Author Spotlight: Kyle L. White

Many moons ago, when we lived in DeKalb, Illinois, we attended the Evangelical-Free Church. I will never forget one memorable service when the then-youth pastor, Kyle L. White, delivered the sermon after witnessing the birth of his firstborn that morning. We were new parents as well, and ripe for his reflections. I have long wished for a transcript of that sermon. It was profound, and delivered with awe and reverence.

A few years later, I started a small writer's group at the church. I needed accountability to complete my Institute of Children's Literature course. I had hit an impasse in my final assignment of 3 chapters of a novel. Thus, began a wonderful stint of cameraderie and encouragement in the best writing group I've attended. We shared our work monthly, and even joined up to attend the annual Write-to-Publish Conference in nearby Wheaton, IL. Oh, the laughter during those hour-long commutes to the conference! Meeting Kyle through his sermons was impressive. But discovering his writing was equally so.

Kyle is an author/illustrator/storyteller. I think of him as a modern contemplative writer. His literary and artistic works have been published by Prism Magazine, Zondervan Publishing, Windy City Sports, and Door Peninsula Voice. He has written eight books, some of which include: Wisconsin River of Grace (2009), Neighbor As Yourself (2016), Haiti! Up! (2018), Bear. With Me {A Field Journal} (2019), and Freezing, Thawing: New & Revised Stories From the Midwest (2020). 

Several of these are available through his Amazon author page. He served as the 2022 Artist-in-Residence at the Sycamore Public Library and has had his books featured on Northern Public Radio. When not drawing or writing, he actively presents workshops on art, writing, and storytelling. Kyle graciously agreed to answer my questions to highlight his writings on my blog.

Q1: I scribbled stories as a young child and wrote poetry in my teens. Yet, I didn't really consider myself a writer until I completed my first National Novel Writing Month 50,000 word challenge. When did you first think of yourself as a writer?

Kyle: I think I’ve always thought of myself as a “creative”, since I was a kid. I don’t know if we still use “creative” as a noun. But writer, specifically? In junior high and high school I experienced the most academic success and encouragement in the areas of writing and journalism, so I think I must have identified as a “writer” to some degree. But, post-college, writing became a guilty pleasure or hobby. When I found myself underemployed in the early 2000s, tho’, I started freelance illustrating and writing–it’s then that I felt like “writer”. But also at that very same time, the two of us became part of that writers’ group at our church. Thank you, because that community and rhythm did the most to restore or establish my identity as writer. Because of that group I found more of my voice, began writing the things that were unique to me, started publishing essays, and then from those I published my first book. I wonder if your identity, Wendy, as a writer, was helped along at all by being involved in the NaNoWriMo community, and not only the completion of the task… ?

Q2: I'm sure you're right, Kyle, although there wasn't as much community in that as in our group. I never really had others cheering me on from the sidelines. Even my kids often teased about all that effort just to secure a Nanowrimo certificate. But, I think that was when I began leaning more into novel-writing (writing Christian YA at the start, a tough sell). And I felt I really was accomplishing something significant. For years, that was my chosen focus, until it shifted more toward non-fiction. What kind of writing do you prefer?

Kyle: I used to write these longer essays, to kind of justify my existence: how much “clever” can I pack in here? But when I began reading my writing in front of audiences, I got tired of hearing myself talk! So, I began simplifying and reducing. Like shifting from sermons to homilies. It felt more conversational with, and kind to, audiences. Short, humorous, reflective pieces, typically. I’m motivated by writers like E.B. White (his editorials), Louis Jenkins (prose poems), and Frederick Buechner (his creative non-fiction, in particular). I also pretend to write poetry once in a while. I want to leave space on the page for the reader to think.

Q3: Your writing has universality and depth. I'm impressed with how you take something that has inherent humor and then, suddenly, that humor drives a deep, spiritual insight. It is as if you think in metaphor. For example, in your book, Neighbor As Yourself, you have a piece about catching and releasing a fish. On the surface, it seems to be a sketch about the challenge of removing a hook from a large, shaking bass. Yet, eventually, the reader is contemplating emotional wounds and Christ's finger both poking and healing them. Do you keep a notebook of images and develop the metaphors later, or are you capturing both the insignificant and the significant simultaneously while it is happening? Tell us a bit about your writing process.

Kyle: Your questions are beautifully written and so encouraging–they make me want to finish some projects! As a kid, some of my earliest memories are of being in bed at night, looking out the window and wondering what’s behind that curtain of stars? I do feel as tho’ I’m always looking through a thing to the bigger story on the other side of it. Maybe that’s every writer? Louis Jenkins, one of my favorite poets, has this piece about retiring from his poetry business. In the closing line he says, maybe he’ll: “Take up golf. Spend more time with the family. Maybe I’ll just walk around and look at things with absolutely no compulsion to say anything at all about them.” I love it. My writing process is sporadic, but I am consistent with keeping a net out for metaphor. A sketchbook, or notebook, being my net. Most every day, in my notebook, I’m playing with some drawing, or bit of words.

Q4: I'm a big fan of your essay, "Circus World Museum," as it emphasizes the role of the church in this sin-sick world. It is one of my favorites. But then, I also love the lighthearted "To Whom it May Concern" (a job recommendation for Autumn) and "Funeral for Summer." There's also the "Quotidian Meeting of Insomnia Committee." Do you have any favorites from your writings?

Kyle: Thank you. I haven’t read those for awhile and I need to go back and take a look. One piece of mine that I am consistently satisfied with, and that I like reading to audiences, is “Wendell Planted a Tree for Me.” It’s from Freezing, Thawing: New & Revised Stories from the Midwest (2020). I like it ‘cause it has the elements that I’m most always digging for in my pieces: humor, community, mortality, God. There’s also a piece called “Geeses” from my upcoming book. It surprised me the way it came out fully formed, like it had been brewing underneath.

