David asks Mary to be exclusive, Chapter 28, Phantom Love
“How did it go with Mary?” David asked Sylvia when she walked into the downstairs break room of the townhouse where they lived and worked. He timed his morning coffee break to coincide with hers to find out details of her conversation with Mary. He rationalized the information was needed for his chat with Mary,... Read More
Love the WIP You’re With
This piece originally appeared on the ACFW blog on April 14, 2016. The idea comes to you in a flash of brilliance. The plot, the setting, the characters all jumble together like a kaleidoscope of words just waiting to be brought into focus by you. You eagerly sit down in front of the computer, fingers... Read More
Mary is drawn in deeper, Chapter 27, continued, Phantom Love
Mary pleated her skirt between her fingers as the phone rang on the other end. Five, six, seven times. She nearly gave up and disconnected the call when the phone clicked and a woman’s voice, a bit breathless, said hello. “Brenda Gomez?” A slight pause before the other voice answered. “Speaking. Who’s calling, please?” Mary... Read More
A Conversation With Tracee Lydia Garner
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Bestselling, award-winning author Tracee Lydia Garner pens stories of complex heroes and heroines, and families that experience tough but realistic life challenges in their quest for love. A Washington, D.C.-area native, Tracee is a health and human service counselor and speaks and advocates for people with disabilities. What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?... Read More
Jared finds out interesting news about the chats, Chapter 27, Phantom Love
“What did you find?” Jared twirled a pencil between his fingers as he waited for Melvin’s reply. He had spent a quiet Sunday reviewing all of the chat transcripts and other notes the three field offices sent to Will. A picture of those behind the chats was forming in his mind, but he still needed... Read More
May 2017 New Releases in Christian Fiction
May 2017 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website. Contemporary Romance: Amish Brides by Jennifer Beckstrand, Molly Jebber, Amy Lillard — Under bright blue skies, wedding bells ring–fulfilling sweet dreams, impossible wishes, and joyous new beginnings among these three new stories. (Contemporary Romance from Kensington... Read More
Mary remembers her first meeting with Aunt Geraldine, Chapter 26, Phantom Love
Mary took a deep breath. Might as well finish her sad tale and be done with it. She wished there was an easier way to tell it, but Jared seemed to understand better than anyone else. Maybe that was why the words flowed out of her so easily. She’d only given Amy the bare bones... Read More
A Conversation With Robin Patchen
Robin Patchen is a wife, a mother of three teenagers, a freelance editor, and an award-winning multi-published author of seven novels and novellas. She loves to illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story. When do you find time to write? Robin: I don’t find the time so much as... Read More
Mary tells Jared about leaving home as a child, Chapter 25, continued, Phantom Love
Those four little words threw him into a tailspin, but somehow the words to decline Mary’s request wouldn’t form on his lips. He hadn’t said grace or any other semblance of a prayer in two years. His shooting had merely been the last in a long line of grievances against the Almighty. He sucked in... Read More
An Ordinary Writer Writing Ordinary Books
This piece originally appeared on the ACFW blog on March 29, 2016. Who wants to be ordinary? If I asked that question at an ACFW conference, I doubt anyone would raise their hand. For some reason, ordinary has become associated with dull, listless, uninteresting and uninspiring. As writers, we may be content to live ordinary... Read More