I must live under a rock because I didn’t realize libraries are still banning books. In fact, I didn’t know that the American Library Association (ALA) hosted an annual Banned Book Week, formed to draw attention to the harms of censorship. Mark your calendars, folks, it’s September 26 – October 2 in 2021. Last week,…
Category: Writing
My Top Five Spooky Book Picks
It’s the season to read spooky books!
Syncing Audible & ebooks
Syncing Audible and ebooks combines the best of both worlds: listening to stories and reading them.
My path to a national contest win
When you hear God’s voice say, “Trust me,” listen and obey. He’s serious. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been grumbling that the three publishers to whom I’d submitted The Demons Among Us haven’t replied. I’d been told it would be six to eight weeks before I heard anything . . . if I heard…
A facelift . . . for our library
It’s no secret. Patrons of the main Hall County Library in Gainesville, Georgia, are spreading the word about its youthful appearance. Last year, the board voted to renovate. Prison inmates moved books across the street to an abandoned grocery store, and work began. When COVID hit, the county libraries closed. So, the timing turned out…
What is Crossover Fiction?
Late last night, I sighed with satisfaction as I finished Gwendy’s Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. The bestselling duo had penned a perfect ending to a fast-paced story about a teen girl who finds herself in a Pandora’s box type of situation. Most readers expect a book from King’s workshop to target…
Plotter vs Pantster
I’m happiest when I’m organized. I plan a week’s worth of meals on Sunday afternoons, arrange my closet by colors, and alphabetize my bookshelves by author. I’m flexible, but prefer order. So, it makes sense that when it comes to writing, I’m a plotter, not a pantster. I like to plot my novels before writing…
Drive-by Baby Shower
Early this summer, I co-hosted two drive-by baby showers. At first, I was appalled by the idea. I’m a born and bred Southern girl. We do things a certain way by tradition. My mother gasped when I told her what my friends and I had concocted. “That doesn’t even make sense,” she said, turning up…
She’s a doctor!
I’m so proud of my girl. On August 9, Julia’s mentor hooded her in a private ceremony attended by family members only and introduced her as Dr. Grove. After seven years of college, my 24-year-old daughter had graduated with a PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology from Auburn University. As she began work on her master’s…
The Storyteller Squad
I’m honored to be a founding member of the Storyteller Squad, a group of Christian writers who specialize in children, middle grade, and young adult genres. If you’re looking for an online one-stop shop that offers teens a safe place to find motivational tips, writing lessons and reviews on clean books, check out our site….