Summertime and the writing is easy

My writing has often competed with other summer activities, and while that's still true, this year it's getting another unprecedented priority boost.

In years past, we had the newspaper boom, in which I became a reporter, then editor for a daily in southern California.

Then came the Christian romance boost, in which Multnomah Publishers contracted me for three books, two of which became Evangelical Christian Publishers Association bestsellers.

Then we had the baby and homeschooling boom, during which I continued to freelance for state and regional publications and projects like articles for Minnesota Monthly, a children's historical short story for a state parks geocaching hunt and poetry and music for our county's P is for Pioneer book and CD.

Two summers ago our family band joined forces with another to tour and produce The Heavens Declaring, featuring a small selection from my one hundred plus original songs.

Most recently, my daughters and I wrote, directed, acted, sang, choreographed and arranged music for two plays performed in our church, one of which also aired on our local secular radio station.

And now I'm revisiting and creating a backlog of unpublished writings, including a long-planned sequel to my extended-length rodeo novel which opened Multnomah's extended-length Premier line, Chase the Dream.

Once again, I have no idea where this will lead. But with my oldest child going off to study biology as an honors student with a pre-med emphasis and my youngest successfully navigating kindergarten (not to mention my middle child beginning to become an accomplished composer/arranger/singer) I'm beginning to have more time on my hands, at least in the morning before everyone else wakes.

So here goes. . . .

Wow! So That's What Really Happened: Modern kids discover the Bible's timeless truth about Easter

Did we say life was an adventure? The Christmas play went so well, due in large part to the prayers of people like you (Thank you!!!), that by popular demand, we began working on a play for next year. Actually, we finished it but weren't happy with the end result. However. . . .

We completed something we're really excited about: Wow! So That's What Really Happened: Modern kids discover the Bible's timeless truth about Easter. We had intended this play for Easter of 2016, but it seems the Lord's timing is this Easter. Once more, your prayers are greatly needed and appreciated! The script is posted on the right sidebar. Practices are every Sunday until the Easter Sunday performance, with our dress rehearsal next week during Sunday school. We will be practicing the Saturday before the performance, with extra practices if needed. The play will be aired on our local radio station the Sunday after our Easter Sunday performance. To hear "Just One," our original song included in the play, please go to http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=12215341&q=hi&newref=1


For more of our original music, please go to http://www.soundclick.com/wellsspring or http://www.soundclick.com/1name (The latter is no longer maintained.). If you would like a copy of our twelve songs on our CD, The Heavens Declaring, please contact us. Thanks!

Wow! So that's what really happened

So many things have come up since our last post that there's not time to update now. Suffice it to say we're trying to stay true to our main purpose of loving and serving Jesus. What an adventure! Thanks to those of you who supported our Christmas play: Wow! So That's What Really Happened: Modern kids discover the Bible's timeless truth about Christmas . Blessings in Him!

Happy 2012!

Lately the passing of each year is a true celebration. We have lots of plans for the future, none of them breaking new ground but rather projects we've long wanted to tackle or complete. Progress so far has been slow but steady, and by the time summer is over, we should have several things completed, including a Christian romance novel--the first in a long time. Before Christmas, we hope to have another CD out, either a collection of lullabies and children's songs or a second collection for adults.We're hoping to have the house addition completely finished and will be either maintaining the garden or scaling down--our first attempt at maintaining the status quo. It finally feels like we both have direction and the time to achieve our goals, so we're excited.

Hope this is a great year of serving the Lord for you too!

New name, new site!

Maybe it's so many new things around us that inspired this change. Or maybe it's just that we've got a little more time in the summer, though you wouldn't think so with all the new projects. We were crazy busy all winter with school and the Pioneer project, which is finally over, though we've been doing a little singing lately from offshoots of that opportunity. Also, we're putting on an addition--a garage at last, with a room on top, connected to the house by a tiny bathroom/laundry room. The Lord blessed us with beautiful sand for fill right by the building site, so we were able to use that instead of pay for some trucked in. At the same time, we made a pond and hill going into it, so the kids should have some fun times of skating and sliding in the winter. As far as summer, we'll see. Right now, let's just say we finally know what pond scum is and will never use it as an insult again, Lord willing.

On the writing front, we have one new song I love called, "Be Strong." Our church has adopted it, and it's nice to hear people singing it. It was a nice, needed surprise when the praise team led us in it for Mother's Day.

There's also a Christian contemporary romance manuscript in the works called The Secret Life of St. Mom. We'll try to post it as it develops.

Okay, we're observing the Sabbath today, since we led the Sunday service yesterday, and are taking a time out for Bible reading. May you have a blessed Memorial Day, honoring those who gave their lives for freedom, and especially the One who gave His life that we might be free from sin eternally!