Ezra Ferguson

Reposting here from Instagram, now that I've had a moment to catch my breath: Return to Aramon has won the 2026 Realm Award for Debut Novel at the @realmmakers Conference and Expo! In an unforgettable moment at Union Station in St. Louis I was stunned to receive this beautiful gesture of recognition and encouragement. I'm still struggling to collect my thoughts while it all soaks in. The experience has been deeply spiritual. The Lord walked with me every day while I wrote this novel, and he has richly blessed me again, allowing me to fellowship for five straight days with the most lovely array of Christian creators and fans of speculative fiction on earth. I am grateful beyond words, but still I must try. Thank you Jesus. Thank you my dear wife Elisha. Thank you to my editor @anikasaph. Thank you Isaac, @TerranGregory, Cole, Ty, @JohnnyOmaha my Brother in Christ, and all the many who have upheld me along the way with your words, deeds, and prayers. Onward, to create for Christ! #RealmMakers #ReturnToAramon

Massively pleased to receive this top 5 Finalist nod in the inaugural IBOR book contest! As I understand it, these books passed through a lot of hands. Knowing the story delighted so many of you is intensely gratifying. I hope you saw the influence of Christ in these words and if the story had any merit, thanks be to God, the great story-teller and true creator. Congratulations to the grand champion, @BellaDunnWriter. Fun fact: over 21 years ago, "Return" the movie was also top 5 at the inaugural Blizzcon. Big thanks to @The_Elmerian for putting on this heroic second-chance contest and to all the volunteer judges. You are a heroic fellowship!

I am astonished to discover tonight what Return to Aramon is all about. It's been a long time getting here. There is a mind-bending theological question at the heart of it, and now I can't wait to explore it with all of you. Alas, for 320,000 more words to go...

Early September is unbeatable.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

We're into the final stretch of IBOR! What a huge honor and joyous celebration of indie books. Congratulations to my fellow worthy competitors. Thank you Lord for the encouragement. Check your TBRs my friends!

I wish, my brothers and sisters, that during this year you may live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before. Depend upon it, it is when we think much of Christ that we think little of ourselves, little of our troubles, and little of the doubts and fears that surround us. Begin from this day, and may God help you. Never let a single day pass over your head without a visit to the garden of Gethsemane, and the cross on Calvary. And as for some of you who are not saved, and know not the Redeemer, I would to God that this very day you would come to Christ. I dare say you think coming to Christ is some terrible thing: that you need to be prepared before you come; that he is hard and harsh with you. When men have to go to a lawyer they need to tremble; when they have to go to the doctor they may fear; though both those persons, however unwelcome, may be often necessary. But when you come to Christ, you may come boldly. There is no fee required; there is no preparation necessary. You may come just as you are. It was a brave saying of Martin Luther's, when he said, "I would run into Christ's arms even if he had a drawn sword in his hand." Now, he has not a drawn sword, but he has his wounds in his hands. Run into his arms, poor sinner. "Oh," saith one, "that is all I want to know. I do believe that Christ is able to save to the uttermost. May I rest my soul on him, and say, sink or swim, most blessed Jesus, thou art my Lord?" May do it! man? Why, you are commanded to do it. Oh that you may be enabled to do it. Remember, this is not a thing which you will do at a risk. The risk is in not doing it. Cast yourself on Christ, sinner. Throw away every other dependence and rest alone on him. "No," says one, "I am not prepared." Prepared! sir? Then you do not understand me. There is no preparation needed; it is, just as you are. "Oh, I do not feel my need enough." I know you do not. What has that to do with it? You are commanded to cast yourself on Christ. Be you never so black or never so bad, trust to him. He that believeth on Christ shall be saved, be his sins never so many, he that believeth not must be damned be his sins never so few. The great command of the gospel is, "Believe." "Oh," but saith one, "am I to say I know that Christ died for me?" Ah, I did not say that, you shall learn that by-and-bye. You have nothing to do with that question now, your business is to believe on Christ and trust him; to cast yourself into his hands. And may God the Spirit now sweetly compel you to do it. Now, sinner, hands off your own righteousness. Drop all idea of becoming better through your own strength. Cast yourself flat on the promise. Say— "Just as I am without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bid'st me come to thee; Oh, Lamb of God! I come, I come." You cannot trust in Christ and find him still deceive you. Oh, Spirit of the living God, open the understanding to receive, and the heart to obey, and may many a soul here present cast itself on Christ. On all such, as on all believers, do I again pronounce the benediction, with which I shall dismiss you. "May the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you!" - C.H. Spurgeon

TODAY in Aramon. July 26th. New Shoes Day was inaugurated among the "Norfies" of Undercity. Get dishy, lads!

Artifact Classic is so good. TRAGIC.