On September 1, 1939, Germany unleashed her army, the Wehrmacht, on Poland, giving birth to the blitzkrieg, “lightning war.” In the days leading up to the invasion, the English and French had urged the Polish government not to mobilize its troops so they wouldn’t further enrage Hitler. The Poles had ignored the warnings and secretly mobilized half…
A Cup of Water
On Rejection, Perseverance, & Divine Assistance by T.K. Sheffield
I’m sixty years old, and my debut mystery, Model Suspect, a humorous cozy, hits the shelves November 14, 2023. I’ll be sixty-one when the sequel is published. To paraphrase Erma Bombeck, she who lasts … laughs. To celebrate my book’s publication, I wrote an article about rejection for a creative magazine. Why? I’m not positive….
Unintended Hero by Becky Van Vleet
The Story Behind the Story A kitchen table, a father, a daughter, and a cassette recorder. What’s so special about this? Well, as a baby boomer, I grew up in a household hearing stories from my parents about the Great Depression and WWII. I’d always been fascinated with my father’s stories he shared occasionally…
How Diamond Formation Can Teach You to Change Your Behaviors
As a Christian, my primary goal in life is to imitate Christ’s behavior and attitude more and more with every passing day. I should grow to be empathetic to the people around me. I should learn to pray and do it as often as possible. I should be humble and live life as if I…
Who Will I Bring Value to This Week? by Paula Peckham
It is so easy for us to focus on ourselves, to make decisions that favor our own future over someone else’s. We’re taught to look out for Number One. But that mindset differs from what God’s Word teaches. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not…
Peace in Purpose by Lori DeJong
Finding purpose. That one thing we were meant to do. Born to be. It can seem elusive, the search never-ending. Just out of reach or too confusing to identify. But what if I told you our purpose isn’t about us? Would that help take some of the pressure off? Because it isn’t. As Christians, followers…
Kidnapping Research Led Me to the Loopers by Joni M. Fisher
In my third Christian suspense novel, West of Famous, an Oxford grad student takes a job as a celebrity body double during a school break. It’s all fun and games until she gets kidnapped. The research for this novel included learning about trawlers, especially the kind that people live on all the time. I am…
Heeding Lessons of the Past by Aubrey Taylor
I recently added a disclaimer on my website: “Writing German-perspective fiction and history, particularly with regard to the Second World War, does not indicate an adherence to any political ideology. Instead, it is an effort to understand the past through the eyes of those who lived through it, as well as preserve history, and share…
Finding Hope in the Face of Overwhelming Circumstances by Paula Peckham
God’s Promise of Everlasting Presence Life is filled with uncertainties, and there are moments when we feel burdened by the weight of our circumstances, overwhelmed by the challenges we face. In such times, it is not uncommon for people to question if God has abandoned them. However, as followers of Christ, we can find solace…
You Are Never Alone by Becca Wierwille
Two years ago, twelve-year-old Kimmy Beckett’s best friend betrayed her. But even though it hurt to lose a friend, at least she had her beloved dog, Bo. Bo never made fun of her for having one hand. Bo was trustworthy. Bo would never betray her. But then, Bo disappeared. Since then, Kimmy has come to…