We binge-watch episodes of our favorite shows and binge-listen to episodes of our favorite podcasts. Why not binge-read episodes in our favorite genre? In July 2021, Amazon launched Kindle Vella as a way to offer avid readers an alternative to reading news or surfing social media on their phones for short spurts of time. I’m…
Tag: #YALit
Scripture to pray over teens
I’ve never prayed harder than I did during my children’s teenage years. Not only did I pray for them, I prayed for my husband and me. I asked God to strengthen and instill trust in our relationships, keep our children from harm, grant all of us patience and understanding, and . . . the list…
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…
It’s May Day!
Did you know that it’s traditional to leave baskets of flowers on your loved ones’ doorsteps on the first day of May? In today’s germ-conscious environment, it might not be the best idea. But, there’s nothing to stop you from sending someone a virtual bouquet. May celebrations began in the second century with the Festival…
A Real Bird-Brain
Last Spring, a blue bird took one look at the inside of our house and decided he wanted in. The persistent little fellow bashed into our breakfast room window hundreds of times over the course of several months, knocking himself silly several times. Why did he persist in this crazy self-harm? Why did he believe…
Lenten Sacrifice
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day millions of Christian believers around the world confront their own mortality and confess their sins before God. I am one of those millions. Many of us attend worship services and allow pastors to etch ash crosses on our foreheads as a public demonstration of our humility before God. In…
The Haunted Heinz Mansion
A spooky true story for the Halloween season: I saw a ghost when I was fifteen years old. Or, maybe it was someone pretending to be a ghost. I had begged my parents to let me accompany my English teacher and four other members of our school’s literary magazine staff to see Sylvia Plath’s “The…
Race to your Kindle!
I’m thrilled to announce that not one, not two, but THREE of my writing partners published books in the last month. It’s so exciting to see a book I critiqued make to it print. Julane Fisher, who lives on the other side of the lake from me (45 minutes by car), released Sour Lemon and Sweet…
Senior Pranks
Senioritis. It’s a real thing. High school seniors are ready to GET OUT! They’re so close to graduation. In fact, the rounds of parties have already kicked off. But, there are still a few weeks left in their final semester. What could they possibly do to occupy their time while they wait? Cram for finals?…
Why did I start writing Christian fiction for teens?
All my life, I’ve written for someone else—grade school teachers, college professors, newspaper editors, magazine publishers, corporate managers and high-tech clients. I was established. Why would I want to give up a steady salary to wear out my keyboard in the risky book publishing industry? God. Yep, He nudged me. In fact, He all but…