Dishes clinked, silverware rattled, and 80s music that I didn’t like when it was popular pulsed through Denny’s. Clark sat across from me, ready to talk about The Agency Files. You know Clark. THIS GUY? I had a nebulous idea… fledgling. I wanted Flynne to be forced to play agent. Clark Continue Reading
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Is Crown the Perfect Jewel That Wives Need?
“Where do these authors get this stuff? That book says my husband can beat me, and I have to take it.” I stared at the woman, and if you told me my jaw hung, I would have believed it. I’d just finished the book in question, and hadn’t read that anywhere in there. In fact, as far as I was Continue Reading
What Made Me Write a Book I Didn’t Want To?
“You’re not going to believe what they chose.” My friend, being the sympathetic kind, asked what could possibly be so bad. Instead of answering, I threw out the other ideas that had been mentioned and suggested I go with one of those. After all, I’d given myself that out—I didn’t have to go with Continue Reading
How Can You Praise God When You Made Every Mistake in the Book?
The day I really began my mothering journey... It was a Wednesday. I could never forget that for reasons you’ll see in a minute or two. I worked at a local Chinese delivery place—Mandarin Express. My shift began at ten in the morning, and I got off at five. Sometime around two or so, after I’d Continue Reading
How My Heart Attack Sent My Husband to the ER
Christmas Adam 2016. Balmy weather, palm trees, beautiful houses built into the side of a hill—every traditionalist’s Christmas dream, right? I’ll confess. I didn’t want to be there, and not just because I’m a natural homebody. Perhaps if it had been a Currier and Ives scene. A farmhouse, Continue Reading
When a Unique Premise Really Is Enough
A sign greeted us as we entered, but not just any sign. This four-foot silver-framed blackboard hinted at the amazingness within. It makes sense, actually, because it was the launch party for the Kingdom of Ruins, and we were about to enter “the lands within.” Author D.C. Marino knows how to Continue Reading
What Do You Do When You Release 2 Books on the Same Day?
Confession. This post was supposed to say something like “two months in a row.” And that would have been back in April! Then it became, “In the same week.” Yesterday, I thought it would be “Two Days in a row.” But no. Never to do things the ordinary way, I would be the one who just happened to Continue Reading
3 Reasons I Have Nothing but High Praise for This Book
“Mom… there’s this guy at church. His name is Kevin HAVOC!!! Can you believe it? His poor wife.” “Mom! Remember Kevin Havoc? The quiet, shy guy at church? Guess what his nickname is? Mayhem! Isn’t that like calling a giant of a dude, ‘tiny?’” The day eventually came. “Hey, Mom. Kevin Havoc? Continue Reading
What Did I Find Endearing about Enduring Love?
“Is there an author you can suggest who has really grown in his or her craft? I’d like to see if I can see the progression.” It was an unexpected question, but a good one. And I had an answer—blurted it out before I realized I did. “Toni Shiloh.” “Okay, so how has she grown?” I remembered Continue Reading
What Makes Presumption & Partiality So Great, Anyway?
“We’re doing retellings of Austen’s works but set in America during the Depression.” Over Facebook messenger, Rebekah Jones told me how she’d been given Pride and Prejudice as her inspiration. All I could think of was, When’ll it be done? I’ve got to read this! “I think I’ll make Darcy part Continue Reading
So, Why Guide Your Mind & Guard Your Heart?
The first wince came. Because I have a gift (or curse—depending on your perspective. Just call me Monk) for being able to see both sides of an issue, I decided to assume it meant what wasn’t actually stated. Because, as we all know, Christianese sometimes uses phrases that are metaphoric. You Continue Reading
3 Compelling (if Ridiculous) Reasons to Avoid This Author
So Wednesday morning, at o’dark-thirty, I got horrible news. The day only got worse from there. What began with a publishing mess morphed into a missed deadline, compounded into wasted time, and finally ended with a helpful reminder email.You’ve got a book review due.Drat!If it didn’t mean Continue Reading
