Who Am I, Really? 

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo, Monthly Newsletter, Top 10, Writing, Writing Tips

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

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo, Writing, Writing Tips

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

Sarah SoonWriting

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 …

 I Need Your Opinion and a Book Club Giveaway

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo, Monthly Newsletter, Writing

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 …

If Fifty the New Thirty?

Sarah SoonWriting

(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

Sarah SoonWriting

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.

Sarah SoonLove At the Mayo, Monthly Newsletter, Writing

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!

Sarah SoonChristmas, Christmas at Sonshine Barn, Good Tidings Christmas Anthology, Holidays, Writing

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 …