My mom passed away twenty-five years ago, but there are still times when I almost reach for the phone to call and tell her something. I used to feel a punch in the stomach when that happened, knowing there would be no answer on the other end of the line. Now, I just send up …
I read Abby Johnson’s autobiography, Unplanned, and heard her speak a few years ago at our local pregnancy counseling center banquet. Her story is heart-wrenching, powerful, and mind- altering. She was a Planned Parenthood director for eight years until she saw the truth of what happens to a living child in abortion. You can watch …
Special Interest Bills California legislators all have a cause – or should I say causes? I recently read an article in our local newspaper that announced 2,576 bills have been introduced to the Legislature before the session deadline. Some are “intent” bills that merely promise more details someday. Ah, perhaps, in the interest of time …
Rick headed out of town with our eldest son a few days ago. Spring Training in Phoenix. I would have seven full days to do whatever I wanted. Bwaaahaha… Part of me wanted to be practical. “Work!” Get busy writing again. Something other than emails and blogs and preparing Bible studies for the Tuesday night …
A few years ago, I would have said no, I’ve never experienced burn out. On the other hand, I have experience writer’s block, but there was a definite God-designed reason for it. I had become a Christian, and God wanted me to get to know Him before embarking on any new writing projects. The result …
Yes, absolutely. Every time I start a new book, I wonder how I ever thought I could be a writer. I don’t have the full story settled in my mind. The characters are what come to me first, and they don’t always tell me where they’re going. I have a loose outline because the publisher …
Every person has unique DNA. We also have unique fingerprints and retinas. There are billions of us, but each human being is individual, distinctive, an original creation. That’s true of the way we express ourselves as well. Sit with a group of friends and you will quickly notice that each has their own way of …
Yes, to the first question. Several full manuscripts in answer to the second. One manuscript comes to mind, one I wrote in the early days of my writing career. I had been a juror on a rape case. The evidence was all there, but one person couldn’t declare the defendant guilty because he looked like …
I plotted my stories when I was writing historical romances in the general market. I knew where I was going long before I got there. But these stories were simple – formulaic. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl are driving apart. Boy and girl get back together again. At the time, the focus was the …
Christmas is always a high for me. It’s a time of getting the family together, hearing from far-away friends, feasting. Then come the quiet days of putting away decorations, CDs, movies, cards, nativities and lights. Jesus continues to be celebrated in our house. But a new year is a day away. I’ve written before about …