WELCOME

Welcome. For years I've kicked around the idea of starting a blog, but life always seemed to get in the way. This summer, with my novel nearing publication and the school year behind me, I've finally decided to stop thinking about it and start writing.

After more than a year of editing, formatting, and revising, The Quest of Kip Saunders is finally nearing publication. Only the final production work remains before its scheduled release on August 4, 2026.

Here are some topics I plan to explore in this blog:

1. The Real Places Behind The Quest of Kip Saunders

2. Why I Hiked the Appalachian Trail

3. What West Point Taught Me

4. Swimming Across Walden Pond

5. Horn Island Reflections

6. My Favorite Appalachian Trail View

7. Painting the Natural World

8. The Meaning of Bear Mountain Bridge

9. Lessons Learned as a Swim Coach

10. Writing About Regret and Redemption

11. The Long Journey to Publishing My First Novel

12. What It Feels Like to Turn 65

13. Why I Wake Up at 3 AM

14. What Does God Have to Do with It?

This blog will help me organize my thoughts, but it's not just about me. I hope you, dear reader, find value here—perhaps a laugh, an insight, or even a pearl of wisdom. This journey promises to be smooth, but hold on tight, as even the smoothest rides can have surprises.

I hope you'll stop by from time to time. Whether the topic is hiking, West Point, painting, teaching, faith, or the long journey of writing a novel, I look forward to sharing the adventure with you.