Before I began hanging out with writers, it never occurred to me that the authors of my favorite books were real people with mortgages, laundry, soccer practices, and—in many cases—day jobs. Obviously, I knew these things, but I didn’t think that there was anything I—a reader—could do to support or encourage them in any meaningful… [ read more ]

Lynette Eason has done it again! When the Smoke Clears is the first in her new Deadly Reunions series (doesn’t that sound ominous!) and it has everything I loved from her Women of Justice series – romance, mystery, and characters with intriguing professions. But she’s taken it up a notch in the suspense department! The first few chapters come hard and fast with all the pacing of a… [ read more ]

Can you picture this scene? A young, young-ish, um, a mom with young children is standing in the checkout line. The baby is crying. The toddler is whining. The big sister is screaming at the top of her lungs that she wants to go home. The mom keeps the smile pasted on her face but… [ read more ]

It’s the first Thursday of the month, so I’m over at The Write Conversation ! Come by for my review of James Scott Bell’s latest, Conflict and Suspense .

I’m not a big fan of suffering. I prefer to avoid it. Completely. And who would blame me? We live in a culture that values ease, peace, and prosperity above all else. Our own Declaration of Independence declares that we are endowed by our Creator with the right to the pursuit of happiness. Now I’m a big fan of the Founding Fathers,… [ read more ]

A few weeks ago, our community lost a young man in Afghanistan. He’d been there less than three weeks. I didn’t know the soldier or his family, but I was so moved by the outpouring of support from our citizens. While people lined the highways and gathered to protect the grieving family from protesters, I began to read… [ read more ]

It’s the first Thursday of the month, so I’m blogging over at The Write Conversation today. Have you ever dared to pray, “Lord, this is what I want?” Should you? Could you be so bold? We’re talking about shooting for the stars so come by and tell us what you are praying for during 2012.

Merry Christmas!

As my daughter opened birthday gifts several months ago, a sheet of paper fluttered on the edge of my sight. All I registered was that there were at least twelve steps and for a fleeting moment, I questioned my sister’s sanity. What was she thinking? Why would she give Emma a gift that would be… [ read more ]

I’m a wife, mother, and writer. I’m a daughter, sister, and friend. I’m a reader, knitter, and scrapbooker. I’m a cook, maid, and seamstress. I’m an engineer, manager, and bookkeeper. With all that stuff going on, you’d think I’d be fulfilled. Nope. Not even close. More often than not, I feel anxious. Desperate. Inadequate. My… [ read more ]