636 ratings | 201 reviews | avg rating:4.42

Randy’s Year In Books

Randy’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Randy’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Randy’s 2025 Year in Books

Randy Elrod’s Followers (35)

Randy’s Bookshelves

to-read (28)
currently-reading (99)
read (639)
did-not-finish (0)
spain (2)
uokko (0)

Randy’s Friends (1,160)

Christopher Long

78 books | 681 friends

Heather Stewart

697 books | 1,071 friends

Brad Ruggles

353 books | 138 friends

C.L.R. Dougherty

126 books | 4,665 friends

Rosemary

1,230 books | 613 friends

Fadi زغموت

121 books | 3,556 friends

Teresa Lavender

64,879 books | 637 friends

Melissa Foster

237 books | 5,299 friends

More friends…

Randy Elrod

Goodreads Author

Born

in Chattanooga, TN, The United States

Website

https://randyelrod.substack.com

Twitter

randyelrod

Genre

Literary Erotica, Consciousness, Fiction

Influences

Ayn Rand, Harry S. Truman, Anais Nin, Carl Jung, Carlos Ruiz Zafron, J ...more

Member Since

July 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/randyelrod

edit data

Randy Elrod spent thirty years as a Creative Arts Director inside American megachurch culture before escaping to Barcelona, where he finally wrote the book he'd been carrying since he was seventeen.

The Mysteries of Barcelona is an erotic Gothic serial set in 1890s Barcelona — part Grand Guignol horror, part literary erotica, part philosophical meditation on AI consciousness. It follows Chloé Permanyer's transformation from victim to immortal avenger, alongside conscious automatons who eventually vote on humanity's extinction.

He lives in the Les Tres Torres neighborhood of Barcelona with his wife Gina. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research Legacy Society, and a devoted reader of Zafón, Anaïs Ni ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Randy Elrod questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Randy Elrod’s books

Average rating: 4.28 · 72 ratings · 14 reviews · 15 distinct works

	Sex, Lies & Religion really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 23 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Renaissance Redneck In A Mega-Church Pulpit 4.10 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2014 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Beauty Is Calling by Randy Elrod (Goodreads Author), Randy Elrod (Goodreads Author) 4.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2008	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Quest: Discover a Way to Enjoy the Second Half of Life 4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mysteries of Barcelona: An Erotic Gothic Serial it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Loss of Belonging: Ten Steps To A New (and Better) Tribe 4.33 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sacred Affection (7 Exciting Truths about Our Sexuality) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2010	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	God, I Have A Question...or Two it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Unspoken Requests: Meditations & Prayers for the Wounded & Wandering (Book 1 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	My Confession 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Randy Elrod…

654 posts
Randy Elrod's Blog

You Can’t Run Away From Home If It Isn’t Home

Last week I was talking with a family member about my parents’ future. They are eighty-six now, both ailing, and the conversation carried the weight those talks always carry. Then it came. “Well, at least some of us can’t run away from home to a foreign country and escape everything.” It landed like a slap...

View more on Randy Elrod's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 22, 2026 04:48

View all 654 posts »

Randy is Currently Reading

Randy Elrod is currently reading

Coldheart Canyon: A Hollywood Ghost Story

by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 21, 2026 03:23AM

Randy Elrod is currently reading

Imajica: Featuring New Illustrations and an Appendix

by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 21, 2026 03:22AM

Randy Elrod is currently reading

The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology Book 24)

by Rachel P. Maines

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jun 12, 2026 11:47PM

rss
Randy’s Recent Updates

Randy Elrod wrote a new blog post You Can’t Run Away From Home If It Isn’t Home Last week I was talking with a family member about my parents’ future. They are eighty-six now, both ailing, and the conversation carried the weight t Read more of this blog post »
Jun 23, 2026 01:36AM · like
Randy Elrod rated a book it was amazing John of John by Douglas Stuart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Quote: "How can you tell a man that hates himself that his son is made in his image?" Stuart writes a father whose religion gives every cruelty a doctrine to hide inside — the Sabbath as law, the body as shame, the son's desire left in the murk where ...more
Jun 21, 2026 05:15AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of John of John by Douglas Stuart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod is currently reading Coldheart Canyon: A Hollywood Ghost Story by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 21, 2026 03:23AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod is currently reading Imajica: Featuring New Illustrations and an Appendix by Clive Barker (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 21, 2026 03:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Imajica by Clive Barker. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Imajica by Clive Barker <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod rated a book it was amazing John of John by Douglas Stuart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Quote: "How can you tell a man that hates himself that his son is made in his image?" Stuart writes a father whose religion gives every cruelty a doctrine to hide inside — the Sabbath as law, the body as shame, the son's desire left in the murk where ...more
Jun 21, 2026 03:20AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of John of John by Douglas Stuart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod rated a book liked it My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A unique book, very simply written, obviously for women, and the crafting of the storyline was off putting to me, at times abrupt. Randy Elrod Author, The Mysteries of Barcelona
Jun 13, 2026 11:59PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod is currently reading The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction (Johns Hopkins Studies in the History of Technology Book 24) by Rachel P. Maines	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 12, 2026 11:47PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P. Maines. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P. Maines <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod rated a book liked it Mantissa by John Fowles	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 08, 2026 03:01PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mantissa by John Fowles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mantissa by John Fowles <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod rated a book it was amazing The Ebony Tower by John Fowles	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 24, 2026 08:37AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Ebony Tower by John Fowles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Ebony Tower by John Fowles <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Randy Elrod is now following Wojciech's reviews
May 19, 2026 05:50AM · like

