The Author's Journal
MetaMetrics & The Lexile System
The Lexile System by MetaMetrics is a powerful tool that provides readers and educators with away to accurately measure reading ability and match readers to books that are appropriate fortheir skill level. By assigning a numerical Lexile measure followed by an “L” to both readers andtexts, this system helps ensure that students are reading materials […]
Why I Write Christian Fantasy for Kids (and Why It Matters)
When people hear that I’m a Christian fantasy author, especially for younger readers, the first question I usually get is: Why fantasy? Why not just write Bible stories or devotionals for kids? It’s a fair question. After all, the Bible already gives us the greatest stories ever told. But here’s my heart: fantasy doesn’t replace […]
The Real Story Behind Marengo County: How History Shapes My Fantasy Worlds
When I write fantasy stories, I don’t just make things up out of thin air. I look around me — at the rivers, the old towns, the stories passed down — and those pieces of history help me imagine new worlds. One of the places that inspires me most is right here in Marengo County, […]
How to Teach Bible Lessons Through Children’s Stories
Stories Are God’s Teaching Tool From parables in the New Testament to the epic narratives of the Old Testament, God has been using stories to teach truth since the beginning. Jesus didn’t hand out bullet points—He told stories. For children, stories are more than entertainment. They are windows into faith, tools for moral development, and […]
How to Write Faith-Fueled Fantasy for Kids: Lessons from G.B. Sollie
When you think of Christian children’s books, you might picture simple moral tales or Bible stories. But what if those same values could live inside an adventurous, imaginative world—one that kids can’t put down? That’s exactly what Christian children’s author G.B. Sollie has done with The Swamp Witch Chronicles. His stories don’t just teach faith—they live […]
Grandaddy’s Time Machine:
Telling Stories & Taking the Grandkids to School When you hear the Voice of God speaking to you through your granddaughter you better listen! That is where I found myself one morning as Mary Evelyn and Lucy piled into the backseat of my car with their backpacks, scrambling to get to school on time and […]
Gathering Firewood
Writers write, Creatives create, and Imagineers imagine. As a young Industrial Design student back in the day, Disney was an extremely attractive employment destination, in part because they touted the Imagineering aspect of what they accomplished. It was very appealing. I always assumed they had even made up the term, but in fact, they borrowed […]
Faith and Fantasy:Finding Balance in Young Readers’ Literature
Have you ever been whisked away into a fantastical land where witches soar with vultures and magic spells abound? As I ponder the intricate dance of blending enchanting realms with profound spiritual truths, I realize it is not easy! How do you harmonize imaginary worlds with meaningful messages of faith? Let’s explore the power of […]