Journal

Last week, I took my six-year-old son in to have his cast removed and replaced with a new one for the final three weeks of his healing. I didn't think it would hurt. Boy, was I wrong. Between the old cast and the new cast, they x-rayed his arm to make sure the bones were still in good alignment. (They are.) They wouldn't let me in the room, so I don't know what happened in there exactly, but when he came out, he was white as a sheet, as white as he was when he first broke his arm. He told me the way they turned his arm hurt. A lot. "Oh no, you're just scared," the nurse informed him. "That didn't hurt you." She turned to me. "He's just scared." Mmm hmmmm. Right. The next nurse put a new cast on his arm, and then decided, after it had already dried, she'd made it too close and tight between his forefinger and thumb. "I'm not going to get you with this," she said as she turned on the saw and started cutting away the plaster in small chunks between his fingers. And then, guess what? She cut right through the plaster and the saw pushed into his skin. It didn't break the skin, but he screamed, and why not? A very loud, hot, spinning saw just landed on his skin. The child is six years old. "You're just scared," she told him. "That didn't hurt. I didn't cut you, it's just hot." She laughed. My Mama Bear hackles were rising now, but we got out of there before I lashed out. Unfortunately, the spot where she had cut away the plaster was so rough and sharp, and still too tight. But he didn't complain until 5pm. So the next morning we were back again. This time, a different nurse shoved long metal tongs between the cast and my son's hand and pried the plaster up and away from his thumb so he could cut it off. That doesn't sound too bad, but getting it in, from the thumb side, was a very challenging angle, and skin was pinched (hard) between the metal and cast. Can you guess what the nurse said whenever my son said that it hurt? Yep. "No, I'm not hurting you. No, you don't feel any pain. You're. Just. Scared." Over and over again, this was the only response. I'm sure this nurse is a good and kind person in general, but his chuckling denials were making me crazy. I would have accepted "It will be over soon," or "I know it hurts, but we need to do this now so you aren't hurting for three weeks." Instead, we felt ridiculed. My son was crying, my daughter was crying, and so was I by now. Every time I interjected, the nurse just smiled and shook his head at me. By the time we were done, I could barely maintain composure until we were out of the office suite and into the hall. I dropped down into the first chair I saw and cried openly in public for the first time I can remember. I just could not get it together. My heart ached for my son, whose feelings had been repeatedly and completely invalidated, but I was also overwhelmed with the realization that this happens to so many of us--perhaps even some of you. Earlier this month I talked about denying my own pain, which is bad enough. But when other people dismiss or minimize your very real pain, whether it's emotional or physical, that adds a fresh layer of hurt on top of everything, doesn't it? I know many of you are experiencing pain or fear right now. Perhaps it's an impending surgery. Maybe you just learned that the new treatment plan you were so hopeful about has actually failed to bring about any healing and you're back at square one. It could be financial hardship, a marital crisis, or conflict in another relationship. Perhaps you're plagued by chronic pain, or by fear for a loved one in harm's way on deployment. Maybe you have a child with special needs and you try not to worry about the future but fear creeps in and grabs hold with a vice-grip. If this is you, I'm willing to bet that many voices in your life are trying to minimize your pain or fear, perhaps to make themselves more comfortable regardless of how you really feel. May I remind you that God never does this? He will never deny your feelings. In fact, He weeps with those who weep. He is the God Who Sees. He has something to say to you today, and I promise it isn't "You're just scared." May the following verses bring you comfort today. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God…” (Isaiah 43:1b-3a). “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam  and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1-3). “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD” (Psalm 112:7). “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me” (John 14:1). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). Your pain is real. Your fear is real. But God is bigger, and He longs to comfort you. Dear friends, I pray that today you experience His peace.

