While my latest story technically releases tomorrow, we held the launch party for it at Sassafras on Sutton–a wonderful bookstore in Black Mountain, NC–yesterday. While I regularly speak in front of groups ranging from 10 to 200 for my job, talking about MY book to a group including MY friends is a whole other kettle of fish. At events like […]
I know Thursdays usually focus on something Appalachian, but hey, When Silence Sings is an Appalachian story, so that counts. Right? Thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of my sixth novel by sharing what you’d like six of. It was such fun reading and responding to all your comments. Pygmy goats was one of my very favorite […]
The Christy Award has been around since 1999. And while I try not to put too much stock in winning awards, I’ll confess to really, really hoping for a Christy. And last week A Shot at Love from The Christmas Heirloom novella collection was nominated. The award, intended to honor Christian novels of excellence, imagination, and creativity, is named for […]
My soon-to-release novel, When Silence Sings, is set in part in Thurmond, WV. While there’s plenty to make this southern WV town interesting, one of the main things is that in the early 1900s it was a rich boom town. Today, it’s essentially a ghost town owned largely by the National Park Service. Of course, the thing that’s nifty about […]
My next full-length novel will release on November 5–less than two months away now. I’m excited to introduce readers to the Harpes and McLeans–feuding families in southern West Virginia. I found it oddly refreshing to write a character who’s . . . well . . . a little bit terrible. Inventing Serepta McLean was the most fun I’ve had writing […]
I’m always delighted when I’m asked to do a book event. But it doesn’t get much better than being contacted by the library I loved as a kid to come speak. Which is what happened to me this past week! The Upshur County Public Library contacted me to say they’re focusing on hosting more WV authors and would I be […]
After finishing Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan I don’t want to start reading another book. That’s the greatest compliment I can pay a story. I just want to savor this gorgeous novel and starting anything else will dilute it in my memory. Which means I’ll eventually have to read it again. I’ve long admired C.S. Lewis. Mere Christianity is […]
