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In the 11th grade of high school, multi-published, multiple award-winning author Dan Walsh (Word Weavers Volusia County) realized he had a talent for writing. “I started to do something about it then,” he says, “but two years later, I shifted my career goals toward becoming a pastor.”

By 2011, when his friend Mark Hancock decided to launch a Word Weavers chapter in Volusia County, Florida, Dan, who falls within the 65-70 age group, had already gotten back into writing. “It was 2007, I was 50 years old, and I started working on a Christmas novel called The Unfinished Gift. After doing everything I could to get it ready, I began to submit it to a number of A List Christian fiction literary agents.”

To his great surprise, 2 of the first 3 liked what they saw and asked to read the entire book.

“I signed with Karen Solem, who landed a contract with Baker/Revell six weeks later. The book released as a hardback in 2009.”

If that’s not impressive enough, in 2010, The Unfinished Gift won two Carol Awards (ACFW). By then, Dan had signed a contract with Revell for the sequel. “Things kind of took off after that. Revell wanted me to write full-time and made that financially possible in 2010. I wound up writing 12 novels for them and one for Guideposts.”

In 2015, Dan made the leap to the Indie world, and has since written 15 more novels on his own. Was there a reason for the switch?

“There was. Revell was working to brand me as the Nicholas Sparks of Christian Fiction. That sounded good until I realized they weren't open to me writing anything outside of that narrow lane. I loved writing these kinds of books but also wanted to write books outside that genre. As an indie, I've begun to write suspense novels.

Dan has also written two successful 4-book series. His last work, which was his 28th novel, came out last October. “What's Best For Them was my best book launch yet.”

Absolutely it was. What’s Best for Them went to #1 on Amazon in 3 categories and stayed there for 10 weeks.

Something fun and interesting about Dan? “I have a great-great uncle on my mother's side who was a famous Civil War photographer. I'm also a pretty decent crooner.”

Next time you see Dan, be sure to ask him to sing for his supper.