A few weeks ago, Heather Burch made her paranormal young adult fiction debut with Halflings. The book is already in its second printing and has garnered stellar reviews.

An ordained minister and motivational speaker, Heather once wrote teen curriculum, published in both the U.S. and Asia Pacific, and taught at women’s and teen conferences in the U.S. and Mexico. She also spent eight years working as a licensed esthetician.

Born in Branson, Missouri, she now resides in Southern Florida with her husband and two sons.

Your life took a detour from the “spa world” to writing. What was the catalyst for that?

It was my dream and had been since I was seventeen. One morning in 2005, I awoke to a voice telling me it was my year. (My year to finish things I’d started and had to set aside because of being a busy wife, mom, spa professional, and youth leader.) Finishing a novel was the top of the list. I didn’t know how there would be time, but I trusted “the Voice” and the next morning I woke up one hour earlier than normal. That year I wrote and finished my first novel. One hour a day. In 2007, we moved to Florida and adjusted our budget so that I could stay home and write full time. I wrote two books a year. Halflings was the fifth novel I finished. It was the first to sell.

Please tell us about Halflings, which was just released by Zonderkidz.

Nikki Youngblood is being hunted by men and demons and turns to three half-angel young men for protection. When two of them fall for Nikki, it puts more than their lives at risk. Their eternal souls hang in the balance. Halflings is the first book in a series. Guardian, book two, will release in September. I’ve been literally stunned by all the attention book one has received. I was interviewed by USA Today’s Happy Ever After and I just found out Halflings is already in a second printing. (It just released February 1.) So, my life has gotten quite busy. : )  And I’m thrilled because I have a lot more Halfling stories to tell!

Where did you get the idea for the book, as well as the interesting characters and character names?

Halflings was something I’d thought about in the back of my mind for years. I wanted to tackle it someday. When I started writing, it poured out of me and I had a polished manuscript in four months. (I write about forty hours a week under normal circumstances. With Halflings, I was obsessed.) After it was done, I entered an RWA contest to get some feedback. It finaled and garnered a full request from an editor. When my agent signed me, she had an offer from Zondervan for the three book trilogy in six weeks.

I didn’t really think about the names too much, the Halflings sort of named themselves. I think my subconscious had done a ton of work before I began writing. Their names came with them—along with many of their traits and quirks.

Besides entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

There are a lot of themes explored in Halflings. One is the desire to live more sacrificially. The Halflings novels are about sacrifice. If someone walks away with a new perspective on giving, that’s golden.

Can you give us a peek into book two, Guardian, which will be out in September?

Nikki flees the country with Will and the Halflings and must learn what it is to be a Seer. While tensions mount between Mace and Raven, Nikki’s emerging skills could stop a train disaster and save countless lives. But can she allow faith to fuel her ability or will she wither when the moment of truth arrives?

You’re also a speaker and teach writers to work more ergonomically. Can you tell us a bit about that?

In the spa industry you learn the importance of ergonomics. I’ve created a ten step stretch to help protect wrists, shoulders and necks. It takes two minutes and can be done several times during the writing day. In fact, I suggest people start their computers and do the first set while the PC is waking up. I teach this in a workshop at writer’s conferences. I’ve gotten great feedback from folks who swear by the exercises.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Dark chocolate. It makes me happy. It entices the muse to snuggle closer. And it’s good for me. (If you’ve discovered differently, please don’t tell me. I need to believe it’s good for me!)

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

Oh, no. None. I wish I did. A lot of my family has musical ability. I’ve tried to learn different instruments. I own a bass but can’t play it. I own a conga drum but … you guessed it. I can’t play that, either. Singing? No. Trust me on this one. I need to stick to writing. : )

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Not really sure. Something happy, but haunting.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

Minor.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Hmm. Funny, but I’m probably a little bit of each one. Sometimes strong and sometimes frightened, wondering what in the world I’ve gotten myself into.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, and/or your favorite pet as a child.

No pets right now, but when I was young I had a chow named Bear. My parents got him for me for Easter one year and I discovered him in the basement with Bunny ears on his head. I can still picture that red puff-ball of a puppy with those pink and white ears. He was a great dog.

