Perhaps you’re like me. You enjoy setting goals and listing what you would like to accomplish in the new year—even if you know you will only achieve a fraction of those goals (at best). Although those around you may not be able to understand, the act of creating this list in and of itself brings a sense of excitement and anticipation even if you know it’s more of a thought experiment than a roadmap.
Maybe you shy away from setting goals because you feel like a failure if you don’t reach them. Or perhaps, you set only a limited number of achievable goals so you can check them off your list in short order and then go on to create another brief list.
No matter what kind of a goal-setter you are (or aren’t), here are six pointers when it comes to considering what you want to achieve in 2026:
Make a list of things that are important to you (i.e.: relationships with family and friends, your physical health, your emotional / mental health, time management, career goals, etc., etc.).
List one achievable goal that you could reach by the end of January (or the end of March at the latest) and one “pie-in-the-sky” goal for each category. (If listing a plethora of goals brings you joy, go for it!)
Now, break down each achievable goal into its most basic components. (For example, say your goal is to write the first draft of a novella in the first quarter [Q1] of 2026. Step #1 could simply be to write for at least 15 minutes or until you’ve added 250 words to the manuscript for three days the first week and slowly increase from there. If checkmarks, stickers, or smiley faces on a physical calendar give you a boost, let the endorphins flow—no matter how old you are. I’m 64 and love stickers and checkmarks—but especially stickers.)
This suggestion might be a little more challenging, but it’s important. Although the overarching categories you listed may all seem to have equal importance, it’s good to prioritize them—at least the highest ranking two or three.
When you’ve chosen your highest priority categories, chose one specific goal in each and then one achievable, targeted goal. (Let’s say improving your physical health and connecting with extended family members are two of your top priorities. Your specific goals could be to develop the habit of eating better and emailing, texting, or popping a physical note in the mail each week. Zeroing down even further, you could add a serving of vegetables to each evening meal and create a list of four to eight family members you will touch base with in January.)
And remember not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If you don’t achieve your goal today, remind yourself that tomorrow is another day. If you are consistently “falling short,” adjust your goals. It’s okay to do so. Really, it is.
You’ll notice that I haven’t listed any “negative goals.”
Do I have at least one bad habit I want to stop? Sure I do.
Could I apply guilt and shame to my goal-setting (such as “stop eating such and such” or “stay off social media entirely”)? Absolutely.
Could I label myself a failure if I don’t achieve my Q1 goals—again? I could.
However…
By listing those things I want to accomplish, seeking to add “positives” rather than eliminate “negatives,” and focusing on a limited number of goals at any given time, I’m far more likely to achieve at least some of them.
What’s your #1 goal for 2026? What’s the first step you intend to take to achieve it? Are you like me and simply enjoy creating the list?
Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography
As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. Luke 2:18-19, NLT*
The shepherds saw wonders. Mary herself saw wonders! She held the Wonder of the world in her arms.
Do you think what she experienced in Bethlehem helped her keep hoping in the difficult days ahead? Surely it helped her worship this God who loved and chose her. She’d already seen Him provide, and she knew He wouldn’t abandon her and Joseph now.
Let’s be encouraged and inspired by Mary’s humble sense of obedience and trust. Let’s consciously keep in our hearts those precious times we’ve seen God touch our lives, and think about them often.
Maybe as we begin a new year it’s time to start (or re-start) a journal for gratitude or to track answered prayer. Or perhaps it’s time for a fresh commitment to keep watch for “God moments” in our days.
Precious, loving God, You are so kind in the ways You involve Yourself in my daily life. Whether it’s something major like Your call on Mary’s life or something as simple as helping me find a lost item, please help me recognize Your care. Help me keep these things in my own heart and think about them often, especially when the times of trouble come. May my spirit be kept in Your perfect peace because I know I can trust in You.
With the music of The Advent of Christmas, Matt Maher delivers a feast of Christmas songs old and new, quietly worshipful and rollicking fun. (I think it was “Little Merry Christmas” that had me dancing on the treadmill at the gym—and which also has some clever wordplay.) There’s also the haunting “When I Think of Christmas.”
With some of the old standards, I love the way he weaves new colours into the original songs. I confess to finding the traditional “The First Noel” tedious with its repetition. This version keeps enough of the original to carry the story while bringing new lyrics to refresh it. There’s one spot where instead of finishing a line, he sings “Born is the King…” and the instruments carry the melody for “of Israel.” Anyone who knows the song will finish the line in their head, becoming part of the song.