Q5: I'm always curious about the preliminaries various writers prefer. Like Dickens, I walk before I sit down to work on a novel. It prompts the creative juices and allows time to simmer in ideas and characters. However, I haven't worked on a novel in a long time, and the weather tends to foil my outdoor walking. Do you have specific locations for writing or tools of the trade? Do you begin each session with walking or with prayer?

Kyle: Yes, walking is thinking and that leads to writing for me. Any time I am afforded space to think–vacations, solo road trips, morning coffee–that leads to writing. Being in Wisconsin, my homeland, inspires me to write. I don’t necessarily pray before writing– I would say that the act of writing is prayer in my experience.

Q6: I love that! Yes, oftentimes writing is prayer. Several of your essays focus on writing. I'm thinking of "Hunting for Words" (an apt comparison), "The Muse," and "Postcards from the Edge of the Bluff." In that last essay, you say, "Why write? To love and to be loved. I write because 'I wish you were here.' The 'here' being inside my head. A scary thought? But my writing self is probably my truest self. I write to know and to be known. I write to send a postcard." Have you ever wanted to abandon writing or have you ever experienced a dry spell that lingered? What would be your recommendation for a writer in that liminal space, when the muse is silent and showing up is hard?

Kyle: Thoughts of abandonment come more when I’m trying to figure out how to reach a larger audience with my creative work. It’s such a social media game and can leave lots of artists lamenting, “What’s the point?” But in terms of writer’s block, the problem is more my inconsistency in taking time for writing. When I do need inspiration, walking helps to jog things loose, like you mentioned. And reading poetry–Louis Jenkins, Wendell Berry, Billy Collins–makes me want to play with words. Joni Mitchell, supposedly said: “Unlike some of my peers, I haven’t really hit a writer’s block. When I hit a block I just paint, which is an old crop rotation trick.” Sketching and drawing help stir up my writing, too.

Q7: Yes, you are not only a writer, but also an illustrator. I have one of your lovely prints on my wall to remind me to press on in my writing goals, stewarding whatever gifts God has given. That print, and other unique, contemplative art prints can be purchased from your art website (link here). What is your favorite thing about the intersection of your writing and your art? Do you sketch daily, or when you have something in mind? 

Kyle: All of my creative spark started with comics. Then, in high school and college, I was the schools’ newspaper cartoonist. So, my art interests mostly have to do with: How do I marry image with text, in small spaces, in the most meaningful way? I draw daily and think it’s the best way for me to pay attention in the world;  I often facilitate classes on “sketchbook as practice,” and on field journaling.

Q8: For the past few years, I've enjoyed receiving your newsletters. You invite interaction. You generate thoughts about creativity and art. If any reader would like to sign up for your newsletter, where can they do so?

Kyle: Thank you! People can find all my points of contact here: https://linktr.ee/kylewhiteink

Q9: What is your favorite method of getting your work out to readers and listeners?

Kyle: Favorite and effective are two different things apparently! The typical routes: Instagram; newsletter; etc. I also do readings on our local NPR station–they have a segment called “Perspectives” where locals can share opinions and thoughts on most-any topic. And I have had “story nights” which are interactive readings. I think those story nights are my favorite and most effective avenues.

Q10: Do you have a work-in-progress right now?

Kyle: I have a new book that released on 4/26/26 called Just Out There Somewhere: Thoughts About Moving On. Thanks for these wonderful questions, Wendy. And thanks for being such an advocate for writers.

If you'd like to sample/listen to one of Kyle's NPR Perspective pieces, you can click here. This humorous 90-second listen is called, "About That Book You Borrowed." I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce others to Kyle White's writing, art, and storytelling. Check out his work. You'll be glad you did! Now, I'm off to request Kyle's new book as a Mother's Day/birthday gift. Then, I'll check to see if Kyle lent me a book I've failed to return. Ha!

Book Review: The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams

I had never heard of this author, and now I cannot remember where I picked up the recommendation. Was The Bookshop of Hidden Dreams offered on Book Bub? I may have been a less-than-motivated reader, so I don't count this against the book, but it didn't enthrall me. With "bookshop" in the title, you assume it will focus a lot on books. Book mentions were minimal. It takes place in a bookshop in the small town of Dove Pond.

Tay Dove is one of seven sisters. Supposedly, whenever seven sisters are born in the Dove family, those women are endowed with magical powers. Tay possesses the unique power (helpful, as she is a historian) to see the scene of writing when she places her hands on handwritten notes and letters. Of course, this comes in handy when you're trying to solve a mystery from the past with primary source documents. When the sisters uncover a tin of love letters, they beg Tay to pick up the trail and solve the mystery of their relative, Sarafina Dove, and her suitor, an alleged train robber, William Day. Rose Day, owner of the town bookshop, offers her grandson's assistance, in hopes that romance may blossom.

You have all the standard details of a mystery: suspicious characters, lost money or treasure, secret codes, and families hoping to learn more about distant relatives. It was an easy read. I just wish it had sucked me in more. Again, my indifference might have stemmed from a reading malaise. When life's circumstances heat up, my mind is more on current issues than on pages passing. I appreciated it as a clean read though (especially as I've turned aside 3 others for content I couldn't get behind). Plus, it receives many 4 and 5 star ratings on Amazon, so others are clearly enticed.

Book Review: Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

The title of this novel comes from a passage in Mark Twain's story where Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are presumed dead. So begins James Goodhand's colorful book, Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated. Ray "Spike" Thorns spent years working as a caretaker on the grounds of a posh boarding school. Now, he spends his days visiting re-sale shops, picking through trash, and trying to bring life to things that have been tossed aside. This is an apt image for the book, as a whole. Then, Ray's neighbor comes over to warm up because his heat is off. Ray offers him a warm bath while he heads off to pick up some Chinese takeaway, never thinking for a moment the man might experience a medical emergency. When paramedics cart off the dying man, they mistakenly assume it is Ray. It takes some time for Ray to set things right. In that time, we learn Ray's life story and we root him on in his efforts to deal with unexpected and complicated difficulties.

