• Wow, what a year of reading! Before this year the most books I had read was 48 back in 2012. (This isn’t that big of a list, though. My wife read over 80.) This is largely thanks to audiobooks, two good series, and a year where fun stories was a lifeline. After years of being a bit lost in fiction, this year’s list is mostly that genre.

    So, without further ado, here at the books I read in 2025.

    1. Artemis, by Andy Weir
    2. Hell Divers VIII: King of the Wastes, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    3. Beyond Betrayal, by Phil Waldrep
    4. Hell Divers IX: Radioactive, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    5. Hell Divers X: Fallout, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    6. Hard Contact, by Karren Travis (print)
    7. The Recession Response, by Mike Michalowicz
    8. The Lord and His Prayer, by N.T. Wright
    9. Planetside, by Michael Mammay (ebook)
    10. Requiem for Medusa, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    11. Galaxy’s Edge: Legionnaire, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    12. Galaxy’s Edge: Outlaws, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    13. Galaxy’s Edge: Kill Team, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    14. Galaxy’s Edge: Attack of Shadows, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    15. Galaxy’s Edge: Imperator, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    16. The Fall Risk, by Abby Jimenez
    17. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling
    18. Your Best Year Ever, by Michael Hyatt
    19. Galaxy’s Edge: Sword of the Legion, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    20. Book Lovers, by Emily Henry
    21. Who Was Jesus? by N.T. Wright
    22. We Are Legion, by Dennis E. Taylor
    23. Galaxy’s Edge: Prisoners of Darkness, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    24. Galaxy’s Edge: Turning Point, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    25. Practice Makes Perfect, by Sarah Adams
    26. Two Can Play, by Ali Hazelwood
    27. Galaxy’s Edge: Message for the Dead, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    28. Not In Love, by Ali Hazelwood
    29. Rhythm of War (ebook, print, audio)
    30. Galaxy’ Edge: Chasing the Dragon, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    31. Galaxy’s Edge: Order of the Centurion, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    32. MCU, by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards
    33. Galaxy’s Edge: Retribution, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    34. Hell Divers XI: Renegades, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    35. Hell Divers XII: Heroes, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    36. Galaxy’s Edge: Madam Guillotine, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    37. Galaxy’s Edge: Mephisto’s Game, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    38. Wild Love, by Elsie Silver
    39. Hell Divers: Into the Storm, by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
    40. Solitude, by Dean M. Cole
    41. Galaxy’s Edge: Uncommon Valor, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    42. Forget Nothing, by Jason Anspatch and Michelle C. Meyers
    43. Forget Nothing II, by Jason Anspatch and Michelle C. Meyers
    44. Galaxy’s Edge: Banshee’s Last Scream, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    45. Starsight, by Brandon Sanderson
    46. The Blighted Stars, by Megan E. O’Keefe
    47. Lost Planet Homicide, by Larry Correia
    48. Ghosts of Zenith, by Larry Correia
    49. The Five Points Ripper, by Larry Correia
    50. Wild Eyes, by Elsie Silver
    51. Spaceside, by Michael Mammay
    52. The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett
    53. Galaxy’s Edge: Savage Wars
    54. The Path To Loving Him, by Meghan Quinn
    55. A World Beneath The Sands, by Toby Wilkinson (ebook, print, audio)
    56. Galaxy’s Edge: Takeover, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    57. After Doubt, by A.J. Swoboda
    58. Galaxy’s Edge: Legacies, by Justin Anspach and Nick Cole
    59. Dead Lions, by Mick Herron

    Favorite Books

    Fiction

    For the first time in years, fiction outnumbers non-fiction in my list!

    I finished the epic Hell Divers series and wow, every book was 5 stars right to the end. Nicholas Sansbury Smith expands the world in each entry. There were multiple points where my jaw dropped as I listened. The final book, Heroes, brings everything home in a great ending for all the characters. Smith is continuing the story in prequels set before the world was destroyed, which I’m excited to read.