This is a picture I didn't know was being taken. What do you mean, you can tell? ;) My dad had asked my daughter what "that famous Frozen song that everyone is groaning about" is. So we popped in the Frozen soundtrack and my daughter began singing along to "Let It Go." I thought Dad was taking a picture just of her, but clearly, he captured me, her dish-wiping-but-ever-so-sincere backup singer, as well. I'm actually OK with this. In the future, when we look back together on my kids' growing up years, and notice that Mom isn't in all that many pictures (because normally I'm the one with the camera), I'm going to use this snapshot and tell them, "See, look! I was your backup singer. Still am." And I will explain what this means, on more than one  level. The truth is, we all need backup singers: those who not only believe in us, but who lift us up, and even sing for us when we forget our own song. [Tweet "We all need backup singers to sing for us when we forget our own song."] May I confess something to you? There have been times in my writing life when the only thing keeping me at my computer was the fact that I had a legal obligation to fulfill my contract with a publisher. I had been so burned out I was white-knuckling through my word counts, not at all certain I had anything of actual value to tell the world. But when I confide in one or two trusted writer friends, they bolster me. They sing back to me the words I was no longer singing myself--words of hope, and trust, and confidence in our calling--until I remembered the tune and found my groove once again. This is not something I can do on my own. And then, there are times when my backup singers do something even more important for me. They pray on my behalf, when I can barely breathe. This was certainly the case when my husband was unofficially diagnosed with cancer. (See My Two Secrets.) You see, I have another confession to make. When the surgeon told me the mass was Hogkin's Lymphoma, I didn't pray for a miracle. I didn't pray for instant and total healing. I'd seen too many friends struggle through cancer and the painful, ugly treatment cycles to think for a second that my family deserved to be spared all of that while others suffered. It didn't cross my mind to pray for a clean bill of health. I did pray, but it was for the strength and grace to endure what lay ahead. I prayed that our testimony as Christians would not be marred by ungodly responses to trials. Little did I know, while I was praying these things with a breaking heart, my backup singers--who didn't yet know what the surgeon had told me--were praying for good news. Really good news. Miraculous news: no cancer. God heard them, and He said yes. Maybe the surgeon was wrong from the beginning. Maybe there never was any cancer in my dear husband's body. Then again, I can't help but think of the story in Mark 2:1-12, in which Jesus healed the paralytic after seeing the faith of the friends who had carried him to Christ (verse 5). This is what friends, true friends, do for us. They bring us to Christ in prayer when we ourselves are running low on faith. They sing truth to us until we sing it ourselves. They support us, harmonize with us, and help us make sense of life together. They do this, not from a distance, but on the same stage, in the same mess in which we stand. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1251", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-3125", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"400", "height":"400", "alt":"backupsingers"}}]] Who are these people in your own lives? Won't you tell them how grateful you are for them? Now, think about the people you know who may be struggling with their solos right now. Can you step up and be a backup singer for that person today? Send an email, or a message, or a card. Call. Visit. Sing truth to her. Pray. You may never know how much it means. We all need backup singers.

Recently, I read something in my gardening book which you natural green thumbs have probably known for eons. I read that in the spring, one of my gardening chores should be to strip off the smallest peony buds, leaving only the largest one to grow on each stalk of the plant. That way, the plant will put all of its energy into one bloom per stalk. So, rather than having several small-yet-somehow-still-droopy flowers, I can look forward to "show-stopping blooms" instead. This made so much sense to me, on a life lessons level, that I immediately marched outside and set to work pinching off the smaller peony buds. Each time I dropped one to the mulch below, I thought about how similar this is to how I must manage my time when I'm trying to grow something beautiful, which is usually a book. I have to say no to several small, good things, so I can pour my energy into something bigger. I love this analogy. I love the promise that it holds, and the freedom it gives me, and all  of us, to place our energy where it will do the most good. But would you believe that it is much, much easier to pinch peony buds off my own  plant than it is to actually say no to a real person? Today, a lovely person asked me to do a good thing that should be done. I cringed when I read the request in my inbox. She was asking for time that I had already set aside to spend working on my new book project, whether it will be conducting interviews with parents of kids with special needs, or writing the devotions. My children will be cared for during this time frame, which makes this time frame absolutely precious to me. Being a home schooling mother, this kid-free time is really, really important