From Idea to Manuscript: How The BUG Boys Story Grew

Every book has a beginning, and for me, it started with three boys and a camping trip. I pictured them heading out with their dads on a guys’ weekend to learn what it meant to be men of God. The spark came from Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis, a book I had read several times. I wanted to bring those principles into a story my son could enjoy — a fun adventure that wove in truths about becoming a man after God’s heart, just like King David, Hezekiah, and Josiah.

At first, I thought I was just writing for my son, Andrew. He wouldn’t get to read it at twelve years old, but I hoped one day he’d read it as an adult and maybe even share it with his children. And if Andrew needed it, I knew other boys did too. That thought kept me going through every false start and new draft.

The Early Versions
The first draft looked nothing like the book today. At one point, the boys were preparing for camp. At another, they had a clubhouse on David’s family farm and a whole chapter devoted to Josiah’s relationship with his older brother Jason. I even included a character named Andrus from Estonia, inspired by my own travels there. I wanted the story to share the gospel, even in small ways, with kids who might never have heard it otherwise.

But the problem was clear: I got lost in the details. I had pages of worldbuilding, elaborate parties, and more information than action. The story started to feel like it was for adults instead of kids. I wanted to write an adventure boys would choose to read, the way I had devoured who-dun-it mysteries and adventure novels when I was young.

The Editor Wake-Up Call
My “aha” moment came when I finally shared my first three chapters with a developmental editor. Until then, I hadn’t let anyone see my manuscript. I was nervous — the typical writer who wants critique but is terrified it will be bad. Still, it mattered enough to me that I got up at 5 a.m. Minnesota time to meet with him online in London.

I thought I had given him gold. The writing itself was fine, but the direction wasn’t working. My big takeaway? What sounds good to the writer doesn’t always keep the reader’s attention. It was humbling, but it was also freeing. The story didn’t have to stay stuck in the version I had been clinging to.

Learning to Write Fiction
Around the same time, I started attending weekly workshops to learn the craft of fiction. My background was in other kinds of writing, and I quickly learned fiction was a different world. Dialogue had to sound real. Scenes couldn’t over-explain. And perhaps most important — I had to choose a single point of view.

Originally, I wanted all three boys to share the spotlight with their own POV chapters. But the more I worked, the clearer it became: Zeke’s perspective would hold the heart of the story. He had a strong arc with his wheelchair and his dad, and telling the story through his eyes gave the book an anchor. The editor never forced that decision on me — he let me discover it myself. And when I did, the whole manuscript started to fall into place.

The Power of Names
One thing that never changed was the boys’ names. I wanted them to carry meaning from the start. David is the most familiar, known even outside of Christianity, while Josiah and Hezekiah are less common. I gave Hezekiah the nickname Zeke to make it relatable for kids today. Their names weren’t just labels; they helped me shape who the boys were becoming.

Side characters, though, came from a different place. I wanted names that felt current and timeless, the kind of names you’d find in any school classroom today. That way, the book wouldn’t feel outdated in ten years. I even drew inspiration from my own kids. Jeremy and Josiah’s sibling dynamic, for example, mirrored some of what Andrew felt as Kaitlyn, his older sister, grew strong in her faith before he did. Their real-life journey — Andrew eventually finding a deep relationship with the Lord in high school and college — gave me a lens for writing Josiah’s doubts and struggles.

From Camping Trip to Scavenger Hunt
I can’t point to the exact day the story shifted, but over time — through rewrites, prayer, and fresh eyes — the camping trip became a scavenger hunt. Looking back, it feels like the only path it could have taken. A scavenger hunt gave the boys action, puzzles, and adventure, while leaving room for faith to shine naturally. It gave me space to share Old Testament threads in a way that was fun, not heavy-handed.

Looking Back Now
Writing this book has taken years, countless drafts, and more lessons than I can count. There were days I wanted to quit, but God kept pulling me back to the story. Every time I put it down and picked it up again, I had grown a little — as a writer, as a dad, and as a follower of Christ.

Now, The BUG Boys: The Great Scavenger Hunt is the book it was always meant to be. It’s a story of friendship, faith, and fun — one I hope boys will grab not because they “should,” but because they want to.

And maybe that’s the greatest lesson I’ve learned: big adventures often start small, with an idea that won’t let go.