Blog
As a homeschooling veteran, I review middle-grade stories to help parents, librarians, and teachers choose good books.
Look for author news here too!
A Tale of Escape from North Korea
Wandering Swallow by Milco Mathers tells the suspenseful and faith-filled tale of a North Korean girl in the late 1990s escaping famine in her homeland.
Author Beatrix Potter, an Artist First
Beatrix Potter’s lovely farmhouse, Hill Top, taught me how this children’s author worked. As an artist first, she would sketch scenes in her house and garden. And then she would add her little animal characters, so carefully drawn and lifelike, and make her story book.
Patrick Brontë, Homeschool Dad
I didn’t know Patrick Brontë, father of famous authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was a homeschool hero.
In Search of the Real Jane Austen
What could I find out in Bath, U.K., about the real Jane Austen? The writer, the woman. This was a major question on my recent trip to England.
Time travel, Doctor Who, and Alchemists
While in England, I did a bit of time traveling. Those stone circles are just full of space-time energy, you know, and I was able to take advantage of that. See?
C.S. Lewis’s Lamppost
What inspired C.S. Lewis for his Narnia tales? I looked around Oxford recently for an answer to that question, and I found this odd lamppost.
Tolkien proved elusive to me, his visitor, until …
In May I hopped on a plane for a literary trip to England. I shadowed the footsteps of some great authors like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Charles Dickens, and ... Beatrix Potter! I even found myself accidentally learning about another...
Finalist in the Cascade Christian Writers Contest 2025!
I'm thrilled to report that my work has been recognized again, this time by the Cascade Christian Writers Contest. This is a respected writers' organization that used to be called Oregon Christian Writers. I'm one of four finalists in the chapter book category! This...
Bookworthy Podcast Interviews Author Phyllis Wheeler
Valerie Fentress of the Bookworthy podcast interviewed me recently. We had a lively discussion about my books and my mission. You won't want to miss it! Find it here: http://www.valeriefentress.com/post/bookworthy-chats-with-author-phyllis-wheeler or look up the...
Reena Ellis and the Pink Panda Problem by A.C. Williams, a review
Reena Ellis and the Pink Panda Problem is a fun fantasy tale for middle grade from A.C. Williams, who's been writing sci fi and fantasy for adults until now. It's a welcome addition to the list of middle grade books written by Christians! I really enjoyed reading it....
Realm Award “Long List” for Search for the Hidden Throne!
Eep! My Book 3, Search for the Hidden Throne, has made the "long list" for the Realm Awards. That's a big deal! Hope to make it farther of course, but just getting this far is a great thing! This is Book 3 in my Guardians of Time series, a time-travel tale for young...
I’m featured on Ice Cream With Authors podcast!
I’m featured on the Ice Cream With Authors podcast today, talking about my Christian time-travel series for kids 8-11, Guardians of Time