“Homecoming means coming home to what is in your heart.” We had homecoming at Goshen today. We were celebrating 212 years as a body of believers in this area. Our building isn’t 200 years old, but it is more than 100 years old. It was dedicated with an all day meeting and dinner on the grounds in 1889. The visiting …
Book Fun – A New Giveaway Chance
I once read that one of the best ways a writer can promote a book is to give it away. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but over the years I’ve given away many books. I like to give away books and wish I could give away even more. I went to an author event once where authors …
Mountain Speak in My Stories
I’m exploring the world of a new book I’m diving into. It’s the same world I’ve explored several times already as I head back to the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky to bring some new characters to life. I like going to the mountains for stories. The new one that I’m dreaming up right now will be my fifth book with …
Smiles, Flukes, Special Birthdays from Readers
On my Facebook author page, for years I do a regular feature, Mailbag Tuesday, where I share comments and messages from readers. Sometimes the readers are talking about my books and writing. Sometimes they are responding to a question I’ve asked on FB or in my newsletters. Sometimes I get messages from readers out of the blue. However they come, …
When Names Slip Away
One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child’s name and how old he or she is ~Erma Bombeck While that is surely true for mothers, it’s also very true for writers. In the past when I give a …
Read an EBook Day
I’m sure most of you are aware that there is a day, national or merely desiring to be national, of almost everything. Pancake day. Hot dog day. Sister day. On and on. In fact I just peeked at the September days and was surprised and a little overwhelmed by the fact that there are five or six things declared national …
Smiles on My Birthday
Do you like celebrating birthdays? Or do you groan when a birthday comes around to add a year to make you feel older? I don’t groan. I appreciate every birthday. I just don’t bother counting them. In fact, since today is my birthday and I’m not doing any adding up, I’ve been asking people around me this question that …
Remembering What’s Important
Have you ever had one of those months when things just go sideways? Nothing really bad. Just irritating. Things don’t work. Unexpected boulders fall down into your planned day making detours necessary. Your plans that you were certain were going to be started – in my case, a deep dive into getting to know the new characters in the story …
Treasured Memories on Grandparents’ Day
Nobody can do for little children what Grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle starcust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley Today was Grandparents’ Day. It’s not something that is recognized that much. I think that’s because most of the time grandmothers and grandfathers are usually included on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Usually, though, I do try to …
Why Read Fiction?
Several years ago, I did an interview with a writer who said he never reads fiction. He didn’t like fiction. He wanted to read true stories and obviously thought fiction a waste of time. I have to admit, when I’m reading this I wrote about that interview some time ago, I’m wondering why in the world he would be interviewing …