As a writer, I'm always on the hunt for excellent writing. Sometimes I will even read books with cautionary content. Listening to this 2026 Audi Awards Finalist was a delight. The book hooked me with its premise and held me with its promise, in spite of activities and worldviews I don't sanction. Ray is a likeable, if sad, character. He's not convinced his life has held much meaning. Sure, he can repair things, but is that enough? I'm so glad I didn't set this book aside, but plowed through anyway. The payoff was well worth enduring unsavory things.

We all wish to feel like we matter. We crave purpose and fulfillment in our lives. Too often, we underestimate the impact we've made. This is a beautiful book about a man who is mistaken for dead, only to realize that he's forgotten to truly live. His journey to correct the error is a delight! It is a poignant tale of life-shaping losses, enduring influences, and second chances. If only we could all get a glimpse of the way our lives have touched others. It would certainly keep us going. This is a book that sticks with you.

📒 - Content Caution

Book Review: The Anxious Generation

A friend recommended The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. It is quite popular, at #17 on Amazon charts. If only this important book had come out when I was still stumbling through new parenting territory with my sons. "Hindsight is 20/20," as they say. If only we knew then, what we know now. In ignorance, we launched into a technological world with ramifications we couldn't possibly foresee. This is a sobering look at why our young people are riddled with anxiety. Some of the author's recommendations are, indeed, being fleshed out in our society. Schools are trying to become phone-free zones. Sadly, the changes will not come swiftly enough and my own children are saddled with my unintentional mistakes.

Jonathan Haidt intended to write a book on how social media disrupts society. After finishing the first chapter, he realized the thrust of the book needed to focus on how childhood has been disrupted by a phone-based existence. While I don't agree with this author's atheistic worldview, his arguments ring true. It is horrifying. Toward the end of the book, he writes a paragraph that helped me understand why we failed to see the dangers. He writes:

"The diffusion of digital technology into children's lives has been like smoke pouring into our homes. We all see that something strange is happening, but we don't understand it. We fear that the smoke is having bad effects on our children, but when we look around, nobody is doing much about it."

This is true. I looked to those around me when I considered what to allow or disallow in my home. I gave in to the pressure of, "Every other kid has a phone, Mom." If I had it to do over, with the wisdom from this book, I would have emphasized real-world experiences and relationships, limited freedom on their phones, and talked them through the new conundrums they faced with technology.

I loved the summaries at the end of each chapter. They made it easier to digest and retain the mass of information gleaned in these pages. The key problem for children born after 1995 (as all my sons were) is that they were overprotected in the real world and underprotected in the virtual world. Haidt identifies four harms of phone-based childhood: sleep deprivation, social deprivation, attention fragmentation, and addiction.

I recently saw news of new "tin-can" phones that parents are giving their children. Other parents are giving their kids landlines. These phones are stripped of the dangerous social media exposure and instant information overload. Our children need physical play and social interaction to learn how to navigate relationships. The digital world has altered all of our relationships. Thus, the takeaway from this book extends beyond how the phone influenced the maturation of our children. It highlights how different our world is today from that in which we were raised. After reading this book, I'm not only regretting my past parenting mistakes, but I'm also wanting to join Carlos Whittaker and unplug more for myself. It is a difficult balance. Writers are encouraged to be available and involved online. Yet, there is a cost. Do I really want to pay that cost any more? This whole subject will fill my thoughts for many days to come.

Book Review: Declutter Your Heart and Your Home

Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy, by Julia Ubbenga, is a Christian guide to purging unhelpful baggage. Ubbenga writes a minimalism blog called Rich in What Matters, where she encourages readers to seek less stuff to make way for more meaning. If you've read my blog for any time, you know my goal of purging the extra accumulation from years of parenting and, to be honest, hoarding. Now, I don't live with piles of paper and belongings strewn everywhere. I'm not that kind of hoarder, but I can admit I own more things than I'd like to be keeping. My husband has said we need to kick this process into high gear. I'm a deer in the headlights. I hoped this book would jump-start that purging mojo again. One reviewer on Amazon called this book a "game-changer." Alas, I feel more daunted than ever.

Declutter Your Heart and Your Home is chock full of quotes from many minimalists (minimalism IS in vogue). It focuses on spiritual goals for minimalism. It promises the path to peace is purging. I already feel bad about my stuff. Now, I feel guilty, as well. As if I'm being told that my focus is clearly on the wrong things and I need to shift my agenda away from stuff and toward the Lord. I think my heart is already more focused on the Lord, in spite of the stuff I battle. I'd rather praise my way to peace. Purging leaves me drained and discouraged. I'm sure this book is helpful to many Christians who want to break free from bondage to things. I guess, I just don't see myself battling bondage in that camp.

For example, one statistic declared the average household monthly spending on clothing is $160. This number blew me away. Seriously? People are spending that much or more on clothes? I'm a no-frills kind of gal. I'm not concerned with comparing my wardrobe to anyone else's. My main goal is always comfort, not style. Many of my clothes have been in my wardrobe for decades.

Then came another shock to my system. Ubbenga offers this suggestion for what your wardrobe could look like. I did not list jewelry and such, just not my thing. She recommends 4 pairs of shoes, 2 bags, 2 coats/jackets, 2 dresses or skirts, 3 pairs of pants, and 10 tops. I cannot even fathom that. She must do laundry every day. She suggests paring down your kids' clothes to what would fit in a suitcase. This is minimalism on steroids. While I would so like to live with less stuff, I don't think I'm ready to pare down to 3 pairs of pants!

