Go… go… GO! Get the—” A hand claps over my mouth. Red faces all around me. Glares. Snickers. Angry fans who turn to give me their .02 until they realize I’m five. Yeah. I was rooting for the wrong team. You know… my brother is playing for one. We’re on “our” side of the bleachers. But Continue Reading
New Release
The Hard Truth about “The Return”: My Biased Review
So what do you do when you have three books due, one to edit, a filthy house, and a year’s planning to consider when you remember that you are supposed to review a book. By tomorrow. What? You spend the evening reading a book, of course. It’s kind of natural to have one eye on the clock or Continue Reading
Have You Ever Wondered What Inspires a Novel?
A few years ago, I joined the “Blogging for Books” program with Multnomah. Every few weeks, I’d get an email from Liz Johnson or another gal (I want to call her Abby), offering a new book to read. And when Liz left there to become an author, she sent me (and I assume others) an email thanking me for Continue Reading
Why Finding Love Surprised and Delighted Me
The other day, someone asked me if I knew of a good, quick read or three she could take on a summer trip. Her criteria? “It needs to be a quick read—preferably with a realistic romance. But not just a clean romance. I want some solid faith in there, too.” She doesn’t ask for much, right? Look, Continue Reading
The Hidden Blessings in Losing Your Memory
“Who are you, again?” “I’m Joe’s, daughter. Vyonie.” My sister pointed to me. “This is Chautona.” For some odd reason, the niece she spent the least amount of time with, Aunt Doris remembered—somewhat. But she didn’t remember Vyonie from what I could tell. She smiled at me, that amazing, sweet Continue Reading
How Murder Ruined My Mystery
Leon Czolgosz is my new nemesis. He’s dead, but he ruined my book. No, really. The guy totally destroyed the opening pages of Such a Tease. Now, these days, not a whole lot of people remember the name of Leon Czolgosz. I didn’t. But I’ll never forget him now (although I may never remember how to Continue Reading
Baggage: Claim It or Not, We All Have It
Look, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a very frank person. I say what I think. I try to do it kindly, but I rarely mince words. Don't ask my opinion if you don't want it. No. Really. Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no Continue Reading
Counting Grains of Sand: a book review
When I received the invitation to review Counting Grains of Sand by Natasha Metzler, I wasn't quite sure what to think. I've never read anything by her, I usually stick to fiction on my blog, and really, what do I know about infertility? I'm glad I listened to what I think was the prompting of Continue Reading
New Year= New Book! It’s Release Day!
As if proof of my inconsistencies and hypocrisies, I've always loved the new. And the old. Like Anne Shirley, I love that tomorrow is a new day--"fresh with no mistakes in it." I love that the Lord's mercies are "new every morning." Nothing relieves me more than a "fresh slate" when I need one Continue Reading
When a Book Consumes You
That's the only word I know to describe the past six months--consume. When I got the idea for Shattering Secrets, I was excited about it. I knew it would be difficult, but it seemed important. How I prayed about whether to make it a Christmas book or just one that happened near Christmas! I chose Continue Reading
Do You Think Jimmy Stewart Will Ever Forgive Me?
We all know the story. A guy with a broken leg sits in his wheelchair and watches the world go by from his Rear Window. Then he sees something he shouldn't, and the next thing you know, he's got everyone convinced he's nuts. Add to that, a killer who doesn't want to get caught, and tension Continue Reading
It’s Not Easy Going Green: How Characters Can Irritate
Green Schmeen (whatever that means): Something happens to authors when we begin a new novel. We see words, scenarios, situations--we see them all in entirely new ways. Take the word "green." When I was a kid, if you said someone was "green" it meant they were new, unsophisticated, and likely from Continue Reading
