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When did you last take stock?

Ezekiel 34:26 (KJV) promises: “I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.”

With all the recent rain, it is far too easy to focus on the showers and not the blessings rain brings. Healing to the land. Green grass after we despaired of lawns ever recovering from the terrible drought last summer. I vowed then never to complain about the rainfall that makes western Washington beautiful. I haven’t–although sorely tempted to do so last week.

In the middle of a torrential downpour, I discovered water coming in under my garage door. I grabbed a large broom, and began sweeping it onto the driveway. An exercise in futility. It poured back in, faster than I could get rid of it.

Thankfully, my across-the-street-neighbors saw me attempting  to stem the flood. In spite of the continuing downpour, Mark spent the next hour cleaning the drain at the corner of the garage. Such caring neighbors are high on my list of blessings.

It is sad that sometimes we get so busy we don’t take time to count our blessings. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, this is the perfect time to slow down and give thanks for the good things, and especially for the wonderful people in our lives.

It is a time to ask ourselves, “How long has it been since I expressed gratitude for my family, friends, home, food, what I am able to accomplish–even though it may not be what I was once capable of doing–and for those who gladly help when tasks are beyond my strength?”

Andraé Crouch’s inspiring song, “My Tribute,” says the voices of a thousand angels could never express thanks for our blessings. 

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This last week has been filled with blessings.

• I had energy to spend an hour one day and 2-1/2 hours another day raking and packing down three big cans of colorful maple leaves for collection. (Then I cleaned up, ate, and napped!).
• I have lived in a modest home on a corner lot in a cul-de-sac since 1978. Everyone knows me. Due to COVID, I didn’t do Halloween last year. On Sunday night this year, between 70 and 80 trick-or-treaters came. I wore a protective mask and welcomed the chance to connect with kids and the many parents who accompanied them. The evening turned out surprisingly pleasant and everyone enjoyed getting out after the rain.

• This last Tuesday, I had my Annual Wellness visit. My doctor, nurses, and I laughed and rejoiced. As expected, I passed with flying colors

“What keeps you so healthy at 86 years of age?” one of the nurses wanted to know.

The answer is, “Faith in and reliance on God. Asking Him every morning to allow me to bring joy to someone that day. Keeping a cheerful outlook by refusing to listen to troublesome news. Believing that ‘this too shall pass’ when there’s too much rain in the rainbow (or in my garage)! Laughing a lot. Listening to those  who need someone to care.be there for them.

The list goes on. Daily walks. Taking time to visit with neighbors. Staying in touch via email with others. Waving at those who pass by. Eating healthful food. Faithfully doing indoors and outdoors exercises. Not only raking maple leaves, but filling seemingly endless containers with pine cones, fir cones, and needles. Oh, yes. Staying off ladders and not being afraid to ask for help when needed for such jobs as hanging light bubs in the top of my garage.

* * *

Like everyone else, I encounter problems and down days. I avoid extended pity parties by remembering one of my favorite poems.

“Forgive Me When I Whine”
Author unknown.

Today upon a bus I saw a lovely maiden with golden hair; I envied her—so beautiful, and how, I wished I were so fair; When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle;

She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, she wore a smile.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two feet, the world is mine

 And when I stopped to buy some sweets, the lad who served me had such charm;  he seemed to radiate good cheer, his manner was so kind and warm; I said, “it’s nice to deal with you, such courtesy I seldom find.”

He turned and said, “Oh, thank you sir.” And then I saw that he was blind.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine, I have two eyes, the world is mine.

Then when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue; He stood and watched the others play, it seemed he knew not what to do; I stopped a moment, then I said, “Why don’t you join the others, dear?” He looked ahead without a word, I realized –he could not hear.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine, I have two ears, the world is mine

With feet to take me where I’d go, with eyes to see the sunsets’ glow, with ears to hear what I would know, I am blessed indeed. The world is mine.

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

* * *

As you look forward to Thanksgiving, followed by the Christmas season, may you focus on the positive things in your life. As the old “Count Your Blessings” song says, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it may surprise you what the Lord has done.”

Until next time,

Looking for a quick-and-easy way to brainstorm?  Use the “5 Ws” + How.

Good writers have a secret, I’d like to share with you.

Five friends will help you do your work, they’ll serve you well and never shirk:

Where and When and What and Why, but most important, Who.

