My first published work was a mini-mystery for Woman’s World magazine. I have written numerous short stories, including a true experience of helping a homeless couple which was published in a Sunday School paper. Writing has been my passion since childhood — but as life intervened and other priorities bullied their way, it was forced to take a back seat in my life. Attending an OCW Summer Conference was a giant BOOST for jumping back into the front seat of the writing world. I primarily write inspirational romance and mystery but very much enjoy interviews. In years past I did an interview of a church lady for every issue of the women’s newsletter at church. I am currently working on marketing my four novels (three inspirational romance, one mystery).
My first husband and I fostered many children and were active in youth group and camps. After 10 years of marriage, we spent a year in Venezuela as head cooks at a school for missionary children. My husband passed away in 2016, and I continued working full-time for a law firm until retirement in 2020. In 2021, I rekindled a teenage friendship and married the Executive Director of a network of Baptist churches (in essence, a pastor). Now I enjoy spending time traveling with him, transcribing court hearings, and writing.
A Promise Kept is the story of Janet Willoughby and her struggle to go on living after her husband’s sudden death. (“What is life without John?” she asks.) The story follows her grief through its natural process and deals with the many challenges a widow encounters. To complicate matters, an old boyfriend from college re-enters her life. He shares her grief in a way no one else can. Janet is drawn to him but doesn’t understand her feelings for him or her responsibility to her late husband.
This is a story of one woman’s triumph over the ugliness and pain of death and the gradual rebuilding of life. AMAZON
When 28-year-old Tallie Swenson receives a letter from her Aunt Harriet, who has been missing for over a week, she packs her bags for Deadwood, South Dakota, where her aunt lives. After noticing that the envelope was postmarked Keystone, not Deadwood, she is mystified — and all the more determined to find her.
In Deadwood there is no sign of her aunt, so Tallie continues on to Mt. Rushmore and the surrounding area. Her aunt is nowhere to be found and not registered in any of the nearby motels. After one last visit to the monument, Tallie decides to leave the following day. Then, in a surprising turn of events, Tallie comes face to face with Aunt Harriet! Harriet is unharmed but in hiding, and carries with her a shocking secret! AMAZON
Alexis grows up loving Pender Harbor, its close-knit family life, island atmosphere, and rugged fishermen. But when restlessness overcomes her, she leaves it all behind.
Can Alexis come to terms with the woman she is, the man she married, the God she serves…and the child growing inside her? AMAZON
“Karen, are you out of your MIND?” her boyfriend had shouted. “Do you expect me to wait around a whole year while you run around South America?” With these words ringing in her ears, Karen leaves behind her busy life in Seattle to serve as dietician at a school for missionary children in Venezuela.
The new job, already complicated by the unavailability of certain foods, undependable electricity, and polluted water, is made all the more interesting by her handsome co-worker, Rob. Karen vows to keep a safe emotional distance since they will go their separate ways at the end of the year. Her plans are challenged, however, when her former position in the states is suddenly terminated. Karen later receives a job offer she feels she cannot refuse but is also asked to stay another year as dietician. She is torn, and determines to make her decision based on God’s will alone, not the lure of a desirable new job or her growing attraction to Rob.
When at last she and Rob share their future plans, they discover with delight that God has plans of His own. AMAZON