Toward the end of the book, the story of her journey to minimalism winds down. Her life is so much better. Her focus on the Lord is uninterrupted. She said she downsized 75% of their possessions. What is really scary is that when we move from this house (where we have lived for almost 2 decades), we probably DO need to purge 75% of our possessions. How? I can read about it all I want, but that doesn't help make it happen. Perhaps I need to tell myself I only have years to live and that might motivate me to "relinquish the past," as she recommends. Can I tell those sentimental books, letters, and photos they are "no longer welcome?" After reading this book, I'm thinking I'm a hopeless case. 

Mid-month Mention: Another Scavenger Hunt

Lately, I've been encountering new Christian authors through promotional activities. Last month I shared an opportunity for a Christian author scavenger hunt including almost 30 authors. I subscribed to a handful of author newsletters, including one for Jaime Jo Wright. Wright has joined another new-to-me author to create their own small scavenger hunt as introduction to their newest books.

Jaime Jo Wright's newest release is The Bookshop of 99 Doors. It is a Christian dual-timeline mystery set in a Pennsylvania mansion with Civil War secrets. Like Wright's other books, it is atmospheric and suspenseful. Melanie Dobson's The Lost Story of Via Belle is also a dual-timeline historical mystery. It, too, takes place in Pennsylvania. A present-day screenwriter investigates the 1940s disappearance of a romance novelist. I am eager to read both of these novels and then pass on recommendations to my cousin, Karin, who lives in Pennsylvania.

If you want to participate in this smaller scavenger hunt visit this Storydoors website. You will find two portals into photos associated with the novels. Each book showcases four rooms to explore. Some of the images, when clicked on, will send you to informational sites tied to these stories. In each room, there is a hidden clue to copy down. Once you find the 8 hidden clues, you can enter the completed sentences to enter the giveaway (15 Christian fiction titles), which ends on April 29, 2026. There is also an invitation to join a Zoom call with the authors, held on April 30th, to learn more about these stories. The winner will be announced during that Zoom call.

I joined in the fun. A few of the sites held information about author Grace Livingston Hill. My paternal grandmother had numerous Grace Livingston Hill books on her shelves in her upstairs rooms (where my sister and I stayed during visits). I can remember passing time in those novels, although I did not recognize any titles I may have read, since it was years ago (almost half a century). Even if I don't win the scavenger hunt, it was interesting to visit these sites and learn more about these books.

Book Review: The Battle of the Bookshops

Since I enjoyed Poppy Alexander's The Littlest Library, I checked out her newest book, The Battle of the Bookshops. It is clearly meant to be a modern retelling loosely mixing Romeo and Juliet with You've Got Mail. The names are ridiculously similar. Jules Capelthorne helps her aging great-aunt run a tiny bookstore in Portneath. It is the only bookstore in the tiny seaside town and is approaching its hundredth birthday. Enter the dashing young man from a feuding family, Roman Montbeau. Of course, he opens a flashy, new bookstore across the street. Unlike You've Got Mail, the rivalry is right out in the open, but like Romeo and Juliet, the two cannot keep themselves apart, despite family animosity.

The book was predictable, and yet, somewhat delightful. If you need something easy to read and are seeking romance, this book hits both boxes. I wasn't so absorbed that I read it in one sitting, but it only took a few days. It would make a quick beach read. I think The Littlest Library is still my favorite from this author. 

Movie Review: A Great Awakening

If my goal is to spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ (2 Cor. 2:14) this year, I cannot think of a better movie to watch for inspiration than A Great Awakening. I love history. I love exploring God's hand in the past as encouragement for the present (and boy, do I need encouragement, a reminder that God is alive and moving). My supplemental devotional readings have taken me into the life and ministry of Jonathan Edwards. When I saw advertisements for this movie about the relationship between George Whitefield (another revivalist of The Great Awakening) and Benjamin Franklin, I added it to my movie 2026 Baby Bucket List. For this film, I was determined. I attempted to lure someone from my Bible study to attend with me after our Tuesday morning time, but not one person joined me (how sad, given that it was a marvelous, uplifting movie). So, I went alone.

Powerful! That is the word that resonated in my brain and on my lips when I left the theater. I haven't seen a movie like it in many years. Sometimes, Christian movies suffer from poor acting and weak scripts. Not so with A Great Awakening! The movie sucked me into the historical context. George Whitefield was born in the early 1700s and worked in his family's inn. Thanks to someone's referral, he ended up attending Oxford as a servant/student (working to earn his keep and study). His great goal was to become an actor on a Shakespearean stage. However, when he came into contact with the Wesley brothers (Charles and John), his life and dreams changed. 

He became a preacher with tremendous impact and crossed the seas to reach souls in America. His elocutionary skills aided him in reaching tens of thousands of people at one time. Benjamin Franklin was not a believer, but rather a practical deist intent upon rational thought and moralistic living of virtues. Yet, his interest in capturing Whitefield's story, led Franklin into relationship with this preacher. This movie is a faithful portrayal of history. But, more than that, it is a convicting story of the gospel.

At several points, I cried over the beauty of this sound gospel testimony. I loved that it presents Christ as key. Indeed, Whitefield often said something to the effect of "let my name be nothing and Christ's be exalted." Early in his story, he attempted to align his will to the will of God. Wesley argued Whitefield wasn't seeing the gospel clearly. What he truly needed was new birth and recognition of God's undeserved grace. Salvation brings a new birth, something that is tangibly demonstrated in God's Biblically mandated baptism. I cried at Whitefield's baptism. I cried when he baptised the filthy workers in a coal mine (such a powerful image of the filth of sin being washed away through the blood of Christ).

This was a great man of God! Yet, his humility was stunning. He did not want to draw attention to himself, but put all focus on Christ. When he was shunned from the pulpits, he took to the streets to awaken dead souls to life in Christ. He probably won many thousands into the kingdom of God. So convicting! What have I done? I want to be more effective in wooing others to the Lord, in calling out sin and declaring the grace that saves men's souls from damnation and transfers them (Christ's righteousness applied and the Holy Spirit given as a seal of inheritance) into God's family where no man can snatch them from His hold (John 10:27-29).

