Sun Essence Press
Pervasive and unusual... an original and thought-provoking story
I picked up this book having absolutely no idea what I was getting into. A couple of chapters in, and I was completely invested… the character-building and background were stark, which, for me as a reader, is something I really appreciate. It’s something I seek out when I’m picking out books.
The story follows a group of multi-layered characters, as they are employed by what I can describe (via my 1990s purity culture religious trauma) as a mega-church led by a pastor stricken with self-idolatry. The story is half-true crime, half-an acid trip dream, both aspects that kept me on the edge of my seat. Larger-than-life issues are addressed through each character—life, love, death, religion—in a manner that is not preachy, but real, gritty, and unusual. I appreciated the way Cooper handled these directly through the characters, rather than a didactic narrative.
If this is a series, bring on book two. My true-crime, paranormal-obsessed brain is burning for the next part of the story.
— MiddleMist
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2026
Profit of God
Profit of God is a story about a group of young friends who set out on a summer-long work program for a local mega church in the northern woodlands of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan for some cash: what they find, though, is anything but mundane.
The narrative centers around a pair of the friends who stumble on an ancient enigma hidden in the woods.
Soon, the two have a disruptive yet captivating encounter with a spiritual entity which guards the secret, and the fevered pursuit of the ambitious (and, rather worldly) church.
Compelled by their unintended companion, the pair embark on a spiritual journey through the murky, revealing, and raw features of life and the human condition; guided along paths of deeper contemplation and puzzling subjects about reality, the nature of the universe, the meaning of life (and, death), and love, all the while gaining a deepening affection for one another.
A shocking discovery turns the story on its head- and into the dirt.
Profit of God was designed to be concise, yet deep; at the very least, engaging and entertaining… and maybe, thought-provoking.
* Foreword: this book contains potentially distressing depictions of suicidal allusions, illicit drug use, sexually explicit material, and gratuitous use of profanity. Reader discretion is advised.
** Task: find the hidden, ‘6’, in the text of the story.
Meet the Author
Chris Cooper works with his hands by day and writes whenever inspiration strikes. He has a deep appreciation for old books, antiques, history, and the outdoors. His idea of a perfect evening is a good book on the porch, an ice-cold Mountain Dew, and a warm summer breeze.
Chris lives in Michigan with his pet rabbit, John.