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C is for Curse – A Swan Lake Anthology
I’m thrilled to announce the publishing of my newest short story, “A Swan Alone,” in the book C is for Curse: A Swan Lake Anthology. It’s is on sale, $0.99 for the ebook until October 2nd. Click here to snag it now. It’s also available in paperback. When I decided to take on the Swan Lake retelling, I wasn’t all that familiar with the tale so I immersed myself in it. I spent time trying to understand the characters and unravel the emotional beats. I found a world of magic, love and betrayal that touched my heart. What came out is the story of Evangeline, a lonely girl searching out…
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B is for Beauty
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Book Review: Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun
I used to dream of meeting the authors of my favorite books when I was a kid. Now, as I embark on a writing journey myself, I have met some really amazing authors in various groups on the internet. I first met Christina Cattaine back in March through a podcast she co-hosts, the Christian Indie Writers Podcast. I’ll include the details at the end of this post, but let’s get into my review of Christina’s brand new novel, “Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun.” Main character, Angelica, is a troublemaker according to her father. He is the High Priest and has high expectations of his daughter, who feels…
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6′ of Hope
That’s me in the blue sweatshirt, hugging my friend Alison, just a few weeks after they diagnosed her 5 year old daughter with leukemia. Her world has been upside down and social distancing since Christmas. The rest of the world is catching up with the understanding that our germs might harm someone else who can’t handle them. I’m a hugger, and the thought of not hugging people anymore is really making me so sad. I was honestly having a hard time this afternoon and got a little weepy. It made me think about the studies they did with orphan babes and how the ones that had little to no human…
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Don’t Panic
I began writing this post way back in September just before my 42nd birthday. Those of you familiar with the science fiction novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams, will understand the significance of 42, which according to Adams is, “the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything.” But what is the question? For me, it was never about the fear of “40.” I was glad to be 40 because I knew I would soon be 42. My nerdy heart swelled. But now I’ve been 42 for a few months, and I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it. “Don’t Panic!”…
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Book Review: Power Up
“Right then, Lexi settled in her spirit to let God carry her and her family. She decided not to spend her energy trying to figure out God or tell him what to do, but to simply hold on to his goodness as truth and trust him.” Jessie Mattis, Power Up I often struggle with how to encourage my kids in their own spiritual lives. Between school work and video games and chores how do we motivate kids to be interested in God’s Word and growing in faith? Author Jessie Mattis has done a wonderful thing with Power Up. Through fun characters and a great story she introduces deep concepts about…
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Book Review: Pilgrim’s Progress
“As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I came to the place where there was a den. Inside, I lay down to sleep, and as I slept, I had a dream.” John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress When I first read Pilgrim’s Progress as a young believer I was captivated by the adventure and all the clever ways Bunyan brought Scripture and doctrine to life through allegory. The story follows a man named Christian, who begins with a burden in the city of Destruction. Bunyan shows the clear gospel when at the “place of Deliverance” (the cross) Christian releases his burden and sets out to journey on the “King’s Highway”…
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Book Review: Redeeming Love
“Oh, Lord, why was I so blind? Why couldn’t I hear? Why did it take so much pain for me to see that you have been reaching out to me all along?” Angel, Redeeming Love The book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers brings the story of redemption to brilliant life. It is full of struggle, heartache, and revelation. It’s a fictional allegory of the minor prophet book of Hosea from the Bible set during the California gold rush. It follows a girl from the devastation of being sold into prostitution at a young age to her rescue by a man named Michael Hosea, and ultimately her salvation by God. Michael’s…
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Book Review: Hinds’ Feet on High Places
“This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where “perfect love casteth out fear.” -Hannah Hurnard Fear. We all experience fear. Sometimes it masquerades as anxiety, sadness, procrastination, rationalization, and escapism. It’s easy to read scriptures that tell us not to have fear, but oh so hard to live it practically. From that very first line I was hooked and excited to go on the journey with Much-Afraid. Much Afraid is physically handicapped, having crippled feet that made her limp and a crooked mouth that disfigured her face. The Shepherd (who is Jesus) called her to follow…
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Summer Fruit Devotion: Self-Control Day 3
Train the Young “But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your…
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Summer Fruit Devotion: Gentleness Day 5
Unity in Gentleness “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-6 The Spirit loves unity. The Spirit also loves diversity. The next part of…
