Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. –Walter Elliot (1888-1958), Scottish politician Sometimes when I give a talk about writing, I’m asked what characteristic is most valuable to a writer. I can’t really answer that for everybody, but for me it has to be perseverance, that stubborness in my will center that …
Facing the Page
At some point, you have to sit down and face the page alone. At some point, the final decisions need to be yours. At some point, you have to give yourself deadlines and stick to them. ~John McNally I’ve begun my next book. My deadline looms out there and even though it’s a few months away, those months will slide …
Orchard of Hope – Narrated by Me!
You will enrich your life immeasurably if you approach it with a sense of wonder and discovery, and always challenge yourself to try new things.” –Nate Berkus Have you ever wanted to try something new? Even if you weren’t really sure you could do whatever it was? I suppose we’ve all met challenges like that. Perhaps when we first sat …
The Peace that Passes Understanding
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 …
A Lesson in Gratitude
“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 …
Shaker Day of Atonement
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 …
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
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 …
Christmas with Perdita Sweet from Along a Storied Trail
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 …
Remembering Christmas Morning 1964
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 …
How Do Authors Get Ideas?
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 …










