About the Authors
T.A. Burley
Philosophical Storytelling
T.A. Burley writes philosophical fiction that blends narrative storytelling, reflective dialogue, deep inquiry with the transcendence of good, beauty, and truth, and our relationship with natural and Divine being. His work makes complex ideas accessible through relatable experiences, metaphor, and personal reflection.
Books
The Jesus Gene (a completed manuscript of 67,800 words), Burley’s debut novel, uses a travel narrative as the framework for exploring profound questions about love, loss, and spiritual identity. The tone is reflective and conversational, inviting readers into a journey where abstract philosophical and theological ideas become tangible through lived experience. The story ultimately resolves in the conviction that love is the unifying force of life.
Return to Kane (forthcoming) The sequel shifts the narrative to the distinctive village of Kane, first introduced in The Jesus Gene. Continuing in Burley’s signature style, the novel deepens its exploration of human and Divine relationships as the protagonist confronts the truth of his origin story and development of his spiritual identity.
Writing Technique
Burley writes through stream of consciousness, allowing ideas to organize organically. With continuous editing, he weaves complex and sometimes disparate thoughts into a unified narrative that while probing ideas deeply remains accessible to readers.
Style Characteristics
Interdisciplinary — philosophy, theology, religion, and cultural commentary.
Personal yet universal — rooted in lived experience but aimed at broad, enduring ideas.
Metaphoric — objects, crafts, and journeys become symbols of deeper truths.
Accessible yet profound — relatable encounters that open into deeper reflection.
In fine, Burley’s style is philosophical storytelling that makes abstract ideas tangible through narrative, metaphor, and personal reflection.
Mitt Yelrub
Literary Fiction with Heart and Motion
Mitt Yelrub writes literary fiction that blends location, action, and character‑driven storytelling. His simple first‑person perspective often reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary, inviting readers into worlds that feel familiar yet surprising.
Books
The Boarding House (Page Publishing, 2022), is a collection of short stories centered around a single location and character. The boarding house becomes the thread connecting stories that are variably humorous, reflective, suspenseful, and erotic.
Tugtown Tavern (a completed manuscript of 64,582 words), Yelrub’s debut novel retains a central location and narrator while introducing a more structured plot. The story follows a small Pacific Northwest island community as it confronts a drug and human‑trafficking operation. Excurses throughout the novel deepen character development and explore personal and cultural issues surrounding the main plot.
Writing Technique
Like Burley, Yelrub writes through stream of consciousness, allowing free‑flowing thoughts to develop into sometimes surprising connections. Continuous editing shapes these into cohesive, engaging narratives.
Style Characteristics
Character‑driven — relationships reveal and conceal personality in dynamic ways.
Particular and expansive — grounded in lived experience but reaching toward broader ideas.
Allegorical — objects and experiences carry deeper meaning.
Accessible yet profound — relatable characters facing ordinary situations in extraordinary ways.
In fine, Yelrub’s style is event storytelling that brings readers into authentic encounters with characters navigating life’s complexities.
Two authors, journeying into the heart of human experience where philosophical reflection joins character‑driven storytelling.
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Questions about the books, the writing, or the ideas behind them? Interested in connecting about a literary or publishing opportunity? I welcome the conversation.