Thanks, Heather! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thanks so much for inviting me to stop by!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Heather, visit her website at http://www.heatherburchbooks.com.

To purchase Halflings logon to:

By Linda Cox

But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands…. Psalm 31:14-15a

As I turned the calendar page, I was reminded that 2012 is a Leap Year. February has 29 days because a Leap Day has been added to keep calendars synchronized with the earth’s rotation.

I learned recently that it is also necessary to synchronize the atomic clock with the earth’s rotation by adding or subtracting Leap Seconds. I didn’t even know there were Leap Seconds! But one is being added the end of this June!

Even with all this “leaping,” no calendar or clock used today is perfect. All are off by seconds, minutes, hours, or days every year when compared to the earth’s rotation. But man continues using Leap Days, Leap Seconds, and whatever else he can devise, determined to make calendars and clocks perfect, according to his time.

How easily we forget that it doesn’t matter how many seconds, minutes, hours, or days we have if they aren’t in alignment with God’s will. Our times are in His hands. Period.

Remember Mary and Martha? They waited four days after Lazarus’ death for Jesus to come. By their estimation, He was late. But contrary to what they thought, Jesus was right on time. Just as He will be right on time in our lives whether we are waiting for healing, a new job, a prodigal child to return home, a spouse to know the Lord, etc.

You see, God’s “clock” always keeps perfect time so that nothing in our lives is either too early or too late but always right on time. And we can rest in that thought no matter what man’s calculations may say.

In memory of Harry, my friend Sue’s husband, who, in the twinkling of an eye, went home to Glory at God’s perfect time on February 19, 2012.

Peggy Blann Phifer is an author, columnist, book reviewer, and author interviewer whose work has appeared on various websites and in writer periodicals, both print and online.

She began penning “fanciful stories” when she was a child, but it wasn’t until after she retired that the story of her heart really started to take shape. In 2004, Peg won Writer of the Year at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. That same year, a website she established and operated was included in the Writer’s Digest “101 Best Sites for Writers.”

A former executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with her husband Jim. She is the mother of three and the grandmother of six.

One of your favorite quotes (by Beverly Sills) speaks basically of never giving up. How has that quote impacted your writing?

It had everything to do with my writing. Through the many years of writing, changing locations and characters, plot, setting . . . submitting, rejection, entering contests to receive hurtful critiques . . . I had that quote in front of me in several spots where I couldn’t miss seeing it. Yes, I might not succeed, but I sure as heck was going to keep trying. And I’ll keep on trying. Getting my first book published is not the end.

For those who might not know the quote I lived by for so many years, here it is: “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you’re doomed if you don’t try.”

But I’ve recently changed my “platform quote” to match my current situation.

“Keep listening for that still small voice if you are weary on life’s road. The Lord will make your heart rejoice if you but let Him take your load.” ~ Hess. (Don’t ask me who Hess is or was. I haven’t a clue.)

What part does faith play in your work?

My faith is my foundation. My anchor. If it weren’t for my faith, my trust in the Lord, I might have given up, despite Beverly Sills.

Let’s talk about your debut novel, To See the Sun (CreateSpace, January 2012). Please tell us about it!

This is the story of my heart. One that God wouldn’t let me give up on, but He sure didn’t make it easy. The back cover begins with this teaser:

Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . .

Now, would that make you want to read it? It started out, oh, some twenty years ago, to be loosely based on my own life and past. But it wasn’t coming together because I eventually realized I had the wrong location and the wrong set of plot circumstances. I am a pantser (seat of the pants writer—I don’t plot in the true sense of the word) so each time I ran into a snag in the flow of the story, I pretty much had to start over. Funny thing is I had to retire from my paying job before the truth dawned on me and I realized what I was doing wrong. After that, things came together more but I still had a lot of work to do. So I started asking those “what if?” questions. “What if . . . a young woman learns she’s pregnant after seven years of infertility only to lose her husband?” “What if . . . she learns his death wasn’t an accident, as originally assumed?” “What if . . . ?” I started putting those answer together and then it was a fun journey.

Now, here’s the rest of that back cover blurb:

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan stumbles upon Erin at her husband’s gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help . . . and it just might be her undoing.