Once you know Who is “the star,” your story is begun.

Once you tell What happens, the story’s much more fun.

And when you add, Where, When, and Why, your story’s almost done.

Now read this quick example, then give the friends a break.

You’ll find that they are good and true, you’ll learn what they can do for you.

Perhaps you’ll write a story, an editor will take!

From YA edition, Writing Smarter, not Harder workbook

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One of my favorite ways to encourage myself (and others) to keep going when things get tough is to quote,  “One foot after the other, the little dog reached Dover.”

I’ve never cared to go to Dover, but the little dog’s perseverance in getting where he wanted to go intrigued me. Just for fun, I decided to brainstorm.

Who is the little dog? Who is he going to see? Who did he leave behind? Who, if anyone, accompanies him? Who sent him? Who is waiting for him to come?

What road does he take? What does he see along the way? What keeps him going?

When did he start? When does he expect to reach his destination?

Where did he come from? Where is he going? To see the Queen? The White Cliffs of Dover? The English Channel? Relatives?

Why did he start his journey? Why is he determined to put one foot after the other, even though his paws may get sore from traveling? Why didn’t he hitch a ride on the back of a carriage and ride instead of walking?

How far is it from where he started his journey to where it will end?

Once these questions are answered, the story or article almost tells itself.

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Mini-outline,  Sunday Suspicion (Juli Scott Mystery #7)

Who (star): Juli Scott, Junior in high school

What she wants: Some peace and quiet following her latest mystery.

When? Now.

Where? Bellingham, Washington

Why?  She loves helping solve mysteries but after Mysterious Monday, Trouble on Tuesday, Wednesday Witness, Thursday Trials, and Friday Flight, followed by a frightful Saturday Scare, Julie and her Lunch Bunch friends need time to enjoy school, family, and church activities. 

How can this happen when anonymous threats lead to the most baffling mystery yet?

Sunday Suspicion completes the Juli Scott Mystery series.

Juli Scott Mysteries>>

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans?”

Do you ever wonder whether God has  a sense of humor? If so, take a good look at an armadillo, tortoise, rhinoceros, camel, or even the lowly bumblebee. It is said that aerodynamically, he cannot fly. Evidently, no one told him. He merrily buzzes his way through life with no apparent concern about what others think.

I am thankful our family has always laughed a lot, sometimes to hide tears. We also marveled and shook our heads when God used unusual ways to answer prayers. My stock reply when friends say, “Have a good day,” is, “Thanks. All my days are good. Some are just ‘gooder’ than others.” There are far more mountain highs in my life than valley lows.

Friday, October 1st was a rare exception. I missed two celebrations after being under the weather for a few days. I had a prescription delivery mix-up. My computer announced the monitor was going to sleep. Every time I tried to wake it up, it went back to sleep, which meant no email or posting to my blog, etc., etc., and so forth. One bright spot was a late-blooming rose, but I welcomed the end of my 86th birthday.

A couple of days later, I stumbled across a reading that JoAnn Grote, a dear writer friend, had sent in 2012; Perfect timing for me to reread.

ME. “God, can I ask you a question?”

GOD. Sure.

ME. “Why did You let so much bad stuff happen to me today?

“I woke up late.

“My car took forever to start,

“At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait.

“On the way home, my phone went dead just as a call came in.

“When I got here, all I wanted was to soak my feet in my new foot massager but it wouldn’t work. Why did you do all that?”

God. “Let’s go back through your day. This morning the Death Angel was at your bedside. I had to send one of my other angels to battle for your life. I let you sleep through all that. 

“I didn’t let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you’d been on time.  The worker who made your first sandwich was sick. I didn’t want you to catch something and miss work.

“Your phone went dead because the person calling was going to give false witness about what you said during that conversation. I didn’t let you talk to them and spared you a lot of trouble.”

“As for the foot massager, it had a short that could have knocked out all the power in your house; I didn’t think you wanted to be left in the dark.”

ME (humbled). “I’m sorry, God.”

GOD. “Just learn to trust Me in all situations. My plan for your day is always better than yours.”

ME. “Yes, God. Thank You.”

GOD. “You are welcome. This was just another day of being your God. I love looking after My children.”

