A Story of Faith, Courage, and the Will to Survive

It’s been humbling and deeply encouraging to have Nazar’s Journey featured in Detroit Catholic. This story is incredibly close to my heart, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to share more about its inspiration and the message I hope it brings to readers everywhere.

Nazar’s Journey follows Nazar, a 14-year-old boy forced to flee his home due to the terror and destruction unfolding in Syria and Iraq. It is a fictional tale, but one grounded in the all-too-real struggles of families and children who have endured the horrors of war. With his father missing and no certainty of survival, Nazar undertakes a perilous journey to Erbil, navigating danger, despair, and moments of fleeting hope along the way.

The inspiration for this story came to me when I began reading the writings of Pope Benedict XVI. His reflections on suffering, the dignity of every human life, and the call to see Christ in the face of the persecuted deeply moved me. I wanted to take those themes and place them in a story that young people could relate to—a narrative that highlights faith, endurance, sacrifice, and above all, hope.

Although the book is set against a backdrop of conflict, it’s not just a war story. It’s a story about the resilience of the human spirit, especially in young people. It’s about the moral decisions we must make in times of darkness, and how even the smallest act of compassion can change the course of someone’s life.

I wrote this book for both adults and young readers—to educate, to provoke thought, and to build empathy. My background in Religious Studies from Yale has shaped my desire to explore complex moral and spiritual themes in a way that is engaging and meaningful. I’ve spent over 30 years working in the insurance industry, but writing this book has been a different kind of calling—one I’ve felt increasingly drawn to as the world confronts ongoing suffering and injustice.

I live in Columbus, Ohio, with my wife Theresa, and together we share a commitment to faith, family, and service. I hope that Nazar’s Journey moves readers as much as it moved me to write it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the book so far. If you’re looking for a story that reflects both the harsh realities of our world and the enduring light within it, I invite you to walk with Nazar on his unforgettable journey.

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