Probably because I spend so much time reading children's stories to my kids, I could not resist rewriting this story from the chickens' point-of-view. (It also could be my love of chickens.) I hope you enjoy this alternate version of Persistent Birds.

Another story I submitted to Spark Flash Fiction. The prompt was Love Unleashed: sweet romance stories starring pets who help their owners find love. My chosen pet was a chicken, and it was inspired by a food truck we visited on my trip to Hawii this summer. If you are ever on Maui and drive the road to Hanna, definitely grab some banana bread at this stand. It is amazing! Maui Garden Grove Cafe.

This story was a submission I did for an online magazine called Spark Flash Fiction. The prompt was to write a rom-com where the couple finds love in the midst of a perplexing predicament, and the story could only be 1,000 words. My story begins when Tracy visits Doug at 3:37 a.m.

In February, I submitted a proposal for an opportunity to write with Jody Hedlund for her Bride Ships series. I was not one of the lucky debut authors selected. However, I still like the proposal and writing sample I submitted, so I thought I would share the short scene I wrote with you.

The scene is the meet-cute between my two main characters Reuben Matthews and Dinah Phillips. My proposal was a take on Seven Brides for Seven Brothers where the groom seeks a bride in one day and she impulsively replies yes. Then she moves to the secluded mountains to find she is expected to care for seven brothers. From there the story was significantly different. I may develop it in a new setting someday, but for now enjoy this short scene.

This pair of stories was inspired by a conference I attended and Psalm 131. The speaker discussed "sitting in Jesus' lap" and quieting our soul. Just as a mother comforts her child, so Jesus longs to comfort us. Not just when things are "too marvelous," but in all the everyday sorrows of our hearts.

A troop of chickens makes a daring escape from a moving train.

Story art provided by Sally Seward Kranz.

Nicodemus struggles with his faith after a late night encounter with Jesus. This is a piece of Biblical Fiction – taking well know characters and situations from the Bible and filling in the missing pieces. It is a product of my imagination writen in response to John 3:1-21.

The life of a snail is not as dull as you think. Most people assume that because snails are slow they never go anywhere. Well, most people are wrong.

My girls have been writing "small moments" stories in school, so I decided to write one as well. This is the story of Sarah's first experience carving a pumpkin. I hope it gets you in the holiday spirit.

When a hailstorm distracts Harold Fenslow from his work, he meets a mysterious woman in the rain.

Story art provided by Wendy Gillen.

Greta's Tuesday ritual is disrupted when she entertains a pushy guest while enjoying her lunch.