God often uses our stories to teach us when we’re writing them. What did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself) in the process of writing this book?

I learned that I’ll never be a ‘preach to the choir’ writer. Although written from a Christian worldview, you’ll not find a single “Christianese” word or gratuitous religion. But you will know my faith is there. I guess that’s why I don’t write devotionals. I’ve tried, and failed. It just doesn’t come natural and it sounds stilted and fake . . . false. I’ve always been a non-conformist in most everything. When it comes to writing, I don’t want to be stuck in a one-size-fits-all box. That’s also why I’ll probably never write category romance. To be honest, I really don’t much like reading it either.

Detours in life can be frustrating, but the outcome is often more intriguing than our original plan. Can you tell us about a “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

My detour was a biggie: an unwanted divorce after twenty-one years of marriage. It totally devastated me. His parents had never liked me. In fact, his mother once threatened to kill me. I had no real friends, not close ones, anyway. My three children were young adults. It was an untenable situation. I hated living there anyway.

So I left the area (northern Wisconsin) and headed for warmer, drier climes. I landed in Las Vegas. (Now that’s a real detour!) And yes, my life dramatically changed. I met the man who would become my husband, even though, at the time, I wanted nothing to do with men . . . period. Of course, this is where I began my real writing journey. Definitely a positive.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

When I post my answer, you may not need to ask why. Hershey’s Special Dark jumbo chocolate bar. I’ll buy just one bar and keep it in my desk drawer, rewarding (or consoling) myself with one square. It lasts quite a long time—with discipline—which is the hard part.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I play piano and sing, though the power of the voice is gone, mostly from lack of use. I mourn that loss. I used to be able to project my voice into a fairly good-sized auditorium without having to use a microphone. I can also play an organ and an accordion, though I haven’t had practice with these in many years.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

A ballad, I think. Or maybe one of Doris Day’s hits. : )

Are you a major or a minor chord?

A Major 6th

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I’d have to say a combination between the girl next door and the little girl trying to walk in high heels.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets.

Oh, I love dogs, too, but never had one since childhood. I was highly allergic and they hadn’t yet developed those hypoallergenic hybrids. Oh, wait. That’s not strictly true. The last dog I had was a Lhasa Apso, who died just before my divorce. We lived on a “hobby farm” and had outdoor dogs . . . a collie, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and a “tank”—something crossed with a yellow lab (not a Golden). I also love cats. At the present time, I have seven cats and . . . one dog. Part Border Collie and something else. He has the BC face and ears and coloring, but his tail curls tightly up over his back like a Pomeranian. So I call him a Borderanian. Ha! His name is Rocky. The cats are named, in age order: Bubba. Missy, Puffins, and Dickens. Lady Bug and JJ. All are Lynx-Point Siamese. Then there’s Tiger, a brown tabby.

Thank you, Peg! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Peggy, visit her website at http://peggyblannphifer.com/ and/or her blog at http://www.whispersinpurple.com/.

You can friend Peg on Facebook: Facebook.com/pegphifer, or follow her on Twitter: Twitter.com/pegphifer

To purchase To See the Sun, logon to:

Born in Washington D.C., Rita Gerlach was raised in the nearby Maryland suburbs. She grew up in a large family that claimed storytelling was in their blood, handed down from centuries of Irish storytellers. It’s clear that gift was passed along to Rita, now the author of four published novels.

What wasn’t clear, prior to signing her first book contract, was the path she would take to publication. She shares the inspirational story about that journey on her website (link below).

Rita now lives in Central Maryland with her husband and two sons.

If you could do it over, is there anything you would do differently?

Back when print on demand became the ‘next big thing’ I got burned. If I could go back and could do something over, I would take my first full manuscript, polish it, have it critiqued, go by the writing rules, and research publishers and their submission process.

What sparked your desire to write?

I’ve always loved books and reading, and I was one of those kids who would stare out the classroom window and daydream. I got in trouble for that a lot. “Eyes to the front!” I would hear.

The desire to write bit me in the late eighties, after my cousin, a famous romance writer, gave me a signed copy of one of her earlier books. After I read it, I thought, “I can do this,” and a burning desire overtook me. It was always there, banked deep inside me. I was raising small children at the time, and life was very busy. Reading to them every night, sparked a desire to tell stories.

