Sunday Devotional: Psalm 126 ~ harvest of joy

Psalm 126 (NKJV) ~ A Song of Ascents. Another short and sweet one from among the songs of ascent ... When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. Nothing compares to the joy of knowing just...

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A Visit With Author Leslie Gould

Today we have the privilege of spending a little time with Leslie Gould, author of Amish and contemporary fiction.  Thank you for coming, Leslie. Have you always wanted to be an author? What made you decide to write, and how long have you been at it? As a preschooler I used to make up stories about the letters of the alphabet, so yes, I guess I have always...

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Tales of Shakespeare Retold by Author Leslie Gould

I love a good retelling, so much so that my entire series, The Courtships of Lancaster County, is inspired by four of Shakespeare’s plays. Becoming Bea, inspired by Much Ado About Nothing and the fourth in the series, releases this month.  Did I have any qualms about writing retellings? Not at all!  Shakespeare’s plays were all inspired by other stories....

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Sunday Devotional: Psalm 121 ~ the God who watches and keeps

Psalm 121 (NKJV) ~ A Song of Ascents The songs of ascent is a collection of short Psalms, meant to be sung while on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or as some suggest, while ascending the steps of the Temple (one Psalm for each step). This one, in all its sweet brevity, seems perfect for a week when many are traveling and most are thinking of home and family ... I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes...

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Clinching the Cliché Conundrum

We all know what a cliché is, right? It’s a phrase or expression that's been used so often that it's no longer original or interesting; or, a theme or device so commonly used in books, stories, etc., that it's no longer effective. “No longer” is the key here. These overused tools were once fresh, new, and witty. But now, employing them merely proves that you can...

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What's the Word by Author Yvonne Anderson

At my first writer’s conference (ACFW, Dallas, 2007), I met with Andy Meisenheimer, then acquisitions editor for Zondervan, to discuss a manuscript. The occasion held a number of personal firsts: among other things, my first conference, my first meeting with an editor, and my first foray into writing science fiction.  (Four years later, the book was published as The...

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Sunday Devotional: Psalm 118 ~ His everlasting mercy

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Psalm 118 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His...

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