What is this?
Further Up & Further In is an intersection of faith and art while meditating on the wonders of life. Or, more accurately, a collection of musings (or, more accurately, ramblings) by Michael John Petty about anything that comes to mind—with hopes to weave Christian religion, a love of stories and storytelling, and other passions together into a single endeavor. This is meant to be a celebration of all the beautiful (and often hard) things in life.
The title, Further Up & Further In, comes from C.S. Lewis’s final installment of The Chronicles of Narnia, a personal favorite. In The Last Battle, after the world of Narnia is destroyed and a new and better one takes its place, these words are uttered, penned by Lewis prophetically as a glimpse into eternity…
“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now... Come further up, come further in!”
Here, as we yearn for that greater country, I hope to take you on an adventure as we look at our world in a new light and cling to what is good and true, even in the most mundane things.
Why subscribe?
No reason other than you enjoy what I have to say. If not, that’s all good too! I promise not to be offended. If you do subscribe, be sure that you’ll never miss an update!
What is Bright Morning Star Press?
This publication doubles as a professional newsletter for my fiction work. If you’re looking for writing updates, exclusive offers, exciting Substack-only stories, and updates on the ever-growing The Bear-tooth Mountain Archive series, you’ve come to the right place.
The title Bright Morning Star comes from the final chapter of the Book of Revelation (Rev. 22:16), where Jesus Christ declares Himself the “Bright Morning Star.” As one of the final names given for Christ in scripture, it bears heavy significance and tidings of hope and peace for a new world.
Additionally, it has a personal meaning to me as well. The first screenplay I ever completed was a story titled Bright Morning Star. It was a neo-Western drama based on the Parable of the Tenants from the biblical Gospels. It’s still my favorite thing I’ve ever written, and I hope to see it made one day—even if that’s far from now.
To keep it at the forefront of my mind, I’ve named my professional imprint Bright Morning Star, both to honor my Savior and to remind me that storytelling is my God-given medium for sharing faith, hope, and love with the world.
Interested in hiring me?
Just reach out! If you’re interested in hiring me for any professional writing, screenwriting, or editing gigs, feel free to send me a message. As an award-winning filmmaker with a B.A. in Film & Photography from Montana State University, I have been classically trained in screenwriting (my first literary love). I also have copywriting and editing experience.
My first book, The Beast of Bear-tooth Mountain was self-published in 2023 and has launched me on a trajectory towards professional publication. The novella kickstarted The Bear-tooth Mountain Archive, a collection of supernatural thrillers (short stories & novellas) with a distinct spiritual bend.
Aside from my personal and script work, I have written news copy, film and television reviews, retrospectives, editorials, resources, timelines, and plenty of other features for publications such as Collider, Looper, Next Luxury, and Superman Homepage, among other outlets. My full online portfolio can be found on Authority, dating back to 2010 (though, be warned, much of my early material is a bit rough).
Along with writing, I also have 10+ years of podcast experience. Having worked for Across the Airwaves Productions from 2010 to 2017, have hosted several shows ranging on topics from entertainment and film franchises to faith and spiritual warfare. I’ve been a recurring guest on The X-Cast (an X-Files podcast) as well as The Time Is Now: A Millennium Podcast. Currently, I host No Fate: A Terminator Podcast, which is about exactly what it sounds.
Stay up-to-date
As I said before, if you’ve already subscribed, don’t worry! You shouldn’t miss anything. Each new edition of Further Up & Further In should go directly to your email inbox. If not, you can always find new editions here.
If you’re uninterested in the Bright Morning Star Press portion of this newsletter, you can unsubscribe to that specifically while still getting installments of Further Up & Further In directly to your inbox.
Hoping to follow me elsewhere? Visit my Bio Site! There, you will find up-to-date links to all my other work and projects. You can find my podcast, filmography, resume, and public social media pages. Also, check out my Amazon page if you’re interested in purchasing any of my work.
