About
Who is Samuel H Grant?
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I write under a pen name. As I have an affinity with history, I chose my pseudonym with two historical figures in mind:
Ulysses S Grant, Commander of the Union Armies and our 18th President, and the biblical prophet, Samuel, of which two Old Testament books bear his name.
Primarily, I choose to use a pseudonym in the hope when reading my published works, the reader can leave the author behind. What do I mean by that? When we read a story, we bring with us our preconceptions. “Where is the author coming from?” is a valid reader concern. I hope to decrease preconceptions based on my superficial attributes. Because of the nature of my writing, I want to remain largely anonymous.
There are things I want you to know about me as I do not claim to be without prejudices or opinions, however I want the reader to be free to explore the story, as much as possible, unshackled by the author (me) and my background. In essence, I want the author to decrease: to become invisible as the reader explores the story. With the author anonymous, the reader is left to their views of the story, carrying their own history, beliefs and biases.
While I hope, as the author, to disappear and become irrelevant to the reader and the story, here are my background and point of view I think is important for you readers to know.
Here are what I believe to be my most essential qualities and directly impacting my writing:
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I am a Christian. This is my most important foundation trait. Since that term means different things to different people, I will be more definitive on what I believe: I recognized my sin against God placed me in enmity with the creator and I was bound for just damnation. Repenting, I accepted Christ, placing my faith in Him as my savior. I am redeemed by his perfect life, sacrificial death on the cross in my place, and resurrection in triumph over death. I am redeemed (Justification) by his sacrifice—One time for all time. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, continues to complete the good work (Sanctification) for the rest of my life on earth that He started in me when he gave me new life on the day of my salvation. I am not perfect, but I am forgiven, and Christ leads me each day, as I choose to follow Him until He takes me home. All Christians fail at times, but Christ chastens them during sanctification, until He completes the good work when we go home to meet him. In short, Christianity is not a philosophy that challenges me but a person (Jesus Christ), who gives me new life and changes me.
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I am a U.S. combat veteran with multiple deployments to fight in defense of our country and freedoms.
3. I am a husband of over 25 years and father of four. Though we have lived around the world in my travels with the U.S. military, my family and I returned to Western Pennsylvania, near where I grew up. “A Ballplayer” reflects my status as a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan.
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My first novel, in its purest sense, is a reflection: a reflection of the world of the early twenty-first century “western culture.” More specifically, “A Ballplayer” represents America circa 2020. I took the characters from historic figures thrust into a modern Major League Baseball setting. Much of their character and qualities come from their historical namesakes.
In reading this story, the reader sees the main character largely through the eyes of the surrounding characters. Though the main character’s clearly expresses his reasons for what he does, his motivations are often interpreted differently by the “witnesses.” As the reader travels through the story, seeing through many characters’ different perspectives of the main character and, indeed, the world, I offer the reader a chance to see our world through fresh eyes and different perspectives. In so doing, I pray each reader reflects on their personal journey and how and why they see the world. As the reflection of our world through each character’s eyes varies, we begin to see our own personal beliefs and attitudes toward each other, can change, distort and even deceive us and how we see the problems our world faces. I pray the story empowers the reader to reflect and see our world anew, and perhaps see themselves, as they see the characters, delving deep into their motivations and responses to identify our real problems, and seek true solutions through the only One who justly claims to be the Way, the Truth and the Life.
As a wrap up, I hope this background provides you with the context as you delve into my writings. As a reader, I invite you to come as you are. When you read “A Ballplayer” please know I meant it for everyone, theist, agnostic, sports fan or not. I hope you enjoy the story. I understand, the view of our world will be controversial. The views of Christ always are. I set this story in our real world, full of all its problems and opportunities. The fictional characters reflect us, our dreams and failures, our motivations and history and our freely chosen future. I pray, you can see our world in new light, and reflect upon Christ’s claims and the choice all humans must make.
Blessings upon you,
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Samuel H. Grant
June 6, 2023