    As I was finishing Hell Divers, I stumbled on another incredible series, Galaxy’s Edge. Written by Jason Anspatch and Nick Cole in different seasons, this series has over thirty books and multiple spin-offs. It also has the unique aspect where almost each book in Season 1 has a different style. This keeps the style fresh, but it also meant I had to get acclimated to each book. But the tapestry it weaves over the first 12 books is just incredible. Each spin-off series I’ve read has also been solid. This is more military sci-fi than I’ve read before (Attack of Shadows was a minute-by-minute account of a massive space battle), but the mystery and mix of Star Wars-type magic is fantastic.

    There were a handful of new authors I read in fantasty, sci-fi, and romance. Robert Jackson Bennett’s The Tainted Cup was a fun Sherlock Holmes meets fantasy. Maybe it’s because I’m in my 40s now, but I loved the “tired old guy trying to win the day” in Michael Mammay and Larry Correia’s books. I also read a handful of romance books my wife recommended, which were fun! I’ve always read other-world fiction, so it was cool to see how normal life can still fill a book. Plus romance authors often build series around side characters and have a time jump to an epilogue. I’ll be stealing those ideas for my own books.

    Lastly, I finally, finally finished Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. This book literally took me four years to read in all formats: first in ebook (how I’ve read the others), then print, then audio to bring it home. It was good, but man I’m not sure if I’m meant for thousand-page tomes. I’m reading Wind and Truth in audio, so hopefully I can finish it in 2026.

    Non-Fiction

    Beyond Betrayal by Phil Waldrep was a helpful book while still processing things from a fallen ministry my wife and I were a part of. Waldrep said several things that I still remember to this day, including to go outside and be around people who haven’t experienced betrayal; it will remind that life and joy can still happen.

    MCU by Robinson, Gonzales, and Edwards is wonderfully detailed about the most consequential studio and movie series in the 21st century. If you liked Anything You Can Imagine: Peter Jackson and the Making of Middle-earth by Ian Nathan, or like Marvel movies, this is right up your alley.

    I also loved reading about the history of exploring Egypt in A World Beneath the Sands, by Toby Wilkinson. I wanted to find moments of what it was like to unearth buried civilizations as inspiration for the current book I’m writing, and Wilkinson provided that. It also led me to find the book Mirage, by Nina Burleigh, which is all about Napoleon’s expedition in 1798, which I’m excited to read.

    Reading in 2026

    It always feels a bit funny writing a reading post well into the next year. Half of 2026 is already gone and spoiler, I won’t be reading 50+ books this year. But for goals this year:

    • Read more print books. I have three fantasy books I’d love to read this way.
    • Read more on my Kindle
    • Continue the Galaxy’s Edge series. Let’s go season 2!
    • Read (or start to read) the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurtwitz
    • Read at least a couple Harry Potter books. (I’m making my way through the audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry.)
    • Find books about how to support my girls as they grow up (our oldest is almost 9! She wasn’t even one year old back in 2017.)

    I always love seeing what themes turn up in a year of reading. In 2025 it was finding exciting fiction. Let’s see what it is in 2026.

    Here’s to more reading!

  • Writing Goals for 2025

    It’s a new year, which means fresh goals! I turned 40 in February this year, and I’m hoping to meet some personal and work milestones.

    Of course hope doesn’t get you much, so here are specific goals I have and things I’d like to do to achieve them.

    Professional Goals

    I’ve been working nearly full time (80%) with a director for over two years now. We’ve written two scripts in that time, as well as revised a script we had written before our current arrangement.

