I deliberated on writing about this topic for a long time. It seems unimportant, since it is just a fact of my existence, yet it may hold value for some young person out there searching for reassurance in a world that tells them they will feel differently one day about their singleness feeling right to them, in a world that places so much value on being in a romantic relationship. Here is the truth: I am single woman in her 40s living my best life. Never dated anyone seriously, never procreated, never went to bed with anyone, and I regret none of it. I got told, numerous times, when I articula ..read more

The gale rocks the scaffolding beneath you. The sweat on your hands causes you to lose your grip on the iron rail. You came up to straighten the boards. Your heart pounds. One foot forward at a time. You can do this. TITANIC needs you. Her iron hull rises beside you. The next brutal gust rocks the narrow platform so much, you cannot take another step. Stranded eighty feet above the ground, you panic. “Hold on,” someone shouts beneath you. “I’m coming up.” You focus on breathing. The boards have shifted. You’re too terrified to try climbing down. You sit and wait until a cheerful face appears o ..read more

When we hear the word “Titanic,” normally our mind associates with the James Cameron film of 1997 in which the fictional romance between two different-class passengers was the foreground in the most devastating non-wartime disaster in history. Perhaps a few of us will associate names and backgrounds of the true passengers, such as Thomas Andrews, Bruce Ismay, and Charles Lightoller. But there is one man that stands above them all, a man who stood as a light in the darkness… a man that as Christians, we should remember and look to for inspiration. This man was John Harper, a Scottish minister b ..read more

What if you were torn out of your present reality and thrown into the future? Nothing you remember is the same. Most of the people you once knew are dead. The world has changed. The organization you once trusted is now dubious in its ethics. How would you adjust? This is the tragic plight of Steve Rogers, Captain America, in his franchise. He saves the world in the first film and then… wakes in a modern day reality of flashing television screens and nuclear war, where he fondly remembers old-fashioned values and record players. Modern society is a far cry from the 1940’s, where he intended to ..read more

One of my favorite female characters lives the charming town of Candleford, on the edge of the small community of Lark Rise. Her name is Dorcas Lane and she runs the Post Office. Dorcas is a romantic, a meddler with tact, and a woman who loves every one of her too-many-to-count “one weaknesses” (hot baths, lavender soap, fresh-made pies, spring mornings, etc). Someone who does not “always” abide by the rules of the Post Office in favor of kindness, Dorcas can find a way to bring the community together, resolve differences without losing her temper too much (she does let people have it now and ..read more

Smashwords is having a promotion from today through March 9th. You can find thousands of titles at discounted prices on their site, including all of my books. Some of them are FREE (if you do download and read, I only ask that you leave me a review on Goodreads or Amazon), others are at their lowest ever price. Enjoy reading! Get them HERE. The Water Horse My best friend has just finished her first novel — and it’s a smashing fantasy-western about shape-shifters and ranchers. If you want to read something truly unique, check it out! A girl on the run. A rancher with a shadowed past. An immort ..read more

From first impression to last, Mary Crawley equally attracts and frustrates us. She appears to be cold and withdrawn, uncertain of her own emotions and of what is expected of her, and utterly unworthy of the love of her cousin Matthew, whose charm and selflessness stand out in sharp contrast to her petty insecurities. Yet theirs is the romance that most captured our hearts as Downton Abbey unfolded, a “will they or won’t they?” that came to a conclusion at last with a proposal in a snowy courtyard. Few understand Mary in a way that allows them to be tolerant of her faults. Her reputation of ic ..read more

The world of Grimm is populated with beasts and beings, but none is a greater threat nor leaves a more lingering impression than the Hexenbiests… witches of vast power, who are more often than not manipulative, self-serving, and inclined to be in league with the Royals. One of the most-hated troublemakers in the series is Adalind Schade, who is chosen by Sean Renard, a Zauberbiest (male version), to inject herself into the Grimm’s inner circle in order to obtain an ancient “key” that unlocks an incredible source of power. Adalind, who is in love with Renard, winds up nearly putting the Grimm’s ..read more

One of the most fascinating women in cinematic history is found in The Thorn Birds. While the story ultimately revolves around the ill-fated love between Ralph and Meggie, it is Meggie’s embittered aunt that sends them down a path toward destruction… and who provides the most interesting symbolism found in the story. Her name, Mary, is significant, since she is as far removed from the Virgin Mary that Ralph holds so highly as one can imagine, a scheming, diabolical woman intent on destroying him. Ralph underestimates her and lives to regret it, as early on he remarks that at times, he believes ..read more

Few literary figures are better known or loved than Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s consulting sleuth, occupant of 221B Baker Street. Since his first literary appearance in 1889, he continues to capture the devotion of millions through short stories, novels, radio plays, television series, and films. And during WWII, he inspired people by shedding his deerstalker to enter the modern age and deliver much needed hope worldwide. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce film adaptations have a mixed reception among Sherlockians; some object to removing Holmes from his natural setting and placing h ..read more