Rollan Wengert

Jamie Hyneman from Mythbusters once said, "Duct Tape isn't perfect for anything, but is adequate for everything." I can't think of a better metaphor for myself. I'm duct tape. Capable in a jack mess of trades--from manly trades such as home construction and grilling to poindexter pursuits such as philosophy and Greek--but haven't mastered any so as to become a professional.

I live in Tea, SD and have three boys, rowdy and strong willed. My wife gets to stay home and watch them, when she's not coaching or judging gymnastics. In order to afford our sole income budget, I have to use my duct-tape-like versatility. I do what I can to keep projects simple and inexpensive and try to use and reuse what is available.

My great occupational passion is writing. As youth, I'd spend hours in my room typing stories. Stories of all kinds. Stories that were never finished. Then, I grew up. Hints flowed my way, that maybe, I ought to choose a 'realistic' career path. So I did what any confused teen would do. I joined the army.

Four Army and another four college years later, I learned I'm too scatterbrained, for a 'realistic' career path. I began writing again. My only constant pursuit of occupational joy. (I love doing and learning new things, I just have a hard time sticking with them.) And, I actually started finishing works.

At first, I thought, because my faith in Christ is important to me, I had to do Christian Genre works. But, then I read Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. This book, along with the writings of C. S. Lewis, helped me realize I didn't have to necessarily have to write Christian Genre fiction. Not to say, my faith isn't separate from my works or contrary to them.