If you’re looking to add to your reading list, have a look at the Christy finalists for 2018. This award is associated with Catherine Marshall and her classic Christy set in my beloved Appalachian mountains. This particular novel inspired me and my writing in ways I can’t name as well as her other nonfiction books on faith. I was a …
Pages and pages
So the pages came today, that last version of the book prior to print. The next step is holding the actual novel in hand. For now, I have 407 pages to peruse. I open the envelopes that have been Fedexed overnight and put all the pages together. And because I’d rather be playing in my sunny garden like Lark in …
Soon to be on my shelf
When I first began publishing in 2009, there were not as many Christian fiction titles out there and fewer covers that stood out. Fast forward almost 10 years and things have changed in a tremendously eye-catching way! I’ve always been drawn most to historical fiction because that’s what I chose to write beginning at age 7. I grew up reading …
Favorite Frontier Fiction
I’m kicking off my FAVORITE FRONTIER FICTION series with fellow author Michelle Griep! Her summer release, The Captured Bride, looks quite at home on our cabin porch. Without further adieu, here’s a guest post by Michelle that gives us a realistic look at the research, history, and inspiration behind this new novel… A Visit to Fort Niagara Whether you’re a …
A Scottish Setting
If you were to ask which country is my favorite other than the U.S.A. I’d say Scotland without pause. Home of my Hume ancestors (and those Ballantynes), Scotland has epic history, scenery, and cuisine, to name just a few of its many treasures. Here are some things I learned about Scotland as an ex-patriate: Scotland is smaller than the state …
New newsletter with a perk!
I finally took the plunge last year and hired a freelancer to teach me how to craft a compelling newsletter (I so hope you think it’s compelling)! I’m all about beauty and edification so it took countless hours to transfer that vision in my head and heart to a delightful e-letter format. Since I love sending snail mail complete with …
Yes to the dress!
[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″] [et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Cover art continues to be my favorite part of publishing and it seems to be of fascination for many readers, too. Other than reading the book! I begin thinking about a cover as soon as I start writing the book and create a ‘secret’ Pinterest board where I save images to share …
Spring Hunt!
The much anticipated Spring Scavenger Hunt is about to begin. Hope you can join us as March blooms! The first stop is Lisa Bergren’s beautiful site! I’m especially excited because I’m stop #2 on the hunt this time with some never-before-shared content that I hope will delight you like it does me… HAPPY HUNTING!
18th~century Kitchen
I confess to being a bonafide foodie & cooking along with my heroines, or in this case, baking. Growing up in my granny’s Kentucky kitchen, in which not once in all her 97 years did she do dishes by anything but hand (no dishwasher), everything else was from scratch, too! Sometimes she would make old-fashioned gingerbread which makes me wonder …
Those Reviews
I’m blessed by readers who enjoy my books and then leave reviews about what the story meant to them. I also admire those who might not enjoy a book but point out what they do and don’t like in a gracious, helpful way. Good reviews are like the finest chocolate. Here’s one and I call literary. You can tell the …

