In After the Storms, you share with readers your story of survival shaped by faith, from your childhood marked by disaster, poverty, and alcoholism to your inspiring return to grace. What inspired you to share your story with others?

I was inspired to share my story by a deep-seated desire to provide a roadmap for others navigating their own personal “storms” and to show that one’s beginnings do not have to dictate their end. My journey from a childhood marked by disaster and poverty to a life defined by service and faith taught me that resilience is often forged in the most difficult circumstances.

By being transparent about my lowest points and the long road to redemption, I hope to testify to the power of grace and the possibility of finding peace and purpose no matter how much has been lost. I wrote this book to offer a message of hope, proving that it is always possible to rebuild and thrive after the clouds have cleared.

Your family is portrayed with both struggle and deep love. How do you understand that duality now?

I understand that duality now as the very foundation of resilience; the struggles we faced weren’t in spite of our love, but often the crucible that proved how deep it actually ran. Looking back, I see that while poverty and personal battles created immense pressure, they also stripped away everything but our commitment to one another. That friction between hardship and devotion taught me that grace doesn’t require a perfect environment to grow—it often takes root most firmly in the broken soil of our shared trials.

How did your experiences during the Gulf War shape your perspective on life and faith?

My time as a Cavalry Scout during the Gulf War served as a profound turning point, stripping away the abstractions of life and replacing them with a raw, immediate dependence on faith. In the chaos of combat, I quickly realized how little control I truly possessed, which forced me to seek an anchor beyond my own training and equipment. This experience instilled in me a permanent perspective on the fragility of life and a conviction that grace is often most visible in our most uncertain moments. Ultimately, the desert taught me that no matter how vast the landscape or how dark the storm, there is always a purposeful path forward for those willing to trust in a higher power.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?

The single most important message I hope readers take away is that your history does not have to be your destiny. Whether you are standing in the wreckage of a physical disaster or the quiet ruins of personal struggle, there is always a path from “red dirt” to redemption. I want people to see that resilience is not about avoiding the storm, but about finding the faith and grit to rebuild once the wind stops blowing. Ultimately, I hope my story serves as a reminder that no matter how much has been lost, it is never too late to return to grace and find a life of profound purpose and peace.

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