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Jack
Weyland of Rexburg is not only a successful
physics teacher at Brigham Young University-Idaho, but this week he was
presented an award for the best fictional title of the year by the Independent
LDS Booksellers Association.
His
latest novel entitled “Adam’s Story” was released in
February and has already sold about 15,000 copies. The book, which is
published by Deseret Book and been No. 1 or 2 on
the LDS Bestseller List for several months, tells the story of Adam, who is
the son of Charley and Sam, who also have their own books written about
them.
Weyland does his writing early in the morning when
generally only custodians are in the Romney
Science Building
at BYU-Idaho.
“I
write when I get here till 8 in the morning,” he says. “I
don’t get that much done during a morning, but if you string enough
mornings together, you start getting a few pages.” He also writes on
Saturdays or holidays.
In
his windowless office surrounded by science books, he cranks out chapter
after chapter of fictional novels mainly aimed at the Latter-day Saint
audience. Over his writing career he has published about 30 books and
numerous short stories.
While
Weyland doesn’t teach writing classes, he
believes his own writing has helped him be a more effective science
teacher.
In two of his physics courses, he has
written lyrics to popular songs that go with each chapter.
He
also received a grant from the Thomas E. Ricks Endowment a few years ago to
develop a series of three-minute original movies that are used in the
classroom. He received an Innovation in Teaching Faculty Award for this
work during the 2000-2001 school year.
“I
don’t think I could do those things without writing
experience,” he says.
Weyland has also written two online courses in physics
that are offered both by BYU in Provo
and at BYU-Idaho.
“My
ability to write fast in a conversational manner is helpful,” he
says. “I think I’m able to explain things in a manner that is
easy to understand.”
He is currently working on a new novel about an LDS man who is a
deputy sheriff for Los Angeles County.
He hopes to have it published early next year.
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