How does your faith play into your work?

Deftly. Gently. I am a believer who writes inspiring fiction, where I endeavor to touch readers by letting them see through my characters that, when things in life go wrong, there is always hope for a miracle. Our walk with God is not wrapped up in ceremony, or following certain steps, or the traditions of man. It is a relationship.

Let’s talk about your new book and series. Before the Scarlet Dawn (Abingdon Press, February 2012) is the first book in your Daughters of the Potomac Series. Please tell us a little about the book.

On a windswept night in April of 1775, Eliza sat at her father’s bedside hoping he would recover. Forced to leave the home she grew up in, Eliza grows desperate. She could marry her former suitor, but cannot bear the thought of a loveless marriage.

Instead she falls in love with Hayward Morgan, the condescending son of a landed gentleman. When Eliza learns of his plans to leave England and build a life in the Maryland frontier, she decides to present a proposal of her own.

Writing a series has been an amazing, challenging experience, especially since the heroines in the stories are attached in some way to the others. In book one there is Eliza, a daring heroine willing to do all she could to be with the man she loved, even if it meant living a life in the wilderness of Maryland during the Revolution. She is not without flaws, however. So keep a box of tissues handy as you journey with her through heart-wrenching trials.

When book two comes out, Eliza’s daughter Darcy continues the story from her point of view, as she quests for answers about her past, and the meaning of unconditional love in Beside Two Rivers.

Book three, Beyond the Valley, will be Sarah’s story. She appears throughout book one and will take readers on a journey from the coast of Cornwall, England, to the wiles of Virginia and Maryland.

Here is a review from USA Today: http://books.usatoday.com/happyeverafter/post/2012-02-05/review-before-the-scarlet-dawn-by-rita-gerlach/620920/1

That’s great! Besides entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

I think of the words to that beautiful song by Rogers and Hammerstein, which says, ‘You’ll never walk alone.’ Take one day at a time, and have faith that God is directing your path, that He will work in the lives of others to help you through the darkest hours. Also to forgive those that have hurt you, and to seek the forgiveness of those you have hurt.

Detours in life can be frustrating—kind of like plot twists in the stories we write—but the outcome is often more intriguing than our original plan. Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life—or in one of your character’s lives—that taught you something?

Not to go too deeply into a personal issue in my life, but I had a detour a few years ago when my father was very ill with Alzheimer’s disease. It was a painful time. Through his illness, I was taught the value of an elderly life, their memories, and their wisdom. I was taught love rises when compassion is in one’s heart toward a suffering parent. I also saw the other side, where people believed he was no longer there, not my father, and of no value anymore. It broke my heart, not only for him, but also for the other patients he was with that were never visited by a relative or a friend. They were forgotten. I will never forget.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

If I’m stressed, Lindt chocolate truffles. But I do everything in my power to avoid them. To celebrate? My son Paul’s homemade linguine Alfredo, or we’ll go out for Chinese food. But really, to celebrate or to stir up some inspiration when the words aren’t flowing, my husband and I take a drive out into the country or along the Potomac. We find all kinds of out of the way old places to explore. That to me is more fun than food.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

Not a bit. I can’t even play the kazoo. But if I can brag, my son Michael is an accomplish guitarist and is producing his own independent album. My husband Paul is also an accomplish guitarist.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

A movie soundtrack. As my son puts it, ‘epic.’

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I’m afraid to say I don’t know the difference. Maybe a little of both.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Oh, boy. Let’s see. I am the girl next door in the sense my husband and I grew up a few blocks away from each other and met when I was just fifteen. I’m a nice person. I like to feed people when they come to my house. I love kittens and puppies and horses. So I think that fits the mold of the girl next door. I am also a little bit of the little girl. My husband told me that just the other day while we were in the car and I was chattering away.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Pookee is my cat. He is very fat and very spoiled. But he reciprocates in affection and by being my alarm clock. He wakes me up every morning by walking all over me and nudging my face with his nose.

