About Me

Who I Am & What I Offer

John Halbig is an Orthodox Christian man, son, brother, friend, writer, musician and at times… silly person. He was born and raised in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area and despite his Norwegian-Irish complexion, has managed to survive the intense summers with their oven-baked car rides home and barefooted, lava skipping, pool concrete stepping strides toward the water. If I may quote a post-apocalyptic character…
 It is this inner fire, a burning passion, that has taught me all I know of the everlasting promise of love, the strength of ambition, the wisdom of truth, and the call for obedience.
Ever since I was a child, I have been in love with telling stories. In my most mischievous days, these stories were improvisational when my inner fire burned too hot and I got myself into trouble, weaving tales to talk my way out of a more fitting punishment. As I have matured and come to love the truth, my stories have followed suit. That inner flame only dies when we no longer feed it, but it is what feeds it that determines its strength. Fire burns when we are too close, but at too great a distance, we no longer feel its warmth. My stories are always a moving in and skirting back, trying to find that sweet spot, where we can all gather by the hearth and warm each other not just with the burning flames on wood, but with the truth that lasts in our words.
I suspect you are in search of discovering what kind of stories these are. They take the shape they need to, in order to fill the glass of the reader. After all, what better cools the palette than a refreshing beverage as one sits by the fire? The stories I write seek to draw you closer to the truth, and add a refreshing twist that makes you view it from a new angle. If this calls for a Fantastical Land where dragons and goblins roam free, then so be it. If it takes place in the corner of a cubicle, those dreaded prisons we willingly chain ourselves to, then so be it. The only thing I can promise is that I will not leave out that charming spark of magic, perhaps even a touch of madness, that keeps the spirit of the story alive.

Check out any of my books or coaching services and see what interests you the most! If you have ANY questions whatsoever, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you and learning about the story, that beautiful inner fire, that is begging to be shared with the world.

Through my years of studying Psychology, Philosophy and Religion in University (and afterwards) I have gained an immense love for the complexity of the human mind, and it is this love that drives me to write characters that explore the depth we are all capable of. No matter what time period, genre or universe my stories take place, the one constancy will always be a prime focus on the character’s journey through challenging times. I believe that all of us have a wish to help those who are in the darkness find their way back to the light, even if sometimes that is helping ourselves. Wherever you may be in life, if I can be of service, or humble myself to receive help from you in return, then I will reach out my hand either way.
Along with writing fiction, I also offer Narrative Coaching, which comes in two forms: Design and Refine. The Design portion of my narrative coaching is for the person who has a calling to write a story, but doesn’t know where to begin. Perhaps they already have an idea, but don’t know how to build a world out of it. Others may have a certain level of skill in writing, but when considering the multitude of story ideas to try out, become overwhelmed with where to start. Now, let me be clear, the Design aspect of my coaching still relies heavily on refining, but the design is the core feature. The Refine portion of my coaching is for the person who feels lost in life. You may be successful, healthy, and have everything you thought you ever wanted… but still feel lost. Something doesn’t quite add up. In the 21st century, it may be the most confusing time in human history to make sense of the narrative of our lives. We have access to more information by an exponential amount, but are more isolated than ever. It is easy to become confused and believe that the decisions we make are all logical and quite in line with everyone else. Our brains don’t work like machines though. Our lives were never meant to be standardized. We are each unique and meant to be in communion with one another. The Refine aspect of my narrative coaching is similar to what you might consider therapy, but the refinement comes from focusing on the path ahead, rather than all the trees (troubling thoughts/behaviors) that obscure the path. I will work with you to help determine the story of your life that helps you to move forward so that you aren’t breaking the flow of your life by dodging trees, you are so focused on the story and path ahead that you flow with ease.