Candy Abbott: Author

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)

Upcoming… Gavin Goodfellow Spiritual Adventure Series

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!