221. How Did The Left Behind Series Enrapture Millions of Fans? | with Jerry Jenkins
Twenty years ago, two authors, one publisher, twelve action thriller novels, and forty teen spinoff books came to a grand finale with the fictionalized return of Jesus Christ to Earth. One of those top authors, marriage and prophecy teacher Tim LaHaye, has since passed to his eternal rest. The other author who’s written hundreds of novels, Jerry Jenkins, is still working! And today, Jenkins joins our studio to explore the Left Behind legacy.
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Introducing guest Jerry Jenkins
Jerry Jenkins has authored more than 195 books with sales of over 70 million copies, including the best-selling Left Behind series. He is also former vice president for publishing and former chairman of the board of trustees for the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
Jerry’s writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Parade, Guideposts, and dozens of Christian periodicals. Twenty-one of his books have reached The New York Times best-seller list (seven debuting number one).
1. Pre-LB: from sports stars to an end-times thriller
- Young Jerry started wanting to play baseball and covering sports events.
- He eventually moved to specific ministry writing and editorial work.
- He went big writing books with of athletes and famous Christians.
- For decades he was plugging away before the Left Behind series pitch.
- He wrote in many genres: fiction, nonfiction, biography, “journeyman.”
- In fact, Left Behind was the 125th book Jenkins ever wrote.
- Jenkins shares more about the origin in his book Writing For The Soul.
- Stephen has read it and recommends it, and not just for writers.
2. Mid-LB: from end-time thrillers to rapturous sales
- The Left Be
