About a five minute read I experienced an existential crisis as a child. I didn’t know how to embrace my South Korean ethnicity in a predominantly, Polish-Catholic community in Northern Michigan. A Caucasian family adopted my sister and me from South Korea when I was five years old. There weren’t many Asians in our community, so I stuck out. But all I wanted to do was fit in. …
Helpful Exercise for Nailing Your Character’s Voice
I took an insightful writer’s craft workshop about finding your voice and tone. We studied a variety of literary examples and given a few exercises. So, if you’re an author, this exercise is for you. Questions to assess your character’s voice: 1. How do they speak? Loquacious and long-winded? Terse and to the point? Cracking jokes? Using idioms and metaphors? …
Turning Point Moment in Garrett’s Dating Life
Pastor John, Last night, you challenged us to write a letter about why we chose a particular thing to fast for the next three months. I’m fasting dating, which seems counterintuitive since I haven’t seriously dated since calling off my engagement. At first, I wasn’t ready to date for months after calling it off, but after nearly two years, I’m …
Garrett’s Top 10 Qualities for a Wife
Hey guys, this is Garrett Bettencourt. I was asked to share my top ten traits for a wife. I’m not really a list guy, so I had to brainstorm my must have’s. But this is what I came up with. (After dating many women, this list is my non-negotiable qualities I’m seeking in a wife.) A Jesus lover. My relationship …
I Need Your Opinion and a Book Club Giveaway
About a four-minute read This month’s newsletter is full of fun with a “Book Club” Giveaway and a one-question poll. And I’m thrilled to announce Good Tidings, the Christmas anthology I participated in, is a Selah Finalist. I share more below. On a personal note, my husband and I celebrated our four-year anniversary in March. (The pic above is from us …
April Showers Bring May Flowers
I set off to Oral Roberts University at eighteen, with an eager expectation of meeting my spouse. Yet, despite praying to find one, I graduated from ORU without a MRS. degree. But I didn’t give up hope. I’d just meet him at work. When that didn’t pan out in my twenties, I crawled into my thirties barely clinging to hope. …
If Fifty the New Thirty?
(The newsletter is about a 5-minute read) In February, I reached a milestone! I turned fifty. I want to believe that fifty is the new thirty because I don’t feel like I’ve lived a half a century. Seriously, I have more energy, more joy, and more vision in my life. Back in January when my husband asked me how I wanted to celebrate …
50 Favorite List of Movies and Books
50 FAVORITES list Top 10 movies: (not in order) Casablanca BBC’s Pride and Prejudice Empire Strikes Back BBC’s North and South (adaption of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel) Schindler’s List Rocky Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Rings The Notebook Life Is Beautiful Ben Hur (1959) Top 20 novels: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Persuasion by Jane Austen North …
Did you Survive the Arctic Blast? And Win a Sneak Peek chapter from Book 2.
A five-minute read Despite residing in northern Michigan for most of my childhood, I’ve never acclimated to the frosty winters. I’d stand in front of the fireplace until my mom instructed me to get ready for school. It gets old when you’re standing in knee deep snow, waiting for the bus every morning. I vowed that one day, I’d move …
Dream Come True: Published and Launched my Fiction!
I’m currently reading the non-fiction book The Hidden Life of Trees* by Peter Wohlleben. Have you read this book? Peter’s a forester in Germany, and he explores how trees are like human families. He dives deep into their root systems to discover they work together to survive. Wohlleben discovers something profound when he strolled through the forest and came upon a “stone” near …