so I can work without distraction. "Pinch the peony!" I told myself almost right away. "Tell her you can't do it! You're already committed!" I was right, of course. And yet, I still struggled. I prayed about it, deliberated, prayed some more, and finally asked a trusted friend to weigh in. Being the wise woman she is, my friend affirmed my gut reaction. I was already committed to working during those hours. I had to pinch the peony to preserve my best energy. (Judge me now, if you will, just please don't be mean in the comments. I will delete them. Because I can.) The fact that Lysa TerKeurst has written an entire book on this concept of not saying yes to every request--and the fact that it's wildly popular--tells me I'm not alone when it comes to my desire to please others. I don't think any of us relish the idea of disappointing people. We want to serve, and isn't service a good thing? Yep. But we are allowed to discern where our service will do the most good, given our skills, gifts, and experience. Lysa TerKeurst, in The Best Yes, puts it this way: Here's the reality of our current technique: Other people's requests dictate the decisions we make. We become slaves to others' demands when we let our time become dictated by requests. We will live reactive lives instead of proactive. And reactive lives get very exhausting, very quickly. Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, puts it this way: The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1245", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-3129", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"400", "height":"400", "alt":"The good is always the enemy of the"}}]] When we say no to some good things, we empower our "yes" to the best--that which God has uniquely called and equipped them to do. As TerKeurst writes, "This isn't just about finding time. This is about honoring God with the time we have." Amen to that, Lysa, amen! [Tweet "When we say no to some things, we empower our bigger "yes.""]   Now, here's the thing about pinching off the smaller buds, the ones you know should not receive your best attention. It's only helpful if we literally nip the bud right off, right away. Waiting until it has already bloomed before plucking it means you've already spent valuable energy on it, and there's more to clean up. In other words, it's easier to say "No, I can't take on that commitment right now," than to later say with a knot in your gut, "Oh no, I can't keep up with this commitment anymore!" Believe me, I've done it both ways. (I'll save that story for later.) Sometimes, people won't understand why we're saying no. After all, that bigger bud we're spending most of our energy on--it hasn't bloomed yet! No one can see what we're growing before it flowers, so they may doubt the value of what we've chosen. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1246", "attributes":{"class":"media-image wp-image-3095", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"400", "height":"400", "alt":"Sorbet peonies in full bloom"}}]] Sorbet peonies in full bloom   Stand strong anyway. Whether you are a work-at-home mom like me, or work outside the  home, whether you're an entrepreneur or a college student, we all need time for what God has called us to do in this season. Sometimes pinching off the smaller buds means declining to volunteer for something altogether, like I did today. But other times it could just be saying no to doing things the hard way. For instance, I will say yes to bringing treats to my daughter's violin class, but no to making homemade sugar cookie cutouts with piped icing and fancy fondant. I can say yes to having friends over for a meal, but no to making a four-course gourmet dinner. (Delivery, anyone?) We can't say no to everything, nor should we. But we do need to say "no" to some good things so we can say "yes" to the best thing. Have you found this to be true in your life? If so, please share. I would love to hear about your best thing. Which buds have you dropped to the ground so a bigger bloom could blossom?

When I turned in Spy of Richmond to my publisher last July, I was without a contract for the first time in seven years. At first, I felt both free and untethered, which I realize sounds the same, but whereas freedom is desirable, being untethered felt uncomfortable. I felt both of these things in equal parts, in alternating stages. It sounds weird, because it was weird. Life was suddenly, drastically, different. And sometimes, different is good. :) It has been a wonderful sabbatical for me.  So what have I done with myself this year without a book to write? Here's 20 things. (Not an exhaustive list.) I supported/support my husband, who is now in grad school on top of working full-time. For years, he has taken care of the kids in the evenings and on weekends so I could write. He has put up with a limited rotation of meals and with a house that could be cleaner. Now it's my turn and my privilege to support him. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1204", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2987", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"432", "alt":"Robandkids"}}]] I went on more family outings. Whenever I've been on a deadline in the past, my husband would take the kids on these great field trips so I could have time at home alone to write. This was lovely and generous of him, and incredibly helpful. But it also meant the family memories were being made without me. This year, I was in on it. SO glad. