Have you ever read a book and scratched your head at a familiar reference you couldn’t quite place? You’ve read it somewhere before, maybe in another work from that author. Perhaps what you’ve stumbled over is an author’s hidden gem, otherwise known as a nod, a wink, or an easter egg (I’m not capitalizing here […]
Promoted: From Supporting Role to Main Character
Once in a while, a supporting character steals the show. They don’t mean to, but they can’t help themselves. A dynamic personality, hysterical dialogue, or a memorable backstory can grab onto a reader and make them crave more. After receiving lots of comments from readers about one such character, I knew she had to be […]
The Fifth Annual Inspy Valentine’s Awards
It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and you know what that means! Well, yes, it means that we’ll all probably be eating too much chocolate in the near future. But also…it’s time for the Fifth Annual Inspy Valentine’s Awards! As you may remember, I created these awards five years ago to showcase some of the fun details […]
Ripped from the Headlines
It was the summer of 2022. The tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas had thrown me for a huge loop for a whole bunch of reasons: Uvalde is only a five-hour drive from where I live in South Texas, so it felt like it had happened in my own backyard The mother of a student […]
Junk Food for the Brain
Junk food is scrumptious. Sweet and gooey, or savory and crunchy, there are some snacks that I love to gorge, even while I’m fully aware that overindulging is bad for my waistline. Who am I kidding? I have no waistline. Still, those empty calories may have even worse health implications than a few extra pounds. […]
Reading Challenge Roundup + #Giveaway
Happy New Year’s! This is my first post of 2024 and I can’t believe I’m even typing that year. How time flies! Now that we’re in a new year, I’ve seen a lot of people sharing about reading challenges to participate in for the new year. I thought it would be fun to round them […]
Worth Their Space on My Shelf
Is space limited? You bet. Does that cross my mind when I make book-buying decisions? Nope. However, because paperbacks are more expensive, I tend to do most of my reading in ebook or audiobook. (I buy most of the ebooks I read, but I listen to audiobooks via Hoopla free through my library!) No matter […]
Escaping into Christmas
Do you ever just want to escape? Whether from life’s daily grind or anxiety from the seemingly endless conflict and suffering in our world, I often need a break. While escapism isn’t always the answer—we need to sometimes take action and always remain prayerful—finding ways to unwind helps with my stamina and renewal of spirit. […]
The Prodigals
Last month, I posted The Prodigal Daughter as though written by my character, Meg Carmichael, and I asked if any of you had read other “prodigal” retellings. I didn’t get any bites, and I thought… I’m sure there must be stories with that theme out there. I know I’ve written some and read more! So […]
Which is Better? Contemporary Book Covers…or Historical?
I recently came across a list of the best Christian book covers as voted by readers. I only looked at the top 100 covers, but still – I was surprised. A little shocked. Maybe a touch dismayed. Let me share with you what I found… Out of the top 100 covers, 3 were for Christian […]