by Sarah Monzon   A few years ago, my son was being assessed for a few different neurodiversity disorders and was referred to an occupational therapist to help with some of his sensory needs. The occupational therapist had me fill out an extensive questionnaire while she talked with my son. After the appointment, she handed me an informational pamphlet about sensory processing disorder. I asked her if this was something my son had—a diagnosis that explained his need to only w

by Jessie Fioritto   The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” LAMENTATIONS 3:19–24 NLT   Heavenly Father, sometimes our hopes are d

by Patricia Johns   Family stories form us, for better or for worse. My family has a rich history of storytelling. My dad’s side of the family is Mennonite, and those tales are noble stories of bravery and valor as our family escaped Russia’s civil war in the 1920s and made their way to Canada. They started from scratch. They farmed the land. They endured. Stories on my dad’s side were for edifying and building up future generations.   My mother’s side of the family has a dif

by Stephanie Landsem   Yellowstone has always held a special place in my heart because it is the setting of many of my most cherished family stories. Yellowstone is where my parents met and fell in love, and where all of my siblings and I were born. Our family lore was that of geysers and bears, favorite horses, elk hunts and camping trips in the wilderness. One much-recalled event was the massive earthquake that shook Yellowstone Park and the surrounding area in 1959.   It w

by Tessa Afshar   I had never heard of Esther growing up, which is ironic since I was born in the land where this Jewish woman became the queen of a vast Gentile empire. For nearly fourteen years I studied the grandeur of Persian kings, yet this extraordinary woman remained a mystery to me.   It wasn’t until I moved to the United States and embraced Christianity that I read the Bible for the first time. That was my introduction to Esther and the biblical world of the Persian

by Abbie Halberstadt   “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” —Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)    The Lord, through Moses, is establishing the parameters for daily liturgy—a commonplace catechism of worship that requires no church building or rites more sacred than the everyday practices of a family at work and play

by Patricia Bradley   A lot of authors I know have an arsenal of ideas to pull from a file or drawer when they need it. They have more ideas than they can possibly use in a lifetime. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, I do not. God has blessed me with a story idea every time I’ve needed it, but not before, which is probably good for my ADHD mind. If I had a drawer full of ideas, I would be like a little girl in a candy store who can’t make up her m

by Ava Pennington   It happened again. I found myself in a situation with a person who was difficult to get along with every time we interacted. Each time I entered the situation determined to be more patient, I failed miserably. So I berated myself and determined to try harder the next time. I needed  more patience. I wanted  more patience. But the outcome was a constant cycle of failure.   If the fruit of the Spirit is promised to every Christian, then why do so many believ

by Nancy Mehl   Many years ago, before I began my actual writing journey, I attended a conference for mystery writers. A successful author made a statement I never forgot. Although I can’t remember her name, her words not only resonated with me, but they also helped shape my career. She said, “A mystery novel showcases the battle of good against evil, and good always wins.” I began to understand that writing Christian mystery, suspense, and thrillers is more than entertainmen

by Irene Hannon   Someone once told me that life is comprised of a series of adjustments. That we spend most of our days adapting to new...

by Kate Angelo   If you had told me years ago that the pain and trauma of my childhood would one day inspire a bestselling suspense...

by RuthAnn Zimmerman   Over the years, I have come to realize that when people express overwhelm or bafflement at the thought of a family...

by Jaime Jo Wright   I’m often asked why I write dark and creepy books. I’m also often told, “I’ll never read your books; I don’t do...

by DiAnn Mills   Children are our world’s most precious heritage. They deserve love, nurturing, protection, medical aid, education, and...

by Mollie Rushmeyer   The Rules of Falling for You , a whimsical contemporary rom-com about a Jane Austen-obsessed podcaster who attends...

How research can guide and change the book you have in your head by Mary Connealy   When I started out to write the Golden State Treasure...

by Michelle Griep   A shopping trip isn’t usually where I find inspiration, but there was this one time—   Me: ( brings mother to petite...

by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth   Before I was born, my parents dedicated me to the Lord and purposed to teach me (and the six other children...

by Erica Vetsch Does the end justify the means? What a slippery slope. In A Scheming in Parliament , the characters wrestle with this...

by Cheryl Grey Bostrom   My four younger siblings and I were weaned on shadows, then grew up with them in the area around our little town...