The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Photo Courtesy I went to a new-to-me class this week.  Throughout our lives we have those first time moments. First time at a restaurant, a Bible study, a retreat, a vacation spot, a house, etc.  I walked in the building where the new-to-me class would be held, unsure of where I needed to go, and followed the trail of lights. Halfway down the hall I heard the voices of others who'd arrived earlier. I followed the sound and was wonderfully greeted. The spacious room seemed inviting for everyone who wanted to come. The instructor set her things down and walked over to me. She gave me the instructions and connected me with one of the gals. Joining felt easy. I laughed at the friendly jokes, participating as seemed appropriate for a newbie. The class then came together for a group activity. Fun music played in the background. Friends chattered. We all worked hard. Thirty minutes later we repeated the first activity which was done at an individual pace. One la...

Today we welcome author:  Janice Boekhoff I remember Janice so vividly from the conference. She had a bubbly enthusiasm for her geology topic. This gal is a brainiac and an absolute delight to talk to. Her smile bursts during the conversation. How did a geology aficionado become a Christian Fiction writer? She digs into her topic, explores what is hidden, and exposes the mystery.  I asked her to join us and share  how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: What I Do With Fear-Is a Choice Writing Through the Fear No one would ever tell you to write out of a place of fear (except maybe Stephen King), but for much of my life I wrote, or rather didn’t write, because of fear. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I had tons of dreams for the future: archaeologist, veterinarian, actress, even the first woman president (hey, I still have time on that one). But buried de...

Photo Courtesy While attending Bible college, I was invited to play in the school's handbell choir. What a unique experience. I was not a music major. I didn't (and sadly still don't) play the piano.  I could read music, play the flute, and had a willing heart.  Someone had donated a magnificent full set of bells to the college. The handles were strong, sturdy, and a rich black. The bells, a shimmering gold reflecting every speck of light. We had special white gloves and could only touch the bells when wearing the gloves.  Playing a bell ended up being an interesting process. The flapper did its job, plunk and a crimson tone rang. Each of us had to be careful not to tip our bell until the proper time. But when the music score indicated our note we arced our arm, flicked our wrist, and held the bell out to sound. To make the sound stop we pulled our arm back and touched the bell just beneath our shoulder. No one person played the melody o...

Today we welcome author:  Shirley Kiger Connolly To win a copy of Shirley's new release: Not Quite an Angel Scroll to the end of the post  to see how to get your copy. Mary Vee here. Fancy this. My first writing course was with the Institute of Children's Literature. I can't express enough kudos for this writing program. I took all the courses including the advanced ones and owe much of what I know to it. Years later, I still refer to my binders containing lessons and my textbooks. What does this have to do with Shirley?  I met Shirley at the ACFW conference. She was so friendly, took time to chat with me. Totally amazing. I heard about her new release and asked her to be a guest with us. The connection did happen until I SAW her name. I am a visual learner. Hearing her name didn't click. The instant I saw her name in our exchange of emails, I remembered she was one of the faculty at the Instit...

Photo by Mary Vee I walked this mountain trail on my own while daughter was in college classes. Mountains around Tucson, Arizon As a child, I tended to be the one who found trouble. I was a number two kid. Followed my older sister around, didn't mind riding out of the neighborhood on my bike, looked for ways to get out of weeding Mom's flower garden, and hated vegetables. In my own defense, I didn't know which were flowers and which were weeds. Yeah, I had a lot of talks with Dad. He did the talking, I did the listening. I loved/love adventure. If I could choose between sitting with a group of people having tea and chatting, and dragging those same individuals on a ride along a mountain pass with sheer drop offs, guess which I'd pick? Then it should be no surprise that I am having a wonderful time delving into the life of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary to India. On this family and kids of all ages blog: God Loves Kids, I have missionary Mondays. We wal...

Today we welcome author:  Sarah Varland To win a copy of Sarah's new release: Tundra Threat Scroll to the end of the post  to see how to get your copy. Sarah is the middle of one of those moves. The kind where you move across country and have to change everything. Wow. I've done that twice and can say, hold on, Sarah--there is a light at the end of this huge tunnel!! From her hotel, she is hopping in to visit with us.  I asked Sarah to share  how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: God Works in Funny Ways I had been writing seriously for almost a decade by the time I got married and had kids. This dream I’d been chasing, that logically it seemed would have been better accomplished by my younger, single self, still hadn’t seen it’s end. I wrestled with it, probably cried over it. Then finally I realized that my family was an even greater dream, and t...