* * *

Perspective restored, I laughed and looked forward to a better week. It was. Energy started back up. Weather permitted walking. Friends visited. Computer glitch and other annoyances were resolved. And I had a great story for Reece’s Ramblings.

It’s wise to remember that when a day goes down hill so far we feel we are at rock bottom, the place to look is up and consider that things could be a whole lot worse.

https://wwwamazon.com/Colleen-L.-Reece/e/B001H9PAYY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

What do the nine Cherished Romances in my new Cherished Brides Kindle Collection have in common?

• Characters must overcome major obstacles blocking the path to love and happiness.
• Stories are all sparked by “what if” questions that force characters to take action.
• Characters learn to seek God’s help when facing trouble or danger.

1. A Girl Called Cricket: What if an eastern society girl becomes the target of scandal sheets and an unscrupulous opportunist?  Charity and her grandfather escape unwelcome publicity on a 1920s Wyoming guest ranch.

2. Angel of the North: What if a proud young woman suffers tragic consequences when she sends the man who loves her away, then realizes how much she cares? In order to do penance, Evangeline becomes a nurse and carries medicine to the Canadian wilderness in the late 1890s.

3. The Hills of Hope: What if a girl is hounded by her father to marry a man she despises? Battles rage at home and overseas during World War 1. Hope is torn between honoring her father and her love for a young soldier.

4. Legacy of Silver. What if two southern belles are in grave danger during the Civil War? Silver and her friend steal away in the night and begin a perilous journey north to find safety.

5. Storm Clouds over Chantel.  What if the death of an 1880’s Boston maiden’s  father leaves her at the mercy of a scheming stepmother and greedy ex-fiancé? Chantel flees to Montana Territory seeking refuge from an estranged grand-father.

6. A Vow to Cherish: What if a mid-1800s doctor vows to never again practice medicine? Keeping the vow means denying hope to Cherish, the backwoods North Carolina girl who saved Dr. Luke’s life.

7. Lamps of Hope, with Julie-Reece-DeMarco. What if a dedicated Seattle nurse follows in her courageous ancestors’ footsteps? Kiersten fights abuse, addiction, and poverty as zealously as those before her fought in times of war and peace.

8. Cascade Masquerade: What if a minister’s daughter loses hope that love will ever come to her? Anne accepts her singleness and happily serves her small Washington state village with her bookstore, His Way—until a golden-haired stranger with the face of an angel steps into her shop.  Ten years in the writing.

9. Arizona Angel: What if the death of both parents leaves a young east coast girl penniless? Angela journeys to frontier Arizona in search of her twin brother. After rifle fir and an attack on the stagecoach she finds Abe near death. Alone and distraught, who can she trust?

Eighty-five and never married, I am sometimes asked, “How do you feel about your life?” I smile and say, “God gave me the life He knew would make me the happiest and most productive. He has walked with me every step of the way.”

Some people decide in early childhood what they will grow up to be. They follow their dream and rejoice when it becomes reality. Many think they know what they want, but change their minds along the way.  Others try several careers before discovering the path they were really meant to walk.

A favorite folk tale, the story of three trees, shows the difference between what we may want and what we are meant to be. Three forest friends shared their deepest desires.

The first tree longed to be become the greatest treasure chest in the world and hold wealth.

The second tree desired to sail the seas, carry kings, and be the strongest ship in the world.

The third tree wanted to grow into the tallest tree in the forest so that when people gazed into the heavens, they would think of God.

Woodcutters came. The first tree was turned into a feedbox. The second became a small fishing boat. The third, a pile of beams in a lumberyard.

All three trees suffered bitter disappointment until the lowly feedbox cradled Jesus when there was no room in the inn. Jesus calmed the seas and preached to the multitudes from the rude fishing boat formed from the second tree, a message that would ring down through the ages. . The third tree became a cross, where Jesus gave His life,  that all who believe on Him will one day live with Him forever.

Finding my best path took a long time. 

I wanted to write books from the time I could hold a pencil, but my town grew trees, not authors. I began my lifetime of work in 1952 at age sixteen as school secretary in my hometown. Except for six months at business college and three months as a bank messenger [I wore out three pair of shoes] I stayed with the Darrington Schools until the summer of 1970. 

A year with Vancouver, WA School District followed. 

