She sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, ran the church office, and directed every pageant and VBS the church had produced during her years as the pastor’s wife. Not once did I ever hear a harsh word come from her lips. Never did she look weary or wounded. And even as a teenager, I knew she Continue Reading
So Why Is Everyone in Love with Just Let Go?
As my finger slid along the trackpad, inching the cursor away from the link on the Facebook page, a message popped up. “Why do we judge books by their covers when most authors don’t design their own cover art, anyway?” Guilt slammed into me and knocked me flat on my rump. You’d think with all Continue Reading
What Awesome Book Did I Drown My Literary Sorrows In?
The book wouldn’t leave me. I’d finished reading, despite not wanting to, wrote the review, also despite not wanting to, and moved on. Except I couldn’t. The book haunted my thoughts. A friend said, “What you need is another book. I just finished a great one. Among the Poppies. Try it.” I Continue Reading
The Secret Confessions of a Disappointed Reader
“So… you write Christian fiction. I didn’t know that was a thing. Is there a market for that?” I tried not to laugh. No, really. I did. I mean, is there a Christian fiction readership? Thankfully, the gal didn’t notice that I’d choked back a laugh that morphed into what was probably a maniacal Continue Reading
So, Did The Captured Bride Steal My Heart?
“Can I order a burger?” I nodded and waved my daughter off. She stopped and stared. “You didn’t say, ‘May I.' What are you reading?” “A new book by one of new my favorite authors.” Well, that’s what I meant to say. I think I interjected a few words from the storyline in there, too. Speaking Continue Reading
3 Reasons I Need an Inspiring Summer Reading List
Ocean breezes mingle salt spray with the distinctive scent of Coppertone. Beneath an umbrella and a two-inch layer of said Coppertone when you have skin that pleads with the sun to lobsterize every half-exposed toe, she sips iced tea from an In-n-Out cup. With the gentle undulation of waves lapping Continue Reading
I Gave This Author a Second Chance, & This Is What I Thought
“Why would you want to read another one of Jody Hedlund’s books? You didn’t like the last one you read.” Okay, I admit it. I kind of blinked. Several times. At the insistent expression on my friend’s face (one I only imagined since we were chatting over messenger), I bit. “I didn’t?” “No… you only Continue Reading
What Happens When an Author Mashes Two of My Favorite Books?
If anyone asks me, “Where should I go to find a good book to read,” you might assume I’d say, “Um, the library” or “a bookstore, duh!” Even, “Amazon,” would suffice, right? Nope. I say, “Check out Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook.” Why? Because that place has seriously good book Continue Reading
7 Reasons I Think You Need a Journible Now!
Amazon. I swear it’s the 21st Century form of Santa Claus and the Sears Wish Book all rolled up in one package. How? Well, scroll through pages upon pages of anything you could ever want to purchase from any place in the world. It’s like Veggie Tales’ “StuffMart” on steroids. Because unlike a Continue Reading
Did You Know That It’s National Notebook Day?
Spiral bound. College ruled. Black cover. Seventy pages. I don’t know where I got it, because I didn’t like spiral ruled notebooks. The jagged edges when you pulled paper from them made my nerves do the jitterbug and my teeth itch. But I had one. And I distinctly remember the day I drew my first Continue Reading
The Unexpected Blessings of Being Fired by My Mentor
The spiral phone cord tangled together as I listened to her. “People just go out in public without any thought to what they’re wearing. This morning a girl had on a half top and shorty shorts. I muttered, ‘Someone forgot to finish getting dressed’ as I walked past.” I snickered. Her tone of Continue Reading
3 Important Reasons Christians Need to “Retreat”
"I’ll miss chat this week. DH (internet-speak for “dear hubby”) and I are going on a retreat with our church.” I know I wasn’t the only one who winced at the word “retreat.” Some because they knew the flurry of responses that would follow. Others because we’d been drilled about how evil it was for Continue Reading
