Stepping Up for South to Freedom 

I had never hit such an impasse when it came to writing and publishing. After exhausting all avenues and resources, I couldn't find a narrator for my new book, South to Freedom. I had spent hours upon hours searching through the talent listed on ACX, listening to sample narrations, and messaging those who sounded promising. I had some auditions, but no one worked out. I decided I'd rather not offer an Audible edition than to have one not up to my standards or listeners' expectations. 

You see, South to Freedom was going to be a difficult book to narrate. It's the story of slaves escaping from South Carolina in 1739, headed to freedom in Spanish held Florida. I needed someone who could do an African accent as well as a British or American one. Knowing how impossible it might be if I also added Spanish voices to the mix, I wrote around that by not having any direct dialogues with a Spanish character. For the most part, living at Fort Mose isolated the former slaves, so all the Spaniards were such minor characters that it wasn't hard and didn't limit the book too much. 

Then during one of my morning devotions, an idea came to me. I would email many of the narrators I had worked with, past and present, and ask them if they knew of anyone. I figured that, like in the writing community, they must also develop friendships and acquaintances. I was overwhelmed with the kind responses, but most of them didn't know of anyone.

Then I got a reply from James Cheatham, the narrator who produced Going the Extra Mile and Walnut Cake for Wylene for me. The only reason he hadn't done more is that he stopped doing royalty share and went to pay per finished hour. He said he didn't want to tackle the slave voices, but if I was open to dual narrators, he knew of a black narrator he could partner with. At the end of my options, I jumped at his kind offer. I had never heard of Shamaan Casey, but I trusted James, and it turned out to be a good decision. I'm very thankful to these two talented men and happy with the finished Audible. I think listeners will be, too. Click on the book title to check out the Audible that almost didn't make it. South to Freedom is available now in Audible, Kindle, KU, and print.

________________________

Waiting on God

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalm 27:14).

Waiting on God can be hard. For one thing, there's often so much uncertainty involved. And then, we just don't like waiting on anything, do we? "But God's clock doesn't tick like ours. ... God isn't slow. He's patient. Patient with the world, patient with us. Waiting isn't punishment; it's preparation."

"... biblical trust means we anchor ourselves to God's character when His actions confuse us." We know His goodness, His almightiness, and we trust that He always does what is right and good. Even though we don't always understand, we know who God is, and that's enough.

"Waiting invites anxiety like moths to a porch light. The unknown pokes at our fears. ... But here's where biblical counseling shines: it reminds us that anxiety is not solved by prediction. It's calmed by presence." God's presence in our lives. "Waiting exposes what we want more: relief or relationship. If we only want God to fix things fast, we'll miss Him. ... But if we lean in, we'll see that the wait has drawn us closer."

"Waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. It means doing the right things with a surrendered heart. Here's what waiting looks like:

• Pray consistently: Not just for outcomes, but for endurance 

• Stay in community: Isolation grows doubts ...

•  Immerse in Scripture: Let God's promises shape your expectations

• Keep serving : Be faithful where you are "

Waiting teaches us patience, dependency, and faithfulness so that we really mean it when we pray, Thy will be done.

But they that with upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

(Quotes in the text taken from A Biblical Guide from Overcoming Anxiety by Good Books & Faith Beacon Publishing)

_______________________

 

           

 

 

 

 

 Morrow's Mishaps Releases

Today's the day! Morrow is having her debut, and the book published early this morning. Although one troubling incident after another happens to Morrow on her way to Wyoming as a mail-order bride and continues after she gets there, her relationship with Bradford Lee grows sweet and strong. Yet, why are these things happening to her? Is something trying to tell her she shouldn't have come, or is there someone who doesn't want her here?

Morrow's Mishaps is part of the long-running Western Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, in which all the books feature the same matchmaker, but otherwise are standalones. This is my third book in the collection. Willa's Woes and Daphne's Determination published earlier in the year, and there'll be one more. Gwendolyn's Groom will release on February 10. It's a great historical romance just in time for Valentine's Day and on preorder now.

Morrow's Mishaps is available on Kindle, KU, paperback, and Audible. Adam Skousen has narrated all of my books in this series and has done an outstanding job. Morrow's Mishaps is a historical novel blending romance and mystery. Don't miss it or the other entertaining, unforgettable books.

________________________

 

 Resting in God

Be still, and know that I am God . . . (Psalms 46:10a).

The command in Psalms has many facets to it. "In Scripture, stillness is often when the deepest transformations take place. ... We often pray for the strength to act. Sometimes we need the grace to wait. And waiting doesn't mean nothing is happening. A seed in the soil looks motionless, but life is bursting inside. The same is true in your soul when you rest in God."

"Stillness, then, is not just a spiritual act. It's a deeply theological one. It declares, 'God rules the world, not me.' If you never stop, you'll start to believe the world rests on your shoulders. It doesn't. ... If anyone could have skipped rest, it was Jesus. But He didn’t. He often withdrew to desolate places to pray (Luke 5:16). He took time to be with the Father, away from the crowds, even when people needed Him. His rest wasn’t selfish. It was sacred. You know what? That challenges us. We treat exhaustion as a badge of honor. But Jesus showed restraint. He modeled rhythms of work and rest, engagement and retreat. He wasn’t rushed. He never panicked. He walked with peace because He walked with the Father. If the Son of God needed solitude, what makes us think we don’t?"

"God isn't after performance. He wants your presence. And stillness is how you give it. ... "One reason we struggle with stillness is because we've lost sight of the holiness of God. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.' To be still before God is to stand in awe, not boredom. ... Stillness is not about emptiness. It's about the fullness of God's presence." Let's be still and enjoy the fullness of God today.