My most-loved songs on the album are “He Shall Reign Forevermore,” “Born on That Day,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Always Carry You (with Amy Grant),” “Love Came Down to Bethlehem,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”…. There’s not a weak song on the album, and they all have a solid place in my playlist.
This has been my favourite Christmas album for the past few years, and I highly recommend it. The physical CD is sold out on his site and possibly on Amazon, but the album is available for download or streaming at the standard outlets. Give it a listen and let it become part of your Christmas this year.
Award-winning artist Matt Maher has released multiple albums and is the writer behind songs like “Lord, I Need You,” “Hold Us Together,” and “Because He Lives (Amen).” He has also written a children’s book, also titled The Advent of Christmas. For more about him or to view videos of his music, visit https://mattmahermusic.com/about/
“Unsilent Nights” (Maple Syrup Mysteries) Lawyer and maple syrup farm owner Nicole Fitzhenry-Dawes can’t even go on her honeymoon without landing in a mystery that needs solving. Watch her stare down cruise ships officials in flip-flops and shorts.
“Ginger Dead Man” (Cupcake Truck Mysteries) Isabel Addington is on the run from her abusive ex, running a mobile food truck. She’s sleeping in the truck too, but that doesn’t make her homeless, right? She needs to keep off-grid, but she can’t walk away when a homeless man’s murder may go unsolved.
Emily James writes mysteries that are fast, clean, and funny in places. I appreciate the way she really understands her protagonists and the details in their lives.
As well as the Maple Syrup Mysteries and Cupcake Truck Mysteries, Emily James has also written the Cat and Mouse Whodunits. For more about the author and her work, visit authoremilyjames.com.
[Review copy from the public library via the Hoopla Digital app.]
Key’s Secret by Jennifer Arrington and Albrey Arrington — A strange blue envelope greets the kids of Coral Canal right before Labor Day weekend. Inside it contains a riddle and a set of instructions. Nobody, not even their parents, seems to know who sent the riddle, and the children only have five days to solve it and send photographic proof. (Children’s/Middle Grade, Independently Published)
Contemporary Romance:
An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main — After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller — What happens when history teacher Olivia Bennett travels to an English village and encounters a surly gardener at the nearby ailing Hartbury Hall? Can she find a way to thaw his heart and restore the Hall’s fortunes? (Contemporary Romance from Barbour Publishing)
The Gift of Mercy by Rena Bell Yeager — He’s the new wrangler, with a lot to lose. She’s the boss’s sister, with everything to gain. Will he win her love or lose it all – again? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Christmas Wishes by Carmen Peone — They are so close… Can Christmas Dreams Come True? With conflicting dreams, and a wedding countdown ticking, can their love survive the season? (Contemporary Romance Novella from Iron Stream Media)
General Contemporary:
Every Voice Heard by Sarah Hanks, N.Y. Dunlap, and D.T. Powell — Three novellas about Church hurt and abuse. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
Historical Romance:
Courting Love: Three-in-One Collection by Jodie Wolfe — Courting the Love sisters should be easy. With their surname, they should be primed for romance. But the three men tasked with wooing them have their hands full. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
A Christmas to Remember by Penny Zeller — He’s running from his past. She’s seeking a better future. Love in Time is a tender love story that reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect. (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)
Love in Time by Penny Zeller — When Otis MacCallum agrees to deliver much-needed food and medicine to the remote town of Hawthorne, Montana, he knows there’s a real possibility he’ll again see the woman who broke his heart. Belinda Finnigan had reasons for declining Otis’s proposal, but it still hasn’t lessened the pain of losing his friendship. When Otis arrives on her doorstep one wintry December day with food and medicine in hand, can two broken hearts be reconciled? Will theirs be a Christmas to remember? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)
Romantic Suspense:
Mine by Sami A. Abrams — Escaping her past…means risking everything to stop a twisted obsession. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
A Killer in Texas by Jessica R. Patch — In the search for a murderer, the hunter becomes the prey… While guarding a person of interest in several homicides, bodyguard Libby Winters is attacked by the real serial killer. The Eye, as he’s known, has been stalking her for the past two months, and now he’s ready to make his next move. Determined not to repeat past mistakes, protection specialist Axel Spears vows to keep his partner safe and take down the man who murdered his wife. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense [Harlequin])
