What drives Trevor during his childhood and adolescence? What motivates him as an adult? When is human ambition a positive thing? How does it become negative? Is it ever a sin to be ambitious?
How would you describe Trevor’s romantic relationships with women? How do they change throughout the story?
When Trevor is at the end of his rope, he realizes, “I had just been at a crossroads. Taken one route, and not another. And there was something numinous yet real going on.” If you are a follower of Jesus, think of the time you put your life in Christ’s hands. How was it similar to Trevor’s experience? How was it different?
When Trevor’s defenses break down and he admits his need of Christ, how does his life change? What changes take a while to come into play?
Trevor calls his new ability to perceive demonic forces both a curse and a gift. Have you identified any spiritual gifts that God has given you? How can those responsibilities be a burden? In what way are they a blessing?
Trevor feels compelled to return to Manitou, not just because of his friend’s death but because he knows God has given him this task. Have you ever faced something—large or small—that felt like a “mission from God”? How did you respond?
Ashley Linderman faces generalized anxiety disorder after her violent attack. How does she handle this setback? Is there a role for prescribed medication for such issues, or perhaps counseling? Why or why not?
What kind of father do you expect Trevor will be? What kind of relationship will he have with his child? What challenges will he meet?
James 2:19 says, “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.” What does this verse say about God’s sovereignty? How should a Christian’s belief in God differ from a demon’s?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In this novel I tried to paint a unique fictional picture of spiritual warfare. Given that, Tyndale House Publishers impressed me not only by the way it boldly embraced the vision behind this story but also how its staff actively encouraged and nurtured it. Karen Watson and Jan Stob deserve great thanks for the insights they brought to the project and their enthusiasm for the book. While my Tyndale editor, Caleb Sjogren, did a great job catching the usual technical “oops” that occur in every novel, he did more than that; he inserted himself into the world I was trying to create, as well as its message, and creatively urged it forward. Cheryl Kerwin and Maggie Rowe, marketing and publicity stars at Tyndale, were a delight to work with.
Many thanks to blind Liberian musician Lasana Kanneh and his group, IJenNeh (http://ijenneh.wordpress.com), for permission to use a few lyrics from their African gospel jazz piece, “Satan Fall Down.” Lasana’s own journey is a remarkable story in itself. I’m honored to have connected with him. I am grateful also to my agents, AGI Vigliano Literary, for their excellent representation.
Writers don’t work in a vacuum. My fiction work is blessed and inspired by the spectacular support of my family. My daughter, Sarah Parshall Perry, an accomplished writer in her own right, helped me with a key segment of this story. My son, Joseph, often assumed responsibilities so I could be cut free to keep fingers to the keyboard. My wife, Janet, has been the inspiration behind all my novels. But this one, with its portrayal of spiritual conflict, is a journey that has special meaning for both of us. Her life and her broadcast ministry have reminded me how the gospel of truth is more relevant now than ever before, and although the dominion of darkness is very real, its days are numbered because the Alpha and the Omega—the “Guardian King”—is real too, and he is victorious.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Craig Parshall is a fiction writer who has authored or coauthored eleven suspense novels. He has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, and his novels have appeared regularly on the CBA bestseller list. The Occupied is his twelfth work of suspense fiction. He has also coauthored several nonfiction books and is a regular current events columnist for Israel My Glory magazine. Craig is a cum laude graduate of Carroll College (English/Philosophy/Religion) and Marquette University Law School, where he received his JD.
Craig is also a commentator on issues involving culture, faith, freedom, law, media, and technology, and he frequently debates the most controversial and engaging issues of the day with atheist groups and separation-of-church-and-state leaders. He addresses Christian worldview subjects and speaks nationally on topics as far-ranging as Washington policy and politics, Internet freedom, and artistic issues in films, which he debates with movie directors in Hollywood.
Craig Parshall currently serves as special counsel to the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and provides Washington-related consulting as the principal of Parshall Policy. He was the founding director of the John Milton Project for Free Speech, a pioneering venture on matters of religious expression on the Internet, which he launched in his previous capacity as senior vice president and general counsel for National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), where he was also the executive editor of its publications, later serving as senior adviser for law and policy. Craig has testified frequently before committees of the US Senate and the House of Representatives on constitutional and First Amendment issues, as well as before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on broadcasting freedoms and the future of media in America. As a veteran civil liberties trial and appellate attorney, Craig has represented clients in civil liberty and church-state cases before the US Supreme Court, the majority of the US Courts of Appeal across the United States, and numerous federal trial courts and state supreme courts.
Craig’s appearances on legal and constitutional issues on mainstream media include FOX News, CBS television and CBS radio, CNN, NBC’s Today show, Inside Edition, PBS, NPR, and Court TV among others. His cases have been featured in major newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the National Law Journal, the Chicago Tribune, the LA Times, the Boston Herald, the Boston Globe, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Charlotte Observer, the Des Moines Register, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report.
Craig is married to Janet Parshall, a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host who is heard over the Moody Radio network.
On Facebook: Craig Parshall Author
On Twitter: @Craig Parshall
On LinkedIn: Craig Parshall—Principal at Parshall Policy
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