I wish I could say I had faith like Hadassah (main character from A Voice in the Wind). But I have been told (by family members in-the-know) that I sometimes go into “frantic Frani” mode. Yesterday was one of those days. One of my primary mentors passed away at 95, and her sons wanted me …
The lovely ladies from our women’s ministry team held a luncheon last Saturday in honor of Mother’s Day. Everyone was encouraged to bring salads. Having any kind of potluck at church is like Jesus and the loaves and fishes: enough to feed thousands. My daughter, Shannon, is part of the ministry team, and was drafted …
We came home after church on Easter and I went to a lovely ladies’ tea party outside Cloverdale. Rick and Travis stayed home to enjoy one another company’s, and I offered no apologies for abandoning them on this special celebration day. My friend Loretta has tea parties that would make Kate Middleton plead to come. …
A few days ago, I received a pleasant surprise: the new omnibus edition of the Sons of Encouragement. Caleb is on the cover. I love the story of Caleb. He and Joshua were the only men who believed the Israelites could conquer the Promised Land the first time they approached because God was with them. …
I’m a fair weather gardener, which means I only work in the garden on warm, clear days – like today. I thought I could just slip my little shovel into the soft soil, lift, plop in a bulb and voila, we’ll have summer gladiolas! The ground was hard as a rock. I got my pick. …
I’ve been working on a new proposal. Same heart of the story I’ve been dreaming about, but transplanted into a different body. The character sketches came together quickly. The names are a little hokey, but then character names often change several times during the course of writing a story. As I write, the characters begin …
I’m scrapping my proposal and prologue today. Shredding it is a better idea. I’ve been thinking/working over a story idea for months! I dream about this “thing”, whatever it is. It’s been like living in a rabbit warren and the rabbits keep producing more rabbits. In this case, ideas are reproducing ideas. I’m living in …
Writing isn’t about making friends with my characters, but trying to understand them. It’s a process. What I write in a “book proposal” is a faint shadow of who the characters are and what they will do. I don’t even know any of that yet. What is important is what these new people in my …
I am told by those close to me that I always go through the same process when I’m writing a new book. It always starts with doubt and fear. Whatever made me think I could write anything, let alone a novel? I know I’m not alone in this. Other writer friends feel the same way. …
Does anyone else out there have a problem with having their picture taken? If I was Angelina Jolie, I’d be smiling at the paparazzi, too – or Betty White before she gets hit by the football player. I’m not either, and I’d rather be behind the camera than in front of it. I confess. The …