Christmas…Interrupted

No matter how many Christmases I’ve lived through, I always feel unprepared when the calendar rolls around to December again. It doesn’t matter how early I start shopping, how many rolls of wrapping paper I buy, or how much food I freeze ahead. When the calendar hits December 25th, I’m scrambling like dog chasing after a bone. Some days, celebrating …

The Eyewitness Account from the Shepherds of Bethlehem

Each Christmas I find particular joy in digging anew into the accounts of Jesus’ birth. I’ve studied Simeon, Anna, the outposts around Bethlehem, the innkeeper, Mary…the possibilities are endless. But this year, I was giddy to discover a letter held in the Constantinople archives. This missive was a report written by a priest named Jonathan to the Bethlehem Sanhedrim, after …

Kindred Spirits…a Chat with Rachel Dodge!

Come meet my talented friend Rachel Dodge! Rachel and I chat about Southern hospitality and colloquialisms, as well as all things Jane Austen. (Rachel is a Jane Austen expert and prefers the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. I knew there was a good reason why we clicked!) We chat about our earliest story inspirations–Little House, Anne of Green Gables, …

Sarcasm and Story with S.E. Clancy!

Today, I sit down with my sister from another mister…the multi-talented, multi-genre driven Sarah Bennett! (aka S.E. Clancy) Sarah and I reminisce about the first time we met in a comedy writing class…and boy, did the instructor’s words make us snicker! We chat about how a sarcastic momma survives raising teens, the lack of quality stories for young people, reader …

Food, Creativity, and Lakeside Retreat with Marci Seither

Welcome to Tara’s favorite episode ever! Today, Tara sits down with mother, grandmother, author, baker, all-around-creative, and drone flyer…the incomparable Marci Seither! The ladies start by talking about recipes and Marci’s love of preservation, which quickly flows into a conversation about hospitality, showing love through meals, and being present in the everyday tasks of raising a family. Marci shares what …