Fear the Lord, and the king, my son,         and do not join with the rebellious,     for those two will send sudden destruction upon them,         and who knows what calamities they can bring?      Proverbs 24:21-22 (NIV)

               I know over the years I've exhausted the formula of creating romance novels and I've probably overdosed on the topic of "conflict" in writing fiction. But, seriously, the professionals emphasize and re-emphasize the importance and necessity of conflict, and romance novels are filled with it. How much is too much? I mean, why can't…

                Brenda S. Anderson's newest is ready to roll, and she's got a great contest going on over at her blog.   Father, just bless Brenda for all her hard work and for doing her best to be obedient to your directions for her. Continue to lead her in her publishing journey. In the Name…

     So excited for the next POTC installment. May 26th, 2017, friends! "Sticks 'n' stones, luv."   Father, you know my prayers for those who don't acknowledge the Author of their talent. Please, Lord, save them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     How many novels have you read more than once? I can only recall two, both by Kristen Heitzmann, Secrets and Unforgotten. I loved Lance Michelli. I've read portions of novels over again. Some many times, but I've only read those two entire books over again, right after I finished them. An amazing experience I've never…

     One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped and they were in great danger.      The…

                                       What makes some writing more impacting than others? What makes us appreciate certain authors and leads us to read all their books? Writers tend to give specific responses to questions such as these. Readers often give less tangible answers. Having just read Sibella Giorello's The Waves Break Gray, I'm reminded how much I've…

                      The Waves Break Gray is Sibella Giorello's sixth novel in the Raleigh Harmon Mysteries. Raleigh Harmon's emotional pain bleeds from the page like a severed artery. How can it be that a young woman so eager but afraid to give love, who empathizes with the grief-stricken, who searches out the truth no matter the personal cost, who wants…

              I'm savoring the new Raleigh Harmon novel. I've maintained that Sibella Giorello's Raleigh Harmon is one of the finest female characters in contemporary literature. Strong yet vulnerable, she's unique and psychologically deep and wounded. This is an excellent series by a truly gifted writer. You should start with the prequels and read all the way…

  BK Jackson got me thinking with her comment on Friday's post (What is it with sex?). She said in a question, "Maybe people who write don't KNOW how to bridge that gap between vulgar and non-existent or dry?" Interesting concept. The reason being because some authors/writers appear not to know how to bridge that…