Dan Kimball is the author of numerous books on culture, religion, and leadership. He helped start Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California, and is now a member of the staff there. Along with leading the ReGeneration Project, which aims to prepare and inspire younger generations to think theologically and take part in the church’s mission, he is also a faculty member at Western Seminary.
He holds a doctorate from George Fox University and a master’s degree from Western Seminary.
He appreciates comic books, big band jazz, pre-1960 gospel roots music, punk and rockabilly music, Ford Mustangs, bowling, Sun Records, and Universal Monster films from the 1930s through the 1950s.
Here is an interview with Author Dan Kimball
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am on staff at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, CA and on faculty at Western Seminary. I wasn’t raised a Christian but began having questions about religions and wondering what Christianity was during my college years. I ended up researching and becoming a Christian through looking at the origins of Christianity and other religions. I am passionate to break stereotypes of Christianity through showing what the contents of Bible teaching through studying context and original meaning – along with creativity and kindness. I also love rockabilly and punk rock music along with gospel-roots music. I enjoy comic art, bowling and Universal Monsters from the 1930-1950’s.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I take on one book at a time but I constantly am thinking of ideas for future books. Usually by observing what are the questions and needs that are arising in our world and wanting to then respond to them. So ideas are always surfacing for future projects. I have two solid ideas that likely will become books after I finish the one I am currently writing.
Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
My most recent book is “How (Not) To Read The Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-Women, Anti-Science, Pro-Violence, Pro-Slavery and other Crazy Sounding Parts of Scripture”. The idea for this book came from the increasing amount of questions people have about the difficult things in the Bible. They are understandably being brought more and more to attention, so I wanted to address them and help people understand how to make sense of them.
How do you develop your plots and characters?
My books do far have all been non-fiction. So they don’t have plots and characters. But I develop ideas and explanations by constantly listening and scanning what is being said or asked by people. Assimilating what types of questions about Christian faith there are and from listening, these are then turned in ideas of what to write about – and then comes finding explanations of how to respond to questions. But something very important to me, is whenever giving explanations to questions, make sure they are thoroughly researched and by a broad perspective so I am not just writing personal opinion but a breadth of learning from many.
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How do you get inspired to write?
By seeing needs out there. My inspiration comes from being a Christian and knowing how incredibly much my life has been impacted, that I want to make sure others hear about Jesus and the teachings of the Bible too. So my inspiration is always thinking of ways of addressing the current questions and needs out there today and being inspired to assimilate information to then help others get responses to questions.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on a book that is due next month called “How (Not) To Go To Church”. It is looking at what “church” is or isn’t and showing why the New Testament clearly shows if someone is a Christian it is so important to be part of a local church. Whether a large church or small church, doesn’t matter. But the local church is how we grow in our faith, so want to show how that happens and why a local church is so important as part of it.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
If you have ideas for a book, begin writing them down. Also be thinking about why someone should read your book? There are so many books out there and it is good to think, what will make yours unique? When describing it, how would you tell someone the reason it will be helpful or worth for them to read? Publishers have to choose from thousands of submissions, so having a clear vision for your book is so important.
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
When you hear how what you have written has helped someone.
Will you have a new book coming out soon?
Yes, “How (Not) To Read The Bible” will be the next one out. The publisher will be determine release date after I turn the final manuscript in next month.
What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you (i.e., website, personal blog, Facebook page, Goodreads, etc.) and link(s)?
I have a website: www.dankimball.com on there you can find my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and also how to contact me.
What you want to say about our website?
I love that you are sharing ideas with people as we need to be seeing all kinds of ideas that people have today for inspiration and learning. Thank you!