books – Thoughts from a Stumbling Saint

tradeoffs, the bridge of little Jeremy, & a blogiversary

The nipping wind and my chilly toes every morning testify that November is almost here. It’s not a bad realization. We’re over half-way through the semester and each week that passes is one more that brings me closer to being home. There’s one thing about this fall, though, that keeps putting me off. There are no colorful leaves in SoCal. No maples bursting into flame, no vibrant trees along the lane. It’s like summer all over again, but draftier.

author interview: R.M. Archer

Sometimes, a book comes along that creeps up on me in the subtlest of ways, steals my heart, then leaves me feeling like I’ve lost something deep and precious… yet also somehow found home. Calligraphy Guild was just such a book. Page by page, it swept me away on a dynamic journey, before fading quietly to the end. And it was beautiful and unexpected and powerful.

In honor of Calligraphy Guild’s imminent release, I had the honor of interviewing its author, a good friend of mine, R.M. Archer – and now, as part of Calligraphy Guild’s blog tour, I have the great privilege of sharing our conversation with you, my friends.

grace in writing – guest post by E.K. Seaver

Hello, and happy Tuesday!

This cloudy northwest afternoon, I have the privilege and honor of sharing with you a tidbit from E.K. Seaver, writing friend and author of the upcoming release, The Reflections – which, if you recall from the cover spotlight a few weeks ago, is a Christian dystopic novel releasing in June of this year. In celebration of E.K.’s new release, and as part of the blog tour, I asked for her thoughts on how her faith played into influencing the writing of The Reflections. What she had to say in response was so refreshing and encouraging to read – and my hope is that this glimpse into the process and heart of her novel would be a blessing and encouragement to you as well.

Let me step aside and give the stage to E.K. Seaver.

interlude: february ’22

Spring is almost upon us – can you believe it? – that turning of the seasons from grey and bitter cold to a world bathed in greens and new growth, small bursts of golden sunlight along the way. As the crocuses pop their heads above ground, and the snowdrops peak at the ground like shy maidens (wary of the blossom-eating bunnies), I find that my mind, too, is crowded with new ideas, peeping out from recesses here and there, sometimes grand and sometimes little – all manner of surprises to be examined and sorted through. One such bashful thought hung around a bit, and grew, and changed, and grew some more, until it made up its mind that it wanted to be given a chance…

cover reveal: the reflections

I jolted awake this morning to the garbage truck growling into our cul-de-sac (considering our bins weren’t out yet, it was quite the race over the dewy concrete in my slippers… before I realized the truck was actually a yard waste collector – blessed revelation that came a little too late). But, as I was walking back to the house, anticipating the wall heater that would greet me by the front door, the feeling washed over me that despite my less-than-lovely a.m. escapade, it was actually a very beautiful, sunny morning. And so it is – the skies are clear, the air is crisp and very cold, and every breath out of doors is like inhaling the invigorating aroma of life.

How fitting, on such a gorgeous day, to have the privilege of sharing with you the gorgeous cover for E.K. Seaver’s upcoming book.