This morning I wanted to share a couple things that are bubbling in my spirit. I seem to be in a season where God is challenging me to dare to ask more of Him. And it’s a season where the thought wearies me. How terrible is that? God dares me to ask for more. And all I can think is “God, …
Great Foreign Language Tool
Every once in awhile I stumble on an app that is worth it’s weight in gold. And sometimes they’re free! Today I want to introduce you to one that I am thrilled with. It’s perfect for people who want to pick up a foreign language or brush up dusty skills. Maybe you’ve heard of it: Duolingo. It’s a free app …
Travel to World War II Nebraska with E-Books
The stories of my heart are now in e-books. These books were the first of mine that found a publishing home and now they are available for all e-formats. With each of these books I got to highlight a bit of the history of my home state. I’m so delighted that my first book in the Nebraska series Canteen Dreams …
Picking Topics for Books
One challenge for a novelist is coming up with ideas that generate ideas for future books. While we’re writing one, we need to generate ideas for more — it’s a cycle of life of sorts. I read a few non-fiction books, looking for anything that jumps out at me. And if it interests me, there is a chance I can spin …
Rending Our Hearts: Joel 2
I’m currently participating in Beth Moore’s Esther study for the second time. It is a study filled with great truth on destiny and finding God when His name is nowhere in a circumstance. One of the studies for this week tied Esther 4 to Joel 2. Joel is one of those minor prophets that you’ve read once or twice if …
Living with No Regrets
Since January 27, my grandfather and uncle died…exactly one week apart. It’s one reason I haven’t posted as consistently as usual. My grandma doesn’t have wifi on the farm, and it was important to spend time with her. One theme that kept ringing through as we (my parents, siblings, cousins, extended family) walked through this dark time was that we …
Exciting News! I’ll be Seeing You at Christmas
I am beyond thrilled to announce that Tricia Goyer, Sarah Sundin and I are coming together to write a Christmas novella collection tentatively titled I’ll be Seeing You…at Christmas. It’s part of B&H’s new World War II fiction line that launches in 2014. The book I turned in February 1st, Shadowed by Grace, launches the line next February.Tricia and Sarah …
All for a Song by Allison Pittman
Allison Pittman is an award winning author of numerous books, all historical, and all set during different time periods. I first got to know her when we both attended a writer’s retreat, and she offered to pick me up at the airport. We had a great time getting to know each other, and from our conversations, I couldn’t wait to …
Turning Life Into Fiction: My Grandpa
We had my Grandpa’s services on Saturday, and then yesterday morning my uncle died. As I’ve been with family, I’ve thought about the legacy we leave behind. Grandpa was one of my heroes. Today, I wanted to share with you one way I turned who he was into inspiration for my stories. A couple years ago for Christmas, he had …
Honoring a Legacy of Love
Today, I’ll be at the visitation and tomorrow at the graduation celebration for my 93 year old grandfather who went home to be with the Lord Sunday. It’s been a bittersweet couple weeks as we prepared for him to leave us. The man has left an amazing legacy. He and my grandma were married 66 years. They had four children+ …