    • Revise PONR as needed as it goes into pre-production. This is the previous script we had written. We did a fresh draft the second half of 2024 that deepened the characters a lot. Now it’s with a production company who is seeking funding. This is out of my hands, but I’ll be available for any revisions as it moves downriver.
    • Write DF-Draft 4. I just started this yesterday by rewriting the opening scene/5 pages. We’ve dialed in the protagonist and antagonist more. This is a thriller, so we’ve also worked on milking each scene for as much suspense as we can. The director hopes to shoot DF this fall, so I’ll also be available for rewrites as needed. (That might include a trip for location scouting.) Again, when they shoot is out of my hands, but I can at least focus getting a solid draft quickly so they can start pre-production.
    • Address other script needs as director needs. As a writer-for-hire with this director, I’m available to switch projects or jump on ideas as he has them. He likes ideas, so we’ll see what comes up.

    Personal Goals

    I’m a novelist as well as screenwriter, so I want to kick the can down the road in meaningful ways to build my own writing career outside of my scripts-for-hire. I’m feeling the burn now that I’ve turned 40, so this is the year baby!

    • Query my fantasy novel. Again, I can only control what I create and do. So my big picture goal is to send out query letters for my fantasy novel. This involves two things:
      • Finish Draft 2. I’m nearly halfway through a massive rewrite. I finished the first draft in 2021, and it’s been slow going since then to get the second draft. (This was due to several false starts on a draft 2, as well as adding two kids to our family 😅.) I’m making good progress this spring and am aiming to finish 1-2 chapters per week. I just finished chapter 31 and I’m aiming for 80 chapters, so if I do 2 chapters per week I would finish in September. That’s later than I’d like, so I need to think on how I can speed that up.
      • Draft 3 chapter focus. I’m solidifying the structure in Draft 2, so Draft 3 will take existing chapters and focusing making it stronger. Better dialogue, clearer characters, and engaging descriptions. The good thing here is it’s a simple checklist to get through each chapter.
      • Draft 4 polish. Once I’ve gone through each chapter, I’ll do one final pass for grammar, spelling, and any final tweaks I want to make.
      • Find agents and query! This will be the fun part. I’ve dreamed of publishing books almost my entire life, but I’ve never sent out a full-length book. This will be a huge milestone in my life, and I’m excited to get there.
    • Pitch one screenplay. My scripts-for-hire has been a huge start to my screenwriting career, especially if one of them gets shot this fall. But I know that eventually this work arrangement will change, so I need to have my own scripts to pitch.
      • Write Draft 2 of Runner. I wrote Draft 1 of this contained thriller last year. I’ve been stuck on the rewrite trying to reimagine a character, but I think I have an idea of how to move it forward (thanks to feedback from my writers group). If I can do 1-2 pages a day, I could finish it by roughly June/July.
      • Draft 3 scene focus. I’d like to get feedback on Draft 2, then go scene by scene to strengthen characters, dialogue, and tension.
      • Draft 4 polish. Similar to the novel, this would be grammar, spelling, and final changes.
      • Find managers/producers and pitch it! I’m not as familiar with the process of pitching a script, so I’ll need to research this part. But from my basic knowledge, I can look for managers or producers to send my logline and see if I can get it read. Alternatively, I’m hoping I can get some meetings if one of my scripts-for-hire gets produced. While I want to be ready for that, I also can’t bank on it. Make your own luck, as they say.
    • Continue querying Mr. Moose & Mr. Bear picture book. I’ve had several of these children’s stories in a folder for years. I’ve queried this story a half dozen times, and I’d like to keep sending it out.
    • Continue querying The Scientist & The Monster. I’ve sent this middle-grade chapter book out in previous years, and it’s another project I can easily send a few emails for.

    It’s an ambitious year

    Finishing both a novel and a script in the same year feels ambitious. Not to mention my day job projects, both screenwriting and as a documentary editor (what I do with the other 20% or so of my time.) Add in 4 kids and, you know, life, and I’m not sure if I can do all of this.

    But I have a quote on my desk that I’m trying to make my mission statement this year:

    The ones who succeed are the ones who don’t quit.

    I want to be one who doesn’t quit.

    So here’s to 2025! Exciting opportunities, and we’ll see how it goes.