Next, two years with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Vancouver and four-and-a-half years with the Bonneville Power Administration. I also spent many years camp counselling. I learned from each situation and made lasting friendships, but the best was yet to come. God needed me elsewhere. 

In August of 1977, I felt compelled to walk off my good government job and into fulltime free lance writing.  Writing for Inspiration and Entertainment has fulfilled my childhood dream beyond my wildest expectations. I rejoice seeing many I have been able to encourage making their mark in the writing field.

Good advice, but not always

Abraham Lincoln said, “Don’t change horses midstream.” Good political advice, but it can keep us from searching to find the niche where we will fit best.

A certain lady who had always wanted to write YA books came to my writing classes. Impressed with her potential, I encouraged her and recommended her to an editor. Between ages 72 and 75, the company published her first novel and a sequel.

Although sometimes attributed to George Eliot, it is not confirmed who first said, “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” Words to heed. If you have a long-held, unrealized dream, take it out, dust it off, and pursue it. You may be surprised at the results.

* * *

If you like exciting stories of God’s loving care and protection, consider Walking with the Master: Celebrating His Presence.

Amazon Author Page >> 

Record-breaking Heat

Never has western Washington seen a summer like 2021. During the last two weeks in June, temperatures soared well into the three-digit range. August 11th-13th they went back into the 90s. Thank God my across-the-street neighbors brought and installed an air conditioner in my kitchen window on June 25th. The inside temperature had gone back into the 90s.

People watched out for one another. Those with air conditioners offered housing to those without. One friend put it in a nutshell: “We survived, but we did not thrive.” Laughter helped. It came from many sources.

A “Hare-y” Tale

In his never-ending war with Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd constantly complained, “That wascally wabbit is in my cawwots again!” and fought a losing battle.

A few years ago, someone in the area set pet rabbits loose. Their descendants have claimed squatter’s rights in our neighborhood. I have seen as many as 14 on my daily half-hour walk. Black, brown, tan, white, and mottled. Are the critters cute? Yes. A nuisance? Definitely. They dig holes in our  lawns. They tear up our bark beds. A neighbor put in all new grass and a retaining wall. The rabbits hop over it and feast on the lush new lawn.

Other neighbors (including me) have chain link fences. Bunnies burrow under them. When we attempt to shoo them off, they delight in leading us a merry chase behind buildings. We all have stories, but a friend’s experience has become legendary.

One afternoon, a neighbor got out his lawn mower, but had a big, fat problem. A  rabbit large enough to be grandfather of the local tribe sat in the middle of the lawn, contentedly chewing away. When chased, the bunny did not budge.

“Go ahead and start mowing,” my neighbor’s wife advised. He did. The bunny just looked at him. Was the animal deaf? Stupid? Determined to outwit the homeowner?  Around and around went the mower, starting at the edge of the lawn. Closer and closer to the rabbit it got. A six foot circle. Four feet. Three feet.

Score? Rabbit, one. Frustrated mower, zero. My neighbor shut off his machine and trundled it to the garage. The triumphant trespasser munched on.

Dry Spell

Except for a couple of sprinkles, we had no rain from early June until August 27th. I awakened to wet pavement and puddles in the low places in my driveway, which is my indicator when it rains hard. What an answer to prayer. I shouted, “Thank You, God” and breathed in cold, clean air. When I walked later in the day, a feeling of fall tinged the air.

Hopefully, summer’s backbone is broken. I love 50 degree mornings with highs only in the mid 70’s. I  appreciate a cool breeze as I walk up and down the the streets in our cul-de-sac, greeting those as thrilled and relieved at cooler weather as I am. We look forward to rain that will heal our parched lawns and spirits. Some are calling this scorching summer a once-in-a-millennium event. Know what? I don’t plan to stick around for the next!

May you and yours have a lovely autumn season,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s better than a good book? More good books! Some series feature running characters, then add new ones, fresh mystery, romance, and more about a town and its inhabitants that we have come to love. Others share a certain time period, locale, or writing style.

Days Gone By: a Boxed-set Bargain

Kindle Christian Historical Romance Collection combines the first exciting titles of eight different series and a stand alone title by some of today’s most trusted authors. That is a lot of good reading for 99 cents!      Buy here >>   A GIRL CALLED CRICKET, Colleen L. Reece, 1 of 9 Cherished Romances. Just when an eastern girl begins to be worthy of a true westerner’s love, a specter from the past arrives at Tillicum Ranch and exposes the Endicotts’ identity. It takes a life-threatening blizzard to show that no one but God can bring happiness to a girl called Cricket and her beloved Gramps.

