My writing has mysteriously blossomed. In additional to independently published works, my stories appear in a number of anthologies. “Ivy’s Cookies,” a story I wrote about a friend who took cookies to prisoners, is touching hearts all over the place. It’s in Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Stories for a Woman’s Heart, Stories for a Teen’s Heart (Book 2), and is making its way around the world via the internet. Recently, at the invitation of Chicken Soup co-authors Tom & Laura Lagana and LeAnn Theiman, I had the privilege of reading “Ivy’s Cookies” to the inmates at Baylor Women’s Correctional Institute in Wilmington, the place where the story originated. Ivy made a surprise appearance, and it was a powerful time of ministry I will not soon forget. In 2001, I submitted a story about Dad entitled “Beulah’s Bull Calf,” and it was accepted by Bethany House. Lo and behold, when The Heart of a Father was published, I found my story sandwiched between Christian powerhouse authors Chuck Swindoll and Corrie Ten Boom. About the time I received confirmation that my story about Mom, “A Couple Doses of Laughter” was accepted for Touched by Angels of Mercy, I also got a contract from Chicken Soup for the Volunteer’s Soul for the firefighter story I’d written about Wyatt, “No Batteries: No Survivors.” Marlene Bagnull's devotional for married couples, For Better or Worse, includes a story about how Drew and I have honored "Date Night" every Friday for 29 years. (To order these books, visit our Fruitbearer Publishing Store)
So, what’s my latest writing project? Well, I thought I’d try my hand at fiction. It's a spiritual fantasy thriller, kid-style, with real life application (a six-book series). No kidding! It’s way beyond my comfort zone, but the good Lord has inspired me, I’ve spent the last three years studying the how-tos of novel writing, and several professionals have come alongside to mentor me. The title of the first book is Gavin Goodfellow and the Lure of Burnt Swamp. Armed with a vivid imagination, tenacity, gifted mentors, ornery characters, and book proposal being considered by an agent, it’s looking more real all the time. Pray for me!