  • Movies & Shows I watched in 2024

    For a long time I’ve tracked my reading, but one thing I’ve never consistently tracked are the movies and shows I watched.

    I started to take a crack at that in 2024, thanks for a fun iPhone app called Sofa. There are other apps like Letterboxd, or just a plain old list, but Sofa is the first one I’ve regularly used.

    I started halfway through the year, so this list isn’t complete. But I thought it’d be fun to take a look anyway.

    So without further ado, here is what I (and my wife!) watched in 2024:

    Dune: Part TwoMovie3/11/24
    Furiosa: A Mad Max SagaMovie6/8/24
    BridgertonTV Show6/10/24
    Dark MatterTV Show6/10/24
    The AcolyteTV Show6/10/24
    FalloutTV Show6/10/24
    BridgertonTV Show6/13/24
    WishMovie6/14/24
    Sixty MinutesMovie6/15/24
    Inside Out 2Movie6/15/24
    Star Wars: The Force AwakensMovie6/17/24
    One More ShotMovie6/19/24
    Star Wars: The Last JediMovie6/20/24
    Trigger WarningMovie6/23/24
    Dark MatterTV Show6/25/24
    American FictionMovie6/26/24
    The Fall GuyMovie7/5/24
    LeoMovie7/6/24
    Yes DayMovie7/7/24
    The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & SnakesMovie7/9/24
    TwisterMovie7/12/24
    Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom MenaceMovie7/14/24
    Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the ClonesMovie7/16/24
    Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the SithMovie7/17/24
    Road HouseMovie7/21/24
    Deadpool & WolverineMovie7/25/24
    ZodiacMovie7/30/24
    ZootopiaMovie8/2/24
    LokiTV Show8/3/24
    Kingdom of the Planet of the ApesMovie8/5/24
    The Fall GuyMovie8/8/24
    The InstigatorsMovie8/10/24
    Despicable Me 4Movie8/17/24
    The UnionMovie8/19/24
    A Discovery of WitchesTV Show9/4/24
    TwilightMovie9/7/24
    The Twilight Saga: New MoonMovie9/8/24
    Trolls Band TogetherMovie9/13/24
    The Twilight Saga: EclipseMovie9/13/24
    The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1Movie9/14/24
    The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2Movie9/15/24
    Emily in ParisTV Show9/19/24
    The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerTV Show10/7/24
    Slow HorsesTV Show10/9/24
    Bad MonkeyTV Show10/9/24
    WolfsMovie10/10/24
    TwistersMovie10/12/24
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneMovie10/15/24
    Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsMovie10/18/24
    The Wild RobotMovie10/18/24
    Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanMovie10/20/24
    Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireMovie10/22/24
    Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixMovie10/24/24
    The Croods: A New AgeMovie10/25/24
    Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceMovie10/26/24
    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1Movie10/28/24
    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2Movie10/30/24
    Agatha All AlongTV Show11/1/24
    Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the EndMovie11/7/24
    Jackpot!Movie11/8/24
    Molli and Max in the FutureMovie11/18/24
    Home AloneMovie11/27/24
    Gladiator IIMovie12/3/24
    Moana 2Movie12/7/24
    Carry-OnMovie12/22/24
    Home Sweet Home AloneMovie12/26/24
    The Lord of the Rings: The War of the RohirrimMovie12/29/24
    The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingMovie12/30/24

    Favorite Movies

    2024 was a mix of new movies and old. There are a few series my wife and I watch every year, the biggest ones being Harry Potter (starting in October) and Lord of the Rings. We moved in December this year, so that threw off our LOTR watch a bit, but it’s like seeing old friends when we watch those.

    There were a few stand-out movies for me this year:

    • Dune: Part Two
    • Inside Out 2
    • The Fall Guy
    • The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim

    Dune: Part Two was incredible to see in theaters. It was easily the best sci-fi movie I’ve seen since Interstellar. Epic on every scale, incredible music, and the moves and countermoves throughout the story was handled so perfectly. I’m still in awe of it.

