“What evil lurks in the hearts of men…” The first time I heard that ominous voice asking that question I was enthralled. Okay, I was also self-righteously ticked off that they dared to imply some “shadow” knew what God alone does. I was a self-righteous that way. Fine. I still am. At least Continue Reading
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My 3 Most Embarrassing Confessions about Prayer
“Prayer is overrated.” Okay, I may have stepped to the left when I said that—to avoid the lightning, don’tcha know. I’d had it. Absolutely fed up with this prayer business. We talk about having a “little talk with Jesus” or those “sweet hour(s) of prayer,” but I’d never enjoyed them. In Continue Reading
The Best Things about the Book Mind Games
I remember the books clearly; although, I suspect I did a lot of page flipping. It seems to me that half of what I read as a young teen had stuff in it that I just skipped over. But they were my first introduction into suspense—good suspense. They also always had some sort of supernatural Continue Reading
If You Want to Make Genuine Connections, Use Words
For me, it all began in a little bookstore in Ventura, California. It was a friend’s birthday. Odd, but I can’t remember which friend! That’s an unusual thing because I rarely had more than one or maybe two. I suspect it was the pastor’s daughter, but I wouldn’t put a lot of money on that. Mom Continue Reading
This Writing Technique Produced a Love-to-Hate Girl
Church breakdown about ten years ago. I was using a carpet sweeper and chatting with the pastor. If I recall correctly, we were talking about Lorna Doone and how I loved hating Carver. That’s when I said it. “The best thing about fiction is that it’s not a sin to hate the bad guy.” I totally Continue Reading
When This Life Denies You Coffee, Wait 10 Years
Ten Years Ago... A U-Haul, three pickups, and two cars pulled up in front of the house at 241 Holly Circle just as Richard Stephens pulled his mower from the garage and checked the gas reservoir. A man about his mother’s age climbed down from the cab of the U-Haul and called out, “Okay, Ruth! Continue Reading
How a Silly Santa Story Exposed My Hypocrisy
I’ll never forget that evening. It was in Fillmore, California on Mountain View Street. I was four. We all sat around the dinner table, and Dad had just poured milk. I’m pretty sure he was about to stuff some cornbread in it. Thought you oughtta know. I’d spent the day with my cousin, Continue Reading
My Top 10 Genre Picks for Gift Giving This Year
“My wife [daughter, sister, brother, husband, uncle, aunt, friend, cranky neighbor, insert other person here] loves to read, but all I know is they like Christian fiction.” A question like that just begs one more. “Do you know their favorite subgenre?” Insert blank look here. “What’s a Continue Reading
Is Anything Better Than Christmas at the Inn?
The Facebook post appeared. A seemingly generic post about… something. I will confess now that I might not have read it right away had anyone else posted it. But Liz Johnson… Something told me I’d want to know. Something was right. My brain, tired from a long night of writing (or maybe from Continue Reading
3 Terrific Reasons to Read about Murder
Nancy Drew. Although her books usually focused on finding something stolen, finding something before it was stolen, or some other petty crime rather than murder, from those books I learned the joy of solving crimes—all from the comfort and safety of my own chair. In time, I stepped up the reading Continue Reading
The No. 1 Thing I Like Best about Shelter of the Most High
“I wish someone would find a way to write good Biblical fiction without delving too much into speculation about actual people.” My friend didn’t know why I was so bothered, so I tried again. “I just don’t like people that God chose to be a part of His Word speculated about quite so heavily. I love Continue Reading
From Disaster to Delightful: How Aggie Saved Christmas
The battered journal sported several places where pages had been tipped back in with washi tape. Still, Aggie flipped back and forth from her hand-printed index to the coordinating pages, comparing original Christmas ideas with the shopping list she’d created. Luke popped his head in the door and Continue Reading
