the boys were experiencing. Then, when I was working in California, I often shared stories of my youth with one of my employees, John. He was an actor and actor coach. He encouraged me to compose those stories into a novella, titled: Things My Father Taught Me. It remains unpublished but was the catalyst for my writing.

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• Q4: I'm sure he is proud and excited with your current project.

• Sadly, he died in a water accident before my first draft was completed. But, he encouraged me to write with a unique voice on subjects that had meaning in my life. 

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• Q5: What authors influenced you?​

• I read a lot of science fiction as a youth, some fantasy, some action/adventure and some classics. Later in life, I was drawn to historical fiction and biographies of our founding fathers including correspondence between them, their peers and protégées.​

• I like Heinlein, C.S. Lewis, Pohl, Asimov, Mark Twain, Truman Capote, Poe, Hemmingway, Melville and Tolkien​, to name just a few. I'm drawn to authors who spin an intricate tale with believable characters. I aspire to do the same with my writing.

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• Q6: Why write about a post-apocalyptic U.S.?​

• I have several loves in my life. First, Jesus Christ, next my wife, my family, my country, the great wild outdoors ​and all that is good about nature. I wanted to capture all of that in a plausible way to warn others about the peril of losing what you love.

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• Q7: ​What makes you qualified to write about wilderness survival?

• First hand knowledge, research, planning, practice, life-long experiences are the keys to survival in the wilderness. But, the most important is planning.​ "Failing to plan, is planning to fail".

• I grew-up during a time and place in the rural South, when daily life depended on our ability to supplement our food supplies with wild meat, wild fruit and nuts, wild edible plants and to some extent home remedies made from things you gathered from the woods and fields around you. For instance, to treat ringworm, simply rub the oil found in the outer husk of a green, black walnut over the infected area. Within days, the affected area will be healed. 

• I have hunted, fished and trapped since my youth and learned how to skin, butcher, cook, and preserve ​what I caught or killed. I learned my crafts of carpenter, engineer, marksman, woodsman, and farmer from my dad and grandfather through practical applications.

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• Q8: What is on the horizon for you?

• I am currently writing book #2 in The But Out Chronicles series. The working title is The III. This story chronicles Matt's journey from the Appalachians to the Sierra Nevada’s in search of his grandparents. I would expect this to be released in the summer of 2020. A third book is also planned.

• I enjoy writing and will continue as long as there are others interested in what I have to say.​