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1205", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2971", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"550", "alt":"FamilyFun"}}]] I read! I read books written by other people, fiction and nonfiction, and oh what bliss!! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1206", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2968", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"316", "alt":"IRead"}}]] I organized my tupperware cabinet and my children's legos. Also got rid of two huge bags of old toys the kids have outgrown. Can I get an amen? I mean come on. This is really something. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1207", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2972", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"465", "alt":"Organized"}}]] I worked out, and not just once. This is saying quite a lot for me. But I am happy to say I am now in the habit of regularly working up a sweat. Don't tell Jillian Michaels it's mostly to test the theory that exercise promotes good ideas, and I'm more interested in that than in having a "rocking body." I blogged more. And pinned more. I kept my haircut appointments. When I'm on deadline, I cancel these in order to get more writing time. As I look back at pictures, I can tell how stressed I am by how long and frizzy my hair is. Ick. I taught three units of American Girl History at our local homeschool co-op. I homeschooled our kids last year too, but this year I actually had time to prepare and teach weekly classes with other people's kids. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1208", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2973", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"550", "alt":"americangirl"}}]] I cleaned the tops of my kitchen cabinets. Among other things, of course. I did more public speaking. I saw a photo of myself during said public speaking and realized my desperate need for a personal stylist. Signed up for StitchFix. Fell in love. We adopted a cat. He was to be our only family pet. We named him Oreo because he's a tuxedo cat. Too late, I kicked myself for not lobbying for Catticus Finch. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1209", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2974", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"450", "height":"294", "alt":"Oreo"}}]] We adopted another cat. Named him Rolo. Should have named him Purrman Meowville. (I did not come up with that, but it would have fit. Rolo purs like nobody's business.) [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1210", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2976", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"302", "alt":"Rolo"}}]] I took a lot of pictures of said cats. Couldn't help myself. (I also love dogs, for the record.) [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1211", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2979", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"450", "height":"819", "alt":"Morecats"}}]] I took a lot of pictures, in general. In other words, I lived in the moment, enjoying the present instead of constantly calculating how to squeeze in more writing time. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1212", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2980", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"336", "alt":"crazyEthan2"}}]] I tried new recipes! And I have always been sure to make a huge deal of this accomplishment at the dinner table every time it happens! Being on a deadline does not allow any of my brain cells to be creative with the menu. None. So this is a major deal. I spent time with friends, in person and via Skype. Oh, how heavenly.[[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1213", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2986", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"486", "alt":"Susie-and-me-1024x882"}}]] I cleaned out my gardens this spring even before it's warm enough to plant things. This is highly unusual for me. I also made out my wishlist of landscaping items to buy as soon as the weather is consistently above freezing at night: Japanese maple tree, feather reed ornamental grass, purple coneflower, a few yews, some annuals like sweet potato vine and verbena and pansies and impatiens... My garden is going to look great this year! I took some naps. I decorated for the seasons. I hovered over guided my daughter more during her violin practices. I started teaching my son piano. I switched to shopping at Aldi's and slashed our grocery bill by 30-40 percent. Wowza! I brainstormed and researched future book ideas. Because even though I really needed this sabbatical, I'm not done writing. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1214", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2981", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"450", "height":"676", "alt":"library stack2"}}]] After getting over that initial untethered feeling, I have thoroughly enjoyed the last nine months. It was exactly what I needed! Pssst... The footnote to this blog post--and it's a fairly big one--is that my sabbatical is now officially over. A few days ago, I signed a contract. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1215", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter size-full wp-image-2983", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"550", "height":"279", "alt":"contract"}}]] If you're signed up for my enewsletter, you'll get the details next week. If you're not signed up yet--see the form in the footer! It's easy! See you in your inbox!

