Before Dirk Eichhorst wrote “The Tempest In Glass”, he served almost 30 years in video production through his company, Cumberland Media Ministries, Inc., and with various employers.
Dirk has written and directed hundreds of projects, enlisted countless crew members and volunteers, served on the Board of Directors at West Michigan Film Video Alliance, and has been a conference speaker on the topics of film directing and script & screenwriting.
Here are just a few of the accolades Dirk has earned.
For “The Tempest In Glass”
Sheena Monnin, Stellar Media Club
“A thrilling adventure story. One of the things I most enjoyed about ‘The Tempest in Glass’ by Dirk Eichhorst is the unbiased and intellectual way the author approaches spiritual topics. The incredible pacing of this story coupled with characters that act, react, speak, and think with such realism makes this book a treasured read. The steady evolution of the main character and the subtle evolution of the supporting characters is powerfully portrayed… An ironic journey of personal growth, given the delightfully surprising ending. This book is a must-read for lovers of thrillers, mysteries, the possibility of life after death.”
K.C. Finn, Readers’ Favorite
“ ‘The Tempest In Glass’ is a fascinating spiritual adventure novel… an action-packed quest to discover the secrets—both light and dark—of faith, belief, and the spirit realm. Atmospheric crafting, with cinematic detail in every scene. I also really enjoyed the main character’s journey to spiritualism and the struggles he has with logic, reason, luck, and grief. Author Dirk Eichhorst has a clear mission in mind with the plot, which gradually builds to a very exciting conclusion indeed, and you always feel like you’re in safe hands with his authorial confidence. I’d definitely recommend ‘The Tempest In Glass’ to fans of in-depth supernatural and spiritual adventures, and those who appreciate powerful emotional drama and realistic character building.”
Brenda Hasse, award-winning author of the Afterlife Journey trilogy
“An epic adventure that compels you to turn its pages until you reach the end. A must-read!”
BookLife
“An intelligence analyst squares off with the afterlife in Eichhorst’s ambitious debut. Eichhorst’s sprawling story bristles with an intriguing mix of Christianity and ancient mythology, alongside modern day adventure and a twist of romance. As Marvin and Tony set out on a crusade to bring Tony’s mother back to life, their paths cross a slew of legendary characters, including Gilgamesh the Wise and the ancient Toltec leader Topiltzin, also known as Quetzalcoatl, the god of wind, rain, and peace. Along the way, Marvin falls for renowned spiritual medium Doctor Amina Karimova, who gets swept into their quest as they fight to reach the afterlife and return home safely–all the while battling dark forces that threaten to overtake them at every turn. Readers should come prepared for an abundance of religious and theological discussions. For those who enjoy elaborate storylines and high-stakes mythology, this realm-spanning thriller will hit the spot, and the climax satisfyingly wraps up the story’s physical and spiritual themes.”
Elle Espiritu, Reedsy Discovery
“Loved it!
“We’ve all done it. We’ve whispered a silent prayer steeped in desperation and hope in the darkest hours of our lives. Marvin Fischer has done it, too. And like most of us, his prayer—that one important prayer—went unanswered.
“This is what makes Marvin, the protagonist in Dirk Eichhorst’s fantasy novel, The Tempest In Glass, so easy to connect with. He is us at some point in our lives. He prayed, felt betrayed, and lost faith. And throughout this novel, he embarks on a journey to find the answer as to why God seems to ignore even the deepest, most faithful prayers in our hearts, especially those that concern the protection and healing of our loved ones.
“Could it be that our faith is not enough? What is God trying to tell us when he leaves our prayers unanswered? Could it all really be a part of some grand plan, wherein God is the one true conductor? If everything is all up to God’s will, then what’s the point of praying?
“Tough questions, that not even a clergyman could give Marvin a clear and definite answer. Like us, he is told to just have faith. Believe. God has a reason for everything he does—or doesn’t do.
“But if you’ve just lost someone even after your most earnest, most desperate plea for divine intervention, these types of answers tend to get annoying real fast. Props to Marvin for being more mature about it than I can ever be.
“To balance it all out, though, there’s also Antonio Valdez, the twelve-year-old son of the seemingly random woman who approached Marvin one fine morning and asked the faithless man to please, please pray for her safety. And, of course, this prayer—now reluctantly delivered—went unanswered as well.
“But despite this, and in great contrast to Marvin, Antonio kept his faith, along with his natural curiosity, and unshakable belief in a heaven. He serves as a stark reminder that we, too, were once young and innocent and kept our eyes to the stars before we grew up and became more aware of the darkness of night.
“Together with the spirit medium, Amina Karimova, Marvin and Antonio journey together to different lands, both in this realm and on different planes of existence, in search for a world-renowned saint who may hold all the answers. Amina’s extensive knowledge of the cultures, myths and lore of various faiths also opens doors for another familiar cast of characters to join the fray and add more layers of mystic and intrigue to the entire story.
“The Tempest In Glass is truly an enjoyable, thought-provoking read, with characters that are very easy to relate with on different levels. The settings are beautifully described, and the smorgasbord of myths and lore are seamlessly meshed together to offer a bizarre, yet fascinating answer to the ultimate question: What happens to all our unanswered prayers?
