What's wrong with me? Oh, a lot of things, trust me. From my inability to remember anything I'm supposed to do (and I used to forget nothing I said or did--ahhh... those were the days) to my "shiny syndrome," you name it, I've got something wrong with it. Here's the deal. I've been doing Continue Reading
Writing
This Story about Deadly Pirates Should be an Oxymoron
I get my best ideas while driving, in the shower, or (and this is totally my favorite way), over Chinese food. Way back in the dark ages when people actually went and sat down together in restaurants, a friend of mine and I met up at our local Chinese place, The Golden Dragon, and sat in their Continue Reading
All the Preparation in the World Won’t Write It for You
Anne Shirley once said, "I am so glad that I live in a world where there are Octobers." Well, I happen to agree with her. Here in America, though, October isn't just a month full of harvests and pumpkins, crisp autumn nights and vibrant trees. October is that month. You know the one... The Continue Reading
Why Do Readers Love Weird Happily-Ever-Afters?
Go to Avid Readers of Christian Fiction on Facebook in almost any given week, and you’ll find at least one request for a good marriage of convenience or mail-order bride story. I feel like I should say, “I’m not exaggerating!” But I don’t have to because I suspect most people know it’s true. Continue Reading
Why Every Great Sleuth Needs These 3 Important Things
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
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 Unexpected Ways Learning to Trust Will Change Your Life
“Help.” I don’t even remember who I was talking to, but I suspect it was my editor, Christy. However, I do remember the answer. “Okay. What’s up?” Everyone needs friends like this!!! “I’ve done contentment and acceptance, in the Journey of Dreams Series, but I realized I don’t have a 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
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
Why Write “Lies” When the Simple Truth Should Suffice?
I’ve shared before that my favorite server, Angela the Wonder Server, once told a man that a “famous author” spends time writing at Denny’s every night. That would be me—the “famous” author. Impressed, the man asked what genre I write in, and Angela knowledgeably said, “Christian fiction.” His Continue Reading
What Characters Do I Love to Write Most & Why?
The question didn’t surprise me. People ask all kinds of things. Where you get your ideas, what your favorite genre to write is, what your favorite genre to read is… So asking what kind of character is my favorite to write seemed reasonable enough. “Kids, I think.” That earned me a blank look Continue Reading
Wanted: Readers Who Love the Agency Files & Will Help Me!
About six months ago, I got an email. I can’t recall the exact wording, but it went something like this. Hey! I just finished A Forgotten Truth, and at the end, it said there’d be book five in 2016. But I can’t find it. Can you tell me the title?” I fired back an apologetic reply assuring him Continue Reading
