Recently, I had the joy of cutting the tape on a box, raising its flaps, and lifting out an advance copy of The Persian Gamble, my next novel, releasing March 12. Even though I’ve done it many times previously with other books, there is still a thrill at seeing for the first time the printed version of what I spent so many hours putting together—chapter by chapter, sentence by sentence, word by word. Soon people will be reading how Marcus Ryker, Oleg Kraskin, and Jenny Morris were able to survive their Gulfstream IV blasting into a fireball. In just a short time, readers will visit the smoky, back rooms of power as the Russian government tries to recover from the assassination of their autocratic leader. They’ll witness Russia, Iran, and North Korea colluding in a plot that, if successful, could take down the entire Western world.

Holding a new book in my hands is a time of rejoicing, and also a time of thanksgiving. While my name is the only one on the cover, I am not the only author. I have a co-writer without whom I would have never published a single book.

People have asked me many times what the writing process is like. Do I like it? Is it easy or difficult? Do I ever have writer’s block? One of the more interesting questions I’ve received is if I were to sum up the creation of a book in a single word, what would it be? Depending on the day, I might answer that question in different ways. Sometimes it’s lonely. Sometimes it’s exciting. Sometimes it’s creative or mysterious or exhausting. However, I think the best overall descriptor of my book-writing experience is spiritual.

The word spiritual can mean many different things, depending on who’s using it. I am certainly not sitting there in a transcendental state as I write, while the Lord channels his words through my fingers. I am also not a man who “spoke from God as [I was] carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). While I believe that much can be learned from both my fiction and nonfiction writings, I recognize that my books are not “breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Sure, they can be “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” but unlike the Word of God, they are certainly not infallible.

When I use the word spiritual, I mean that the Holy Spirit is deeply involved in my writing process. I am constantly in communication with him and following his leading as my fingers pound away at the keys. His wisdom, ability, and creativity are in every word I write. And the Holy Spirit’s influence extends beyond just the time at the keyboard. He leads me in my studies. He connects me with wise and influential people. He puts me in situations where I am able to observe and interact with world leaders in their own elements. He is the One who provides me with the experiences that bring a richness to the scenes I create. They are all thanks to God’s involvement in my life.

Opening a box of new books is a momentous event. It evokes a feeling of personal pride at a job well done and heightens the anticipation for the day when readers will be able to strap in for the thrill ride of the story. But even more so, it is a moment of deep appreciation for my co-writer—the Holy Spirit. He takes the lead, I follow, and I trust that you’ll have a great time experiencing the results of our spiritual collaboration.

-Joel