by Mitchell S. Karnes I grew up loving to read. That love grew into a passion for writing. In the beginning, I was full of questions and voraciously searched for the answers. Thankfully, God placed many great mentors in my life. Without them, I would have given up, for there were just as many critics who discouraged me from using …
ACFW New Releases: March 2026
March 2026 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Amish Romance: Feuding with the Amish Farmer by Anne Blackburne — Lida Mae Beiler and Tom Fisher, both feeling betrayed by their parents, find healing, acceptance and forgiveness, while forging a future together. (Amish Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Children’s Middle Grade …
Your Book is Not Your Baby – And That’s Good News
At my very first ACFW conference—several years ago—I sat in a class with a well-known and much-loved author. When I asked her for her number one piece of advice for a green, newbie like me, she replied, “Always remember your books are not your babies.” Her admonition took me off guard. I had heard numerous writers, both fledgling and professional, …
Hooks & Cliffhangers Readers Can’t Resist
by Darlene L. Turner “Just one more chapter, Mom.” This is how I responded to my mother when she reminded me I had chores to finish, but Nancy Drew held me in her clutches. I couldn’t put the book down, especially when the chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Ugh! Sound familiar? This is how we want our readers to respond …
Red Ink, Refined Hearts
By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede Yesterday my writing coach returned my manuscript with comments and edits, and within five minutes I discovered an exciting new subplot called “Defensiveness.” Then I briefly considered spinning it off into a companion project titled “Avoidance.” But our discipleship group has been reading Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller, and it’s been exposing the hidden idols I …
Why Love Stories Still Matter…and Always Will
by Carrie Turansky We often think of celebrating Valentine’s Day with cards and flowers or preparing special treats for those we love, but underneath those traditions lies something deeper. Love stories endure because they speak to a longing God placed in every human heart, the desire to be known, chosen, and cherished. That is why romance has remained one of …
Historical Research – How Do You Start?
by Sarah Sundin On a chilly and blustery evening, my husband and I traipsed through a German gun emplacement in Jersey in the Channel Islands. I said to him, “Aren’t you glad I don’t write novels set in fussy tea rooms?” The look of horror on his face was priceless. Aspiring historical novelists often ask for my best tips on …
In Praise of Art Museums as Sources of Inspiration
by Glynn Young I’d heard that, as you age, you often become more interested in art. What I didn’t expect was to discover how that growing interest in art would affect my fiction writing. I wasn’t a stranger to art, but I can’t say it was a major preoccupation, either. I had two semesters of art history in college; I …
Waiting With Purpose
by Stephanie Cardel “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…” ~Psalm37:7 (ESV) To me, the most difficult part of being a writer is all the waiting. At least, that’s what drives me mad. Not writer’s block. Not how competitive it is. Not rejection. Waiting. You put yourself out there and wait for critique, then an agent’s response, …
ACFW New Releases: February 2026
February 2026 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s Middle Grade /Chapter: The Cowbird’s Truth by Erin Greneaux — What happens when the most dangerous enemy turns out to be yourself? Maya and Everly continue their quest to find the missing Virtue Gems, and this time, their greatest challenge may be each …