Today, please welcome author Jim Baton to Interviews & Reviews. Jim Baton (his pen name) has spent the last 20 years living in the Muslim world, where he’s been involved in a variety of peace and reconciliation activities including interfaith dialogue, training elementary through university students in peace principles, and bringing Christians and Muslims together to pray. His real name and photo can’t be displayed to protect his identity from the extremist groups where he lives out his faith.

When he is not writing, Darrell is in jail - actually several jails or prisons. And he’s been there for over 30 years. As the co-founder of Souls for Christ, Darrell ministers to serial killers, mass murderers robbers, drug dealers, and other serious lawbreakers.

Born in 1945, Darrell grew up on his family’s farm. He spent his summers reading, wandering in the surrounding woods, fishing in the neighbor’s pond and learning to love nature.

In high school, he perfected the art of hiding a novel behind a textbook. While the rest of the class labored over equations Darrell sailed the seven seas, followed a snowy trail in the Yukon, climbed the Rockies, swam the Amazon and fought wars in foreign lands. In books he discovered worlds far beyond the hot, boring classroom.

At age 49 Darrell put pencil to paper and began recording the stories rumbling around in his head. His first book sold a grand total of six copies. Not one to give up, he went back to the drawing board. He has since graduated to word processing, yet he still makes the same mistakes. It's just easier to correct them.

Through trial and error and more error Darrell learned to write. His books have gained five stars from many of those who count: his readers.