All The Fury Of The Wind
Donald James Parker
ISBN: 9780615223483
Sword Of The Spirit Publishing
Reviewed By Latonya Franklin
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Jeremy
and Maria are young lovers intertwined in the arms of fate. Recent high
school graduates, they soon marry and start a new life together at the
University of Nebraska, where Maria is a rising track star and Jeremy
has a promising future as a member of the baseball team. Making the
adjustment to life in the college environment is tough enough for most
students, but it's exponentially harder for Jeremy and Maria, given the
entrenched mores and folkways that they soon find themselves infringing
upon…
Staunch proponents of the concept of Intelligent Design,
the newlyweds eventually set themselves directly at odds with the
preponderance of campus believers who embrace the Darwinian theory of
evolution. Their nemeses are not just relegated to random classmates
either, but also extend to high-powered members of the faculty and
staff – and even the surrounding social order. Undaunted by the
increased opposition that they face, Jeremy and Maria remain steadfast
in their determination to shed light on the various inconsistencies
scattered throughout their opponents' arguments, as well as the latent
anti-Christian hostility into which society overall has seemingly
slipped…
All the growing tension sets the stage for a series of
nasty battles sure to crush the spirits of the easily intimidated – but
Jeremy and Maria are not so easily swayed, and the underestimation of
their will and fervor soon proves hazardous to those who seek to
silence them…
All The Fury Of The Wind
takes the reader on a well-balanced, informative trek through the
contemporary battle between Creationists & Evolutionists. Donald
James Parker does a commendable job of presenting both sides of the
ongoing argument in cogent fashion, providing enough detailed
information to allow one to reach his or her own intelligent conclusion
about the matter at hand. Though Parker is a personally a staunch
Christian in clear support of Intelligent Design, his unbiased approach
in relating the complexities of the issue is quite edifying, and his
powerful insights, as well as his skillful use of humor and gravitas,
make for a supremely compelling story.
There are many who would
complain that the age of religious tolerance has long overextended its
stay, and such individuals would be among the first to shun such a
seemingly controversial work as All The Fury Of The Wind
– but in doing so, those parties – ironically – would deprive
themselves of a golden opportunity to gain greater understanding into
just why such tolerance is more essential now than ever.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Donald James Parker (All The Fury Of The Wind, Angels Of Interstate 29)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Donald. We're looking forward to learning more about your books.
Early in the story, Jeremy is accosted by a group of teenagers who turn out to be friendly, but initially he instinctively assumes that they'll attack him because of his religious faith. Has his environment really been that antagonistic that he's become conditioned in such a way?
Donald James Parker: Jeremy was simply responding to the fact they he was being stared at. It actually had nothing to do with religion, but actually dealt with preconceived notions of dress and behavior (and maybe some testosterone). That passage was a parable about judging a book by its cover (very appropriate for me because my book covers are usually subpar in the competitive world of hype and modern graphics we live in).
AR: Jeremy's valedictorian speech is quite stirring. Does it contain some of your personal thoughts, feelings, or sentiments about society?
DJP: That would be a big affirmative. One of my life's goals is to be the guest speaker for graduation at my alma mater. Perhaps I injected a little of the speech I'd deliver there into this passage.
AR: Paul and Lisa get into a deep discussion about the issue of submission in relationships. Have you found that this topic is a particularly touchy one among men and women?
DJP: Oh, my, yes! This is one of the most touchy (and most misunderstood) topics in the realm of Christianity. My first reviewer of this book thought this was an especially poignant passage. She read it aloud to family members as they drove down the highway on a long trip. Outside the world of Christianity, the concept of submission is a topic for ridicule. I started out writing with the goal of telling it like it is (as I see it) - even if I don't win any popularity contests as a result.
AR: Jeremy and Maria get married at such a young age, yet they're able to sustain such a successful, healthy marriage. How are they able to pull this off - especially in an age when so many marriages end in bitter divorce?
DJP: First of all, this is a novel. They can pull off anything that I let them do! (LOL). In reality, this would require a tremendous amount of maturation. In Maria's case, she learned in the school of adversity through her father's bout with cancer. Jeremy matured through hanging out with his Dad instead of with other kids. The most important thing is that they try to put God at the head of their marriage. The kids are only newlyweds. I don't think marriages get tough until after the stars in the eyes start to dim. The book doesn't go to that point, but Maria offers excellent advice on how they needed to prevent problems - through bringing them to the table, discussing them, and removing them from the equation instead of shoving them under the carpet where they pile up until the rug doesn't have to be pulled out from under the couple to end the marriage; they just trip over the stuff piled up under it.
AR: Is the ongoing battle between backers of Intelligent Design and evolutionary scholars as heated as you depict in the book?
DJP: Maybe not yet. I think it's headed there, though.
AR: What is it about the concept of Intelligent Design that makes it so offensive to evolutionists?
DJP: First of all, I don't think evolutionists even understand what Intelligent Design is and won't take the time to study it. They equate ID with God and creation, and their preconceived ideas and assumptions won't allow any discussion of the divine.
AR: In Angels Of Interstate 29, Tex is forced to retire due to mandatory retirement laws. Are these laws more of a factor in the everyday workforce than people realize? Also, how do workers tend to feel about them?
DJP: I think most workers are glad to retire as soon as they can. For those who don't wish to retire, they are a definite peeve. Why should a person be forced to retire when they have all the experience that is so valuable for an employee to have? I know that some people start losing it as they age, but not everyone. My mom is 98, and she can still outwork lots of young people I know.
AR: The analogy that Lizzy relates to Tex, comparing God to a factory owner, is quite an effective way to illustrate the significance of having a personal relationship with Him. What inspired that particular passage?
DJP: See my answer below on characters. When I type something into my book, I don't always know what its purpose is - until later. Same with book titles. When I came up with Reforming the Potter's Clay, I had no idea how profound that nomenclature truly was until I discovered that the word "Harry" meant "devil" in former days.
AR: Our reviewer mentioned that you create quite memorable characters. How do you manage to infuse them with such an authentic, original flair, which truly brings them to life?
DJP: I have no clue. Truly, I have to say that I have a ghost writer - the Holy Ghost. I just sit at the computer and type. I'm an analytical type of person, but I never really analyze my writing and tweak it to manipulate people's emotions or perceptions. I do not plot out my books or run my characters through the analysis process to find out what their personality types are. Right now, I think I'd be crazy to try to use my brain to improve my writing. Maybe I need to do that to move to the next level, but perhaps by doing that I'd lose the flavoring that makes my recipe delectable.
AR: What's next for you?
DJP: I'm working on three books right now - when I get the time. One is dealing with sexual pressures on school kids, one with the homeless, and one is a semi biographical work of fiction about my internet-induced marriage. The sexual one will be first. I'd like to have that finished in early 2009, with the homeless book coming soon afterward.
AR: Please share with our readers your website address, in case they'd like to learn more about your writings and other efforts.
DJP: www.DonaldJamesParker.com
AR: Also, will you be making any appearances soon that you'd like our readers know about?
DJP: Nothing scheduled. I just moved to my hometown (scene of several of my books) and started a new job. Books have been relegated to the back of the stove for now.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
DJP: The ebook versions of all my books are available for free download from my website. I simply ask that anyone who reads me and likes what I bring to the table shares the message with their friends (and post good reviews on Amazon).
AR: Thanks again, Donald, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
DJP: Thanks so much to Apex Reviews. You guys are great!