Hooked by Stephanie Sanders — What begins as a family trip to the Outer Banks spirals into fear as a stalker emerges from the shadows, forcing Lexi Martin to face her anxiety, navigate a complicated secret relationship, and find her way back to a faith she’s long abandoned. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
Reyuul’s Redemption by David Liberto — Joern was once the Scourge of Cordiae—a reyuul whose dark magic was so terrifying that the god, Lohem, forged new weapons to stop him. After 400 years of evil, Joern’s now a deformed cleric confessing his sins before the very people he once terrorized. (Speculative Fiction/High Fantasy, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
The Prodigal by L.D. Baldwin — Frank Martin searches for his estranged son while confronting his own war with God. (Historical Mystery)
Fields of Shadow and Glory: 1863 by Elizabeth Ann Boyles — Held captive in the shadows of the American Civil War, Tom, Terry, and Sara must exercise faith and courage if they are ever to arrive at their journey’s end. (Historical Romance)
The Basement Angel by LeeAnn Christian — A desperate man and a curious young girl form an unlikely friendship within the walls of a forbidden basement. (Contemporary Suspense)
The Songbird and the Surveyor by Denise Farnsworth — A marriage of protection. A past full of pain. In Georgia’s wild gold country, love might strike when it’s least expected. (Historical Romance)
Charlie’s Trip by David Hollenstein — He needs to prove his innocence, save his marriage, and definitely wants to find a way back into God’s embrace. (Biblical Suspense)
Washington Island Romance Series: Boxed Set by Annette M. Irby — This set includes Finding Love in Friday Harbor, Washington; Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, Washington; and Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington. (Contemporary Romance)
Even in This by Dianna Lanser — With a chance at first love and a recording contract pending, sixteen-year-old Miah Brennan stands on the riverbank of her future, awaiting permission to jump in. Weeks before 9/11, tragedy strikes in cruel succession, destroying her future and forcing her to make impossible choices. (General Contemporary)
Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas by Susan G. Mathis — This heartwarming prequel sets the stage for the upcoming Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series, where seven spirited young women serve the islands’ elite! (General Historical)
A Place to Belong: Josephine’s Story by Heidi Gray McGill — A wounded Civil War veteran. An unwed mother with nowhere left to turn. In a town full of second chances, will a marriage of convenience become the love story neither dared hope for? (Historical Romance)
Haven for Love by Naomi Musch — A corporate marketer and camp owner find unexpected connection, while a landscaper and teacher navigate faith and forgiveness. (Contemporary Romance)
Dangerous Shadows by Gail Pallotta — A horrifying assault, a stalker, and a murdered gambler — is it possible to put the pieces together in Dangerous Shadows? (Romantic Suspense)
Fireman’s Lesson in Love by Mishael Austin Witty — A burned-out teacher and a smitten firefighter must uncover the truth behind a deadly arson before it destroys their nascent love. (Romantic Suspense)
Last month I shared why I don’t “stay in my lane” when it comes to writing. Plus, I shared my Day 1 devotional from my manuscript titled Nurture and Inspire Love: A Study of Jesus’s Commands in the Gospel of John. I post these devotionals on Fridays.
Below is chapter 1 of my YA manuscript. I share a chapter each week on Monday.
Rule and Reign
Chapter 1
My grandmother’s voice cuts through the fog of sleep. I sit up and stretch. The thin cover falls and bunches on my lap, but today I don’t mind the chill in the air. Or the too-bright light shining in my eyes from the hallway. Or the fact that the dampness from the stone floor is seeping through my mattress.
A smile spreads across my face. Orphan or not, I finally have a voice. No one will mention my arrival day. But today I’m seventeen and everything has changed. Before my father died, four years ago, he said my mother would want me to acknowledge the day the world became a brighter place—even if no one else did.
“Unita, a princess must learn to rule with a stern hand. There will be no ridiculous grinning when I present you to the council.”
“But, Grandmother—”
She purses her lips and clears her throat.
“My apologies, Council Lead.”
Council Lead Sila Jumalik, Grandmother, dips her chin, but her expression remains harsh. Maybe because her son died too soon and left me in her charge—me, a non-person until today. Still, I have my suspicions she never smiles. She certainly never laughs. I can’t even imagine it—and Father always said I have a remarkable imagination.
