Eric Christianson

Eric Christianson and Joyce Davids had a whirlwind courtship, tying the knot a mere 84 days after their initial blind date. Throughout their 44-year marriage, they learned to lean on each other, as one's weakness was the other's strength, all the while perfecting the arts of compromise and collaboration. They did everything together - as a team - until she couldn't.

As a child, Joyce experienced the events described in "South Bend to Spring Valley", and it was her dream to tell this amazing story of faith-based fellowship between her family and the Sims. But the hardest part of writing a book is getting started, and the overwhelming nature of the project relegated it to the back burner... until health issues created a sense of urgency... but also drained her of energy and motivation. She asked her husband to assist in this endeavor, so, of course, Eric obliged. As her kidneys were failing and dialysis was not an option, the couple opted for hospice care, and as she lay in the hospital bed set up for her in their home's living room, life draining from her body, Joyce asked but one thing of Eric: "finish the book." So Eric did...not to become a best-selling author, but to leave a legacy for one of God's greatest creations, one that implores Americans of all creeds and color to set aside their differences and come together for the good of humanity.

Neither were previously published authors, although Eric has written a handful of screenplays, teleplays, and shorts. But on this they both agreed: "South Bend to Spring Valley: the Davids-Sims Story" was a story so incredible...so inspirational, that it simply had to be told.

Overcome by grief, Eric decided a fresh start was needed and moved from the couple's home of 36 years in Austin, Texas, to a lake house in southern Missouri. Although the jury is still out on whether or not that was the right move, it is safe to say that the book probably would not have been written had that not happened.

Eric is semi-retired, but, in addition to his writing, does some online tutoring (SAT and ACT prep) as an income supplement and to maintain a connection with the outside world. Additional books may or may not be in Eric's future. Only time will tell.