A Writer's Break

I have rarely taken a break from writing. I spend most of the day writing for 2 - 3 weeks each month and finish a rough draft. Then I spend the last days editing and getting caught up in other areas. Even when I travel, my laptop goes with me. However, ever since I wrote and published 16 books in 2023, which was way too many, I've been trying to work in a couple of months each year when I'm not publishing a book. That's more difficult than it sounds because good opportunities to write in multiple-author projects keep coming.

I had two such empty months in 2025, but when the opportunity came to write Building Something Beautiful for Lynne Lanning's MAP came, I took it. So, the two months became one, and June is that one month. After my rare nonfiction book published on May 2, the next one, Daphne's Determination, will release on July 8.

2026 is already looking similar. I had two months free, but when Marissa Masterson's MAP, Mail-Order Brides Undercover, came along, two months shrank to only one. May is the only month I have free next year, and I'm trying hard to keep it free. I need to slow down some, so I don't have to push so hard. And right now, 2027 only has one month free, although I might bump another one of mine down to help the overload.

That's another consequence of taking on more MAPs. My own books keep getting pushed down the schedule, and those stories are still begging to be told. However, I truly do enjoy writing in the multiple-author projects, and they have been good to me -- doing well, building friendships, and increasing my readership. My first MAP was Walnut Cake by Wylene, published 12-6-21. From 9-13-22 until 3-1-25, I published nothing but MAPs. From now on, I plan to be doing some of both and pray that God will continue to guide me and my scheduling.

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Some Signs of Christian Maturity

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

As Christians, we want to be growing in Christ and maturing in our faith. What are some signs that this is happening? Well, first of all, there's a deeper sense of peace. Things that would have once caused great anxiety or panic doesn't affect us like that anymore. We are able to focus on God, knowing that He has us, and we can depend on Him.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

We forgive faster. We know that life is too short and too precious to let negative emotions ruin it. We know that we've made our own share of mistakes, and God has forgiven us, so how can we be hard on others. And we understand that unforgiveness hurts us more than anyone else.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

Instead of feeling condemnation, conviction comes in a gentler but deeper and more real way. We develop an intimate, personal relationship with our Lord, and that changes everything. We won't allow the enemy to burden us down with guilt, but when we make a mistake, we are quick to repent and vow not to repeat.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:13).

And joy abounds. We are freer, less tainted by worldly concerns and more aware of our blessings. We seek to grow closer to God and marvel at his presence in our lives. We want to surrender completely to Him and bring Him glory in all that we do. Remember, however, Christian maturity is a continuous journey and not a destination that we arrive at. We just need to keep traveling toward the throne.

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 Audible Adversity

I thought, now that Amazon is offering AI narration for books, it might become easier to find good narrators for my Audibles, but that hasn't turned out to be the case. For whatever reason (that I haven't figured out yet), it's become harder, and that's frustrating.

I don't like AI narration for novels because I like voice acting as opposed to just reading the text. I want the different characters to have different voices. I work hard to match things like the narrators' range of styles, accents, and voice age to the manuscript. Thankfully, I have some loyal narrators who have stuck with me and accepted most, if not all, of my offers to narrate a book. Douglas Birk, Jennifer Groberg, Jared Walters, Adam Skousen, Mark Wisehart, and LB Neibaur have been great. Others have dropped out along the way. 

Right now, I have a book posted on ACX that I'm having a difficult time finding a narrator who fits. South to Freedom is the story of slaves escaping from British owned South Carolina to Spanish owned Florida in 1739 to find freedom. It needs one of the secondary characters to have an African accent. I sent out almost thirty invitations to narrators who listed they could do it, as well as more general accents, and got only one audition. That audition didn't live up to my expectations, and I decided I'd rather not have the book in Audible than to have a subpar offering. Therefore, I'm still looking for someone to produce this novel, which releases on August 1. At this point, all I know to do is keep praying.

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Glorify God

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

One of our main purposes is to glorify God. However, too many people are driven by a desire for personal glory. They seek to be in the limelight and be recognized. If they sacrifice or do good works, they want to be honored for it. Those who are true servants to the Lord will see that He gets the honor and the glory.  

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Proverbs 4:24).

When people use His name in vain or swear, they aren't glorifying God. It grieves Him when His name is used casually and not set aside and honored as special. Warren Wiersbe reminds us in His book, 10 Power Principles of Christian Service, "Doing the will of God from our hearts involves doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, and for the right reason. That reason, of course, is the glory of God."

I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another . . ." Isaiah 42:8a).

Wiersbe goes on to say, "Servants who are yielded to the Holy Spirit and filled with the Word of God will be guided to say and do the things that most honor the Lord." What about you? Do you seek to honor God in all that you think, say, and do? Do you want Him to receive all glory and recognition instead of you? May it be so.

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 Westward Home and Hearts

Today, I want to share a special multiple-author series with you. It's been popular with readers for a long time and is still going strong. The first book in the Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series published on October 15, 2019 by Elaine Manders, the series administrator. Since then, there have been 58 more books published, and they're still coming out. When you find a series with this many books and so much longevity, you know it's special.

My first book in the series, Willa's Woes, published on January 10, 2025. In it, Willa has a series of tragedies and misfortunes and ends up becoming a mail-order bride in Dakota Territory. There, she experiences the devastating winter of 1880, when so much snow accumulated that farmers had to dig tunnels to reach their barns.

My second book, Daphne's Determination, will release on July 8, 2025. Daphne's uncle talks her into becoming a mail-order bride to prove his daughter was murdered by her husband. However, when she gets to Colorado, she's not sure of anything, and solving the crime isn't going to be easy. It's available for preorder now.