Thanks, Rita! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thank you! I am honored to have been your guest.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Rita and her books, visit her website at http://ritagerlach.blogspot.com/.

To read Rita’s inspirational story about her path to publication, logon to http://ritagerlach.blogspot.com/p/encouragement-for-writers.html.

To purchase Before the Scarlet Dawn logon to:

by Linda Cox

“A day to make men feel guilty.” That’s how a former boss described Valentine’s Day. He claims it was created by the card, flower, and jewelry companies to make men feel guilty for not spending lots of money on their wives or girlfriends.

Actually, St. Valentine’s Day came into existence hundreds of years ago to honor several early Christian martyrs, all named St. Valentine. The love and affection part of the celebration was added years later. Today it’s just another day that has succumbed to the lure of commercialism, making people feel guilty if they don’t lavishly show their love and affection.

Shortly after Valentine’s Day this year, we find another day centered around thoughts of guilt and love. But people aren’t buying cards, flowers, or jewelry to “celebrate” it. Nor will it receive the attention Valentine’s Day does.

February 22 is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. A time to examine ourselves and look at the sin in our lives that sent Christ to the cross FOR US. A time to reflect upon the guilt from our sins and realize anew just what Christ’s love did FOR US.

Even if our churches don’t officially observe Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, it’s a good time to pause and think about what Christ did for us. His journey on earth began at the manger; His final steps took Him to the cross where His love washed our guilt away.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, [Jesus] stedfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 KJV

May Christ’s love be at the center of our Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, and beyond as we remember His journey to the cross FOR US.

Zeke Lam is a 27-year-old youth minister, evangelist, and missionary who followed God’s leading in 2010 and moved his family to Sugar Land, Texas. Although they knew nothing about the area, they soon met a church family that changeed their lives.

Writing subMISSION was another unexpected detour in Zeke’s life. In the book, he outlines his best advice for daily preparing yourself to be obedient to the Lord.

‘If you don’t prepare,’ he says, ‘one of two things will happen: 1) You will not hear the call, or 2) you will hear but not have the courage to obey.’

Zeke, his wife Kathleen, and their three children currently reside in Virginia.

What was the catalyst for the book?

I knew that the Lord was requiring more of my life. As a minister, it can be easy to get into a routine that causes our relationship with the Lord to fade. Although I was not in the “full time” ministry, serving Jesus was and is my life. However, the concept of serving, serving, serving had taken preeminence over my love relationship with Jesus. The book subMISSION is an overflow of my heart as I took the leap of faith into a life of full submission to the voice of my Savior. He asked me to pack up my family and drive to a place where we had no home, job, or family just to seek His face. We obeyed and His love and mercy instantly began to rain down. This leap of faith has changed the course of our lives. The catalyst of the book concerns the fact that submission leads to revival in so many ways.

Have there been other divinely led detours in your life and/or your ministry?

This trip to Texas was the first experience of that sort. It seemed absolutely foolish to everyone, but we knew God had given the orders. Major confirmations affirmed our step and now others are impacted by that journey. It was the first time we had experienced any detours in terms of our ministry work.

SubMISSION (Burning Lamp Media and Publishing) was released in December. Please tell us about the book.

SubMISSION focuses on the dire need for the body of Christ to operate daily with Biblical obedience. In other words, we willfully obey His voice and leading in our lives to the extent that we are willing to abandon any and all idols that separate us from the level of submission He expects from His children. In an era where compromise seems so typical, living a life surrendered fully to the Lord appears quite challenging. SubMISSION hopes to capture the simplicity of absolute surrender to the voice of God.

Is there one particular Bible verse—or several—that you point to in regard to the path to submission?

There are several Scriptures used in the text of the book, but the foundation passage is I Samuel 15 and the story of Saul’s disobedience to God’s command. Saul had one order: destroy all. For some reason he decided to insert his opinion into the Lord’s direct orders. This mentality is attacking our society today. We think we can have it our way as long as we do “most” of what God requires. This is a great error and sin that is costing us dearly.

What are some of the best steps a Christian can take as they try to walk the road toward complete submission to the Lord?

