I do love spring--my trees come back to life, the oaks gleam with yellow-gold new leaves, and I stand outside and recite "Nothing gold can stay," the poem by Robert Frost. That tradition began when I was in high school. Every year Mrs. Williams would lead us out to a second story balcony beneath a sprawling live oak, where she'd recite the poem and we'd marvel that Nature's first green really is … [Read more...]

Hi friends and happy Wednesday! I’m working on the second book in my new Jeopardy Falls series, and I have a character who shies away from risk. He feels safer remaining in his comfort zone. His hesitance to risk isn’t because he lacks courage. He’s very brave, but he was raised by one parent who believed risk was foolish. Everything was to be a calculated decision.  I’m finding it an … [Read more...]

I can’t wait! In one month, the inaugural Going Deeper Conference begins. This writers conference is the brain-child of author-friend Erica Vetsch, and will be held in her hometown of Rochester, Minnesota April 25-27.   Yes, I will be co-teaching a fun class with Erica and Michelle Griep, but what I’m most looking forward to is a weekend with sister writers. There is something so … [Read more...]

My second novel was published in 1998 with Bethany House Publishers under the title In the Still of Night. It was a title I really liked and one that I had suggested to the team at Bethany House. Traditionally published authors don't always get to choose the title for their book, so I was pleased. But when I got the rights back to the book years later, another book by the same title (actually … [Read more...]