It happens every time. #1daughter and I sit down to watch a mystery movie and within five minutes, we’ve pegged whodunnit. We’re rarely wrong. For us, the game isn’t in figuring out who, but why—or better yet, not getting sidetracked by excellently-placed red herrings and plot twists. It Continue Reading
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3 Excellent Reasons to Make Hymns a Priority in Your Life
Humming, "I love to tell the story..." began the questioning. “Are you like her? Do you sing hymns when you’re stressed or happy?” You know that old saying, “If I had a dollar for…” Yeah. I could almost pay the mortgage every month with that one. Or at least, it feels like I could. I also Continue Reading
Is True Crime My New Favorite Fictional Escape?
The picture stunned me. After a lifetime of riding Ferris wheels at county fairs, I saw an up close picture of the original—the first one shown at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Look, I knew that the ones I’d ridden were tiny compared to the “real thing,” but I was not prepared for that Continue Reading
Is Amish Fiction On The Way Out?
Mending Fences—the title could have meant anything, but I suspected it would be about the more psychological rather than the physical side of the saying. She picked up the book and eyed it with a skeptical look on her face. “They’re all the same—or at least, they start feeling like it.” Look, Continue Reading
5 Easy (& FREE) Ways You Can Help Your Favorite Author
At least once a week an email arrives. While the words are always a little bit different, they all say the same basic thing, “I love your books. What’s the best way to tell everyone else how great they are?” Translation: “How can I help promote your books?” Look, I need to say something Continue Reading
3 Ways This YA Novel Will Challenge Your Perceptions
He held out a necklace with a pendant on it. It read, 90% angel. "They didn’t have one that said 100% angel,” he said. Usually, when one of the nicest, cutest guys in school gives you a gift, it’s a compliment. This wasn’t. And, thanks to my father totally not getting that, when I told him Continue Reading
The Best Kept Secrets of the Mighty Sword
Landers, California. 1984. I can still see the grass green shag carpeting as Dad said it. “If I ever write a book, I’ll use the name A.J. Josephs.” I’m not sure why pseudonyms hadn’t really clicked with me. After all, I knew how Samuel Clemens chose his. John Wayne was really Marion Morrison, and Continue Reading
An Unusual Way for Mothers to Be Intentional This Lent
Patty sat across from me at Denny’s in Bakersfield. Smiling, excited about her new release this week, telling me all about the book that inspired it and how it had become even better under the advice of another author. “When I shared the book, she told me that I needed to cut out the first Continue Reading
The Things That Change In 75 Years Will Capture Your Heart
“Whatcha readin’?” (said with a perfect imitation of Isabella from Phineas and Ferb). I passed the book across the table with great reluctance. "12 Days at Bleakly Manor." He gave it a cursory glance. “What’s it about?” “The author gave Charles Dickens a bit of writer’s block and had him Continue Reading
Patriotism and Heroism and Why It Matters in a Book
Many know that I love a good heroic story. My friends swooned over C. Thomas Howell and John Stamos (I admit, I had to look them up to see if I could recognize any faces on friends’ walls!). They imagined themselves as Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink or Sweet Sixteen. I memorized Patton’s Continue Reading
Will Leaving Darkness Offer You Hope?
“Aren’t you afraid that he’ll start up with the porn again?” To this day, I don’t know what made me ask the question. First, it was none of my business. Second, what a way to slap a friend in the face! I don’t recall her exact reply. In fact, when we talked about it a few years later, and I Continue Reading
7 Reviews of Loss, Love, & Lighthouses on the Great Lakes
Living in California and flying out of LAX means that I often soar over the ocean as planes take off. They shoot out over the water and double back before starting across the country. The sun creates the look of sequins on a shimmering dress below—one of my favorite sights. I’ve flown over other Continue Reading
