What is it about a good book—a good story? Kate DiCamillo said it best in The Tale of Despereaux: “Why would you save me?” Despereaux asked. “Have you saved any of the other mice?” “Never,” said Gregory, “not one.” “Why would you save me, then?” “Because you, mouse, can tell Gregory a story. Stories are… Read More Our Favorite Children’s Books & Stories

I’m currently working on the audiobook version of my children’s story, Out of the Shadow World, and I’ve renewed my old resolve to never write anything for adults again—ever only for kids. Children’s fiction is pure joy, isn’t it? Anyway, I thought it would be fun to share the first chapter of the printed version… Read More This one’s for the kids

At eighteen years old, I had the world on a string. And I was gonna change that world. After all, I loved Jesus, and I had all the giftings and Bible training and connections to make me a huge influencer for his kingdom. I was going to be like one of my heroes—Amy Carmichael, Betty… Read More Story (part 2)

We met when we were gangly 8- and 9-year-old girls. Our small church and a mutual love for rollerskating were the only bonds we needed to forge a simple friendship. Had you asked us back then if we’d still be friends 32 years later, Karen and I would have giggled in disbelief. In fact, we giggled a… Read More Because you’re 40 today

I found it buried in a dusty old box of files, wedged between nondescript folders like “Wells Fargo” and “Car Repairs.” How did something so precious get stuck here? I wondered. Eleven pages of single-spaced type…. typed on her computer. My grandmother had conquered the basics of the computer in her old age, but that… Read More My undoing. Your beginning.