If you only go to see one movie this year, make it A Great Awakening (although for many theaters, TODAY is the last day it will be showing)! If you are a believer, it will stokes fires within you to reach the lost. If you are not a believer, perhaps George Whitefield's message from the grave will bring you from death to life in Christ. Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, God will meet you in this movie! And if all you take from it is a history lesson, even still the time will be well spent. For me, I cannot wait to see this movie again and hope to take my husband along before it leaves our area (it appears to be showing through next Thursday in towns further away). If you see the movie, please leave a comment letting me know if it impacted you as strongly as it did me. Would that my life witnessed for Christ one-tenth of the magnitude of George Whitefield's flame!

Here is a trailer for this powerful film.

Book Review: Triumphs of the Heart

I plucked Triumphs of the Heart: The Promise of Joyful Living from my shelves to accompany my morning devotional studies. Cheryl Ford does an excellent job of bringing women of the Bible to life in these mini-biographies. Each chapter seemed to spur me along to consider aspects of the heart. How I want to incorporate some of these encouragements into my daily living! This is a book I will hold onto, even in my efforts to purge belongings.

The author highlights eight women in the Bible with characteristics to emulate. I mentioned, at the end of this post, that my verse this year was drawn from Ford's first chapter on Anna (the watchful heart). I hope to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. I hope to watch, as Anna did, for our Redeemer's return. Other types of hearts are mentioned, too: a tenacious heart, a searching heart, a valiant heart, a daring heart, a liberated heart, and a sacrificial heart. 

It was no coincidence that I read the fifth chapter, exploring Esther, during the weeks my Bible Study Fellowship class was focused on Esther. Then, the final chapter on the woman at the well (the good-news heart), seemed something the Lord wanted to drive home to me. While I read that chapter, I heard two different sermons from two different churches and both considered the woman at the well. Then, I saw a Facebook post highlighting this woman's example. In the end, I decided God was trying to remind me to draw from His living water, rather than coming up empty with my own resources in my daily battles. He was also encouraging me to spread the good news as she did. I love when God repeats the lesson until He drives it home. I also love that books fall into our hands at specific moments of need. Isn't that the coolest! 

Book Review: The Life She Forgot

Almost a year ago, I discovered and joined a Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt. It was not only fun, but also introduced me to a host of new-to-me authors. I signed on for several author newsletters and that is how I first came to know about Joanna Davidson Politano's books. I borrowed The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House from my library. Sadly, my stack of current reads kept me from it and other readers in the hold line were eager for their turn. When she mentioned a launch team for The Life She Forgot in her newsletter, I jumped at the chance.

The Life She Forgot is an Edwardian dual-timeline historical mystery set on the Cornish coast. It is the first book in Politano's House on the Edge of the Cliff series. You can pre-order the Kindle version and it will be auto-delivered on April 21, 2026.

It is 1913 and Merryn cannot remember who she is or where she is from. Three years ago, Lady St. Laurent took her in, grateful that Merryn saved her 7-year-old grandson Cecil from being hit by a car (the act that brought on her amnesia). At Lady St. Laurent's death, her will stipulates that Merryn will receive a small fortune and guardianship of the boy. However, Lady St. Laurent's daughter Sabine will receive the house. Sabine feels cheated and is determined to have Merryn declared unfit and sent to an asylum.

Merryn's only hope seems to be in proposing marriage to the young man she met at the park three weeks ago, A.J. Winthrop. She doesn't know herself, let alone anything about this young man, but she is desperate to retrieve her memory and prove her ability to care for Cecil. Can she trust A.J.? Will he help her restore her memories? Then, memories of another man and another wedding begin to surface. She hopes a trip to Cornwall will bring clarity, but she is being followed and time is running out.

In 1947, William Thatcher is plagued by memories of the war. He leaves his wife behind (thinking it is in her best interest) when he inherits Dunn Cottage on the Cornish coast. He doesn't even know Anwen Dunn. Why would she leave him the cottage? He is drawn to a painting of a woman and determined to find out the story and value of the portrait. Can he prove its provenance and secure enough funds to send back to his wife? Why does he think she'd be better off without him?

Although there are several storylines and characters to keep track of, the two timelines interweave, even to the point of sharing ending and beginning lines in chapters. I enjoyed so many things about this novel. On the one hand, memories can plague a person. On the other hand, losing memory is like losing the essence of yourself. Multiple questions lure the reader and ramp up the plot repeatedly. Merryn is in a race against time to retrieve her memory so she can save herself and Cecil.

This book considers identity, parenting, greed, and marriage. Both William and Merryn have made mistakes in the past that haunt them in the present. Both struggle with their marriages. I loved the line, "Marriage is the Russian Roulette of humanity--deposit yourself firmly in the arms of another and hope they deign to catch you every day of your life." We all enter marriages unaware of what the future holds. Sometimes we wound one another. Sometimes we save one another. If you're looking for a Christian historical novel full of intrigue in a beautiful coastal setting, The Life She Forgot, will woo you and win you.

2026 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, genre, the page count, and a grading scale (💖5 page-turner - highly recommend, 4 page-turner - enjoyed, 3 page-turner - good, 2 page-turner - meh, and 1 page-turner - regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2026 (links to full reviews can be found in the side-bar, or after 2026, found through the search bar at the right):

A Bramble House Christmas by C. J. Carmichael - Sent to investigate the recipient of his father's bequest, Finn finds a young mother and son enjoying a holiday at Bramble House. Finn's opinion of his father and this nurse change. Christmas Romance. 224 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5 hours), 📃📃📃

Once Again to Zelda: The Stories Behind Literature's Most Intriguing Dedications by Marlene Wagman-Geller - A compilation of 50 stories about the dedications authors wrote in the front of their books. Interesting, informative, and well-researched. Nonfiction. 336 pages, 📃📃📃

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate - A dual-timeline novel about the historical practice of stealing land from orphans. Well-researched, but a bit long to get to the point. Historical Fiction. 368 pages (I listened in audio form, 11 CDs, 14 hours), 📃📃📃

