Father Briggs, the priest in Hope in a Time of Dying, draws inspiration from the life and ministry of the Rev. Carroll Barbour, longtime rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Hollywood.

In the 1980s and 1990s, when fear and stigma around HIV and AIDS ran high, Father Barbour opened the doors of St. Thomas to those who were sick and dying. He welcomed people who had been turned away from their churches and created a community of love and compassion during one of the darkest chapters of the epidemic. His ministry included countless funerals, hospital visits, and ongoing care for those living with AIDS, as well as their families and friends.

In crafting Father Briggs, I sought to honor Barbour’s courage, inclusivity, and deep pastoral heart, while fictionalizing his story to serve the needs of the novel. Father Briggs is meant to be a tribute to all the clergy and laypeople who stood against fear and prejudice, offering grace and welcome when it was needed most.

Please join me for a reading and book signing of Hope in a Time of Dying at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena this upcoming Sunday, September 28, at 4 pm, and hear more about the role of Father Briggs in my book.