Did you know March is officially National Reading Month? I didn't until I read this. Furthermore, yesterday apparently was World Book Day. Clearly I missed that one, just like I missed my son's doctor appointment on the same day. (Do not be alarmed. It was only a check-up.) I've really been on a roll. The day before that, as I was driving a minivan full of children, I missed the exit for the birthday party and made half the guests late.  #MissedIt was definitely trending in my life this week. Books, however, are also trending here! Here's my current #amreading pile. Each book cover is linked to the book's Goodreads page. #AmReading Daughter of Liberty (American Patriot series, #1) by J.M. Hochstetler Historical fiction: Revolutionary War This one grabbed me from the first sentence. I adore Revolutionary War era, and Hochstetler is one of the best authors I've ever read. She deserves way more attention than she's gotten. (If American Revolution isn't your thing, check out her book Northkill.) [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1158", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2833 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"300", "alt":"daughterofliberty"}}]] Under the Silk Hibiscus by Alice J. Wisler Historical fiction: World War 2 Important novel highlighting the plight of Japanese Americans in internment camps. Wisler is such a versatile author. She writes nonfiction and fiction, both historical and contemporary. Her novel Still Life in Shadows, inspired by an ex-Amish man who assisted others fleeing their Amish communities, remains one of my favorite contemporary fiction books. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1159", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2834", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"313", "alt":"perf6.000x9.000.indd"}}]] In the Field of Grace by Tessa Afshar Historical fiction: Biblical In the Field of Grace is a story of Ruth and Boaz--but begins before Ruth was even wed to her first husband, Naomi's son. Afshar is a Christy Award winner, and basically a rockstar of biblical fiction. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1160", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2835", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"309", "alt":"FieldofGrace"}}]] By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder Biographical novel: 1800s This is our family's current read-aloud book. We're working through this series, and loving it, especially since we were able to visit the Ingalls homestead outside De Smet, South Dakota, last summer. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1161", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2836 size-full", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"296", "alt":"bytheshores"}}]] Everyday Graces: A Child's Book of Good Manners edited by Karen Santorum Not sure exactly which genre this fits into. Parenting? It's probably the best book we own to teach our kids manners, virtues, etc. Based on the idea that stories convey morals better than a list of rules, Karen Santorum has put together a collection of short stories, poems, and chapters from classic children's literature to show the importance of things like patience, self-control, kindness, etc. What's not to love? [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1162", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2837", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"275", "alt":"everydaygraces"}}]] *Not pictured: stack of research books for a potential new novel series, plus various and sundry library books for the kids. Books on Tap My list of books to-read is really long. But here are a few I'd love to get to this month: Boom: Oil, Money, Cowboys, Strippers, and the Energy Rush that Could Change America Forever by Tony Horwitz Nonfiction I love Tony Horwitz's work. My favorite of his is Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War. I also really enjoyed his A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World. Boom looks like a shorter read at 117 pages, and it was only $2.99 for Kindle. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1163", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2842 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"194", "height":"300", "alt":"boom"}}]] Call the Nurse: True Stories of a Country Nurse on a Scottish Isle by Mary J. MacLeod Nonfiction I hadn't heard of this one until my mother loaned it to me recently, but I see that it's the #1 book on nursing on Amazon. And you know I love nursing stories. :) [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1164", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2843 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"198", "height":"300", "alt":"callthenurse"}}]] Miranda Warning by Heather Day Gilbert Contemporary fiction I read and loved God's Daughter by the same author, and look forward to seeing how this West Virginia mystery unfolds! [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1165", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2844 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"194", "height":"300", "alt":"mirandawarning"}}]] Kept by Sally Bradley Contemporary fiction I've never read this author before, but I keep hearing great things about this novel. I tend toward historical fiction, quite obviously, but it's good for me to read outside my preferrred genre. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1166", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2845 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"199", "height":"300", "alt":"kept"}}]] Sword of Forgiveness by Debbie Lynne Costello Historical fiction: medieval Yes, back to historicals! :) I've known Debbie Lynne for years, and this is her debut novel. You all know I love the Civil War era, but I'm also fascinated by the medieval era. I studied literature in England for a while during my college years, which is where and when my interest really took flight. [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1167", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2846 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"200", "height":"300", "alt":"swordofforgiveness"}}]] How about you? What are you reading this month? GIVE-AWAY Speaking of reading, if you haven't gotten your copy of Spy of Richmond yet, enter for a chance to win a free copy at the blogs of Amelia Rhodes and Lena Nelson Dooley! While you're there, look around. Both Amelia and Lena are wonderful authors themselves!   [[{"type":"media", "view_mode":"media_large", "fid":"1168", "attributes":{"class":"media-image aligncenter wp-image-2724 size-medium", "typeof":"foaf:Image", "style":"", "width":"194", "height":"300", "alt":"Spy high-res"}}]]