I’m very excited to be able to tell you about a uniquely designed Bible I have known about, used, and personally enjoyed for nearly fourteen years. It also thrills me to be able to offer a Hunt Club Kids version to my readers.

When I handed Jet his copy yesterday afternoon, he said, “That’s awesome!” over and over again. Of course, that’s exactly what we all hope our kids will say when we put a Bible in their hands. But Jet is right, this Bible really is awesome—especially for those of us who love the outdoors and want to take God’s Word with us.

Let’s face it, the Bibles we are used to carrying aren’t designed for what a hunting trip might subject them to. They don’t stand up well to being crammed in a backpack, dropped in a creek, or smeared with mud. But there is a Bible that’s made for those very things. It even floats! And you can now get a Hunt Club Kids version for the young hunters in your family.

I really think this is a great Bible. Because it contains only the New Testament along with the Psalms and Proverbs, it’s compact enough to take with me every time I enter the woods. And I can’t think of a better birthday or Christmas gift for the young hunter in your life.

Does your child’s school use the Accelerated Reader (AR) Program to encourage students to read? If so, I’m happy to announce that Maine Mission is now available within their program. That brings the total to five of the six books in the series.

If your child is trying to rack up those AR points, Maine Mission will give them six more toward their goal. Combine that with the other books in the series, and they can really pile up the points!

Have your kids tried audiobooks? If not, the audiobooks I have available from The Hunt Club Kids Series really bring the stories to life. I recently heard from a teacher who was getting audiobooks from my series for a couple of students in her class. She was hoping these versions could spark a love for reading in these two students of hers who already love hunting. I hope so, too!

Well, I’m happy to announce that with the recent release of Maine Mission, there are now five books from The Hunt Club Kids Series available in audio format. I really think your kids will like them. They are great to listen to together while traveling to and from school or on your next hunting adventure.

During my break in July, Jet and I headed over to the mountains of North Georgia to do some scouting for bear. Earlier in the summer, I purchased a fifteen-foot camper to serve as basecamp on wheels for these more remote hunting adventures we are starting to enjoy together as he gets older. So, in addition to scouting for bear, it was also our first real test of the new camper.

We had a great time. The camper proved that it would serve us well on these sorts of adventures. And we are planning to get back over there soon to chase bears in some of the areas we scouted.

While we didn’t see any bears while scouting, we did have one pay us a visit in the campground one afternoon. (Sorry for the grainy pictures. It was close to dark.)

And yes… a bear hunting book will be out soon.

I’m thrilled and honored to announce that Sticks and Strings received the Outstanding Achievement Award in the book category at the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s annual meeting. The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) membership consists of writers and other creative professionals who produce traditional, outdoor sports-focused content (books, articles, photography, and other media). POMA’s 2025 meeting was held at Ohio’s Maumee Bay Lodge & Conference Center from June 23-25. I was happy not only to receive the award but also to have had the opportunity to do some fly fishing in a stream that was so full of trout it was like fishing in a barrel.

It is rewarding and a true honor for my writing to be recognized by experts within the outdoor industry. I am so very grateful.

Me with James Shin, Director of Marketing and Communications for Safari Club International (SCI), the sponsor of this year’s awards.

One of the trout I pulled out of the barrel.

The stream was not only loaded with trout, but also a beautiful place to fish. 

If you didn’t notice, I missed sending my newsletter last month. Part of the reason was that I was super busy with school visits (and fulfilling book orders related to school visits). I had a great time meeting with students at several schools and getting them excited about reading—and the outdoors!

I know school is about to wrap up for this year, but I’d love to get on your school’s calendar for next year. If you’d like to help me out with a visit to your child’s school, you can direct the school librarian to my website and have them complete the school visit form.