Be honest before the Lord and identify the areas of their lives that they have not surrendered to the Lord. A heart vulnerable to the Lord and passionately in pursuit of Him will prevail. Actively spend time listening to His voice through prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, etc. The last step is the most difficult yet the most basic of principles: Do What He Says! Surrounding yourself with Godly influence is critical. Total submission requires us to abandon this world and its influence to lead us astray. Total submission to the voice of God will position you for revival!

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

No matter the situation, I am a chicken eating fanatic. So in the good times and bad in terms of writing, nothing hits the spot like a trip to Chik-Fil-A!

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I do play the guitar so I cannot claim to have no musical talent. With that being said, I would not say that I am gifted in any fashion when it comes to singing. With me, sometimes I can and sometimes I can’t. I also have two years of piano lessons under my belt, but it has been so many years since I have played that I am not sure I would even remember my way around the keyboard.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I would be a fast paced worship song. Why? I love to worship and serve with every ounce of who I am.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

A major chord.

In the story that is your life, are you the tall, dark stranger; the romantic lead; the mythical warrior; the mad scientist; or the child in an adult’s body?

I would fall under the mythical warrior type.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

I do not currently own a pet, but the children and my wife are certainly urging for a dog. We love the yellow labs, so when the time comes (probably sooner than later) that will be our choice of pet. I did not grow up with any pets though.

Thanks, Zeke. It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour. May God continue to bless your ministry!

~ ~ ~

For more information about Zeke, his ministry, and his new book, visit http://submissionministries.org/.

To purchase subMISSION logon to:

by Joy DeKok

I’ve been told I was a strong-willed little girl. I’ll let you decide.

When I was around four years old, I had done something and needed a “getting after.”

My dad pointed his finger at me and said, “How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?”

He says I pointed my finger at him and said, “How many times do I have to tell my grandpa?”

This is Daddy’s favorite story about me. I guess my sassy attitude surprised him and sometimes delighted him.

While writing my recent book, Your Life, a Legacy, I urged writers to remember, explore, and record their life stories—all of them. I felt an urging in my soul to remember my grandpa. I wanted to put it off, knowing it would hurt, but the internal nudge was stronger than my stubborn resistance. His favorite chair sits in my guest room, so it’s easy for me to go be where I used to snuggle with him. When the lady reupholstered the chair, she found his pocket knife and my color crayons. Although I had the rocker recovered, it’s still our spot.

One afternoon, I rocked and remembered baseball games on the radio, his clock that ticked, but had no tock, the smell of Old Spice, the feel of soft cotton flannel on my cheeks, his suspenders, his whiskers, the smell of his breath, watching him read his Bible, and listening to him tell me about Noah and Nicodemus as well as stories of his own life. He listened to me talk and let me nurse him with my toy medical kit. I woke up refreshed, surprised I’d fallen into a dreamless sleep. The same way I rested as a little girl tucked in his arms.

My grandpa left this world when I was ten years old. I felt like God had cheated me in a big way. At fifty-four, I’ve been missing this man for a long time. I decided it was time to put my memories on the pages. I’m discovering what he gave me so long ago still impacts my life today. He shared his faith, kept my secrets, and loved me. Today, I was looking at the man I married and grinned. Not only because after thirty-five years of marriage I still think he’s handsome, but because he’s so much like my grandpa.

When I was fifteen years old, I asked God to help me find Him. God did and a dead man’s prayers were answered.

As I wrote the book and continue to add Grandpa’s stories to my personal legacy, my belief that a life preserved will serve the generations beyond us grows. Besides, I’m still Grandpa’s Joy—I always will be.

Whose stories can you leave for the next seeking generation?

About Joy

Joy started writing as a little girl and carries a large purse so she can take her journal and an assortment of pens with her. She has seven books in print and is working on a novel series featuring main character Olivia Morgan. Joy is also developing a writing group, Write Yourself Strong, for hurting women.

She lives on thirty-five acres of woods and field in Minnesota between Rochester and Pine Island and has been married to Jon for thirty-five years. They enjoy their many nieces and nephews. Their dogs, Sophie and Tucker, keep them company when they explore the land riding their John Deere Gator or while watching the many birds that visit their feeders.

Faith is a vital part of Joy’s life. When she was sixteen, she asked God to find her and He did.