Today I received a book in the mail that a writing friend sent me because she’d finished reading it and had too many books anyway, or so she said. Can one ever have too many books? She suggested I read the pages in the back after the end of the novel itself. The words, penned by Bill Bright, stirred me so that I wanted to share them with you. If you’re already familiar with them, allow them to stir you, inspire you again. ” . . . I have come to the conclusion that a good novel on biblical themes …

This weekend we went to the Redwood forest of Northern California. Since we live in southern Oregon, that’s only a couple of hours from us. I remember learning about the magnificent trees as a child and always dreamed of seeing them one day. I never imagined, though, that I would live close enough to drive to the national forest on a whim. There are so many interesting facts about these rare trees. Maybe I’ll delve further into that one day on a different post. The sky was clear so the chances that we would be hit with the normal Pac …

So in my previous post, I explained that I decided to listen to my heart, listen to the Lord and get back to writing that fantasy, even though there is controversy surrounding whether or not Science Fiction and Fantasy will make it in the Christian Book Market. I’m thrilled to tell you that the Lord honord my decision and confirmed it to me this week. I received “the call” informing me that my fantasy is indeed a finalist in the Genesis contest. Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction (there was a 2-way tie, hence six rather than five finalists): Beth GoddardRebecca GrabillShannon McNear …

. . .even in writing. I’ve struggled over the last week about which direction to take. I’m sure you’ve never done that. Unfortunately I have the “gift” of indecision. Recent news that a publisher is now open to historicals, the genre I’ve spent years writing, thrilled me to the core. I dusted off a manuscript (not literally, of course)—complete mind you—but needed some revisions. But in order to take this project on, I’d have turn my attentions away from my current project—a fantasy. As I’ve trudged through each page of the historical, I’ve become increasingly dry and uninspired. I sooooo …

I have a friend who recently returned from India after a two week missions trip of sorts. She’d been invited to paint a mural on the inside of a large prayer temple and felt quite confidant that she along with her friends would be successful. I asked her about the experience to which she replied that she’d returned broken. Though she did not explain further on that count, she told me that India runs on different time than America does. They were there to paint for two full weeks, but the paint was not obtained until a week after they …

I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve tried to walk away from this writing “thing”. I’m not even sure what to call it. Is it an addiction or am I seeking recognition where none can be found? I don’t know. But what I do know is that every time I throw my hands up and want to quit, God gives me something–and sometimes it’s a very small something–but I know it’s from Him and He is calling me back to do His will. After spending almost five years writing in one genre, God has turned me in a …