Writing teachers often tell us to “Picture your ideal reader in your head and write to them.” I usually picture my mother. She is such a voracious reader that it would be a struggle to find a Christian romance she hasn’t read. But my mom did not grow up in a Christian home. She met […]
A Light in the Dark
Sometimes, there is so much brokenness in the world, it’s hard to see the light. I get overwhelmed by the sadness and heartbreak and downright evil in the world. Just this morning, I was notified that a young father of two in my circle succumbed to incurable brain cancer, while two weeks ago a 13 […]
Support Your Favorite Authors #Giveaway
You’ve heard of the starving artist. Well, I’ll let you in on a secret. Most authors are starving. If not starving, at least struggling. Very few authors make a living with their words. Especially Christian authors since secular books make up most of the market. For every consistent bestselling author dominating Christian sales, there are […]
Book Clubs #Giveaway
The most fun thing about reading books to me, is discussing them with others. What better way to savor a story than to discuss it with a friend. To share your favorite parts or how you felt during pivotal moments in the story. Whether you saw a plot twist coming, if you figured out who […]
Achievements in 2022 #Giveaway
In my last post of 2021, I listed some disappointments of the year and goals for the new one. Number 1 on the list: Reading for pleasure. Since I didn’t read any books just for fun in 2021, I set a goal of 12 for 2022. I didn’t really count as I went and didn’t […]
The Wedding Went Off Without a Hitch – NOT #Giveaway
Our son got married last month. The ceremony was gorgeous, the bride was breathtaking, the groom was cute as could be, it was a beautiful day, and the wedding went off without a hitch. NOT! One major oops threatened the festivities. One of the bridesmaids got her dates mixed up. She thought it was the […]
Thankful for You
I’ve just returned from a massive writing conference in Las Vegas, Nevada called 20Booksto50K. Nearly 2,000 writers converged to talk writing and marketing, but you know what the biggest topic of conversation was? YOU. This yearly conference is for writers in all genres, but on the eve of the first day, about a dozen authors […]
That’s Going in a Book #Giveaway
After being in the house all week, editing a book, I told my husband I wanted to do something fun. Fun for us is go to out for lunch, then hit a few flea markets, and finish up with a grocery run. So we headed to our favorite plate lunch restaurant about forty minutes from […]
Books That Make You Go WHOA! #Giveaway
After over 200 rejection letters, I spent four intense years studying the craft of writing. Certain I’d learned all I needed to know, I prepared to go to my first national conference, back in 2005. I’d submitted my latest manuscript to a publisher and was waiting to hear back from them. I felt good about […]
Fall Books I Love
I’m wrapped in a blanket, wearing fuzzy socks, and drinking hot tea. No, it’s not winter, but this Texas-born girl feels cold as soon as the temps dip below 75. And seeing how northern Virginia got the fall memo on September 22nd, I’m permanently wrapped in layers. So I thought the perfect way to commiserate […]