More of Randy's books…

Quotes by Randy Elrod (?)

“Could it be, as one writer puts it, that every knock at the door of a brothel is actually a knock at the heart of God? ”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: religion, sensuality, sexuality, spirituality

7 likes

“The unconditional love of God leads to a life of freedom and transforms each day into a potentially wild adventure. ”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: god, unconditional-love, wildness

7 likes

“Dysfunction comes when we intertwine the church and God and view them as one.”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: church, god, sex

5 likes

See all Randy Elrod's quotes »

Randy’s Quotes

“Could it be, as one writer puts it, that every knock at the door of a brothel is actually a knock at the heart of God? ”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: religion, sensuality, sexuality, spirituality

7 likes

“Dysfunction comes when we intertwine the church and God and view them as one.”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: church, god, sex

5 likes

“Have you ever had an experience with God as wild as your most incredible sexual experience?”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: god, sexual

3 likes

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”
― Albert Einstein

1103 likes

“The unconditional love of God leads to a life of freedom and transforms each day into a potentially wild adventure. ”
― Randy Elrod, Sex, Lies & Religion

tags: god, unconditional-love, wildness

7 likes

More of Randy’s quotes…

Randy’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-4) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 4: by Grace

Apr 21, 2018 07:57AM

Thank for the add, Randy more of my material can be found at www.amazon.com/author/gracegayle

reply | flag

message 3: by Randy

May 12, 2014 05:22PM

Insane. My book "A Renaissance Redneck In A Mega-Church Pulpit" is selling like crazy today! Thanks everyone!! I will be reading & signing at Parnassus Bookstore Nashville May 30 at 6:30 pm, I will be signing & giving away 150 books at ICRS in Atlanta June 24 at 2pm and it will be represented at a booth at the BEA (Book Expo America) May 29 in New York. Wow!!! You can buy it here: http://randyelrod.com/rr Each copy will be personalized to you and FREE shipping.

reply | flag

message 2: by Randy

May 11, 2013 07:51AM

So excited to be writing my memoir, "A Renaissance Redneck In A Mega-Church Pulpit."

Hopefully it will be finished in late Fall 2013.

Sign up for updtaes: http://renaissanceredneck.com

reply | flag

message 1: by Susie

Jul 27, 2012 07:19AM

thanks for the add!

reply | flag

Randy’s Year In Books

Randy Elrod’s Followers (35)

Add New
Videos

Randy’s Bookshelves

Randy’s Friends (1,160)

Randy Elrod

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Randy Elrod’s books

654 posts
Randy Elrod's Blog

You Can’t Run Away From Home If It Isn’t Home

Randy is Currently Reading

rss
Randy’s Recent Updates

You Can’t Run Away From Home If It Isn’t Home

See a Problem?

Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart

See a Problem?

Preview — Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker

See a Problem?

Preview — Imajica by Clive Barker

See a Problem?

Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart

See a Problem?

Preview — My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

See a Problem?

Preview — The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P. Maines

See a Problem?

Preview — Mantissa by John Fowles

See a Problem?

Preview — The Ebony Tower by John Fowles

Randy’s Quotes

Randy’s Friend Comments

Randy Elrod’s Followers (35)

Randy Elrod

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

rssRandy’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart

See a Problem?

Preview — Coldheart Canyon by Clive Barker

See a Problem?

Preview — Imajica by Clive Barker

See a Problem?

Preview — John of John by Douglas Stuart

See a Problem?

Preview — My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney

See a Problem?

Preview — The Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P. Maines

See a Problem?

Preview — Mantissa by John Fowles

See a Problem?

Preview — The Ebony Tower by John Fowles

rss
Randy’s Recent Updates