Contemporary Mystery & Suspense for Christian Teens
What if the place you feared most was the only place you could find the truth?
What if escaping the Everglades wasn’t about getting out, but about going back in?
What if your best friend went missing and finding her meant facing the gator who almost killed you?
Welcome to The Sword and Story Podcast—where we help Christian families find exciting, faith-filled books for their boys.
Our mission is to raise strong, courageous warriors for the Kingdom of God. Join us on a quest to discover stories that inspire our boys to grow into godly young men.
I’m your host, Laurie Christine. I’m an author, bible teacher, wife, and mom to four wild, wonderful, boys. I’m the author of the Dragon Slayer Bible Series, adventure-packed biblical fiction and devotions for middle-grade boys.
Our guest author today is Tim Shoemaker.
Tim Shoemaker is the author of over 25 books. He writes mystery, adventure, and suspense for readers 12 and up. Tim writes in a way that holds the attention of boys–even reluctant readers. Tim is a popular speaker at conferences and schools around the country and a regular contributor to focus on the families Clubhouse magazine. Tim Shoemaker was interviewed previously on The Redeeming the Chaos Podcast. Listen HERE.
High Water series
Contemporary Mystery and Suspsense for Christian Teens
Escape from the Everglades is the first book in the High Water series and blends contemporary mystery and suspense, dramatic situations, and high adventure that both boys and girls will love.
A park ranger’s son hates the Everglades, and he thinks he’ll just die if he doesn’t escape Southern Florida soon . . . and he’s right. After Parker Buckman is mauled and nearly killed by an alligator, he sees the glades as a place of death. All he wants to do is get out of the area, and he’s convinced he won’t truly be okay until he does. But he can’t leave until he finds a friend who goes missing.
Escaping a bad situation isn’t a matter of a geographical change. Sometimes the best way to a brighter future is to face the darkness of your past.
More Books in the High Water Series
by Tim Shoemaker
More books by Tim Shoemaker – Code of Silence
More books by Tim Shoemaker – Devotional
TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW
High Water series by Tim Shoemaker
Laurie Christine:
Our guest author today is Tim Shoemaker. Tim Shoemaker is the author of over 25 books. He writes mystery, adventure, and suspense for readers 12 and up. Tim writes in a way that holds the attention of boys, even reluctant readers. He is a popular speaker at conferences and schools around the country and a regular contributor to Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse magazine. Tim Shoemaker, welcome to the Sword and Story podcast.
Tim:
Laurie, I’m happy to be here. Thank you.
Laurie Christine:
I’m excited to have you back on the show. The last time I interviewed you was on my old podcast, Redeeming the Chaos. We talked about your devotional book, The Very Best Hands-On, Kinda Dangerous Family Devotions, which is perfect for boys. We also talked about why dads often struggle or hesitate to lead family devotions. If you haven’t heard that interview, you can scroll back in this podcast feed—it’s Episode 84 of Redeeming the Chaos.
Today, we’re going to talk about your fiction. Let’s start with an introduction. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and your background.
Tim:
My name is Tim. I’ve got three grown sons, so we definitely went through that phase of trying to interest boys in books and reading. My wife and I now have 12 grandkids, and just over half of them are boys. The things I learned as a dad are now paying off as we invest in the next generation.
Laurie Christine:
You have so much experience raising boys and now influencing your grandchildren, along with writing books for boys.
I also have a fun story to share. Tim was the developmental editor for Garden of Mysteries, the first book in my Dragon Slayer Bible series. Because of his feedback, I completely rewrote the book. It started as a retelling of Adam and Eve’s confrontation with the serpent, but Tim suggested that since I was writing for boys, I should change the perspective from Adam to Seth. Seth became the 12-year-old main character, and that change transformed the entire series into a full-fledged middle grade fiction series.
I just published the next book, Land of Giants. These stories are based on biblical characters and events, but they are very much fiction. Tim, thank you for your inspiration and for challenging me to change the direction of my series.
Tim:
That is so exciting to hear. I love it. I imagine boys are really enjoying those stories.
Laurie Christine:
They are. It became such a better story and series, all from one suggestion.
Let’s talk about books for boys in general. This podcast is all about recommending books for boys. What makes a book appealing to boys? We know boys are different from girls, but also different from each other. So what are some general characteristics parents should look for?
Tim:
One of the first things is the cover. If you had a booth at a homeschool convention, a boy would come over because of the cover. If the cover isn’t good, it’s hard to sell the book to a boy.
Next, he’ll flip through the pages. He’s looking for white space. He may not say it, but he’s asking, “Does this look like a hard read?” If the pages are filled edge to edge with text, it looks like work, and he probably won’t read it.
He may also look at chapter length. Boys prefer shorter chapters. I average about four and a half to five pages per chapter. It gives them a sense of accomplishment as they finish each one.
