Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Josh and I’m originally from Nashville, GA but currently live in Tucson, AZ. This all came about as a result of being a military officer and just passing through the town and liking it enough to move here after separating from the military, and it is here that I met my wife who I just celebrated my first wedding anniversary with. I enjoy a good challenge, especially physically and have done a marathon and many 5Ks as a result. I have never won but did come in 8th out of over 250 participants in one 5K and 4th of maybe 300 in another.
I enjoy writing. This love started when I was about 13 and endeavored to study the book of Genesis. I handwrote all of my notes in narrative form and it took about 18 months to get through the text. I never published it or even typed it up, but this was the beginning of my love of writing. At this point about a year ago I started a new study and it ended up turning into a blog, but it went from there to become my first published work, a study of the subject of wisdom.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My first, and therefore latest, book is called A Life Wisely Lived. It started out as just a personal study of the book of James. There is usually intrigue surrounding James as some see it as a contradiction of salvation by faith. James focuses on the fact that faith without works is dead. Initially, I wanted to explore this. I knew there wasn’t a contradiction but wanted to dig in to explore how it all ties together. This personal study ended up becoming a blog, and then I decided that I wanted to share what I learned in a short book format, which ended up being about living life in a wise way. It was quite a journey but it was quite a rewarding study.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if I would call it unusual, but as a non-fiction writer on biblical topics, I tend to start out by outlining a text by looking at individual words and pouring through dictionaries. I write all of these out and start piecing the text back together as a whole. From there it goes into expounding on the text.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors:
John MacArthur, John Calvin, John Piper (lots of Johns apparently), Charles Spurgeon, R.C. Sproul, Chuck Swindoll, and the list could easily keep going.
Books:
The Bible, Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a follow-up to A Life Wisely Lived, but instead of looking at James, this time it will be looking at principles from Proverbs. This is still in an outline phase as I go through and take out the general wisdom principles in the text.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far I have mainly promoted via Facebook though I am branching out into other arenas. I will have to get back to you on that.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up on your dream. If you are working on something, keep working until you are satisfied with it. Don’t cut corners and don’t rush, but do your best to make the best possible work that you can come up with.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My uncle, who was my greatest mentor, grew up as a sharecropper with nothing. In the 1940s his family still had a horse and buggy from what I understand. He joined the military and stayed in until he retired in the 1970s and went on to get a business degree and owned several businesses. The one thing he always said that has never left my mind is: “Get your education. It’s the one thing no one can take away from you.”
What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading several books, including The Incomparable Christ and Return to Eden.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am in the first stages of my next study which I hope to have out in the next year, though it could be delayed as I am starting a Master’s program which will take up considerable time.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My Bible would be a definite work that would come with me. I think another text would be my hymn book so that I can still enjoy myself singing. I’m sure I’d also take a joke book as a source of humor in hard times. And though not technically a book, I’d take a notebook so that I could still write my thoughts.
Author Websites and Profiles
Joshua Drawdy Amazon Profile