Category Archives: The Writing Life

Patience is a …

giveaway, The Writing Life Comments: 13

VIRTUE. Or so momma used to say, but when it comes to technology it sure is difficult to be patient. This is a real-time picture of me when my webpage is down.

If you tried to comment on my latest blog, you probably received an error message. I believe the wonderful tech support people have fixed the problem, so please do try and comment again. You can access the original blog here.

And remember, I’m giving away 10 copies of my latest release, Midnight Strike, in e-book format. Leave a comment even if you’ve already read it. If you win, you can gift your copy to a friend.

Thank you for your patience.

V

Year of Jubilee

Christian authors, The Writing Life, Uncategorized Comments: 24

Happy new year! I’m a couple of days early, but it’s the thought that counts. Right?

Raise your hand if you like making resolutions. I’m a big resolution-maker. I usually have a chart. It might be color-coded. I keep a journal on my resolutions. It’s possible I go a little overboard.

But as I thought and prayed about 2020, I knew I wanted to make some changes. In 2019, I discovered that I have fairly severe osteoarthritis. I was relieved on the one hand, because some of my tests indicated lupus. On the other hand, Continue reading →

Clean Romantic Suspense

Amish fiction, romantic suspense, The Writing Life Comments: 3

An emerging genre in Christian fiction is something called “clean romantic suspense.” Basically it has a little more tension in the plot, but there’s no graphic violence, no adult language, no bedroom scenes. I’ve written a few of these (Hidden and Protected are 2 good examples). They’re always fun to write, and they give me a nice break from Continue reading →

Deciding to Be a Writer

Author life, The Writing Life Comments: 15

VC at the college where she teaches

Another question I’m asked a lot is “Did you always want to be a writer?”

The quick answer to that question is a resounding NO. I never even thought of being a writer. I’ve always been an avid reader. True story: when I was very young (probably 10), my mom had to go to the the library so she could sign a special form. The special form allowed me into the ADULT section. I’d already read all of the books in the children’s section.

When I went back to school for my college degree at the ripe-old-age of 34 Continue reading →

Texas Beaches

Healthy living, Texas, The Writing Life Comments: 9

 

Texas is a big state. We have mountains, desert, forests, hill country, plains, and beaches! Hubby and I recently spent a few days at the Texas coast with his family. Yes, it was hot! But it was a nice time of relaxing and recharging. I thought I’d share a few facts with you about Texas beaches.

  1. Padre Island is the world’s largest barrier island–more than 200 square miles.
  2. There are several lighthouses to visit including Port Isabel and Lydia Ann. You can see the entire list here.
  3. Sea turtle rescue is a big thing on Padre Island.
  4. The Texas State Aquarium is right across the bay in Corpus Christi.
  5. You can also visit the USS Lexington which is now a floating museum.
  6. Moody Gardens are located in Galveston, which is only 60 miles south of Houston.
  7. Both Galveston and Port Aransas have been hit by hurricanes in recent years. Hurricane Harvey hit Port A in 2017 and Hurricane Ike hit Galveston in 2008. Galveston was also the site of the deadliest hurricane in US history which made landfall in 1900 and killed between 6,000 and 12,000 people.

So while you might not want to visit the Texas coast during hurricane season, it is a nice spot the rest of the year. I think you’ll find the people friendly, the food delicious, and the views spectacular. What about you? What’s your favorite spot to visit in your state?  Leave a comment below, and we’ll pull one winner to receive an autographed book from yours truly. Last week’s winner was Judy S. (Judy, you should have received an email from me today.)

Blessings,

VC

Announcements for this week

  • Paperback copies of Sarah’s Orphans and Joshua’s Mission are available in my online store for only $6 (which includes an autograph and free shipping). This special is good through 7-24.
  • The anthology I’m participating in, Summer of Suspense, is releasing in 3 weeks. You can preorder at BN and Apple and Amazon. Pre-order price is 99c for 16 awesome inspirational romantic suspense novellas. These are all original stories.
  • I’ll be in Shipshewana in August and signing books at the Empress Room in the Blue Gate Inn on Friday, August 2 from 12:30-4:30. Some fantastic authors of Amish fiction are going to be joining me, so if you’re in the area please do stop by!

What’s Wrong With Shopping

Love Inspired Books, New Release, The Writing Life Comments: 34

There’s nothing wrong with shopping, of course. In fact, if you have the urge, feel free to purchase my new release, A Perfect Amish Match. It’s available in ebook and print. (You can find it at most Walmart stores as well as online retailers).

Some of you might remember that I decided to try a shopping ban for 2019, so I thought I’d update you on how it’s going. So far, so good. Of course I still purchase consumables (food, paper goods, etc.). For me, I found that my biggest tempations were books (surprise), fabric for quilting, yarn for knitting, and clothes! Those are my big 4. Apparently today is day 104, and to tell you the truth I think Continue reading →

Pop-UP Projects

Christian authors, Christian fiction, The Writing Life Comments: 25

As I writer, I keep a pretty detailed calendar. Some of things I need to keep an eye on are:

  • Project due dates
  • Book release dates
  • Book signings and book talks
  • Family vacations (that one is super important)

I try to be realistic about my schedule. After all, we each only get 24 hours a day and some of that really does need to be spent sleeping. I’m a real believer in calendars. “Stick to the calendar,” I say as I stumble toward my desk with a cup of coffee. But one fun thing about being a writer is Continue reading →