A TIME TO FIGHT, Diane E. Tatum, 1 of 3 Colonial Dreams.

Ben and Amanda fulfill a promise to Colin to go to the Colonies without him while he begins his obligation to the King’s army. Ben and Amanda move to Boston just before the American Revolution begins. Colin’s unit is also moved to America to fight against the colonists. Colin will commit treason to be with the woman and nation he loves. Divided by loyalties and responsibilities, Colin, Ben, and Amanda struggle to begin their Colonial Dream.

DEDICATION TO LOVE, J. Carol Nemeth, National Park Romances, Prequel to Books 1-4 Faith in the Park. Cameron Murphy, park ranger at Deep Creek Civilian Conservation Corps., is thankful to have been at the right place, at the right time. He soon learns that the woman he’s just rescued has a tender heart deeply touched by the suffering of his neighbors. He’s more than willing to help with her newspaper article, but as her dark eyes and determination pierce right to his soul, dare he hope that she’ll turn her tender heart toward him. JOURNEY TO HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE, Linda Sealy Knowles, 1 of 4 Maxwell Family Saga. Jesse takes an immediate liking to the young woman and offers her a job at his ranch. Rae, instantly attracted to Jesse, leads him to believe she is a young widow traveling with her child. But her new life is threatened when she sees posters in town that offer a reward for Hope’s return. Grimly determined, she devises a plan to keep Hope safely concealed, even at the risk of losing her own life. REBECCA’S HOPE, Kimberley Grist, 1 of 7 Carrie Town Texas Wanted: Husband for Rebecca Mueller. Must be handsome, nice, like children, and live within walking distance of Carrie Town School. Will her circumstances change and allow her to hold out for true love? REBEL LIGHT, Marilyn Turk, 1 of 4 Coastal Lights Legacy. She ran away from the war only to find herself in the middle of it. Who will protect her now? Kate finds herself with an eccentric aunt in an unfamiliar place. Lieutenant Clay Harris, a handsome Confederate officer, offers a chance for romance, but his actions make Kate question his character. When a hurricane brings an injured shipwrecked sailor from the Union blockade to her aunt’s house, Kate fights attraction to the man while hiding him from Clay. She’s determined to warn her sea captain father about the blockade, but needs someone to help her. Who can she trust – her ally or her enemy? SILVER LINING AT MUSTANG PASS, Cindy M. Amos, 1 of 4 Men of Mustang Pass.  Intent on keeping Mustang Pass from becoming a ghost town, Chance fails to see one remedy for growing the town standing right in front of him. Can a strong woman with golden hair become his silver lining solution? SPUR OF THE MOMENT BRIDE, Anne Greene, a stand alone title. Stage coach driver, Zach Tyler likes his exciting job where he outsmarts robbers and Indians and keeps the stage running regardless of weather, break-downs, and ornery passengers. But passenger Abby Hollister proves to be an unusual challenge. He protects her on the journey to Laramie, but in that town women are as scarce as a bird’s nest in a cuckoo clock, and men go crazy when the beauty arrives seeking a husband. WAIT FOR ME. Jo Huddleston, 1 of 3 The West Virginia Mountain series. Can Julie, an only child, raised with privilege and groomed for high society, and Robby, a coal miner’s son, escape the binds of their socioeconomic backgrounds? In this sweet Southern romance set in a coal mining community in West Virginia, can their love survive their cultural boundaries? A mid-20th-century love story akin to that of Romeo and Juliet, yet with hope of a happy ending.

Every time I open my website, a warm feeling rushes through me, the way the mighty Sauk River rushes over boulders in the forests near my hometown of Darrington, Washington. I gaze at White Horse Mountain (elevation, 6841) that guards the town (elevation, 554). Memories flood my mind like the Sauk in flood

I have been gone since 1970, but as a long-term resident observed, “No one ever really leaves Darrington. Some just go away.” I am one of them. Yet part of me will forever remain where I spent the first thirty-five years of my life.

