>The Sense of Place (Part 1)

>I admit that I’m drawn to character driven novels vs. plot-driven ones, although I love a good mystery or suspense for a change of pace. In my own writing, I tend to come up with characters and a premise before I create plots, but the plot comes out in the actual writing. Lately, though, I’ve been pondering (which can be …

>IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS

> My dad is my hero. Someone who’s always ready with another story or good advice. Although he didn’t go to college, me made certain my sisters and I did. And along the way, he instilled in me a strong work ethic, a love of God, and the value of “keeping my nose clean and to the grindstone.” He also …

>WINNER OF Patti Lacy’s AN IRISHWOMAN’S TALE

>CONGRATULATIONS to Doreen, who is the winner of Patti Lacy’s wonderful Irish story, AN IRISHWOMAN’S TALE. Thanks, Doreen and all the others who stopped by the cafe and entered the drawing. Watch for more giveaways in the future. And a special thanks to Patti Lacy for sharing this haunting, yet heartwarming story with the world.

>DID YOU VOTE TODAY?

> It’s been an amazing, complicated political season, and many things about the future of our nation hang in the balance. I’ve heard the debates, studied the issues, and prayed about my vote. Never have I felt so strongly that we need to heed the voice of God when he appeared to Solomon by night and spoke these words. ” …

>Review and Book Drawing for AN IRISHWOMAN’S TALE

> MY REVIEW An Irishwoman’s Tale by Patti Lacy (see blog entry below) is based on a true story. The fact and fiction are woven together to tell Mary Freeman’s story—a delightful and sometimes haunting tale of her being torn from her mother’s bosom in a dingy Irish cottage and sent to live with a couple in Chicago. Mary’s lifelong …

>Ah . . . Do You Remember These?

> Does anyone remember the Statler Brothers? Max and I loved this group in the 70s and 80s, so much, in fact, that we own all their CDs and have seen them onstage in four different states. In 1983, we planned our entire vacation around going to their annual 4th of July celebration in their hometown—Staunton, VA. The Statlers retired …

>FALL BREAK

>We all need a break once in a while. So today I’m taking a short breather from my novel revisions to bring you some pictures of what we did last weekend. It was fall break for the school kiddos, so Max and I were recruited . . . er, volunteered to watch Scott and Denice’s three kids. Lovely weekend for …

>Have You Seen The Afictionado E-Zine?

>I’ve told you about the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) Conference I went to last month. Not all of you could swing it this year, either due to cost, distance, or other obligations. Now, though, you can have the conference in a nutshell – and for free! Check out this month’s AFICTIONADO E – ZINE. This monthly online magazine is …

>HAPPILY EVER AFTER

> We have attended more weddings this year than we have total in the last five years. Love must be in the air, and it is so encouraging to see young couples in love, their feet on the ground, and their heads in the clouds. Weekend before last, my nephew, Robbie, married his sweetheart, Kylee, in a beautiful, just-before-sunset, outdoor …