Yesterday, I got a huge gift from a friend. Leiah has a background in publishing and I had twisted her arm into reading my manuscript. I can’t imagine how nerve-wracking this must be for a friend. “Okay, you want me to critique this? Are you SURE? Will we still be friends afterwards?” So, yesterday we … Read More
Today I got to play “model” for my friend, Bethany Haile. She is an awesome photographer who has recently started her own business. Even though I grew up the daughter of a photographer, it felt very strange to have the “focus” completely on me. But it was very fun to see Bethany at her best, … Read More
Okay, so if you haven’t read Part One: Bad Boy, Good Boy? then go read it. Or this will make NO sense to you! Yesterday I wrote how my mischevious son came to accept Jesus at a young age because the idea of sin and punishment made perfect sense to him. He understood the gift … Read More
My son spent much of his first few years sitting in the time out chair. He was an active kid and often learned his lessons the hard way. Throw a block at someone? Time-out. Knock your sister over? Time-out. Throw the cellphone in the toilet? Yep, you guessed it, time-out. He learned very quickly that … Read More
I’m not sure if this is true for everyone, or just for me. But I have a spiritual “back door.” And it’s unlocked. Maybe yours is too. When people try to teach me things, whether that be in school, bible study, well-meaning advice — whatever — I have locks. “NO!” I think. “I won’t be … Read More
I’ve been working lately on getting SHAKEN ready to pitch to agents and editors at the Mount Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in April. I have discovered that publicizing, pitching and selling your writing is so much more intense than the writing itself. There are so many hoops you have to jump through. No longer does … Read More
Shaken is set in 1906 San Francisco. While working on research for the story, I stumbled over one of the most amazing characters in San Francisco history. I had no choice but to find a way to for her to cross paths with my character. Donaldina Cameron was a Presbyterian missionary working out of the … Read More
It’s funny how the image of chains keeps coming up to me lately as I’m working on my book. My character is not a prisoner, nor has she ever been in any literal chains. But I suppose she is in a type of bondage — that of grief. Grief can wrap chains around our hearts … Read More
I borrowed these from Rachelle Gardner’s site, but she borrowed them from the internet. In other words, I’m passing the buck of plagarism! (“But she did it first!!!” — me to the judge). Enjoy! There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed his desire to become a great writer. When asked to … Read More
It’s time to say, “Hello!” as this is my first official post on my new blog. But in saying “Hello,” I also wanted to share a thought about that gesture or word that I learned today. I just read a great article by Joe Kita called “What If You Said Hello To Everyone In Your … Read More