Have you ever read a Christian novel, see a Bible verse, and go, “I need that Scripture reminder today”? Do share in the comments. I love it when my readers tell me that my books have encouraged their Christian walk in some way, especially if a Bible verse they came across while reading resonated with […]
Escape to … Italia
Seven years ago, we traveled through Northern Italy. Have you ever been? Even now, I can shut my eyes and remember the aromas of truffle oil and garlic that saturated the air around our apartment in Florence. So heavenly! What does this have to do with writing novels? Everything. You see, at the time, I […]
The Completion of a Series + #Giveaway
Sometimes I feel like ‘the end’ are two of the most satisfying words in the English language. I realize ‘the end’ can have vastly different meanings, depending on the context. For writers, the moment of completion of a book project can bring forth a range of emotions. Joy, relief, happiness, sorrow, thankfulness, and pure exhaustion […]
Why we love romance… and #Giveaway
Romance stories have permeated culture from the beginning of time. Whether you’re looking within Greek mythology or Shakespearean plays or modern-day movies — romance is everywhere! In 2021, it was the second most popular genre of books sold — and most of the others include romance subplots as a matter of course! Of all human […]
Reflections
Lately I’ve been reading a lot of stories that have brought tears to my eyes. Am I in a season? Am I choosing all the same kind of books? Who knows. But I enjoy reading books that bring out emotions, and cause us to think and reflect on life. On the importance of relationships and […]
Where Do You Retreat to Read?
The past few months have been—how do I put this?—far from restful. Trauma from losing a loved one, an intense workload, and a nagging illness have all combined to force me to do something I’m not that good at: Rest. So I’ve had to learn this art of resting. And part of that has been […]
Siblings in Stories
I’m an only child, so I didn’t grow up with siblings, but I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister. When I met my husband, I quickly found out what it was like to be surrounded by brothers and sisters. He’s one of five children, and I gained those sibling-like relationships […]
Weirdness in Christian Fiction
In one of my very first books, I had a church scene with an altar call – or invitation if you’re more familiar with that term – and my editor commented and said something like, “I’m a Christian, and I’ve never heard of this. Remove it so you don’t lose your readers.” I thought that […]
Freedom, Colorado: The Heart of the Rockies
Welcome to Freedom, Colorado! I’m so glad you took the time to climb on the trolley for a tour of our little town on your way to the resort. You’ll have to come back during the holidays because Christmas in Freedom is something special. But I won’t complain about July in Freedom either. It’s […]
Summer Reading List + an apology
Things have been weird in JayceeLand the past several months. I’m still trying to find my groove again, and what mojo I do find comes in small snippets that disappear soon after. So rather than force myself to write, I’m taking the summer off to focus on my family, my home, side projects I’ve set […]