so much to learn

I had a great time at the Writers Conference this weekend in Indy.  I learned a lot and got to interact with some wonderful writers and editors.  It was exciting for me to have the opportunity to share a little bit about how ICWC has impacted my writing journey and see the cover of Reflecting Beauty projected on the screen beside me.  I'm thinking "Wow, this is really me up here, with a book being published soon."  But, I couldn't dwell on that aspect of it--it would make me feel suddenly nervous to realize what a surreal moment it was! 

So, I got that over with and just immersed myself in the atmosphere.  The speakers were tremendous and the information was so valuable.  I came away realizing how very much I like to write, but how far I have to go in this apprenticeship.  

And I have come to a greater realization that the written word should be both art and truth.  Words can express the wonder of experience and the delight of a narrative but they should also deliver the illumination of truth.  So, I think I'll work even harder on both the mechanics and the focus of my writing.  There is so much more to learn. 

My voice instructor, Garen Wolf I, often said.  "Music is the vehicle upon which the Word of God rides."  Oh, that my written words could dare to be the same. 

It's Listed!

It was a pretty wonderful moment when I found my book listed on the "Coming Soon" page of my publisher's website.  The official release date is April 1, 2010, but you can check their website for pre-ordering information.

A big thanks to my editor, to the Lord who really owns the truths in this study and to my own sisters in faith for whom  I'm so grateful. 

Here's the official blurb:

God has monogrammed His beauty on you. Beauty attracts us, because it is the visible imprint of God's image on His daughters.

Your Father delights in you.

In this volume of the Sisters in Faith Bible Studies, you will meet several women who embraced their God-given desire to be beautiful, as well as God's command to live a holy life. As you share and grow together with sisters in Christ, you, too, will be empowered to resist our culture's destructive beauty messages and embrace God's heart of love for His daughters.

For more info, visit Wesleyan Publishing House/Reflecting Beauty

Double Take ~ an exciting new novel from Jenness Walker

I'm pleased to announce that Steeple Hill has just released a novel of romantic suspense written by my friend, Jenness Walker.

Cole Leighton can barely believe his eyes. A woman on his bus has just been abducted—in an exact reflection of a scene from the bestselling novel he’s reading. Someone is bringing the book to life…and isn’t above forcing an innocent woman to follow the story to its tragic end. Using the novel as his playbook, Cole catches up with the beautiful victim—but rescuing Kenzie Jacobs doesn’t keep her safe for long. The killer is writing his own ending, and none of the twists and turns lead to happily ever after.


Jenness Walker has loved to read and create stories since she was a little girl.  She is happiest when dreaming up a new plot or crafting a new character, but she also enjoys decorating and taking roadtrips with her husband and web-designer husband, Jason.

Jenness lives in Florida where she occasionally takes a break from writing to indulge in a strawberry smoothie or delight in a deli sub lunch by the water.  One day she hopes to own an Infiniti G-35 Sports Coupe with shiny chrome rims, but in the meantime, she gets a kick out of old books and sepia-toned pictures and of course, spending lots of time with her friend Hyacinth--yes, her laptop has a name. 

Jenness' debut novel, Double Take, has just been released from Steeple Hill.  Look for it at your local Walmart or favorite bookstore or click the book icon in the upper right corner to visit Jenness' website.