Teaching Kids to Value Quiet

Quiet and kids seem like opposites. In fact, many parents get nervous when their kids are too quiet, because it may mean they are up to something. But even kids need quiet, and quiet can be hard to find in today’s world. When I was a kid, television was our evening...

How Far Have You Come?

I hacked at the weeds filling the main path in my garden with a hoe, as my arm muscles complained. Straightening up, I stared in discouragement at how far I still had to go. How long was this going to take? Then the thought came to me, “Don’t look at how far you have...
New Book News!

New Book News!

Exciting news! My next book is due out in December with WhiteFire Publishing. It is another middle grade novel, aimed especially at girls ages 8-13. I am very excited because this is an updated version of the first book I ever wrote, many years ago. It has been...
The Story Behind Picture Imperfect

The Story Behind Picture Imperfect

Fiction often arises from two places: experiences of the author and the results of asking the question, “What if?” Picture Imperfect is no exception. Picture Imperfect is the story of 12-year-old JJ, a girl who loves photography and has an opportunity to win the...

Following Our Calling

As I dug rows for the corn, sweat dripping down my face, a robin chirped from a nearby tree. What a simple life that robin has. Not easy necessarily, but simple. His goals are to feed himself, avoid predators, find a mate, and raise a family. Then he flies south for...