Travis
Thrasher '93 Moving in the Write Direction
Travis
Thrasher '93 needs only to look at the ring on his left hand to be reminded
of the turning point in his life.
His wife, Sharon (Noorlag
'93), was the catalyst whom the Lord used to help Thrasher refocus his
life's direction and reset his priorities. Their wedding in 1995 may have
been the milestone of his transformation.
"Sharon is my living example
of God's grace to me," he says. "I knew 10 years ago that I wanted her
to be my wife. I didn't deserve to marry her, but she stayed by my side
when the party was over and all my college friends were gone. She helped
me get serious about my life."
By Thrasher's own admission,
his Trinity years were far from glorious. He described himself as an immature
young man who wanted to have a lot of fun, rather than spending his time
and energy on studying.
"After I graduated, I realized
how much time I had wasted," he says. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying
yourself at college, but there should be some limits. Now I'm more appreciative
of the opportunities that I have. My relationship with Christ and understanding
what it means to be a Christian has become very important to me."
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee,
Thrasher graduated with a communication arts degree. In April 1994, he
started working at Tyndale House Publishers, where he is author relations
manager.
He is also a published author,
a dream he has cherished since childhood. He wrote eight full-length novels
before Tyndale House printed his first book, The Promise Remains, in 2000.
He followed that with The Watermark in 2001 and The Second Thief in January
of this year. His latest piece, Three Roads Home, has a May release date.
"I write about things that
are close to my heart," he says. "My books allow me to share my testimony
and illustrate how to find forgiveness from the past and hope for the future.
I have received some e-mails and letters that said it uplifted readers
who could relate with the characters, and that type of connection encourages
me."
He also gets encouragement
from some of the authors with whom he interacts. As much as he profits
from their business advice, Thrasher finds the insight into their personal
lives just as beneficial.
"One day I asked Jerry Jenkins
(author of the Left Behind series) if he needed help with anything. He
said he needed help moving. I spent hours in his car helping his family
move to Colorado. He's been very instrumental to my learning how to be
a novelist. He's well-respected in the industry, and for him to pass on
his expertise to me is amazing.
"Francine Rivers (author
of the Lineage of Grace series) is another person who is a terrific role
model. She is one of the most godly people I ever met. She demonstrates
what it means to write for the glory of God, and she sets a standard for
me to compare my writing."
Thrasher has lofty aspirations
for his career, and the expectations he holds for himself personally may
be even higher. He recognizes that he has undergone a turnaround in the
last 10 years, and it spurs him toward greater success.
"As I look back to that time,
I wouldn't change what I went through because it helped shape who I am
today. Sharon helped give clarity to my thoughts and plans about what I
wanted to do, and God has shown me how pleasant and fulfilling life can
be with Him. I'm grateful for my journey, and I'm looking forward to what
lies ahead."
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