The Candle Maker, my latest book-baby has been birthed and it’s a boy! Seriously, these books are like babies for us author-types and therefore after a lengthy period of gestation, the publishing release is somewhat euphoric. And this one’s extra special (I know, I say that about each and every one) because it’s my first completely un-girly book. Yes, this one has a male protagonist and can be comfortably read by boys. A quick shout-out to all the guys who actually read my other less-than-manly stuff— you are the best!

There I was on Saturday night, feeling pretty smug. I’d had my “Mrs. Organizational Skills” hat on and I was fully prepped for Fathers Day. My dad in the UK would have received his gift in the mail in a timely fashion (because I’m THAT organized) and my amazing husband was about to be dazzled as deserved with a fry-up for breakfast (don’t judge— we’re Brits), a surprise waffle iron (we picked up on his oh-so-subtle hints), a fun afternoon in the sunshine after church, and rib-eye steak and home-made chocolate Swiss roll with a glass of something delicious to finish the ultimate Fathers Day. Perfect planning all round. Until my eldest son wondered in at 11pm and on his way up to bed said, “Mom, you know Fathers day is NEXT week, right?”

Good grief— it’s been a crazy May so far and my expectations have been changed, met, derailed, exceeded, and everything in between! My apologies that it’s been a while but I did warn you I would be sporadic 🙂 I like to be a woman of my word. This is going to be a bit garbled, but let me start with my weekend of awesomeness in Seattle, where the theme for the Northwest Christian Writers Renewal Conference was “EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED”…

Yes, I am having a curious day promoting fairies and bulldogs— such is the life of a writer! On any given week I can be found writing about anything from angsty teenaged girls to wingless fairies to mischievous sea creatures to Bible stories. You could also throw in relationship issues and Dickensian candle makers on an extra special day. It explains much…

Right now I’m getting my books together for two full days at the B.C .Christian Home Educators Convention with my homeschool homies right here in Kelowna. I realize I’m now the mother of one married woman, one son about to start Uni, and another boy finishing up Grade 10 in high school, but there was a time when homeschooling was MY LIFE. For thirteen years actually. And I lived to tell the tale…

Last week, with our boys on a missions trip in LA, Lyndon and I left behind the delightful spring temperatures of Kelowna and winged our way to chilly Montreal, where spring has not yet sprung. Not even a little bit…

If there’s one thing I loved about India ALMOST as much as the people— it’s the curry! Oh my word. We demolished 14 curry meals in 7 days, absolutely no problem. Curry is everywhere, using every meat, fish, and vegetable imaginable along with their vast array of spices. It’s not for the fainthearted…

I’m back with a bit more from our India trip— this time it’s all about the princesses. We may not have encountered any actual royalty in Hyderabad, but I can assure you, it felt like we were surrounded by Indian princesses everywhere— beautiful girls and women dressed in stunning saris of every color imaginable, all with heads held high. It doesn’t matter if they are sweeping the road or carrying a water jug on their heads, these ladies are gorgeous, and they know it!