Hopefully better late than never with today's post! :) Recently I returned home after a few days away. There's something about a a road trip and a little break in routine that refreshes the spirits, don't you agree? First, my husband and I set out for Pipestone, MN, which is about four hours from home. On our way, we found ourselves driving along the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Highway and … [Read more...]
Traveling Again…
Except for a quick trip back to Kansas last November, I hadn't been out in our camper van since last spring when we went to St. Simons Island on a research trip! Ken and his brother were gone camping for 18 days last summer, but for a while now, we've both been ready to go adventuring again. So yesterday we hit the road! First stop was breakfast at The Vault, a wonderful cafe in Marion, IL, … [Read more...]
Happy Belated Easter
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! My husband was parking as my daughters and I stopped in front of this gorgeous flower-covered cross on our way into church on Sunday. (I think His Highness viewed the fact that he was parking as a double mercy. He showed mercy to us by dropping us off close to the doors. And we were merciful to him by not forcing him to pose for a photo.) Our son … [Read more...]
It’s coming soon! The Targeted and a Special Launch Box (and Giveaway)
In my day job I love working with independent bookstores. I also love working with women-owned independent bookstores. One of my absolute favorites is Naughty Dog Books in Nashville, Indiana. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend stopping there. You'll love wandering through this former bank. It is charming, filled with great books, and just thoughtfully curated. Naughty Dog has … [Read more...]
Sweet Silence
Happy Wednesday, friends! In our rush around society, we often forget to take a deep breath, to look out at the horizon, to soak in God’s majestic creation surrounding us. To listen to our babies or grand babies (in my case) laughter, to watch a butterfly fluttering around the bush in the back yard, to enjoy the scent of fresh tomatoes and spices wafting off the stove from our cooking dinner. … [Read more...]
Easter pic & a $0.99 deal TODAY
Hey friends, I hope you all had wonderful times with family and friends this past weekend—hiding and hunting eggs and eating yummy food. But most of all, I pray you were able to gather with a local body of Christ and celebrate all that Jesus has done for us. ❤️ The grands are growing WAY too quickly for me, but I'm treasuring every minute. How I love these people! For those of you … [Read more...]
Have you heard God speak?
Because I indie-published my last book, I used ChatGPT as an editor--and it did a good job, I must admit. It didn't pick up subtext, and it had problems about remembering what had happened in the early part of the book, but it was really good about keeping my characters' tone consistent and not offending anyone's sensibilities. But in my story, God speaks to Josh. Not in long sermons or … [Read more...]
The Book Club Experience (Part 2)
A little over two years ago, I blogged about the book club I’d been participating in for 16 months. Since I have continued in that book club, I thought maybe it was time for an update. Our little club has read and discussed 26 more books, and I have confirmed some things about myself as a reader. That got me to thinking about my own writing. While many writers say something like, “I see the … [Read more...]
That Time I Friend-Zoned My Hero
Karen here. I'm delighted to welcome back my friend Megan Schaulis to the blog. She writes award-winning Christian dystopian fiction inspired by biblical stories. Take it away, Megan! I’m so thrilled that my third book is hitting shelves in less than a week! Rebuilder is a beachy romantic adventure with a bit of nanotechnology and a whole lot of heartfelt faith. But can I confess … [Read more...]
March’s Miracles
This is not an April Fool’s Day post. This is a recounting of some of the miracles God did on our behalf in March. As you know, my father, who is 88, underwent a quad bypass and a valve replacement on March 16. He also ended up having a pacemaker put in on March 18. It was rough. On Friday, after the initial surgery on Monday, he was out of it, not doing well at all. And they were … [Read more...]