I had a lot of health issues for almost all of August and about half of September, and I’m still struggling with IBS. The only thing I could do to get my mind off the pain and nausea was to read, so I ended up reading a bunch of books on my TBR pile. I read a lot of really excellent books and thought I’d blog about them (since I wasn’t getting any work done while I was sick). Today I’m blogging about The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 1 (Light Novel) , the first book in a light novel series. I actually read the first book in this series a while ago, but the 3rd volume just came out and I pretty much devoured it. This has become one of my favorite series lately. It’s a novel series set in historical China, but since it’s a light novel series, it’s not the same tone as a typical English-language novel set in historical China. It’s actually rather light-hearted at times and with a kind of magical atmosphere to the story that sucks you in. Here’s the back cover description for book 1: ...

Some of you guys might know that I--in addition to several other authors--write for the Guideposts women’s fiction series, Miracles of Marble Cove . My next novel in the series, Steps of Faith released recently and I did an interview on Guideposts.org . I talk a bit about the series, the book, my personal bucket list and also some tips for writers. I hope you click on the link to read the interview!

I’m working on another book for Guideposts in the Patchwork Mysteries series , book 27. Not sure what the title is yet, but it’s a WEDDING!!!! I love writing weddings!!!! If you think of it, please say a prayer I can finish it quickly! It’s not due until the end of August, but I have another book due around the same time so I’m trying to finish this one early so I can work on the other book. Thanks!

I’m contracted for book 17 in the Miracles of Marble Cove series by Guideposts (available through their book club subscription and a few books are also available as ebooks on the Guideposts website ) and I’m trying to finish it early. Please pray I can get it done in the next few days! I might be a little sparse online.

Some of you may know, I wrote Whispers on the Dock , book three in the Nantucket Dreams series by Guideposts. There’s a mystery thread in the series that’s solved in my book. The three main characters needed some information from the Nantucket Historical Society--there’s a real historical society, but for the purposes of the book, we made up our own. Since it was made up, I had a little creative license about the characters who showed up to help the heroines with the mystery. I needed someone with expertise on Massachusetts history, so I borrowed a character from the Patchwork Mysteries series , Irene Stuart! Irene is the historian at the Maple Hill Historical Society. She used to work for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston and moved to Maple Hill about ten years ago. Irene is a recurring character in most of the Patchwork Mysteries series books since she helps the main character, Sarah Hart, to solve some of the mysteries that involve historical facts and people. ...

This is Whispers on the Dock (by Moi), book 3 in the Nantucket Dreams series from Guideposts! Just got the box yesterday! It’s a light-hearted Christian women’s fiction series with a light mystery thread. You can read about the series here at Guideposts Books . Patti Berg wrote book 1, and Pam Hanson and Barbara Andrews wrote book 2. I got to conclude the mystery thread in book 3. :)

I searched for “symptoms of depressions” and “cancer treatments” yesterday, but I promise I’m okay! I’m doing research for a book I’m writing for Guideposts’ Miracles of Marble Cove series. It’s a feel-good Christian women’s fiction series with a light mystery thread. Here’s the series blurb: Discover what's possible when four friends, bonded by shared secrets, delve into life's mysteries and begin the adventure of a lifetime! Escape to Marble Cove, a quaint seaside town, and see how these courageous women discover God's plan for bringing them all together.  My books will be books 13 and 17, but you can subscribe to the entire series here .

I just finished doing edits on devotionals I wrote for Mornings With Jesus 2013 edition (published by Guideposts) and most of the questions my editor had are stuff like, “I don’t really get how the conclusion of the devotional ties with the verse/first line.” And I looked at it, and I was like, “Hmm, I don’t know how the conclusion ties with the verse/first line.” Ever had moments like that?

I wrote a book for Guideposts that’s one in a continuing series and I need a title for the book. Here are the themes in the book, in no particular order: Lighthouse Maine coastline Beach Tourist town Old historical church building (250 years old) Bell tower in the church Bronze bell in the church bell tower Secret rooms in the church Mysterious times when the bell inexplicably rings to warn of danger A cipher found in the back of an old (250 years) Book of Prayer A secret treasure hidden in the bell tower A woman novelist working on her second book, and also working on interviews and guest blogs for a blog tour A pastry chef shipping cakes, cookies, and other goodies in an internet business A widow selling her husband’s grand home and packing up the remnants of her married life, needing to move on but it’s difficult An artist whose painting has been stolen from her gallery My editor said that titles should be only TWO WORDS. So who’s game to...

The Price of Truth, book 20 in the Patchwork Mysteries series published by Guideposts! Back cover blurbs (I think you can click on it for a larger picture): Sorry, folks, these babies aren’t yet available to buy at online stores although you might be able to get them secondhand from eBay or Amazon.com. I loved writing for this series. I had no idea how much I enjoyed writing cozy mysteries until I wrote for the Patchwork Mysteries series. I even liked the quilting research I did! I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about that because I tend to like crafty stuff like knitting and spinning. Any crafts you like to do? Anyone of you guys do quilts? I tip my hat to you. I know exactly how time consuming it is to create something so beautiful!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 08.24.2011 Yup, I need your help AGAIN. This time, for a different book. I’m writing a cozy mystery in a series about an antique quilt restorer, Sarah. The series is called the Patchwork Mysteries series. Here’s the basic overview of the book I need a title for: Story idea: Sarah and Maggie travel to Boston to attend a special antique show. But when quilt after quilt goes for much higher than Sarah would have appraised them for, she begins to think something hinky is going on with the auction. Discovery: Sarah to goes to Boston for a special antique show with her daughter-in-law. There will be all sorts of antiques, including quilts. Sarah enjoys the quilt auction, and even considers bidding on a couple pieces. But Sarah notices that the quilts are going for up to five times their true value. Something is going on and she’s determined to find out what. Sarah spends the next five days interviewing participants in the auction. Any ideas?

Captain's Log, Stardate 04.08.2011 I was contracted to write several devotions for a book being published by Guideposts, called Mornings With Jesus , and I just finished them last night/this morning!