The Second Story Bookshop by Denise Hunter - An enemies to lovers, second-chance romance set in an inherited bookstore. Shelby wonders why her grandmother left the shop to both Shelby and her ex-boyfriend. Can they work together to make it profitable again? Clean Contemporary Romance. 368 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃-1/2

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans - Sybil van Antwerp is losing her sight. This is a scary threat to someone who has spent her life sending and receiving letters. Among letters to her brother, her friends, authors, and young people, she also keeps up one unsent letter. The explanation will gut you! Epistolary Novel. 304 pages, 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Answers to Prayer from George Muller's Narratives by George Muller - This great man of prayer outlines his intense prayer efforts and God's consistent faithfulness. We must pray boldly, depending only on prayer, and believing He is capable of meeting our needs. Christian Living. 70 pages (I read the e-book on Hoopla, 76 pages), 📃📃📃

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom - The lives of four individuals intersect during World War II. This is a tale of atrocities filtered through the narration of Truth. Inspirational/Historical Fiction. 352 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 7-3/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Light in the Darkness by Roy McKay - BBC Talks pamphlet from the late 1950's. No idea where or when I got it, but bolstered by the encouraging words. Broadcast Religious Talks. 16 pages, 📃📃📃

The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson - A very old pamphlet (purchased in Edinburgh many years ago) of a famous, meaningful poem. Beautiful copy. Poetry. 25 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought by Stephen J. Nichols - Excellent biography of a seminal thinker and preacher in early American history. 247 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson - A British story of a woman who, at 16, gave up her baby for adoption. She is on a journey to find family. Feel-good, British Women's Fiction. 336 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 9-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃

I See You've Called in Dead by John Kenney - A hilarious, yet meaningful, consideration of life, death, and second chances. This was worth overlooking mild unsavory aspects to reach the laughter and the lessons. Humorous Fiction. 304 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum by Michael J. Fox and Nelle Fortenberry - A brief foray into what it took to see the classic "Back to the Future" make it to the big screen. Michael J. Fox's endurance and vision are inspiring. Hollywood Memoir. 156 pages, 📃📃📃📃

💖When Life Feels Empty: 7 Ancient Practices to Cultivate Meaning by Isaac Serrano - Materialism causes us to live horizontally. These 7 practices help us to look up and live vertically, which in turn fills our lives with meaning. Christian Living. 192 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 5-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃📃

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer - A time-travel book set in Jack-the-Ripper's 1888 London and 1938 London on the cusp of World War II. Interesting premise. A bit heavy on the spiritual applications. Christian Historical Fiction. 339 pages, 📃📃📃-1/2

Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks With Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human by Carlos Whittaker - On this 7-week sabbatical from his phone, Whittaker learns to value savoring, walking, community, and intentionality. Interesting experiment. Convicting commentary. Christian Self-Help. 210 pages, 📃📃📃📃

Uneasy Street by Becky Wade - Part 3 of the Sons of Scandal trilogy. A friends to enemies to lovers story. Sloane and Max have history, but can hurt on both sides be overcome to start anew? Christian Romance. 386 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 10-1/4 hours), 📃📃📃📃

Companions in the Darkness: Seven Saints Who Struggled with Depression and Doubt by Diana Gruver - Focusing on greats like Spurgeon, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther, who dealt with chronic depression in spite of their intense faith. Battling depression does not mean you are a lesser Christian, or faithless; it means God, and his children, will walk with you through the darkness. Christian Living. 157 pages (I listened on Hoopla, 6-1/2 hours), 📃📃📃📃-1/2

Book Review: Companions in the Darkness

There are some who, having had the blues, feel they understand clinical depression. From their perspective, especially if they consider themselves Christians, they see it as a lack of faith. Too often, Christians with clinical depression are given well-meaning advice like, "choose joy," "just pray," or, "just read the Word more." Indeed, I watched a video by Millicent Sedra touting a "name it, claim it" perspective. She is a new internet sensation and ends with that very advice, "get your eyes off yourself and onto the Lord." I don't wish clinical depression on anyone, but those who have never known the depth seem all too quick to cast judgement on those who walk in darkness. This book, Companions in the Darkness, highlights seven saints who battled severe depression. I can't imagine anyone turning to Spurgeon and saying, "You choose your identity. Get your eyes off yourself, man!"

Diana Gruver has written a book that is highly important and a must-read if you're a Christian battling clinical depression. Companions in the Darkness: Seven Saints Who Struggled with Depression and Doubt yells with a megaphone, "You are not alone! You are not useless!" Diana Gruver outlines the lives and strategies of seven key figures like Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, and Mother Teresa. Many of the seminal hymns we sing were written by individuals familiar with this battle. It is possible to face doubt and despair in the midst of strong faith in God.

Indeed, I can see Gruver writing a follow-up book with the same message, focusing on greats of the Bible. There is a place for lament (Lamentations, David's psalms of lament). Prophets expressed depths of despair to the point of no longer wanting to live. Moses, in Numbers 11:15, declared to God, "I'd rather you kill me!" Job was perfect and upright. He feared God and eschewed evil. He was considered such a threat that Satan was determined to break him. In the midst of his physical, emotional, and spiritual battle, Job wished his life would end (Chapters 3, 7, 10). Can you see a self-righteous Christian today saying to Ezekiel, "Stop being self-indulgent! Gain some spiritual maturity, will you? You're looking at your circumstances and lacking in your faith. Your doubt is sin."

From Martin Luther's life, the reader learns the spiritual lesson of looking to the wounds of Christ. (Indeed, too many Christians seem to forget that Christ himself was despairing to the point of sweating drops of blood. Should the disciples have chastized him with, "Get your eyes off yourself?") If Christ bore wounds and the intense separation from the Father to atone for our sin debt, we can look to those wounds to help us endure the abyss. Luther also advised others to flee solitude and chase the smallest glimmers of joy that can be found.

