Blog Stories
Fiction Settings and their Stories
As readers, we often choose a book by its setting. Certain places and historical periods intrigue us more than others.
As I thought about the settings of my novels, I realized some had stories or at least a connection of some kind to me and to my life. Several of my locations are fictitious, but there is still a personal link.
A Fresh Start
I love the New Year. Do you? Are you sad when Christmas ends (or are you glad to get back to normal?) I like the New Year because it feels like a fresh start. I take stock on the year that passed and come up with new goals and objectives for that start.
A Christmas Story that Makes Me Remember…
Is there a cold snap where you live? After a glorious Indian summer that lasted a long time, there’s one here. Piles of leaves on the ground, swish and crunch every time I leave the house. From now on, we’ll be at warp speed until January. Hold on tight! Do you enjoy the season? Or is it simply too hectic? As November closes, so does a promotion I did on One December. That book was the second one I’ve written, and the first one I published back in 2018. Over the years, I’ve edited it a few...
God’s Answers in Eternity
Sometimes our circumstances, ranging from annoying to heart-stopping, drive us to a familiar and well-loved verse, Philippians 4:6. Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. We might read it often when something is weighing on us. I find comfort in this verse because it reminds me God cares about my “stuff”, no matter how small. But one day as I read the verse, something new hit me. Tell God what you need, and thank...
The Return of Brenner Falls . . . Book Two!
Custom Made is coming soon! Over halfway through summer, and I wonder where it all went. Is it just me, or does it feel like it just started? I hope yours has been fun and relaxing so far. Though I know not all summers are relaxing. That's another story! During much of my summer (and spring) I focused on my biggest project of this year, Custom Made, the second book in the Brenner Falls Romance series. I’m nearly at the finish line and plan to launch it in August. I’m excited to share it with...
Why and How to Write a Book Review
Writing a Book Review: Why and How You see a book that triggers your attention, but you don’t know the author. You might take a chance if the book’s on sale or free. Why Reviews Are Important to Both Authors and Readers Another influence is a review or taking note of the number of stars a book has. In the exponentially growing world of online book sales, reviews are important to both authors and readers. As a reader, I don’t need to tell you how useful it is when you look...
Falling Trees and Book News
It’s been quite the year for trees. Last summer, I had to take 4 down. Then two more fell right after Christmas. What’s going on with the trees? I had to find out. I learned that the type of tree that kept falling, a beautiful type of cypress, also had shallow roots, even at physical maturity. Although they’d grown tall and lush with evergreen foliage, their roots didn’t go very deep. Once rains and winds came for a few days, down they went. (My long-suffering neighbor has had two of them fall...
New Book! New Series! 50% off
Hope your holidays were full of joy and fun! Now, the lull. But wait, there's a new book out...it's the book I've been telling you about. The one I just finished. Good Gifts It's the first book in a brand-new series, the Brenner Falls Series. Brenner Falls is a small but up-and-coming town in the Susquehanna River Valley, Pennsylvania. The series starts with Nathan and Leah. (And will continue with a bunch of new friends you'll want to meet!) Read about their story! Nathan Chisholm’s...
Welcome to Brenner Falls!
A new series is just around the corner, so stay tuned! I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season and the joy, family time, and busyness that brings. I enjoy decorating, baking, and inviting friends. But it can be tiring to do all that! Which makes it even more important to remember God’s Good Gift to us, Jesus, who is the one that changed everything in history and in our lives. That’s one of the meanings behind the title of my new book, Good Gifts, which will be available soon. I hope you’re...
Lines and Spaces
Hello! By this time, we’ve seen the back of summer and are facing the new season, with all the mix of festivities and temperature changes. Let’s reframe this: fall gives you additional indoor time to read, and winter even more! Lines and Spaces A few months ago, God impressed me with the idea of lines and spaces in my life. There are times when I’m juggling too many balls, and wearing too many hats. Excuse the clichés, but I’m sure you can (at least sometimes) relate! One of the problems I was...
Your Dreams…on a Dream Board
Dream Boards Hi! Here’s a fun topic. Have you ever heard of a dream board? It’s a fun way to make a visual reminder of the things you dream about for your future. God for sure has great plans for us, but he doesn’t mind at all if we dream a little! (Lots of our dreams come from him anyway!) As long as we hold them loosely, we can dream big, wide, and far. A few years ago, at a church women’s event, we made dream boards. Inside, I scoffed just a little bit, because it didn’t seem like something...
A Gifted Masterpiece
A Gifted Masterpiece The first time I saw a photo of this sculpture, I was amazed at the intricate beauty and marveled at the artistic skill of the sculptor, known as David d’Angers. His real name was Pierre-Jean David, and he was born in 1788 in the city of Angers in France. His impressive works are on display in a museum there. He was world-renowned for his beautiful creations, and in his day was commissioned for works by many countries. He even contributed to the Louvre and the Arc of...