    I didn’t think anyone could top Inside Out, but Pixar somehow managed to do it and go even deeper. My wife and I were both tearing up at the end of Inside Out 2, and I could relate to a lot of the film. It’s a mini emotional intelligence course, and kids and adults alike need to see it.

    It’s hard not to like a fun action comedy, and The Fall Guy hit that mark the best since Knight & Day came out. If you missed it in theaters, definitely give it a watch.

    There hasn’t been a Lord of the Rings movie in theaters since 2003 (not counting the replays of the extended editions, so I did see Fellowship of the Ring a couple years ago), and so The War of the Rohirrim felt like a must-watch. There were mixed reviews, but we saw it with my mom over Christmas and it was fantastic. Great action and a fun look at who Helm Hammerhand was, and why he was worth naming a horn after.

    Favorite TV Shows

    Apple TV+ continues to make incredible shows, and perhaps my absolute favorite is Slow Horses. Based on the books by Mick Herron, this show has been a yearly treat. (I listened to Book 1 last year as well and the show follows it very closely.) It scratches the spy/espionage itch, and Gary Oldman just eats up the screen.

    Another good show from Apple was Dark Matter (also based on a book by Blake Crouch). It started out kind of slow for me, but then it really picked up and there were moments where my jaw literally dropped. It took the story in new directions multiple times and my wife and I still talk about the ending.

    A few other noteworthy mentions:

    • While not a favorite, season of Amazon’s Rings of Power show was pretty good. It held my attention more than I expected. With both seasons I think I’ve hoped for a deeper, meaningful, moving story like the original films (or of course the books) and while they try, the show just never gets to that level. But it’s still a pretty great fantasy show, which is hard to come by.
    • Emily in Paris on Netflix has some content we’re not a fan of, but it’s a fun half-hour comedy that makes me speak in a French accent, so it’s fun when it comes out.
    • We also rewatched Loki (season 2, I think?) and it’s just a fantastic show. Probably the best Marvel show. It does Loki’s character justice and has some of the best world design and vibe ever.

    Movies and Shows in 2025

    2025 is shaping up to be a great year of movies:

    • Captain America: Brave New World (going to that in 4 days!!)
    • Thunderbolts
    • The Fantastic Four
    • Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning
    • Superman (big hopes for this one!)
    • Jurassic World: Rebirth
    • The Gorge
    • Wicked: For Good
    • Avatar: Fire and Ash (surprisingly I’m looking forward to this one)
    • Predator: Badlands (a follow-up by the director of Prey, which was a fantastic film on Hulu)
    • How to Train Your Dragon (live-action)

    On the shows front, I know of:

    • Slow Horses, season 6
    • Daredevil: Born Again
    • Ironheart
    • Wonder Man
    • Stranger Things, season 5

    And there are always things that pop up that I didn’t expect. Very much looking forward to more Marvel and Apple shows (and Star Wars maybe, if Disney can get their act together??).

    Alright, that’s enough talk. Let’s go watch!

  • Books I Read in 2024

    Another year, another list of books! I can’t believe it, but this is the 15th year I have tracked my reading. That seems fitting as I turn 40 in a couple weeks.

    As always, my reading list shows where my mind and thoughts were at in that season, and 2024 was no exception. In late 2023 it was discovered that the leader of a ministry my wife and I had been a part of for a decade had multiple serious abuse allegations.

    This lead me into an examination of current American church culture, and a broader look at how the American church got here. It was a hard year, but enlightening as well.

    But the good news is I also found some great fiction books, which has been hard for me in the past few years.

    So without further ado, here are the books I read in 2024.

