Last Saturday’s Write2Ignite Master Class on Writing Chapter Books was a big hit. We had the largest attendance we’ve had thus far, and our teacher Marianne Hering did a fabulous job! It is such a joy for me to gather with other Christian writers whether live or via Zoom. However, it’s more than terrific when … More W2I Chapter Books Master Class Review
I recently reviewed the first novel in Tim Shoemaker’s High Water series, Escape from the Everglades. While I enjoyed Escape from the Everglades, its sequel, Every Hidden Thing, is my favorite of the two. … More Every Hidden Thing: A Book Review by Kathryn Dover
If you’re a fan of the BRITFIELD adventure book series for ages 9 – 18, then you’ve been waiting for the third book in the series, BRITFIELD AND THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE, to release. It’s promoted as the “unparalleled finale of sacrifice, romance, revenge, and loss.” We shall see if that’s true. I’ve read and … More BRITFIELD AND THE RETURN OF THE PRINCE: Book Review by Sally Matheny
There’s no way around it. Writing a children’s novel takes time. I know writer friends and writing challenges that boast they can whip out a picture book in one day. Not so with a children’s novel. The setting of the story. The plot. The characters. The shortest time frame most people can claim for writing … More Amazing Hack for Writing the Setting of a Story
As children’s writers, we all know the importance of choosing the right word to use. Shakespeare has a famous quote “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That philosophy might work in Romeo and Juliet’s situation but not for ours. In a nonfiction book … More THE WORDS WE CHOOSE TO USE
I love using my computer for my research. With a click of a mouse, ancient tomes and primary sources open before my eyes. And a working outline is a breeze. Copy. Paste. Search. Find. For one of my nonfiction projects my outline is over 200 pages long and still growing.
Ever feel as if your writing is a waste of time? That the entire universe is laughing at your paltry literary efforts? That’s one of my biggest fears, and it’s founded on reality. I wrote three unsuccessful children’s book series for David C. Cook in the 1990s. And by “unsuccessful” I mean the amount of … More On ‘Story Genius’ or . . . How to Avoid Wasting a Decade of Your Life
Writing devotions for children has an exciting caveat: we get to write lots of fun stuff to go along with the key message as well.
An interview with Esther Bandy. … More UNDER THE TANGERINE TREE: An Author Interview with Esther Bandy and a Giveaway
“Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village? Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission—far beyond what she could imagine. This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.” … More The Heart Changer