So You're A Self Published Author Huh?
Y ep... well, kinda. Let me explain. I’ve always loved telling stories—writing them down, not so much at first. I have dyslexia and ADHD, which means my brain is basically a creative hurricane with the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. When I started writing, I was bad. Like, really bad. But I kept at it.
Over the years, what started as a messy hobby turned into a passion I couldn’t shake. Thousands of hours, stacks of notebooks, way too much coffee, and a lot of trial and error later—I found my voice. I studied, trained, rewrote a lot, and leaned on family who kept saying, “You’ve got something here.” Eventually, I believed them. Self-publishing wasn’t just a choice—it was the door I kicked down after years of self-doubt. I didn’t take the easy road. I took the one with all the potholes, detours, and “You sure you wanna do this?” signs. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
About Josh Tufte
J Josh Tufte—Who Is He, Anyway? Well, if I’m being honest… I’m kind of a weirdo. A grateful, stubborn, punch-taking, dream-chasing weirdo. I’m a father to an incredible daughter named Izzy—she’s 16 going on 30, brilliant, and way cooler than I’ll ever be. I’m also divorced, which wasn’t part of the original plan, but life has a way of throwing curveballs (or haymakers, in my case). Through it all, I’ve been blessed with family and friends who’ve stuck by me, pushed me forward, and occasionally smacked me back into reality when I needed it. I owe them more than words can say. Now for the résumé no one asked for: I’m a lifelong martial artist. I started training in 1995 when I was 8 years old and stuck with it long enough to earn a 6th-degree black belt, win a few World Titles, and get punched in the face more times than I can count. I fought professionally in boxing for over a decade—sometimes it went great, sometimes… not so much. Either way, I learned a lot about grit, humility, and how to take a hit (literally and metaphorically).
These days, I co-own Edge Fitness and Combat Arts LLC with my dad—we have locations in Kernersville and High Point, NC—a place built on sweat, community, and a whole lot of heart. And in 2024, I followed another calling and launched Passion Church in Kernersville, NC. Starting a church from scratch isn’t for the faint of heart, but I believe in the mission, and I’m honored to serve people with it. At one point, I also owned a computer repair and web design business. (Because why not add tech support to the mix?) I eventually sold that off when I stepped into full-time ministry. If it sounds like I’ve lived several lives... that’s probably accurate. I never really settled on what I wanted to be when I grew up—so I chose everything: fighter, gym owner, pastor, writer, entrepreneur. And somehow, I’m still standing. Do I wish there were more hours in the day? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t trade this chaos for anything.