    5 Ways to Strengthen Your MarriageGary ChapmanAudio
    SkywardBrandon SandersonAudio
    The Justice of KingsRichard SwaneBook
    The Gray ManMark GreaneyAudio
    Get Clients Now!C.J. HaydeneBook
    Hell DiversNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    The Bible Jesus ReadPhilip YanceyAudio
    Jesus & John WayneKristin Kobes du MezAudio
    Bad FaithRandall BalmereBook
    Hell Divers II: GhostsNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    Hell Divers III: DeliveranceNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    A New Apostolic Reformation?Geivett and PiveceBook
    Broken TrustF. Remy DiedericheBook
    Hell Divers IV: WolvesNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    Slow HorsesMick HerronAudio
    Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s StoneJK RowlingAudio
    Man EnoughNate PyleAudio
    We should all be millionairesRachel RodgerseBook
    Six-Figure Side HustleRachel RodgersAudio
    Don’t start a side hustleBrian PageAudio
    Hell Divers V: CaptivesNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    Overcoming Limiting BeliefsMatt BodnarAudio
    Find Your CashBrad FlynnAudio
    The Thriving MindsetChelsea BrennanAudio
    OversubscribedDaniel PriestleyAudio
    Hell Divers VI: AllegianceNicholas Sansbury SmithAudio
    ArtemisAndy WeirAudio

    Favorite Books

    Faith

    My look into the American church started with Jesus & John Wayne. I’ve never read a book that explained my childhood so fully. Kobes du Mez looked back over 100 years at the evolution of evangelical culture and masculinity’s role in that, and right from page 1 it was blowing my mind. If you’ve ever wondered how the American church got to where it is today, this is the book for you.

    I’ve always loved Philip Yancey’s books, and The Bible Jesus Read was a refreshing look at Jesus’ times. After processing my 20s and faith journey, getting back to the basics of the Bible has been helpful.

    Fiction

    I’ve been on a mission to find gripping fiction after a long dry spell, and by golly I found it. Smith’s 12-book series Hell Divers was exactly what I was looking for. Tightly written, tense sci-fi action, a story that keeps evolving, and most importantly for me a 9-12-hour runtime.

    There is swearing and violence, but man it really hit the spot for me. I listened to six books (50 hours!) in 2024 and plan to finish the series this year.

    I also tried some spy fiction with The Gray Man and Slow Horses. Both scratched that itch of stories that move well and have good action. I’m hoping to read more from both authors.

    Business

    I’ve been praying and trying for years to change my money mindset from scarcity to abundance, and by golly, it finally happened! Rodgers’ book, We Should All Be Millionaires, lays out the best paradigm for how wealth blesses everyone it touches.

    If that sentence brings multiple arguments to your mind, I highly recommend reading the book. Yes, the love of money or making your life all about money can cause problems, and greed always stands at the door and knocks. But money can also bless your family, your community, and people around the world. I want to learn how to navigate money well instead of shutting it out altogether, and turning my lack into a virtue.

    Reading in 2025

    I was surprised at how many audiobooks I listened to! 22 out of 26 books were audio. It makes sense, since I rarely have time to sit down and only read. So a lot of my reading is done while doing other things. I can also speed up the book, which helps me actually finish books. (I’m looking at you, Rhythm of War 👀. I’ve been trying to read the Kindle version for 2 years and I’m still only at 46%.)

    I would love to take more time, though, to sit down and read. The focus and quiet of a book in your hands is a moment of stillness that is rare as a parent, and feels so refreshing every time I do it.

    After having an older Kindle for 7 years, I finally got a new one for Christmas. (Yay for night mode!) I’m looking forward to reading more with it, starting with Hard Contact: Republic Commando (a fantastic Star Wars book) and then Gears of War: Aspho Fields.

    I also want to refresh my parenting with a couple books, and of course a mix of business and maybe some history.

    And so another year of reading is in the books! I’m excited to see what books end up on the 16th edition of this list.

I’m Jesse

Reading, writing, fantasy, adventure, movies—it’s all been my favorite since I was 8 years old. If you enjoy reading fantasy, adventure fiction, and screenwriting, then you’re in the right place!

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