Morrow's Mishaps will publish on November 10, 2025, and is on preorder now. On her way to Wyoming, Morrow has one incident after another, and she has no idea why these things are happening to her. Even when she and her friend arrive at Bradford's ranch, there are several mishaps. Is something trying to tell her she shouldn't have come, or is there someone who doesn't want her here?

In Gwendolyn's Groom, Gwendolyn's father is dying, and he wants her securely married before he departs this world. However, the groom he and the matchmaker pick is anything but suitable in Gwendolyn's eyes. Yet, given the circumstances, she might have to marry the man. It will publish on February 11, 2026, just in time for Valentine's Day.

I hope you will check out this wonderful series and consider my four books. One has already published, two are on preorder, and one will publish early next year.

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Patience

. . . the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit (Ecclesiastes 7:8b).

As hard as it can be at times, Christians need to be patient. Impatient servants can do more harm than good if they aren't careful, and witnessing won't be as effective. Patience and humility often go hand-in-hand. Arrogant people are often selfish and impatient. They want things done their way and on their timetable.

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

Impatience may be a sign of a hard heart. Such a heart resists the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit and struggles to put its full trust in God. However, Scripture reminds us that patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit and a reflection of Christ's loving, long-suffering nature. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can train ourselves to be more patient.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22).

When we surrender our impatience to God, He will soften our hearts and teach us to wait with grace and trust in His divine plan. The more we yield to Him, the more we will grow in wisdom, compassion, and understanding, thereby becoming effective witnesses of His mercy and truth. How patient are you? You can pray for more today.

Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).

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Ivy Hart and The Banker

Fellow author Ivy Hart is also writing in the Men of the West series with me. I am pleased to have her guest-blogging here today. Every book in the multiple-author project is worth checking out, and we hope you'll read them all. I'll let her tell you about herself and her new book in her own words:

Hello, fellow lovers of Christian Historical Romance! I'm Ivy Hart, and it's a joy to share my passion for stories that weave together faith, love, and the rich tapestry of the American past. While I live in Australia, my own great-grandmother was a prairie homesteader (from Norway), and her incredible strength, courage, and unwavering faith in God are a constant source of inspiration for the tales of resilience and hope I strive to bring to life. There's something about the challenges faced by those who carved out lives on the frontier – their reliance on God and each other – that speaks deeply to my heart, and I hope to yours as well.

I'm so excited to introduce you to my newest novel, The Banker, which released on June 5th, 2025! This story is part of the Men of the West multi-author series, and it plunges us into the heart of Liberty Ridge, a Kansas town carved from the rugged landscape in 1890. It’s a place where dreams are forged in the fires of ambition, but also where the earth yields both riches and heartbreak. When a devastating mine explosion rips through the community, it unearths not just raw seams of earth but also the simmering tensions and deep-seated prejudices dividing the settlers and Irish immigrants. Amidst this wreckage and despair, Caleb, our banker who is wrestling with his own doubts, finds himself drawn to Charity, a photographer of unwavering strength and resilience. Their shared grief and commitment to rebuilding their shattered town ignite a spark of hope and a burgeoning love that defies the odds. But as they search for answers and strive to heal their community, they uncover a web of deceit threatening to consume them both. Will their love bridge the divide and bring justice to light, or will the secrets they uncover shatter the fragile peace forever?

Writing The Banker was a journey into the heart of a community grappling with prejudice, loss, and the search for redemption. I was particularly drawn to exploring how faith can sustain individuals and a town through immense trials, and how true healing often begins with small acts of courage and compassion. Charity's profession as a photographer using the dry plate methods of the 1890s was fascinating to research, imagining her capturing the fleeting moments and resilient spirits of Liberty Ridge. Having arrived in town on a desperate search for her missing brother, Samuel, Charity finds her life taking unexpected turns. The story delves into the difficult path of mending old wounds, as settlers and Irish immigrants must find common ground, and how one man, Caleb, seeks to rebuild not just a bank, but trust and unity through faith in action. As Caleb and Charity navigate the aftermath of the town's trauma, their connection deepens, leading to moments where the future hangs in the balance: They walked on, the path narrowing slightly, forcing them closer together. This closeness feels right. Natural. Like coming home, Caleb thought. Their conversation turned again, circling back to their hopes for the future... Listening to her, seeing the passion light up her face, Caleb felt a growing sense of dread mix with his admiration. Her roots here felt so new, so fragile compared to the pull of her past.

"Are you… are you planning to stay, Charity," he asked, the question hanging heavy in the crisp air. He tried to keep his voice even, banker-neutral, but failed. It came out hesitant, laced with an anxiety he couldn't hide. Now that Samuel is safe and recovering… now that Thorne is dealt with… what happens next for you?"

 Charity stopped walking, turning to face him fully. The sunlight caught the auburn highlights in her hair. Her expression was open, searching, her eyes filled with a complex mix of warmth and sincerity that made his heart hammer against his ribs.  "I don't know, Caleb," she admitted, her voice soft but clear, achingly honest. "I truly don't."

She looked around at the creek, the trees, the vast blue sky overhead. "I've grown so fond of Liberty Ridge," she continued, her gaze returning to his. "More than I ever expected. I feel a connection here… to the people, their resilience, their kindness… to this land, its rugged beauty…" Her voice dropped slightly. "And… to you." A faint blush rose on her cheeks, but she held his gaze. "There's a purpose here I never felt back home."

He took a step closer… "Charity," he began, his voice barely above a whisper, rough with emotion… "I… I don't want you to leave."

I pray that The Banker touches your heart and offers a story of hope and enduring faith. Look for it now!

Blessings,

Ivy Hart

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ivy-Hart/author/B0DBJ2HTWR

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558923212484

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