Mom, Dad, my two brothers and I lived three miles out of town. We could see White Horse from our front yard and crossed the Sauk River on our way to town. It chuckled, murmured, and roared, depending on the season.

Life was not always easy, but living surrounded by the beauty of Creation, with good friends and relatives nearby, offered freedom to roam the forests. To fish and picnic along creek and river banks. To know that when trouble came, people would be there to lend helping hands. The rumble of a neighbor’s Caterpillar, with snow plow blade attached, often awakened us in the middle of the night as he cleared our driveway of snow that at times fell as much as 24 inches in 24 hours.

The mid-1950s was the golden era of high school basketball. We had a new gym built by the community, and big crowds to cheer our Loggers on. The whole town came out for the games, both home and away. We ruled in Class B, defeating far larger schools—and won the state championship against all predictions in 1955, 1957, and several times afterward.

Going back for reunions meant reminiscing about the “olden golden” days. Who could forget the heart-stopping moment when the ball sailed high in the air with only seconds remaining in a hard-fought game and the opposing team one point ahead? Or the swish when the winning shot dropped through the net just as the buzzer sounded?

One year, the Class B State Tournament was held in Tacoma. The carrier for The Everett Herald found Darrington looking like an abandoned town. He drove to Tacoma and delivered his papers to the loyal fans who had made the 210-mile round trip to support the team. I was there.

A Special Day

One of the last times I went to Darrington was with my brother, Randy, about fifteen years ago. Each mile of the two-hour trip resounded with “do-you-remembers.” We reached town, then headed up the scenic Mountain Loop Highway and stopped where the White Chuck River joins the Sauk. Randy fished. I sat on a boulder in the sunshine.

A feeling of familiarity swept through me. I was again a child, then a teen, sitting on a river bank watching Dad and the boys catch our evening meal (served with potatoes fried over a crackling fire and ripe tomatoes from our garden). Back then, before city folk swarmed in like a flock of locusts and emptied the streams, by the time Mom and I built a small fire, the menfolk had caught and cleaned enough trout for us all. Coated with cornmeal, flavored with the simple joy of being together, nothing ever tasted better.

“Where the White Chuck Rushes In”

Isolated and tranquil, the spot became a place to return in memory. A place to find peace and healing in a chaotic world.  To thank God for memories—one of His greatest gifts. Thomas Wolfe said, “You can’t go home again.” Yet as long as I have photos, actual or indelibly etched in my heart and mind, I can go home.

The joys (and disappointments) of the past help me to look forward, as on tiptoe with expectation as while I was growing up. I greet each day wondering, “What lies around the bend in the trail? Behind the next hill? Down the as-yet-untraveled road?” Most important, “What does God still have in store for me?”

Fortified by faith, blessed by memories, I joyously step into the future, knowing all is—and will be—well.

Who says you can’t teach an old dog (or an 85-year-author) new tricks?

It took years for me to be convinced I needed a computer. Or Email. To switch from dial-up. To start a blog. Each time, knowledgeable friends installed programs that once I learned to use, I couldn’t imagine not having. It just happened again.

I recently mentioned to my good friend/former writing student, Susan K. Marlow, who has 85,000+ books in print, that I was thinking of getting a website. She hopped on the idea like a duck on a June bug, and stole time from her writing career and family to set me up. We had countless hours of communicating by phone, email, and online chat while we discussed details.

I don’t have to wait until October for my 86th birthday present! 😊

Meet Susan, My Motivator

Horses, Adventure, and the Old West. Exciting reading for the whole family.

Samples. Freebies. Contests. Lapbooks. Study Guides. Curriculum Bundles.

As a child, Susan Marlow grew tired of reading books in which only boys encountered danger and adventure. At the age of ten she began writing her own stories—stories in which girls took the risks and became the heroines. As a wife and homeschooling Mom, Susan never intended to become a published author but is currently the author of six series of “wholesome books for kids.”

Circle C Beginnings (ages 6-9), Circle C Stepping Stones (7-10), Circle C Adventures (9-13), Circle C Milestones (11 and up), and the Goldtown series: Beginnings (ages 6-9), and Adventures (9-13). Susan combines her love of writing with her passion for American history, especially the settling of the Old West.

Click the images to visit Susan’s website.

Coming February 15, 2022

Andi and Riley are together at last—but their adventures don’t stop in their happily-ever-after.