The Copper Box Take-Away As I began writing The Copper Box, I thought about the take-away (or theme) this story offered. I considered Marty and Paul . At the beginning of the story both of them were … [Read more...]
A WHIRLWIND OF QUESTIONS by Gail Kittleson
A Festival of Questions Reading the seventh chapter of the Gospel of John is like stepping into a whirlwind of questions. It's festival time in Jerusalem: the feast of the tabernacles commemorating … [Read more...]
LISTEN LIKE MARY: THE BETTER PART by Dr. Paul Stroble
Mary and Martha “Now as they went on their way, he [Jesus] entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet … [Read more...]
BACKSTORY: Paul Before The Copper Box
Paul's Backstory Ever wonder what makes a character act the way he does? Just as with a flesh and blood person, it's the way he grew up and the experiences he's lived through. At the beginning of The … [Read more...]
BACKSTORY: Marty Before The Copper Box
BACKSTORY No doubt you're familiar with the term prequel. Though most novels don't require a prequel, authors always write the stories of their characters before the novel begins. Writers call this … [Read more...]
Research Behind THE COPPER BOX
Research into a Real Town Readers are sometimes curious about the research behind a book. The Copper Box is set in Jerome, Arizona, a real town. I needed lots of research to get the details right. … [Read more...]
JOURNEY TO MY FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL
Writing Runs Through It When I was in third grade I read a child's biography of Louisa May Alcott. In those pages of that little blue book, I caught a glimpse of who I knew I was meant to be. Life, … [Read more...]
BELIEVE IN GRACE by Jodi Lorenz
"We believe and are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus.” [Acts 15:11] A Game-Changing Council Meeting I am a minister called to work with four different congregations. As I travel from church … [Read more...]
WITNESSES TO FAITH by Dr. Paul Stroble
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before … [Read more...]
Modern-Day Miracles by Gail Kittleson
Miracles Where there is great love there are always miracles. Willa Cather Isn’t that the truth? No greater love exists than the self-sacrificial kind exemplified in many Biblical … [Read more...]
A passionate reader, I began writing as a young girl. After graduating from college, I became a teacher. Over the course of my career, I taught high schoolers, college undergraduates, and public school teachers how to write personal narratives, expository and persuasive essays, as well as poetry and short fiction. I continued to write: publishing professional articles, two textbooks, short stories, and poetry. In 2013, I won first place in Romantic Suspense in the ACFW Genesis Contest.