Characters Part 4: An Open Letter About My Character Christian

This post explains my personal feelings about topics addressed in my upcoming release, The Christmas We Both Needed. If you have followed me or supported my work in the last two years, I hope you will give it a read.

Characters Part 3: Seeking Forgiveness with Herta Schmidt

Yesterday morning, on Mother’s Day, I woke up thinking about Herta Schmidt. She is a minor character in the Gott Mit Uns Series, yet her role in The Prodigal Sons is significant. She is the grandmother of main character, Jakob Schmidt, as a result of her husband Bernhardt’s continual lengthy absences, the matriarch of theContinue reading “Characters Part 3: Seeking Forgiveness with Herta Schmidt”

January 2023 Author Update

Welcome to 2023! While I have not been doing well in my “determination” to make two posts on this blog every month, I have had a number of opportunities to share on other authors’ blogs. You are welcome to check out some of those posts below: This year I will also be sharing a devotionalContinue reading “January 2023 Author Update”

God With Us

I’ve had the pleasure of caroling twice this season, as well as doing Christmas music at church, leading the children’s choir, and singing in a choir full of wonderful senior citizens who have become my Opas and Omas (maybe I’d call a few of them Onkel and Tante, since I myself am now in myContinue reading “God With Us”

Wandering Around Germany: Berlin

There is still a lot more to talk about in Rhineland-Pfalz, but today lets talk about the Deutsche Haupstadt, Berlin. I’ll skip the account of multiple GPS debacles in favor of this photo of us eating french fries at the Hauptbahnhof at 10:00 at night: We walked out the door and were greeted by aContinue reading “Wandering Around Germany: Berlin”

Wandering Around Germany: Cochem

When I first spotted Cochem in pictures online, I wanted so badly to make it Frederick Smith’s home. In my first draft of Sani: The German Medic, this is where he ended up after his train ride from Hamburg. It was an interesting journey and one that involved the difference between being a fiction writerContinue reading “Wandering Around Germany: Cochem”

Between Fiction and Reality

It’s interesting to see my life experiences, or the experiences of loved ones, reveal themselves in the lives of my characters. This may sound funny, but sometimes it surprises me, like a great revelation. Oh, that’s where that came from! It gives me an opportunity to work through difficulties from my past that I haven’tContinue reading “Between Fiction and Reality”

Auf Wiedersehen

This summer we will spend three weeks in Germany. I am almost beside myself with anticipation. It is interesting to think that we land in Frankfurt (presumably, because of recent air travel disruptions) at the exact date and hour of my mother’s passing back in 2006. It is one of those things my friend CyndyContinue reading “Auf Wiedersehen”