“Princess Unita Jumalik, would you kindly take your responsibilities seriously? I expect you in the dining hall in three-quarters of a full measure. Remember to dress appropriately. You will, after all, be meeting His Majesty—”
“Grandfather? I get to meet my grandfather today?”
I’ve never seen Grandmother speechless—or the color of bleached bed linens. Still, the look in her eyes all but bores a hole through my forehead.
Seventeen or not, I guess I’ll have to learn my place. I’ll never earn the elders’ respect and find the answers I’m looking for unless I do.
“Three-quarters of a full measure. Do not be late.” Grandmother turns on her heel, leaves the room, and pulls the door shut behind her.
Darkness wraps around me again. Only the sunlight that pushes through the cracks in the castle wall lights my room. I wash with the frigid water from the basin in the corner. My grandmother sees no need to burn precious wood in the fireplace.
The door creaks as someone pushes it open. A young woman I’ve never seen before—three, maybe four years older than I am—stands in the doorway, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor in front of her. “You needn’t do that.” Her voice is barely above a whisper. ”I’ve drawn you a bath in your chambers.”
“My . . . my what?”
“Your chambers, Miss. The Princess of Betria can’t bathe and dress here.” She scans the room, scowls, and shakes her head. “It would never do.”
I shrug. “Just let me gather my clothes—”
The girl gasps. “Oh, pardon me, Princess. But . . . Well, Council Lead Jumalik instructed me to burn your clothes.”
“She what?” I collapse onto the only chair in the room. It creaks but, thankfully, doesn’t collapse, something I fear every time I sit in it.
“I’m sorry, Princess, but she was most adamant.”
“Is she ever anything but?”
“Princess?” The girl looks over her shoulder as if expecting my grandmother to appear at any moment.
A brief laugh escapes my lips and I throw both hands over my mouth. The faintest smile crosses the girl’s face.
I grab my threadbare dressing gown. “Well, lead on. We don’t want to keep the council lead waiting.” Or my grandfather.
As we walk down a long, narrow hallway, I wonder where we could be going. I’ve never been allowed this far into the castle. My chamber is—was—on the outer wall, as far removed from the royal chambers as possible.
“This way, Princess. The council lead will have my head if you’re not in the dining hall on time.”
I shudder, wondering if she means this literally. “We can’t have that.” I increase my pace. “And another thing . . .”
“Yes, Princess?”
“That.”
“That what, Princess?”
“My name’s Unita.”
“Yes, you are Her Royal Highness, Unita Jumalik, Princess of Betria. Shall I use your full title? I didn’t mean to offend.”
I reach out to touch her shoulder. She freezes. “I—” I squeeze her shoulder gently. “Please turn around.”
When she does, her eyes are wide and beads of perspiration rim her hairline.
“You don’t have to be afraid of me. Please call me Unita. And I’d like to know your name as well.”
“I . . . I couldn’t do that. It’s forbidden to refer to royalty by their given name. But, of course, you are free to use my name. I’m Marra.”
“Marra . . . Such a beautiful name. But it means bitter. Doesn’t it?”
Marra nods her head. “Yes, Princess.”
“Unita.”
“I’ll try. But only when we’re alone.”
I grin and then shake my head. “I’m going to have to stop that.”
“You have a nice smile, Princess. Unita.” Marra drops her gaze to the floor again. “We really must be going.”
“It’s settled.” We begin to climb a winding stone staircase. “I’ll only smile when my grandmother’s not around, and you call me Unita when there’s no risk someone might overhear.”
“I’d like that.”
We chat for what seems like a long time as we continue the journey to my chambers. What will they be like? Marra stops before two ornately carved doors, then pushes one open and steps to one side. My craziest ideas were nothing compared to the vast, bright, open space that greets me. And it’s so warm!
“This . . . this is where I’m to stay? I have windows. And the grounds . . . They’re so beautiful. I’ve never seen the view from this side of the castle.” I can barely look away from the fields and forests to my left. When I do, I marvel again at the size of the room, which is at least four times larger than the chamber I left behind.
Marra shakes her head.
“Oh . . .” I let out a long sigh. “I didn’t think so. I can’t imagine staying in a chamber this grand.”
“No, Princess. You misunderstand. This is just the sitting area. Over there . . .” Marra points to another massive wooden door. “That’s your bathing chamber, which has access to your sleeping chamber. Over there . . .” She points to an even larger door on the other side of the room. “That’s your strategy chamber.”
