In late 2000 my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I began to live the great sadness of seeing my father slip into the chains of Alzheimer’s, and watched his memories fade away. I wondered where they were going. Was God catching them as they escaped his mind? Would they one day be restored to him? When I read Psalm 139:16 I realized God had already written down every moment of my Dad’s life in His book. After that I started to wonder—what if that book was on earth? And what if we could find it and see our past, and our future? And what if my protagonist had to find...
Story behind the Story: Robert Elmer
Guest Blog by Robert Elmer – See my review of his book, Wildflowers at Terezin! My Danish heritage has flavored my interest in writing historical fiction, and I’ve always been interested in history. Perhaps it’s that way with children of immigrants. There’s a strong tie back to the old country, and when my parents and my grandmother told stories about their life in Denmark, I knew there were things there I had to pass along somehow. What was it like during the occupation years? What was it like to be a student back then, a kid? Were there lessons for us that we need to remember today? I wanted so...
Story Behind the Story: Tiffany Amber Stockton
Today’s “Story Behind the Story” comes from Tiffany Amber Stockton! Hi! My name is Tiffany, and Nicole has invited me here to guest blog about the inspiration behind my first novel. It’s a story I love to share, and today I get to share it with you. Although I’ve been writing since I was in the 5th grade, I didn’t seriously begin pursuing professional publication until 2002 when I joined ACFW-American Christian Fiction Writers (then ACRW, American Christian Romance Writers). A good friend and favorite author, Tracie Peterson, suggested I join, so after 2 years of her nudging, I did. But let’s back up a little bit. Not long...
Story Behind the Story: CJ Darlington
This “Story behind the story” is a bit different – because CJ has a whole page on how her novel, Thicker than Blood, came to be! And this is the “Thicker than Blood” that won the prestigious Jerry B Jenkins Operation First Novel contest! I’ve also reviewed “Thicker than Blood” and highly recommend it! Here’s a snip from her website: Thicker than Blood was born on May 1st, 1995 as a story called The City Girl and the Country Girl. I was fifteen-years-old, and I still remember the excitement I felt at starting a new story. Here’s my journal entry from May 3rd, 1995: …Let me read to you...
Story Behind the Story: Margaret Brownley
The idea for my September 2010 release, A Suitor for Jenny, the 2nd book in my Rocky Creek series, lurked in a dusty Kansas museum. While rifling through old newspaper clippings I came across a meeting notice for “The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Male Independence.” I don’t know what ever happened to that group or even if its members succeeded in remaining single and independent but I know a story idea when I see it and I pounced. From that clipping came the idea to have my heroine Jenny Higgins breeze into town looking for husbands for her two siblings. Jenny soon finds out that “The...