The Face of Faith: A Seat with Thomas Tilson

What does it mean to "face yourself" when you were born with one of the most severe facial deformities in history? This week on In The Writer's Chair, host Lana McAra pulls up a chair with Thomas Tilson, a man whose life began with a medical death sentence and evolved into a 74-year testament to resilience, music, and divine intervention.

Thomas discusses his memoir, Facing Myself: A Life’s Journey from Tragedy to Finding God’s Love, detailing a path that includes 65 reconstructive surgeries, a miraculous voice in a dark car, and the strength it takes to move from being a medical "guinea pig" to a beloved father and grandfather.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• Groundbreaking Beginnings: How Thomas became a subject for the nation’s foremost reconstructive surgeon at Northwestern, undergoing pioneering procedures that helped shape modern plastic surgery.
• The Snickering Classroom: A candid look at the challenges of growing up in the 1950s, dealing with speech therapy, and the childhood rebellion that led to homelessness at age 16.
• The Eisenhower Expressway Miracle: Thomas shares the "darkest moment" of his life—a planned suicide attempt at age 22—and the mysterious voice that stopped him in his tracks.
• Pro-Bowling & Proposals: The heartwarming (and persistent!) story of how he met his wife of 51 years and the 10% risk they took to start a family.
• Garage Rock & Christian Chords: How music became a form of therapy and expression, leading from a top-rated 1960s garage band to his current work in contemporary Christian music.
• Writing for the Next Generation: Why Thomas turned his private journal into a memoir to ensure his children and grandchildren understood the depth of his journey.

Instructive Insight: The Impact of Groundbreaking Surgery

Thomas was born in 1951, a time when many of the procedures we take for granted today were experimental. His surgeon offered his services for free in exchange for the right to document Thomas’s progress in medical journals.

• Reconstruction: Thomas was born without a nose, lips, or a jawbone.
• The Speech Challenge: He underwent decades of therapy to learn to speak without the standard physical structures of the mouth.
• The Legacy: Today, Thomas’s case serves as a historical benchmark for surgical success, proving that complex craniofacial deformities do not limit a person’s ability to lead a full, expressive life.

About Thomas Tilson

Thomas Tilson is an author, musician, and retired computer programmer. Born in Chicago, he has spent his life defying the odds. His memoir, Facing Myself, was written to encourage others facing impossible difficulties to listen for the guidance that can direct their path. He is a member of the Royal Palm Literary Award community and continues to write and record music for his YouTube channel.

Connect with Thomas:

• Book: Find Facing Myself: A Life’s Journey from Tragedy to Finding God’s Love on Amazon.
• Music: Search for Thomas Tilson on YouTube to hear his contemporary Christian songs and his comedic country hit, "On a Beach."
• Direct Contact: Reach out to Thomas via email at ttilson38@gmail.com.

Connect with Lana McAra:

• Podcast: In The Writer's Chair
• Publisher: Vendela Publishing

Feeling like God isn’t listening? Subscribe to hear more stories from authors who found hope in their darkest hours and turned their trials into "unputdownable" memoirs!

From Hook to Hallmark: Networking Your Way to Hollywood with Jaimie Engle

Ever wonder how a novelist breaks into the world of DreamWorks or Hallmark? According to award-winning author and screenwriter Jaimie Engle, the secret isn't a secret at all—it’s LinkedIn. This week on In The Writer's Chair, host Lana McAra pulls back the curtain on the "business" side of show business with a guest who successfully pivoted from magical realism books to writing for some of the biggest names in entertainment.

Jaimie shares the specific LinkedIn strategies that landed her a manager and multiple movie deals, why "attraction" beats "self-selling" every time, and how authors can bridge the gap between their published books and the silver screen.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• The LinkedIn Revelation: Why high-level producers and Hallmark executives consider LinkedIn—not X or Instagram—the premier networking hub for writers.
• The "Hook" Bio: How to treat your LinkedIn profile like a landing page, featuring your CTA (Call to Action) and publications as your "calling card."
• Relationship vs. Sales: The "Thank You" DM strategy and why sending a 17-page bio to a producer is the quickest way to get blocked.
• Leveraging the "Gaps": How Jaimie used the industry strikes as a quiet time to build meaningful relationships with Warner Brothers animation executives.
• Professional Coverage: Why spending $300-$500 on a mentor or professional script reader is a non-negotiable investment before pitching a million-dollar project.
• Chapter Drops & Pitching: A look at Jaimie’s latest venture, helping novelists adapt their intellectual property for film and TV.

Instructive Insight: The "Six Steps to Kevin Bacon" Networking Strategy

Jaimie credits her network growth to a specific "engagement loop" on LinkedIn that leverages mutual connections to build authority.

• Follow the Leaders: Don't just connect with producers; follow them and observe their activity.
• The Comment Strategy: Engage with the people commenting on high-level posts. These are often the gatekeepers or peers within the same circles.
• Social Proof: When you eventually reach out to a new contact, LinkedIn highlights your mutual friends. In Hollywood, being "vetted" by association is often the only way through the door.

About Jaimie Engle

Jaimie Engle is a versatile storyteller across books, film, and TV. In 2023, she wrote and sold the film Just Jake and has developed stories with DreamWorks Animation. With over 25 books to her name, she is a winner of the Kirkus Choice Book of the Year and the Writers of the Future Award. She is the founder of Chapter Drops, a service dedicated to helping authors connect with producers.

Connect with Jaimie:

• Website: jaimieengle.com (Check out her "Pitch Drop" services!)
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaimieengle (Follow her for tips on attracting producers!)
• Social Media: Find her on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @jaimieengle.

Connect with Lana McAra:

• Podcast: In The Writer's Chair
• Publisher: Vendela Publishing

Ready to see your name in the credits? Subscribe for more insights on how to turn your "unputdownable" fiction into a Hollywood reality!