“My what?”
“I’ll explain on our way to the dining hall. We must hurry.”
While I’d love to lounge in the large tub filled with steaming water, I know Marra’s right. My grandmother won’t tolerate me being even one measure late.
I’m in a daze as Marra assists me into the underthings and gown my grandmother chose for my first meeting with my grandfather. No! I must begin thinking of him as His Royal Majesty, King Hart Jumalik of Betria.
“The cream color is a beautiful contrast to your skin, Princ—. Unita.”
Marra accompanies me to the end of a long, wide hallway and stops.
“Are you not coming with me?”
Marra shakes her head. “Oh, no! It’s forbidden. Actually, I’m farther from your chambers than I’m supposed to be. For the next two sun-settings, I’m permitted to show you where everything is. After that, I must remain in your chambers, ready to assist you however I can. Occasionally, I will have other responsibilities, but that will be rare.”
“I have a lot to learn. I’ll need your help.”
Marra smiles widely and looks me in the eye. “It will be my honor, Unita.” She whispers my name, which makes me bite my tongue to keep from erupting into laughter.
She turns and goes back the way we came. I hold my head high, throw back my shoulders, and make my way to the far end of the hall. If you would like to see how Unita’s story unfolds, I invite you to join me on Substack. You can subscribe for FREE here: Steph Beth Nickel | Substack
Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography
As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.
The good folks curating book recommendations at Shepherd.com collect readers’ three favourite books from November through the following October, which gives them time to post everyone’s top 3 picks before the calendar year-end.
Here’s a link to my top 3, which will also be reflected in my year-end picks:
[Disclosure: if you get to the Shepherd site by way of my 3 Favourite Reads link and you decide to submit your own 3 favourites, there’s a referrer link that will automatically show my book, Unknown Enemy, below your picks. It’s a little perk Shepherd offers for referrals. If you’d rather not have your list connected with my book, just go to Shepherd.com and start fresh with your list. If you’re an author, you may want to go straight to their “welcome authors” section.]
A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly S. Irvin — Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat’s milk and goat’s soaps. Against her the wishes of her father—who’s also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen’s beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less. (Amish Romance from Barbour Publishing)
Biblical:
Loss and Loyalty – Moabites by Christine Dillon — What makes someone family—blood, love, or something more? Arielle believed she was an Israelite—until her brother confessed the truth: she was found as an infant on their doorstep in Moab. After tragedy strikes and the men of her household are snatched away, Arielle must leave the only land she’s ever known and any hope of finding her birth family to follow her adopted family to Bethlehem. (Biblical Fiction, Independently Published)
Contemporary Romance:
Clean Sweep by Julie Arduini — Sometimes the messiest moments lead to the most miraculous grace. A tender story of grace, second chances, and the kind of love that only grows when hearts surrender. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Royal Runaway’s Holiday by Mandy Boerma — Can the princess and the reporter overcome the ancient laws and royal protocol standing between them, or is heartbreak the only outcome? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Christmas in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch — Set in the heart of small-town Arkansas, A Christmas in Shady Springs is a sweet Christian romance about love that holds fast, plans that fall apart, and grace that shines even brighter when everything else goes wrong. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)
Clearing the Cowboy’s Name by Elle E. Kay — Accused of stealing her first edition Austen. Guilty of stealing her heart. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
Logan’s Legacy by Susan Anne Mason — He ran from commitment for years – until he met the one woman who made him want to stay. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
A Home for the Ranger by Audrey Wick — Texas park ranger Shane Hutton must choose his future: the opportunity he’s always wanted or the family he’s always needed. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Under the Mistletoe by Penny Zeller — A small-town adventure, unexpected romance, and Christmas cheer. He’s a nerdy tourist needing a vacation. She’s a bed and breakfast employee with a broken heart. Love is the last thing they expect to find this Christmas. (Contemporary Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)
Crime Mystery:
Eight Days Anxious by Luana Ehrlich — When ex-con Jason Brennan takes a senator hostage, Mylas Grey has eight days to find Brennan’s missing wife and daughter. If Mylas fails, the senator will lose his life. But things are much more complicated than that. As the clock ticks down, Mylas must navigate his way through a maze of political ambition, moral corruption, and judicial misconduct, challenging his investigative skills and newfound faith, but ultimately drawing him closer to Whitney. (Crime/Mystery, Independently Published)
