February 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Small Town Harmony by Milla Holt — Faith, fame, and family collide as a Christian music power couple hides a secret discord. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) Only You Can Love Me by Carolyn Miller — Dr. Jess Martin–Doc Martin to …
A Writer’s Perspective on the Benefits of Chaos, Bedlam and Scandal
By Roxanne Hicks When a younger writer, I hesitated to plunge my characters into perilous events. Like a doting mother, I dressed everyone in clean clothing and admonished them to stay out of the mud. Scandalous outings, unscrupulous friends, and disgusting habits were a taboo. A writing coach asked me, “Where is the excitement or conflict in your story if …
Why Hospitality Toward Our Readers Should be on Our List of New Year’s Resolutions
by Donna Wichelman @DonnaWichelman Several years ago, while listening to a webinar hosted by Thomas Umstattd, Jr., he made a statement that impressed me and motivated me to write two questions on a Post-It note that still hangs on my computer monitor today. How do you throw a banquet for your readers? How do you serve them if you don’t …
ACFW New Releases: January 2025
January 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children/Middle-grade: Feather by Susan Page Davis — Feather is snatched by a fierce tribe and forced to work for them. Her younger brother, Karsh, vows to find her. When Feather learns the arrows she makes will be used against her own people, …
Encouragement for your 2025 Writing Goals
by Chandra Lynn Smith “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” ~ Galatians 6:4 (MSG) It’s Christmas Eve as I sit here writing this post. My heart wants to get back to the cooking and cleaning and wrapping. But, I must first write this post for …
Christmas Quotes by Writers
By DiAnn Mills Have you ever read what other writers have said about Christmas? Curiosity, like a writerly-child (I made that up), propelled me to explore several quotes. These are so special that I wanted to share twelve of them with you. “Do give books—religious or otherwise—for Christmas. They’re never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.” ~Lenore Hershey “Christmas! ‘Tis the …
ACFW New Releases: December 2024
December 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Always In My Heart by Iola Goulton — Broke solo mother Maya Allen is raising her daughter, Sarah, as well as her dead best friend’s daughter … who just happens to be her own daughter’s half sister (thanks, cheating college …
Here I Am, Send Me
By Janet Morris Grimes Writing is a rather lonely sport, as we all know. In order to be a successful author, we must live within disciplined parameters that require us to keep our distance at times. While we’d love to accept every invitation from every family member or friend who is hosting a gathering, we’ve lived that life. And though …
Three Word Pictures to Describe my Writing
by Dwight David Croy My writing thought life is best described as a percolator, puzzle, and a microscope. Time is needed to think, think, and think before writing. A percolator cannot be rushed but it is working on that perfect cup of coffee. My generation is from the “Java Jive” sung by the “Ink Spots.” Most words in that song …
ACFW New Releases: November 2024
November 2024 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance: Matchmaking the Cowboy by Emily Conrad — What’s a little covert matchmaking between friends? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP] The Daze Before Christmas by Laurie Germaine — She fled her old life for a new one. Trouble is, she …