From Hannah Allen's life we learn the imporance of journaling. This reminds us how God has intervened in the past. It also helps us recall the truths of the faith. Hannah's life encourages us to change our surroundings, as this sometimes helps. Sometimes, like David Brainerd, you must "choose to go, rather than stay." Forcing yourself to do what feels impossible, the next thing, moves you closer to healing. With Brainerd, may we say, "May every breath bring God glory and leave a legacy of faithful weakness."

The great hymn-writer William Cooper was incapacitated by depression and felt himself "on the rack." He, too, encourages us to seek a change of scenery and keep busy. His story reminds us to exercise, get outdoors, and be merry by force. Another great lesson I learn from Cooper's story is to "cling to the people God has brought into your life."

What a testimony Charles Spurgeon's life was. Gruver writes, "He also would not tolerate the accusation that good Christians do not get depressed. 'God's people sometimes walk in darkness and see no light.'" He was incredibly useful in spite of suffering physical pain and mental anguish. He preached thousands of sermons and sent countless letters. He was a wounded healer. I love that Gruver emphasized Isaiah 48:10, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." At the end of this section, Gruver shared a letter she received in the midst of a dark spell. Her friend wrote these powerful words,"You are brave! You stand in the dark, whispering truth to yourself!"

In the section on Mother Teresa, Gruver comments on why depressed individuals often cannot take in the well-meaning reminder that God is close to the brokenhearted. She says, "That truth doesn't resonate in our icy hearts... prayer is different in the dark. It is filled with pain and longing." Mother Teresa walked with an unseen limp, a spiritual burden of feeling like God was absent. Yet, we must be obedient even in the limping, because like Gruver says, "He created you... with a beautiful way only you can image Him to the world." What a great reminder!

Finally, Gruver highlights Martin Luther King, Jr. He did not speak of his depression and did not seek any treatment, but those close to him recognized his despair and anguish. He battled sleeplessness. Exhaustion often exacerbates depression. He tapped four reservoirs: 1) the reservoir of resilience (press ahead regardless of opposition); 2) the reservoir of humor (laughter is a coping mechanism that keeps the demons at bay); 3) the reservoir of song (spirituals and songs like "Joshua Fit the Battle" inspired hope); and 4) the reservoir of spirituality (cosmic companionship - he said, "God's companionship does not stop at the cell door; God is your cell mate.").

Don't think this book is not for you if you've never battled depression. Chances are great that you know or have met someone who has. In the first appendix, Gruver offers ten useful steps to take when helping a friend/loved one who is depressed. In the second appendix, she provides brief biographies of each of the seven key figures. I probably took notes more intensely than usual. I need to return to these reminders and strategies when my own clinical depression pulls me under. Indeed, I may return to this book when life hits extra hard and, in spite of sound faith, my emotions and feelings threaten to overwhelm. It is a treasure chest of encouragement. 

Book Review: Uneasy Street

Uneasy Street, by Becky Wade, was the first book selection for the Christian Fiction Reading Challenge. Many individuals balked because it is the 3rd in the Sons of Scandal trilogy. While I prefer to read books in order, I had no difficulty reading this as a stand-alone novel. It was a wholesome romance that follows two wounded people from friendship to alienation to tolerance to love.

Sloane Madison has had a troubled upbringing. One bright spot is her deceased sister's daughter, Ivy. When Ivy's adoptive parents go away for a house-swap trip, they leave Ivy in Sloane's charge and put them up in the guest house on a wealthy property. It seems like a horrid trick when Sloane discovers the owner of the property is none other than her former business partner, Max Cirillo. Max wants closure but Sloane wants nothing to do with him. His lack of concern and spiteful retaliation in the past require forgiveness Sloane cannot muster.

Forgiveness is a key theme in this book. From neglect to misunderstandings to adulterous mistresses, there's lots of forgiveness fodder. Ivy has her own sub-plot as she searches for her biological father and discovers an unexpected wrinkle in her adoption story. I loved Ivy and her rats. I even liked Sloane, in spite of her constant bristle with Max. Max was physically swoony, but I struggled to feel as drawn to him as the others. 

Each character comes with baggage and that baggage is steadily unpacked throughout the story. I loved the concept of giving to others what you need for yourself. So Sloane is learning to seek to meet the needs in others that she wishes her family had met for her in her childhood. Although I was unable to make the Zoom call interview with the author, I did watch it at a later point in time. My favorite part of that interview was when Becky articulated the truth that everyone experiences a novel differently because we come at the story with different histories, perspectives, and needs. I think this is also why you can read a novel at one point and then later, in reading again, experience it in a whole different way. If you are interested in watching that interview (including reader questions), click here.

I will happily try another Becky Wade book at some point, but I've too many books on my stack to seek the first and second in this trilogy. Indeed, before I even read this book, I had taken this screen shot of the author's declaration that all of her books are written without AI. In this day and age, that's a promise I want to bank on in books I read.

Mid-month Mention #3: Spring Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

I so enjoyed last year's scavenger hunt that I wanted to help publicize this year's opportunity. It provides a great way to meet new authors and find books of interest. Jump on it now, because it kicked off yesterday at noon. There's still time to participate, seek prizes, and meet authors.

Lisa Tawn Bergren posted this on her Facebook page:

Over $1800 in books and prizes FROM 30 AUTHORS! It's a whopper! And it begins on Thursday afternoon... https://lisatawnbergren.com/.../spring-scavenger-hunt.../

You can start at the first stop here. Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the authors highlighted. I've already encouraged readers to visit her website and join her newsletter. I think my favorite cover posted (first on the bottom row) is the one for To Love a Lady. Which is your favorite cover?

