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Up on the Housetop: A Christmas Story

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Bradley McBride

December 11, 2021 By Spencer Skeen Leave a Comment

Bradley McBride currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

  • “Up on the Housetop: A Christmas Story,” released November 23, 2021. It’s my first foray into fiction.
  • I have been blogging for eleven years, first as Middle-aged Mormon Man, now, as ThusWeSee.com (since President Nelson threw down the gauntlet).
  • One blog collection book: “There’s a Message in There Somewhere.”
  • One collection of new material: “There’s a Message OUT There Somewhere.”

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I’ve always enjoyed writing. After being released as a bishop, I found I had a lot of time on my hands yet still much to share, so I started a blog. Eleven years and 1500 posts later, I’m still at it. I like sharing my thoughts about gospel topics and my testimony to anyone and everyone.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Getting a shout-out from an Apostle at Women’s Conference was great, but the highlight is the steady stream of notes and comments I get from readers who connect with what I am writing. It is a great joy to be able to help people in their struggles, amplify their faith, and share what is most important to me.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

I was told to “be myself” (by the Spirit). My interpretation of that was not to write to chase readership but to write what I feel and what is in my mind and heart. It has made the journey a great personal growth experience for me.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

You be you. Write what is important to you. Don’t chase trends. Always stand strong in your support of the Gospel and the Church and its leaders. Do not compromise orthodoxy to stir up controversy, and/or contention.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The ever-evolving nature of life in the Gospel. Challenges change. Faith ebbs and flows. There are always new things to talk about, to study, and to discuss.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I didn’t start writing for public consumption until I was almost fifty, and I didn’t create any fiction until recently at sixty. However, I believe that a life lived gives me much more fodder for creating, and my life’s experience in the Church gives me perspectives that might be unique.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I feel that I have a gift for taking complex Gospel subjects and doctrines and finding ways to teach and discuss them that make them more understandable. I also enjoy walking the tightrope between spirituality and humor, all the while standing as a witness of Christ, His servants , and His Church.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.ThusWeSee.com

Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, blog, blogger, Bradley McBride, humor, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Middle-aged Mormon Man, novella, There's a Message in There Somewhere, Thus We See, ThusWeSee.com, Up on the Housetop: A Christmas Story

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