{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F0ee968b1-ad06-4aa2-b328-1227e4aa7b40","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"T.M. Doran's Catholic Imagination","description":"(0:01) Tom Doran, known to his fans and readers as mystery novelist T.M. Doran, reads a passage from his most popular fantasy novel, \u201cToward the Gleam.\u201d Doran is a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, and a modern-day J.R.R. Tolkien \u2014 or at least an author in the same mold.\r\n\n\n(2:08) The narrator describes the plot of \u201cToward the Gleam,\u201d a mystery novel that takes place between the two world wars. Professor John Hill discovers an ancient manuscript while taking refuge in a cave during a storm. Hill begins a quest to decipher the manuscript. \r\n\n\n(3:23) Doran describes his passion for writing, as well as his inspiration for \u201cToward the Gleam,\u201d one of a trilogy. Doran talks about authors whom he admires, starting with Tolkien and his \u201cLord of the Rings\u201d masterpiece.\r\n\n\n(5:49) Doran talks about \u201cToward the Gleam,\u201d which he describes as a \u201cmysterious story about truth and beauty and the consequences of rejecting truth and beauty.\u201d He discusses how his novels are a way of revealing something about God.\r\n\n\n(9:08) While his novels are set in far-off lands and his plots carried out by fictional characters, Doran says the lessons contained in his books are relatable to everyone, from moral and ethical dilemmas to the mundane.\r\n\n\n(10:30) Doran reads another passage from \u201cToward the Gleam.\u201d The author discusses his creative process, exploring the story from the vantage point of the main characters.\r\n\n\n(12:49) Doran talks about how his novels are a form of \u201cpre-evangelization.\u201d While his works aren\u2019t overtly religious, they lead readers to discover basic truths about God, humanity and creation. \r\n\n\n(16:02) The narrator discusses other Catholic \u201cpre-evangelist\u201d authors such as Tolkien, Flannery O\u2019Connor, and Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Doran talks about challenge the pervasive ideas of the culture, battling relativism with a focus on the good, the true and the beautiful. \r\n\n\n(19:12) Like \u201cThe Lord of the Rings,\u201d Doran hopes his books can help people see that life presents countless opportunities to choose good and to avoid evil. God is the ultimate author, but he leaves each of us to fashion our own stories, Doran says.\r\n\n\nReporting by Daniel Meloy; script by Casey McCorry; narration and production by Ron Pangborn\r\n\n\nThis episode is sponsored by G.A. Fuchs Company. Church supplies to take you from ashes to Easter, shop G.A. Fuchs Company for everything you need as you journey through Lent to Easter. Visit fuchschurchsupply.com.\r\n\n\nListen to \u2018Detroit Stories\u2019 on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Fireside. Podcasts also will be posted biweekly on DetroitCatholic.com.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/7fd92fe9-ba1d-48ba-bab1-31e76eac1d15/cover.jpg"}