Mid-month Mention #2: Recent Articles Worth Reading

Transported Curiosity

I now have another place to put on a larger bucket list (not my small local one). I would love to visit Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This is the site of something very cool. Did you know that London Bridge was transported to Arizona in 1968? Seriously! What a random and highly unlikely fact! Naomi Xu Elegant writes a fascinating explanation of it in her piece, "The Ideal City." It contains photos of the transporting process and all that went into creating a river to run under the bridge. The whole article is so delightful that I immediately sent the link to my brother (just promoted to Senior Construction Field Representative for the architectural firm where he works, so I knew it would interest him).

Content Caution

My smaller bucket list lost one item after I read this scathing article, by Sarah Reardon, about the modern take on Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Sarah's essay, "We're Being Shaped by Smut," is one I agree with wholeheartedly. It is utterly depressing. What depths our society has sunken to! I despair when modern books constantly sanction immorality by inserting it ad naseum into almost every book published. How disheartening that you cannot go to see a movie depicting a literary classic without being assaulted by trash and smut! If, like me, you had wanted to view that movie, I highly suggest seeking an older, cleaner version. Emily Bronte, a clergyman's daughter, must be shuddering in the grave! I'm so glad I didn't attempt to go see this current presentation. It would have made me uncomfortable enough to walk out.

Sitting with Suffering

Speaking of being uncomfortable. Lent is a time leading up to the cross. We say we want to sit with Christ and share in His suffering, but so often it makes us uncomfortable. We squirm and would rather get to Sunday, to the moment of redemption. With Tony Campolo (who I heard speak when I was at Wheaton), we say, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a'comin'!"

I stumbled upon this excellent article by Zeke Smith, The Armchair Chaplain. It is titled, "Ilia Malinin: Is This What You Wanted?" In the article, he discusses Ilia's Olympic performance and the reaction of the press. They hounded Ilia after his failures and pushed him to look to 2030. At the end, Ilia presented a flawless performance in the exhibition gala, when there were no judges, no points, and no pressure. You can view that performance here. It is set to a tune I'd never heard, "Fear," by NF. It immediately made me think of my son because apparently it was written at a time in the artist's life when he suffered a relapse. As far as I know, my son hasn't relapsed, but we're still sitting in the suffering and the struggle. We still would love to see the redemption at the end of this road.

Zeke Smith shifts from the question of the song, "Is This What You Wanted?," to a story about Derek Redmond's emotional Olympic injury. Apparently, after breaking a hamstring, his father broke from the stands to help him cross the finish line (a beautiful picture of a father's love). Smith writes, "None of us want to be known for our worst moments, even when our worst moments are the ones that make us most recognizably human.... The truth is, none of us want the path of the cross. We're not good at sitting with suffering." When people are suffering, we must be willing to sit in the suffering with them, rather than pushing them to the purpose, the redemption that is not quite there yet. These are great words. It is an article well worth reading.

Motivational Mantra

I also found these incredibly motivating lines in Alice Lemee's article, "A Love Letter from Thailand." 

"Everybody wants to get to heaven, but nobody wants to die to get there. Morbidly, I want to engrave this into my brain. It is the ultimate motivator. Forget the Pomodoro or Eat the Frog. One day, you will die. Are you juicing every drop from our sun? Or are you postponing yourself?"

Mid-month Mention: Call-a-Boomer

I've cast my net wider, following Christian authors and their newsletters. One author I follow is Suzanne Woods Fisher. I have not yet read one of her books (great intentions, just humongous to-read pile). Her newsletters are fantastic! In a recent newsletter, she highlighted the Call-a-Boomer experiment being run by an organization called Matter Neuroscience (a bio-tech company seeking to improve human happiness). This is fascinating! I'm so glad I learned of it from her. I highly recommend visiting her website and joining her newsletter.

Here is a news article from The Cape Cod Times. Apparently they have established a FREE payphone (oxymoron, sorry) near Boston University. Their idea encourages young people to pick up the phone and have a spontaneous conversation with an older individual at a senior center in Reno, Nevada. Although they aim to connect Gen Zers with Baby Boomers, anyone can pick up the phone and initiate a conversation. Those two generations are grappling with high percentages of loneliness. What a clever and interesting social experiment. I'd love to pick up a phone and chat with a Baby Boomer I don't know.

If you'd rather watch a video about this experiment (running this month), you can click here. I hope this experiment reaps outstanding results. As I mentioned in last month's mid-month mention, on addiction, connection is vitally important!

Book Review: Reconnected

Last year, something I read suggested fasting from your phone. I tried it, with little success. Plus, I didn't continue. It is amazing how integral phones seem. Heading somewhere? Use maps. Waiting on news from a child? Don't turn off the device. While I'm not addicted to my phone (2 hours per day average), I would love to use it less.

Carlos Whittaker was using his phone almost 7-1/2 hours each day. When he stopped to do the math, he realized how much of his life was frittered away on his device. Now, for Carlos, it is understandable. He is a content creator and has a popular Instagram (I've never heard of him, but it sounds like it is popular). Still, he felt convicted enough to set in motion a phone fast. I didn't even last a full day. Whittaker went 7 weeks without his phone. He spent the first 2 weeks with monks and the second 2 with Amish farmers. Then, the final three, he spent at home.

His book, Reconnected, shares what he learned from this experiment. I should also note that he had a brain scan at the start of the experiment, and again at the end. This was fascinating. With the monks, he learned to move at "Godspeed" (this is something I first read of in Mark Buchanan's excellent book, God Walk). Carlos spent time noticing, wondering, and beholding. Instead of distracting himself, he learned to lean into boredom. With the Amish, his eyes were opened to the imporance of valuing community, sharing meals, and getting lost. 

Honestly, even if you aren't totally addicted to your phone, the insights in this book apply to everyone. We have lost much in our technological advancements. Yet, we can reclaim the imporant things if we are intentional. Reading this book made me want to visit a monastery and an Amish farm. It made me want to slow down my already sometimes-glacial life. I can't imagine how convicting it might be to those whose lives are drowning in busyness and technological interaction.