I think back to 15 years ago today and my world was about to permanently change. Right now it’s 10:15 a.m., Alaskan time, but in the Chicago area it’s one fifteen in the afternoon. At this point, the doctor had started the Pitocin and I was about three hours into delivering Mariana. I was a little less than six hours away from giving birth to her. She took us from being a two to a three. Our little miracle was coming into the world. Little did we know that only eight-and-a-half short years later … [Read more...]
Archives for 2014
The Journey with Holly Michael #acfw
Please welcome back this week's guest Holly Michael for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? God has worked in a mighty way in my writing journey, beginning from the day that I quit writing. Yes, that’s right. About fifteen years ago, a stay-at-home mom with three small children, I grew frustrated upon receiving yet another rejection letter. I was so done writing query letters. With the two oldest in school, I put the baby in a stroller … [Read more...]
The Journey with Jean Ann Williams #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Jean Anne Williams for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? My writing journey began before I even knew it, and God had a plan. I’ve always had lots of energy—no I don’t drink coffee—I come by this naturally. Sitting still for very long wasn’t in my vocabulary until one Sunday on July 2, 1994. On my way to worship services in my little Honda Accord, I slowed for a familiar incline and then the dip in … [Read more...]
The journey with Leslie Payne #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Leslie Payne for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? One lovely January morning in 2000 my writing journey began by accident. Snow fell gently from the grey sky as I waited in my car at a red traffic light. Writing was not part of my life. My passion was dance, ballroom, swing, and Lindy Hop. For several years I had kept a delightfully hectic schedule dancing three nights a week. That winter morning I sat … [Read more...]
The Journey with Julie Arduini #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Julie Arduini for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? God, Surrender and Chocolate I was never a stand-out student in English. I wasn’t in Honors classes and I wasn’t educated in grammar. Yet, there was a “burn in my belly” every time I had an opportunity to write. The first time I realized writing might have a place in my life was in middle school. A teacher asked me to pen something for the student … [Read more...]
Review for Darcie J. Gudger’s Spin By Jean Ann Williams
Jacket Blurb: Sophomore Kisrie Kelley longs to fit in. Instead, she’s always been a misfit, a fact her nemesis Wendy won’t let her forget. At least she’s got color guard and photography, right? She almost feels normal when she’s out on the field performing or behind the lens. Truth be told, they’re the only reasons she even shows up at school, though her professor mom thinks they’re both a waste of Kisrie’s time. Add a serious affinity to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups that has her battling the … [Read more...]
The Journey with Martha Rogers #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Martha Rogers for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? Journey with God Although writing and telling stories have been a passion since I was a child, publication never seemed to be an option. I had no idea how to even begin the process. Teachers in high school English and college professors told me that I had gift for putting words on paper, but I still had a bit of a problem with mechanics. That problem led … [Read more...]
The Journey with Alison Bryant #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Alison Bryant for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? I never wanted to be a writer. Well, I never planned to become one, at least. You know those amazing authors who began cranking out crayon-scribbled stories at age two? That wasn’t me. Instead, I contented myself while growing up to feed on the fruits of authors. They were my heroes, and I inhaled books. My literary identity into adulthood was a … [Read more...]
The Journey with Julie Lessman #acfw
Please welcome this week's guest Julie Lessman for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? He must increase, but I must decrease." --John 3:30 How have I seen God work in my writing journey? Well, let me put it this way—despite the fact that I’ve put on five extra pounds over the summer, the Scripture above is not talking about shedding body weight, although heaven knows I need to. Nope, today I'm talking about the latest lesson God has … [Read more...]
Going through Mari’s stuff
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve started going through Mari’s stuff. I still remember the day we went into the house we’d been renting and sat there packing up every single item that either was Mari’s or we needed for her. Nothing got thrown away. Even her juice cups and light switch covers all got saved. At that point, Mari may have been gone about two to two-and-a-half months. I felt like if I threw something away belonging to her, somehow it’s like I was throwing her away. My grief wouldn’t … [Read more...]