Catholic Answers to Publish Two of My Books: More to Come / New Closer Working Relationship

As a result of five-hour meetings in person with Karl Keating, Jimmy Akin, and Tim Staples at the offices of Catholic Answers ("CA": the largest, and I think, the best, Catholic apologetics organization in the world) in El Cajon, California on May 13th past, and several other factors, it is virtually certain that CA will be publishing two of my existing titles (presently published at Lulu) this fall, and several more in the future as well.

The one that I can announce with certainty at this point is my volume, 501 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (in streamlined form). This was an obvious choice, since the topic of "Scripture Alone" (the Protestant Rule of Faith) and authority in general, including the relative place of Church and Tradition, is far and away the most talked about in apologetics circles (and I have written more on the topic than anything else). Sophia Institute Press (publisher of four of my books) came very close to publishing it some months back but decided not to, due primarily to lack of funds (the company had been struggling and is now on the road to recovery).

Some other titles (two in particular) are also being seriously considered at the present time. I will announce developments as they are confirmed. An idea for a brand new book is also in the discussion stage, and I'll  be working on that also in the coming months. Presently, I am hard at work on (and extremely excited about) a book of Cardinal Newman quotations. This will also likely be "officially" published, since strong interest has been shown in it by at least one publisher (or possibly CA might do it).


Furthermore, Karl Keating and CA desire to have a much closer working relationship with me, even beyond publishing my books. I don't know all the particulars yet, but I welcome that prospect. I am a self-employed (or, if you will, "freelance") full-time Catholic apologist and have been since December 2001. But that doesn't mean I am any sort of "Lone Ranger." I love partnering with other Catholics and Catholic apologists (persons and groups) of like mind.

This is a prime example of that, as was my three-year stint as a part-time moderator of the Internet forum at The Coming Home Network (of The Journey Home TV fame). I also have a mutually beneficial association with John Martignoni: the well-known radio apologist, and his Bible Christian Society, and I have collaborated with Dr. Stan Williams and his apostolate, Nineveh's Crossing. Moreover, I have longtime informal working relationships with fellow apologists who are friends in the Detroit area, such as Gary Michuta and Steve Ray.

How did the new situation with Catholic Answers come about? I have known Karl and Jimmy for some years now: having met Karl twice before briefly, and corresponded. Jimmy Akin came to town back in 2004 and I had dinner with him and others and he stopped off at my house. I've been published in the CA magazine This Rock at least three times and have appeared on the radio show Catholic Answers Live twice (most of these things some years ago now).

Thus, they were aware of my work and I have always highly respected theirs. For example, I've recommended that people with basic apologetics questions give them a call for 15 years now, on my blog sidebar, etc. I consider CA the "world headquarters of Catholic apologetics." I've used their materials millions of times. I consider Karl Keating the "father of the modern lay apologetics movement" (think, roughly since 1990). This is a great honor for me (to put it mildly).

Todd Aglialoro
The key immediate causal factor in this new partnership, however, is my friend Todd Aglialoro: editor of my books, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism , The Catholic Verses , and The One-Minute Apologist (all by Sophia Institute Press). He is a fabulous editor and really nice guy to boot. The Catholic Verses and The One-Minute Apologist were initially his ideas, and they were great ones, that I quickly came to love. Todd was in need of a job a few months ago and at the same time CA (I assume as a result of board policy discussions and so forth) was wishing to revamp its publishing efforts, which had not been a major emphasis in recent years.

Todd suggested that perhaps some of my many books that are published at Lulu (which means, essentially, self-published) might fit the bill for product to be put out quickly, in an effort to help along the new CA thrust of apologetics book publishing (Jimmy Akin's book, The Fathers Know Best is currently selling very well for them). It was also helpful that we had successfully worked together before, at Sophia Institute Press. We talked for probably over two hours today on the phone, discussing many things.

Todd's idea worked; he was hired by CA as aquisitions editor shortly before I had my meetings on May 13th with the CA staff. It was one of those things in the Christian life where the timing of it strongly suggested God's providential Hand. Todd kindly pushed and plugged my books, and I seem to have played some role in the overall plan of hiring him and putting out new materials in short order. We're all helping each other meet our professional and apologetic goals: as a three-way partnership. Todd had worked at CA before as well, so he was also a "known quantity."

It's a "best-case scenario" for me because, as an author, I need more books "officially published" (they are my bread and butter, after all, since royalties make up the bulk of my income), and I need my books in general to be promoted and advertised far more widely than they have been. If you're talking Catholic apologetics, absolutely no one is in a better position to do that than Catholic Answers. They have the resources and savvy and they deal with exactly my target audience: Catholics who love apologetics. It's what publishers call a "niche audience" to begin with: not all that large, so promotion is always crucial for success.

I have already been greatly helped for years by CA insofar as they have carried my books in their catalogue (examples: one / two / three). This is, in effect, "free advertising." Now it can only get better, since they themselves will be publishing several of my books. Catholic Answers will be the fourth major Catholic publisher to do so, after Sophia Institute Press, Our Sunday Visitor ( The New Catholic Answer Bible ), and Saint Benedict Press ( The Wisdom of Mr. Chesterton ).

Needless to say, I am thrilled by all these events that have come about, seemingly out of nowhere. Thanks so much to all of my readers: particularly those of you who have bought my books, and especially to all who have prayed for my apostolate and who have supported it financially as well. You have helped make all of this possible, too, by enabling me to have the time to write the books that will now be officially published and hence, much more widely read.  That furthers my goal to get the message out as far and wide as I can and even gives me a few more dollars to help pay the electric bill and raise four home-schooled children.

We're all in this together, so my first thought after thanking God for all this was to thank you, my readers and supporters of this apostolate that continues on in full force, by God's grace and provisions. I'm a "lifer" in apologetics and evangelization; I have been since 1981 (as an evangelical Protestant) and there is no end in sight. "Retirement" isn't in the cards for me (sitting here at almost 53 years old)! I don't even know what the word means . . .