“This novel has caught me at a time when I, too, am having the same kinds of questions, experiencing the same level of faithlessness and doubt as its embittered protagonist. So what it excelled at for me was really getting into the core of Marvin’s emotions, putting into words those familiar bouts of pain and resentment that chafed my own wounds raw. Ironically, it also felt quite healing.
“The ending, however, was a bit of a letdown, which is the reason why this is only a four-star read for me. Don’t get me wrong, that ending was beautiful. But after the roller coaster of emotions I’ve gone through with Marvin, getting gradually convinced that perhaps having faith in God’s grand plan really is enough, that kind of ending just left me feeling frustrated.
“It went against the story’s message about the true power and purpose of prayer and faith, and how some miracles are just not meant to happen. It is all well and good that Marvin found a way to turn things around for himself and Antonio, but where in the world am I supposed to find my own Tempest in Glass to break?
“I just felt like it could’ve ended on a more realistic note.
“But, maybe that’s just me.
“I recommend this novel to anyone who likes their fantasy with a touch of real-world mysticism and mythology.”
Thomas Anderson, Literary Titan
A startling sequence of events sends Marvin Fischer on a riveting supernatural quest for answers… Amina Karimova’s character is one that I was immediately fond of. Her knowledge of almost every religion and her profound mediumship is deeply intriguing… While I enjoyed the book, I felt like there is a lot of time spent describing people, places and scenarios. The ideas and scenes are fantastic and I think the story would benefit from being a bit more succinct. But if you are a reader who enjoys being immersed in a fully realized world, then author Dirk Eichhorst has a richly imagined world for you to inhabit… There are many thought-provoking connections to religion, much of which I believe makes this book much more enticing and intellectually deeper… The Tempest in Glass is a rare work of supernatural fiction that will entertain readers looking for a thoughtfully constructed story with a provocative character on a compelling journey that will consistently surprise you.
From Enthused Readers
“One of the best novels I’ve ever read.”
“Dirk Eichhorst takes readers on an enchanting and breathtaking journey into perilous places of mystical dimensions, leaving readers in awe and wanting a sequel.”
“Masterpiece.”
“A fantastic journey into worlds not of our own, where the absoluteness of reality is shattered and replaced by a foreboding spiritual uncertainty.”
“A fun ride seeking answers to the questions we have all privately pondered.”
“The author creates original settings described so vividly you feel you’re right in the middle of it all…the protagonist is so well developed it’s easy to feel his internal struggle right along
with him.”
“A spiritual journey towards the power of prayer. The vivid landscapes and lush writing transport the reader into a different dimension all-together. For fans of Lord Of The Rings
and Dune, and those who seek inner clarity of their calling.”
From former clients
“Dirk did an absolutely outstanding job of producing a professional, highly effective promotional video for us. Dirk was sensitive to our needs and gave us high confidence in his technical and artistic abilities. I give Dirk rave reviews and highest compliments!”
Clay Thomas, Camp Director, White Sulphur Springs, Pennsylvania
“Dirk truly cared about the script in all its details; the music, the pictures, the footage. We were delighted with the video as was our audience!”
Nancy Kingsriter, Public Relations Manager, Beulah Beach, Ohio
From former crew members
“Dirk is a man who pursues excellence, yet handles people and situations with grace and poise. Dirk created a team that functioned together professionally, but also enjoyed the work and shared in Dirk’s vision of the film. Dirk’s ability to work with people is one of his greatest assets in film making.”
Kalena Meyers, Actress, Grand Rapids, Michigan
“I have seen how meticulous Dirk is in preparing a production, as to save money and time, yet not sacrifice quality. Dirk is open to suggestions and likes input from the crew. He is a hard worker and when a project is fully shot, he takes the same care in editing for the finished product.”
Michael Weis, Director of Photography, Orlando, Florida
From former employers
“Once in awhile you cross paths with a person who really stands out as somebody that’s truly trustworthy and diligent in everything they do and really seems to care about the details in the work they produce. For me that person is Dirk Eichhorst.”
Larry Evey, Owner, West Coast Media, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan
“Dirk Eichhorst created our video department from the ground up, selecting state-of-the-art cameras, lighting gear, computer equipment and software… everything we needed to make the videos we wanted… converted our sound stage to accommodate our needs. Dirk became our video director and produced some wonderful promotional, educational, and documentary pieces for our ministry. I highly recommend Dirk and his talents.“
Scott Pierre, Executive Director, Sola Scriptura, Orlando, Florida
From former conference attendees
“Thank you, Dirk, for being so clear, concise, and well-organized in your presentation!”
– Lisa
“This class will be very helpful in my writing career. Mr. Eichhorst gave fine examples and a good amount of questions to ponder.”
– John
“Mr. Eichhorst commanded immediate respect because he has extensive experience in writing and excellent knowledge of all different aspects of filmmaking.”
– Al
“Dirk Eichhorst was the best teacher I ever had the pleasure of learning from. I look up to him greatly as a mentor. I learned more than I ever imagined. Dirk Eichhorst is amazing!”
– Rene
“The Tempest In Glass” is the debut novel of writer-director Dirk Eichhorst. The novel by Dirk Eichhorst is an adventurous mystery-thriller with an edge of supernatural fantasy. The Limited First Edition of “The Tempest In Glass” earned excellent reviews and high praise from readers. The Limited First Edition of “The Tempest In Glass” is sold out. A second edition of “The Tempest In Glass” by Dirk Eichhorst is being planned for print, eBook, and audio book.
