By Linda Dindzans @lindadindzans First… What is a biblical novel? The vast cast of biblical characters is both historic and religious. They are not fictional. Their lives, faith, and teachings are accurately recorded in scripture. A biblical novel is not scripture. The tale is generated in the “offstage space” of the settings and characters of the sixty-six books of the Bible. The author may utilize both fact and fiction to create a work that offers Truth, redemption, and restoration. There are a Trinity of reasons to write a biblical Novel… THE FATHER Because it is God’s will for you. You hav ..read more

May 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: A Cameo for a Cowgirl by Carolyn Miller — Welcome to Three Creek Ranch, home of the James family for over a hundred years, complete with its own Western movie set. Franklin James might be a famous pro hockey player, but just because he’s Cassie’s older brother doesn’t mean she wants to step into the limelight. She’s too busy helping her dad run the ranch and managing the ranch’s movie set, and negotiating with the giant egos of movie stars like Harrison Woods, w ..read more

by Melody Morrison I wanted to write, but we were supposed to be down-sizing. Yuck. I faced a wall unit of books, games and toys. Over 750 youth and children’s books called my name. Stopping to read “a little”, I didn’t accomplish much. Today two thirds of the books are still on the shelves and five piles designated for various possible locations remain in the room. Then there are the 2500 additional books arranged on other shelves throughout the house. Daunting. Eight grandchildren range from college ages to seven. They are wonderful readers, but Laptops, iPads, Tablets and Kindles have taken ..read more

by John Matthew Walker  @jdubmd If you’ve ever been to a writers conference or critique group, you’ve heard the phrase “target audience.” But what does it really mean? Who is your target audience? And why is it so important? Imagine yourself taking up a new hobby. It sounded crazy. You didn’t really want to do it, but you reconnected with that one daredevil friend from high school, and she’s invited you to her archery club. You’ve done the work, bought all the right gear, and watched a lot of videos on archery. Now it’s time to go to the range. Does the instructor or your friend ask, “Wha ..read more

By Dwight David Croy At my late stage in life, God gives permission to go on a writing mission. It is an extension of the great commission. The professional writing mission is new to me, but a welcome outlet for ministry. Books will not rival the living breathing Word of God, but they have a role to play in each time period in history. If a writer is extremely fortunate and talented, a writer may create something that spans a couple of centuries like “Pilgrims Progress”/ “In His Steps.” Churches, people, cultures, and books have a part to play in the discipleship of believers. Often, we measur ..read more

By Chandra Lynn Smith I’m sitting at my desk this morning pretty much feeling like the weather. Pennsylvania is known for its fickleness about changing seasons. We can go from winter to spring to summer to mud all in the same day. And yes, around here we truly do feel like we have a fifth season called mud. This morning when I look out the window over my left shoulder, the clouds have broken and brilliant sunshine casts rays of light through the trees. Yet, as I look out the window in front of me the rain is pouring down. Raining while the sun is shining. I grew up in North Carolina and Georgi ..read more

by Donna Wichelman @DonnaWichelman Have you ever faced an unforeseen event and had to find the courage to trust God even in those difficult circumstances? Most of us have probably endured such a time. Sometimes, it comes out of the blue just when everything seems to go your way, and you’re riding high on the happiness train. We writers are not immune even when the deadline for our manuscripts is looming. On January 5, 2024, I had a reverse shoulder replacement surgery. All was going exceptionally well in my post-surgery period until I had complications due to a stress fracture. Photo 610 ..read more

April 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Love in Tandem by Becca Kinzer — She’s perfectly content leading a quiet life in her small hometown. He’s an adventurer with unquenchable wanderlust. The two couldn’t be any more opposite if they tried. But a tandem bicycle and a 500-mile road trip just might change all that. (Contemporary Romance from Tyndale House) Playing For Keeps by Deborah Raney — The love story of Art and Maddie continues in Playing for Keeps. But their fledgling marriage faces challen ..read more

by JPC Allen I’ll state the obvious: if you want to write a mystery, you must have a detective. But detectives come in all shapes and sizes, so you have a lot of room to develop an interesting main character. As you write, you might find your story is better if you have a duo of detectives. When I began my first novel, A Shadow on the Snow, my detective was 19-year-old Rae Riley. Since my mystery was aimed at teens, my amateur detective had to be one. But as I wrote, I realized Rae’s father, since he is the sheriff of their fictional Ohio county, had to join her in the investigation or else he ..read more

By Linda Dindzans @lindadindzans One recent early morning, I was fretting over fine points in the first rework of edits for my debut novel. Each word was critical. Should I change this may to might? Finally satisfied, I hit send. A Certain Man—a novel set in ancient Samaria at the time of Jesus—was on its way back to the editor. By nature, more Martha than Mary, I sighed and allowed myself one deep breath before turning to the next agenda item for the day—warming up my singing voice for the high soprano notes, then practicing some tricky spots in the composition Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen ..read more