You also want a strong opening. Read the first paragraph or chapter. It needs to grab attention immediately. Boys won’t wait three chapters for the story to pick up. You have to start strong.
Another important point is avoiding stereotypes. Not all boys love sports or gross humor. We have to be careful not to assume all boys are the same.
Laurie Christine:
Those are great insights. It’s interesting that you didn’t focus on specific content like dragons or dinosaurs. Boys have different interests, so it’s important to find books that match what they already enjoy.
At the same time, things like white space, larger fonts, shorter chapters, and fast-paced action make a big difference. Boys want stories where characters are active, solving problems, and engaging in adventure.
Let’s talk about your High Water series, specifically the first book, Escape from the Everglades. Tell us about the premise.
Tim:
The story follows a boy named Parker. His dad is a national park ranger in the Florida Everglades. Early in the story, Parker is mauled by a gator, and it’s serious. His dad decides to transfer to another park, but that takes time.
Parker has one friend who wants to keep him out of the Everglades because she’s afraid he won’t survive another encounter. Another friend encourages him to face his fears and go back.
When a friend goes missing in the Everglades, Parker joins the search and faces even greater danger.
The deeper theme is about the escape mentality. We often think life will be better if we can just get somewhere else. But what if God wants us to learn something right where we are? Parker has to learn to be okay where he is before he can move forward.
Laurie Christine:
I’ve started reading it, and it really draws you in. I love that it features real-life kids in a contemporary setting. It feels relatable, like it could be your next-door neighbor.
Tim:
That’s intentional. I create ordinary characters with no special abilities so readers can relate to them. When the character learns something, the reader can apply it too. There’s no excuse like, “I can’t do that because I don’t have a magic sword.”
We also portray parents positively. Kids need parents, and we show that eventually, the characters seek their guidance.
Laurie Christine:
I appreciate that. Many modern stories portray parents as foolish, but your books show respect for them.
What are some key themes in the series?
Tim:
Integrity is a big one—doing the right thing even when no one is watching. That influence comes from Parker’s grandfather.
Each book explores different themes. The second book looks at injustice and whether God sees what’s happening. The third deals with a friend making poor choices. The fourth explores internal struggles and life’s storms. The fifth addresses darkness and hopelessness, showing that God can bring light even in the darkest moments.
Laurie Christine:
You weave those themes naturally into the story without making it feel like a sermon.
Let me ask about romance. Is there any in the series?
Tim:
No, there isn’t. Girls sometimes read it into the story, but it’s not explicitly there. Boys often lose interest when romance is included, and it’s not necessary. We focus on friendships instead.
Laurie Christine:
I appreciate that, especially as a mom of boys.
Are there any heavier topics parents should be aware of?
Tim:
Yes. There are some tough situations. For example, there’s an abusive father figure in Escape from the Everglades. It’s important for readers to recognize manipulation and control.
There are also moments of suspense and mild fear, but they are handled carefully. In another series, there’s an abduction, but it’s not portrayed in a harmful way. We aim to raise awareness without exposing kids to inappropriate content.
Laurie Christine:
That opens the door for meaningful conversations between parents and kids.
Let me read the back cover of Escape from the Everglades:
A park ranger’s son hates the Everglades and believes he won’t survive unless he escapes southern Florida. After being mauled by an alligator, Parker sees the Glades as a place of death. But when a friend goes missing, he must face his fears. Escaping isn’t about geography—sometimes the path to a brighter future requires facing the darkness of the past.
Before we wrap up, tell us about your Code of Silence series.
Tim:
That series follows three friends who witness a violent crime. Afraid for their lives, they form a pact not to tell anyone. That decision puts them in greater danger because both criminals and police are searching for an unidentified witness.
I always end my stories with hope. As Christians, we have hope, and our stories should reflect that.
Laurie Christine:
My 15-year-old and I listened to the audiobook together, and we both loved it.
Finally, tell us about your nonfiction book, 72 Questions and Answers About Life and Becoming the Man God Designed You to Be.
Tim:
It’s aimed at young men, especially ages 18 to 24, though younger teens can benefit as well. It addresses questions about manhood, self-control, faith, honoring parents, friendships, and difficult topics like pornography and how to overcome it.
Many books about manhood focus on husbands and fathers, but we wanted to address young men where they are.
Laurie Christine:
That sounds like an incredible resource, especially for boys transitioning into adulthood.
Where can listeners find your books?
Tim:
They can visit my website at timshoemaker.com or find my books on Amazon, Focus on the Family, and through publishers like Tyndale, Zondervan, and Moody.
Laurie Christine:
Thank you so much for joining us today. This has been a great conversation.
Tim:
It was fun. Thank you.
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