Posts
What is “Christian” Fiction?
Here’s a question that’s been running through my mind the past several weeks: What exactly is Christian fiction? At first glance, it may seem like an easy question, but look again. How do we define what is “Christian” and what is secular? The question surfaced in my mind in response to a novel I read…
My First Book-Signing: Photos
Saturday was my very first book-signing. Yeah! I was so tickled as so many friends made the effort to come by. Here I am signing a book for my friend Heather Corbin. She was one of the gals in a Bible study two years ago that I dared to risk this dream, too. That group…
Communicating With Your Children
Mary E. DeMuth is hosting a contest all of us moms would be grateful to win. Here’s Mary with the details! Want to connect with your kids every single day, but don’t know how? Why not start a conversational revolution tonight? Straight to your inbox, ready to print and cut out, you’ll receive 150 life-delving…
Showing Up
Sometime ago a friend called me. She was freaking out because a friend of hers was having a really rough time. He was at church cleaning, and he’d called her needing to talk. Apparently he was in very bad shape emotionally. She called. “What do I say to him? I’m afraid I’m going to say…
Who is Jesus?
Reposted from December 2006 If you spend any amount of time browsing or reading this blog you know this question is not referring to my fundamental belief that Jesus is the Son of God. So who is Jesus, to you? Is He still a tiny baby in a manger who you think about once or…
Saturday Morning Review: The Lost Sheep by Brandt Dodson
I literally just got done reading this book and had to tell you about it. Those of you who know me, know I don’t usually read PI stories. I may love the Thin Man movies, but PI tales have never been my thing. Brandt Dodson has changed that. The fourth installment in Brandt Dodson’s Colton…
The Minor Protection Act by Jodi Cowels
It is December 1st, time for the FIRST Day Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and his/her latest book’s FIRST chapter! This month’s feature author is: JODI COWLES and her book: The Minor Protection Act Musterion (December 1, 2005) ABOUT THE AUTHOR:…
Quick Fiction Fixes – Using thoughts to show emotion
We’re all busy, whether working full-time or chasing/chauffeuring kids around all day. Yet we’re also writers, striving to get our words on paper and then polish it to a sparkle. This column gives quick fixes for fiction manuscripts specifically for busy writers. Pick and choose what works best for you! Character thoughts: Your characters are…
‘Tis the Season for Family Friction
Due to too much time blogging and not writing time restraints, I’m getting more choosy in the books I’m featuring here on Portrait. When I got an invite to participate in the blog tour For Parents Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa A. Rice, I almost passed it up. But it was this that caught…
Please Indulge Me While I Brag
Grace started taking gymnastics when she was three, but it was a nightmare just getting her into class. I was still homeschooling the boys (the were at PE during this time) and I really wanted to take advantage of the workout room for parents. I would never know if she’d “let go of me” and…