<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Thursday, March 28, 2024
March 28, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Bits ‘n’ Pieces: Cartoonist tackles faith, fraud

By Sue Vorenberg
Published: November 29, 2014, 12:00am
2 Photos
Monte Wolverton's new book &quot;Chasing 120: A Story of Food, Faith, Fraud and the Pursuit of Longevity.&quot;
Monte Wolverton's new book "Chasing 120: A Story of Food, Faith, Fraud and the Pursuit of Longevity." Photo Gallery

It may be a work of fiction, but Monte Wolverton’s book about a sham peddler of health supplements has a believable air of plausibility.

The Vancouver 66-year-old, who makes his living as a syndicated political cartoonist (whose work has appeared in The Columbian), got the idea for the book while working with Plain Truth Ministries.

He worked with the organization on the Christian fiction book, which in part looks at the dangers of believing outlandish claims and putting your faith in a charismatic preacher rather than in God.

“Of course, there are a lot of hucksters out there in the real world,” Wolverton said. “And I actually asked the (Food and Drug Administration) if something like this was plausible, and they said ‘absolutely.’ “

The book, “Chasing 120: A Story of Food, Faith, Fraud and the Pursuit of Longevity,” tells the story of Dr. Tyler Belknap, a fast-talking preacher who convinces his cultlike following that using his Bible-based program and health supplements will enrich and extend their lives.

“He targets consumers with a Biblical-sounding promise of a 120-year lifespan if you use his products,” Wolverton said. “And he has offices around the country, but he’s based in Vancouver.”

Belknap adds drugs to his supplements and gets his customers addicted so they will keep buying them.

“A lot of the action takes place in his secret underground lab in Camp Bonneville that he bought from the government,” Wolverton said. “And part of the book is that his corporate creative director, his son, becomes permanently brain-damaged from using his products.”

While the book is considered Christian fiction, he also warns that there are a few stronger words used by the villains, such as “hell,” “damned” and “bastard,” Wolverton said.

“I wanted it to be more believable, and bad guys use words like that,” he said.

He also hopes the 160-page novel will be broad enough to cross over into mainstream.

“It has Christian lessons in it and there are a few Scriptures in there, but I think it’s a bit larger than that genre,” Wolverton said.

The book is available through Amazon and www.ptm.org/120.

<

Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com.

Loading...
Tags