Story and Music

When I read, the musicality of the prose is vital to my enjoyment of the story. Prose isn’t just words, but it’s cadence, it’s harmony and dissonance, staccato and legato. Stories must crescendo and decrescendo. Some stories fall flat, while others go sharp. Like music, some books are simple, while others are complicated. Some authors take a simple story and …

Romantic Reads

Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d take a day to give plugs to my friends–co-Inkspirational Messages contributors who write romance. If you’re looking for the perfect romantic read, check out any of the authors and books below. Lorna Seilstad – If you enjoy historical romance with a touch of laughter, you’ll want to pick up Lorna’s books! While Love …

Novel Anticipation, February 2014 – Part 2

I’m very excited about these next four novels, all written by veteran authors, authors with a gift for challenging the reader to think–my favorite type of books! Are any of these on your to-read list? A STILLNESS OF CHIMES by Meg Moseley (Multnomah Books) When Laura Gantt returns to Georgia to handle her late mother’s estate, she hears a startling …

Uncomfortable Praise

Since announcing my contract signing with Winslet Press, I’ve been flooded with congratulatory emails, phone calls, notes, hugs, etc. Needless to say, it’s been pretty wonderful. But along the way, a few compliments have made me uncomfortable, not because what they said was bad. No, just the opposite. Their praise *felt* too good, describing me as persevering, faithful. Certainly they described …

Exploring the Twittersphere

***Warning: Commercial Ahead*** Well, I finally broke down and did it: I joined Twitter. Albeit, I did not join without a great deal of groaning and stalling, but I figured now that I actually have a book coming out, it was time to become a Twitter hatchling. So, if you’re already on the Twittersphere or Twitterverse or whatever people call …

The Reason We Sing

Thank you! Those two words seem inadequate, but I doubt additional words would say it better, so I simply say, Thank You! Thank you, readers, for the overwhelming response to my post this past Tuesday. So many came running to help me–a nobody, really. Someone just singing the song God gave them to sing. It always amazes me when people …

Help Wanted!

Now that I have an actual release date (April 8, 2014), it’s time to put out that Help Wanted sign. As an about-to-be-published author, I’m in need of some help. There’s no monetary pay, but hopefully satisfaction for a job-well-done will suffice. Below, I’ve listed a few ways you can help. Apply for all positions, or just one. Just know, …

A Not-So-Tiny Number

3% Seems like a tiny number, doesn’t it? Think about it, if someone offered you 3% of their French silk pie, you wouldn’t feel too grateful. I know I wouldn’t. So, when Planned Parenthood (the United States’ largest abortion provider) announced that once again abortion accounted for only 3% of their service pie (see page 14 of their annual report–link …

Official Release Date!

I’m very excited to announce the official release date for my debut novel Chain of Mercy … April 8, 2014! No, that’s not a misprint … I said 2014. Whew. That means these next couple of months are going to be a bit crazy, but I’m not complaining. No, I’m abundantly blessed! Thank you all for your continued support. Can’t …