General Contemporary:
Nearly Beloved by Kendra Broekhuis — Dylan Turner’s quiet life unravels on the day of her dad’s funeral—when she finds out he’s not her biological father. Determined to uncover the truth, she embarks on a cross-country journey, confronting family secrets and her own identity. (General Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])
Every Captive Freed by B.D. Lawrence, Shannon McNear, and Angela D. Shelton — Three Novellas about human trafficking. This collection is one of three dealing with “brave” topics Christians often face in the world today. (General Contemporary [Novella Collection], Independently Published)
General Historical:
Even If I Perish by Terrie Todd — Music teacher Mary Cornish volunteers to escort a group of 15 girls from England to Canada as part of Britain’s World War II child evacuation program. All is well aboard the SS City of Benares until September 17, 1940. With a storm brewing in the North Atlantic, a German U-boat releases its torpedo and breaches the ship’s hull. Do the Nazis know ninety children are on board? Based on a miraculous true story of courage in the face of impossible odds. (Historical from Mountain Brook Ink)
Historical Romance:
No Plan At All by Denise M. Colby — Two strangers. One journey. A love neither expected. Sometimes the best life is the one we never planned. A tender tale of courage, redemption, and love strong enough to change the course of two hearts forever. (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)
To Reveal a Reckless Love by Robin Lee Hatcher — When love feels reckless, faith can lead the way. A story of second chances, steadfast love, and the courage to follow where God leads. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
Midnight Masquerade by Elle E. Kay — Two federal agents with trust issues must infiltrate a charity masquerade ball to stop a human trafficking operation that funds terrorism. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Mac by Melanie D. Snitker — Fame has its price—and someone’s ready to collect. As danger closes in and secrets come to light, Mac must rely on every skill, instinct, and ounce of resolve he has to protect the woman he’s realizing he can’t live without. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
Trail of Mountain Secrets by Darlene L. Turner — Park archaeologist Violet Hoyt’s wilderness search for a missing family’s remains takes a deadly turn when a gunman mistakes her for someone else. The discovery of a grave of skulls reopens a cold case, and someone is determined to keep the truth hidden. With the help of K-9 handler Maverick Shaw and his human-remains-detector dog, Wolf, Violet must find the final family member—and evade the masked man who has targeted her. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:
First Glow of Illumination by Demi Griffin — Every ending leads to a beginning. All hope seems lost when darkness pushes against the light and the Realms are in danger of being swallowed up by the Shadow Realm. Will the Realm Warriors and Realm Binders wake up from their cultural stupor to defend what has been given them? What will it take for them to recognize their King, trust in his plan, and crown him victorious in the end? (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)
Young Adult:
The One You See by Melissa Knight — Seventeen-year-old Miranda’s world involves wealth and Paris vacations while Zac comes with a past she will never understand, yet in a single lapse of judgement their worlds collide, leading Miranda to faith in the God who truly sees her. (Young Adult, Independently Published)
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:
The Accident by Kenneth Bliss — A psi EMT responds to an accident which he discovers an “impossible” psi child and the dark agent sent to recover him. (Speculative Fiction)
To Have and to Hold by Deb L. Brown — When life doesn’t go according to plan, perfectionist Amelia must trade control for faith—and find joy in the beautiful mess of becoming a mother. (General Contemporary)
Riches Beyond Measure by Mary Connealy — When they leave the ranch in search of stolen treasure, will the spark between them survive the perils ahead? (Western Romance)
My Heart’s for You by Jan Rae Johnson — Kaitlyn Monroe is driven by two desires—find a job and find a soul mate. (Contemporary Romance)
That Was Me by Rick Tester — When you look back on your life, realize it was God… then suddenly discover why. (Mystery)
Pretzels & Pirouettes: The Baby is the Gift by Lynn U. Watson — Meet Clara’s great-great-great-granddaughter, motorcycle-riding, ballet-dancing Lyydi Jager. She’ll pirouette straight into your heart, and you’ll ride right into this Christmas pageant at Our Savior Church. (Contemporary Romance)
As a writer, you’ve likely heard the advice to “stay in your lane.”
This is conventional wisdom that encourages us to write only one genre of novel, stick with nonfiction on a single topic—or clearly related topics, become known as an expert in our field, etc.
However, despite the fact that there are good reasons to do so, it is not the best advice for all writers.