(Quotes taken from A Biblical Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Good Books & Faith Beacon Publishing)

__________________________________

A Collection of Christmas Books 

I begin reading Christmas books by November 1. I keep my Kindle editions in a separate file, purchase them throughout the year as they come up for free or drastically discounted, and read them for the holiday season. This year, I have 350 in the collection that covers all holidays. Obviously, I won't read them all now, but I'll choose the ones that appeal to me most and save the others for another year.

But I also have a collection of Christmas books I've written. Many of my books contain Christmas, but here are a few I feel concentrate on the special time most. Three are specifically written for Christmas: A Christmas Snow for Sadie and Lily and Andrea, both in the Christmas Quilt Brides series. By the way, quilts are another special interest of mine. I used to be an avid quilter before my arthritis became worse, and I started writing so prolifically and passionately. I must say, these are three of my favorite holiday books. 

Another good holiday series is the Old-timey Holiday Kitchen. I have five books in it: Walnut Cake by Wylene, Sauerkraut Cake by Sophie, Forget-Me-Not Cookes by Fern, Upside -Down Cakes by Dana, and Fruitcake by Fran. Each one has a family Christmas and includes the recipe of the featured food. Most of these are family recipes handed down from my mother. 

Another book with a Christmas setting I want to mention specifically is Candace in the Runaway Brides of the West series. Although the series isn't oriented toward the holidays, my book takes place during that time of the year when Candace hides out in a mountain man's wagon to escape an unfathomable situation and spends the winter in a cabin high up in the Rockies. It has been a favorite of readers and has received some great reviews. 

In Willa's Woes, Willa becomes a mail-order bride and moves to South Dakota. There she experiences the infamous winter of 1880-81, known as "The Hard Winter" or "The Long Winter," the one chronicled by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Snow piled higher than rooftops, forcing farmers to tunnel through drifts just to reach their barns. Isolated by relentless blizzards, Willa's first Christmas was anything but ordinary.

And last, I'd like to mention my book that publishes on December 5. Annie's Uncle is a wonderful story of a new schoolteacher in North Dakota and the challenges she faces. However, despite an overbearing school board, unruly students, troubled parents, the Dakota weather, and confusing feelings for Annie's uncle, her Christmas turns out to be one of the best in recent memories. Annie's Uncle is available for preorder now. I hope you will take a look at all these books and consider getting a few for your holiday reading.

_________________________

 Finding Peace

Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied (Jude 1:2).

Peace is a theme in both the Old and New Testaments. The Hebrew word, shalom, is a richly textured word with far more meaning than the English word, peace. Shalom means wholeness, soundness, harmony, and more. This is the peace Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden. It's a vertical peace reaching up to God, a horizontal peace with all creation, and an internal peace with ourselves. Sin shattered this complete peace. 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: (John 14:27a).

When the prophets speak of peace, they're referring to restoration, a renewal of our relationship with God. Only the Lord can bring wholeness and lasting peace. We have a tendency to think, if we can control our circumstances, we will find peace. But true peace doesn't come from eliminating problems. It comes from surrendering to the Prince of Peace and depending on Him. As one book puts it, "The Bible never tells us to 'chase peace.' It tells us to pursue Christ. And when we do, peace comes as a byproduct . . ."

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).

Genuine peace is rooted in a personal relationship with the Lord. "Security doesn't come from predictable circumstances. It comes from a trustworthy Savior." The closer we stay to God, the deeper our peace becomes. When He and things of faith are our top priority, we experience a level of peace the world can't take away. Knowing that He holds us, walks with us, and has a glorious eternity prepared for us lightens the burdens of living in a fallen world and brings a peace that passes all understanding.

(Quotes from A Biblical Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Good Books & Faith Beacon Publishing)

_______________________

Branching Out Again

As you know if you've been following my blogs, I've been mainly writing Western books for the last several years. Because of new opportunities and the lack of others, I will be writing in more varied genres next year. I'll still be writing Westerns, but they will be sprinkled with other settings too.

In January, I'll be publishing a book set in Victorian England, which is a real switch for me. Several years ago, I published some retold fairy tales set in England, but they were in the Medieval Period. This one will be set in the last half of the 19th century, the same period as my Westerns. But I've always believed good writers can write in any setting or genre they feel inspired to. Take me for example, I began writing nonfiction articles for magazines because I was teaching at the time, but now I write mainly fiction. Violets for Veronica is available for preorder now.

I will also have another book in the National Park Brides multiple-author project, and this one will be set in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee. (The current one is Heather, set in Hot Springs, Arkansas.) I'm looking forward to another one set in the Appalachian Mountain region, where the first books I published, The Appalachian Roots series, were set and where my heritage is.

Then, I'll also be writing another contemporary romance. I haven't written a novel with a modern setting since June of 2023, when Hurting Hero was published. I love historical fiction. After all, I was a history and English major in college, and most of my books will always be historicals. But I like to take a break from the heavy research and write a contemporary story now and then. The writing elements stay the same. Only the setting changes.

So, there you have some changes that will be coming. They are not drastic changes, since I began writing historical books set in the Appalachian Mountains and then a contemporary trilogy (The Farmers), and these will only be sprinkled among my current Westerns. However, I'm excited and motivated by the changes. I just hope readers will give them a chance. Sometimes, they like for authors to stay locked in one genre box, but I've never done that because I like variety. Besides, all my books will continue to reflect my writing style. That will never change.

__________________________