If you’ve ever attended a Vacation Bible School as a kid or as an adult teacher, then you have probably sung the song “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy” (down in my heart) many times. It’s a great song that is easy to sing and that makes you happy just to sing it or hear children singing it. We always …
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton It may be a little late for Christmas gifts although I still have my tree up with the lights on. (Not looking forward to the dismantling and packing away decorations job.) But the fancy paper and ribbons …
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~Colossians 3:13 (NIV) This morning on my Facebook page today for my weekly Shaker Wednesday, I posted about the Shakers’ Sacrifice Day or Day of Atonement. But I think it works for a last post of the year here on …
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. ~Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) Whenever I autograph a book, I include a Scripture reference. I try to come up with one that somehow matches the book, either the title or something in the book. For …
Merry Christmas. What a great time of the year when cheer and goodwill fill the air! If you’re like me, memories of Christmases past bring smiles. I like thinking about the times I’ve celebrated Christmas with my characters too. In Love Comes Home, Kate and Jay celebrate a first Christmas together after World War II by buying a scraggly tree …
Christmas Week 1965 Jocie Brook here reporting from Hollyhill, Kentucky. Christmas is almost here. I don’t see how Christmas 1965 can top Christmas 1964, but maybe it will. I guess I’ll have to wait and see. You can read all about that Christmas 1964 and more in the book Summer of Joy. I know, it seems a little weird to have …
This is my month for e-book specials. First I got news that Christmas at Harmony Hill (Amazon link) was on e-book sale for 99 cents or less and then last week I found out that Murder at the Courthouse, (Amazon link) my first Hidden Springs mystery is $1.99 for the e-book version. So you can go out to your favorite e-book …
When I sent out a newsletter recently, I invited readers to share a story about a special way they celebrate Christmas or favorite ornament or gift they remember. I love hearing your stories and I hope you’ll enjoy these I’m sharing with you. First Paty and her family have a very special Christmas tradition that helps them remember the …
Hope you all will give Shelia Stovall a fond welcome as she visits One Writer’s Journal today to tell you about her Christmas novella, A Sassy Creek Christmas, and her inspiration for her town of Sassy Creek, Kentucky. I met Shelia several years ago at a book event. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of visiting her library and getting to go …
One of the nicest things about writing for the inspirational market is making friends with other writers who are ready to cheer you on and tell their reading friends about your books. While some writers are very prolific and can put out several books a year, most of us are more like one or two books a year writers. Thanks …