Memory is a funny thing. Different things trigger it, such as the smell of baking cookies, an email reminder from Facebook, or conversations with relatives after a good meal. My memory was triggered today by a spiritual exercise. Our church has encouraged us to participate in 100 Days with Jesus, a plan to read a […]
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I belong to a group that helps international college students attending local universities understand American culture. One topic we discuss is the holidays Americans observe. The thought of explaining Christmas to this group led me to do some research. (You shouldn’t be surprised since I write historical fiction!) Americans observe an amazing variety of Christmas
Many new authors embark on a quest to improve their writing. I have undertaken this journey, investing time and money in reading books and attending writer’s conferences. These activities have helped me learn the craft and improve the quality of my writing. But I had not attempted to write faster until the past month. An
During a recent walk, Elaine and I discussed the brilliant foliage of the trees. Deep and bright red leaves adorned trees standing alongside others sporting gold, green, or orange leaves. Why do trees turn different colors in autumn? Why don’t they all just turn brown? Science can answer how leaves change with descriptions of sugar
A few decades have passed since I asked a girl for a date. How things have changed. We didn’t own cell phones, use dating apps, or send text messages. The height of our communication technology was a pay phone hung on the wall in the middle of the dorm hallway. We’d dial the pay phone
When I began writing historical fiction, I knew I would need to research settings, events and people related to a time period. Hair styles, clothing, furniture, and other items needed accurate description. However, I never thought I’d research women’s cosmetics. My current story drove me in this direction. I needed to understand the cosmetics available
I received notice last night that I am a finalist in the ACFW Genesis contest for unpublished writers. Last year, I finished as a semi-finalist. The winners will be announced Saturday evening at the ACFW convention in New Orleans. (I chose not to attend this year, so will not experience the excitement and anticipation of
Thrilled to be a Finalist in the ACFW Genesis ContestRead More »
I announced last month on social media my new book cover for a novelette Dreams in Conflict, but I forgot to post it here. I was so focused on final edits, researching and plotting a new novel, taking a weekend getaway and wrangling an appliance replacement, it slipped my mind. I’ll post again when the
An author of historical fiction must perform research to understand the time period. I love to research and often must time-box my efforts, lest I get lost in the research and never write anything! One thing I consult, and enjoy, is a map from the era. I’ve always enjoyed looking at maps. Years ago, I
