Life Advice from a Civil War Woman

You’re living in trying times, my friend. Trust me, I have an inkling of the discomfort you bear. Instability and chaos on every side, opinions being flung about with startling force, political upheaval, food shortages, and financial distress. It’s difficult to sleep some nights, isn’t it? But take heart. I survived and so will you. By the grace of the …

Civil War Trivia 101

People often ask me what I like most about writing. That’s a tough question. I love helping people break free from the lies they believe about themselves. I love the creativity that blooms when dreaming up new characters and plots, wounds and dramatic twists. Being a history nerd, there’s something extra special about writing Civil War stories. I’ve discovered so …

When the Holidays are Hard: The Story of Hope Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day”

“How inexplicably sad are all holidays.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the melancholy words during a difficult time in not only his life, but in the entire nation’s.  On July 10, 1861, mere months after the country had been launched into the turmoil of the Civil War, Henry’s wife Fanny was trimming her daughter’s curls and decided to preserve the clippings …

The Civil War, Messy People and Jesus: Why I Write

  With my debut book release with Tyndale scheduled for summer of 2018, this week I’ve begun the daunting task of writing another story. It’s set in one of my favorite time periods…the Civil War. This isn’t a new assignment for me. This will actually be the fourth Civil War story I’ve penned, uh, typed, but the research involved is …