While it may be more difficult to develop my readership or earn a significant amount of money from my writing, I could never see myself staying in my lane.
With that in mind, I am posting twice a week on Substack: chapters of my YA manuscript on Mondays and devotionals based on those first written for HopeStreamRadio on Fridays. If you would like to subscribe, I’d love to have you join me on my (for now) two-lane highway. [See the link at the end of this post]
I’ve included one of the posts from my devotional/Bible study below and will share the first post from my YA manuscript next month.
In the introduction to Nurture and Inspire Love, we learned some of the reasons Jesus has the right to require our obedience. Amazingly, He does not do so from a position of comfort and privilege. Philippians 2:1-8 gives us a glimpse of what He gave up for us—and what He did to redeem us.
We all want to be loved, and no matter how many wonderful people are in our lives, none can compare to our great God and the love He has for us.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 provides a glimpse of just how much God loves us. And according to 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.”
And as Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
The first commandments we read in the Gospel of John are in chapter 1, verses 39 and 43: “Come and you will see” and “Follow me.”
John the Baptist was an amazing man. In Matthew 11:11, Jesus declared that “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.”
One of the most amazing things about John was his humility. He freely admitted that Jesus had to increase and he had to decrease. Because John made this declaration, when two of his disciples heard him say of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God” (found in John 1:36), they immediately left John and followed the Lord.
Jesus asked them what they were seeking. They simply asked where He was staying, and the Lord responded, “Come and see.”
Grammatically speaking, it’s a command, but it sounds more like an invitation. After accepting the invitation and spending the day with Jesus, Andrew sought out his brother, Simon Peter, and informed him they had found the Messiah. It only took a day (at most) for him to come to that conclusion and look for an opportunity to spread the word.
The next day Jesus found Phillip and commanded him to follow Him. Immediately, Phillip did so. And before long, he shared with Nathanael that they had found “him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote” (John 1:45).
Being in Jesus’s presence for only a short time convinced these men of the truth and inspired them to share their discovery with others—though, of course, they wouldn’t fully understand what the Messiah had come to accomplish until years later.
I want to be like John the Baptist, willing to do my part to make Jesus known and then fade into the background as the bridegroom takes centerstage (see John 3:29). I want to be like those first disciples, who were immediately obedient to His call to follow and eager to invite others to “come and see.”
Just how can we come and see? We must study the Scriptures, read and revel in the stories of Jesus’s earthly ministry. We must rightly handle the Word of Truth, as it says in 2 Timothy 2:15. When we fellowship with Him, as did John’s former disciples, we too will become convinced of the obvious truth: Jesus was—and is—the Savior.
The same will be true if we heed the call to follow Him. We will soon learn that God Himself invites us to fellowship with Him and get to know Him. What an invitation!
Nurture and Inspire Love
Have you spent time with Jesus today? In what ways?
Did it motivate you to make Him known to others? If you find this challenging, what do you think is holding you back?
What one thing will you do to share the gospel today?
Recommended passage for study: Philippians 2:1-11
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Photo credit: Jaime Mellor Photography
As an editor, Steph Beth Nickel has the honour of coming alongside writers to help them polish their work. As the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’s memoirs, Steph has been blessed to work with this amazing woman. And as a future self-published author, with the Lord’s help, Steph has taken brave steps toward publication.
Prayer can be very short. But it can also become a rich, ongoing way of life.
In How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People, Pete Greig provides what Christianity Today called “An instant spiritual classic.” The introduction describes it as “a simple guide to the complex, living landscape of prayer….But there’s more to prayer than asking, and God is not in a hurry.” [p. 27, ebook version]
Each chapter flows from a different verse of The Lord’s Prayer, exploring nine approaches to prayer: stillness, adoration, petition, intercession, perseverance, contemplation, listening, confession, and spiritual warfare. Chapters conclude by featuring a “hero of prayer” representing that aspect.
They also include further recommended reading plus links to additional resources at the “toolshed” section of the Prayer Course website prayercourse.org—where you can also find free video lessons to accompany the book.
Don’t skip the book, though. It deepens the overall teaching. Plus, Pete Greig has a funny streak. You’ll find yourself snickering here and there.
How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People is easy to read, an inspiring invitation, and a catalyst to go deeper into our prayer lives. Its sequel is How to Hear God: A Simple Guide for Normal People, which for some reason I read first. I highly recommend them both.
