Across the years, my science fiction and fantasy has always had elements of spirituality and mysticism. In speculative fiction, I find nothing more interesting and profound, and thus profoundly interesting, than spirituality, mysticism, and even theology – as long as those qualities are handled with skill and understanding!

In May 2025 I graduated from a three-year training program as a Spiritual Director. That was at the Emmaus Spirituality Center in Houston. The Emmaus program is a continuation of the spiritual direction training that was done at the Cenacle Retreat Center in Houston since 1985. The program is foundationally Roman Catholic, but ecumenical in scope.

A Spiritual Director is someone who is ready, willing and able to listen to someone else’s story of their life journey, and direct both of our attention to how the Holy Spirit has been guiding them.

Spiritual Direction isn’t just ecumenical, it’s interfaith. One of the most prominent organizations of spiritual directors is Spiritual Directors International. 

By the way, since I independently publish as Avendis Press, I have an imprint for when I occasionally publish a book for someone I’ve worked with – so far, always a book with some kind of spiritual content.