On-Your-Feet Fiction

An update from Columba Booth

The Lord upholds all who fall, and lifts up all who are bowed down (Psalm 145:14).

Homesteading and Friendship

Hi Reader!

As Paul and I drove through Angeles National Forest recently, I read an email about Drs. Jill and Robert Malone’s homesteading experiences. (Read their SubStack here.)

The Malones have homesteaded several properties over the years, learning as they go. They’ve renovated old farmhouses, raised livestock, and grown and stored their own produce. They also breed quality Lusitano horses, which Paul and I find intriguing.

As I read, I began to catch a vision. You see, Paul and his late wife, Cindy, purchased a home with acreage, which we still have. Paul’s extensive plans to create a self-sufficient farm didn’t materialize due to life events, but it’s still a dream of his.

Initially, I found the whole idea overwhelming. Paul is very gifted with practical skills, but I’m famously useless at them (crafts, canning, caring for animals, etc.)—plus I tire easily. I lived in rural Ben Lomond for sixteen years as a single mom, never owning a generator or a chainsaw. I wouldn’t have known how to start them!

But the Malones’ story convinced me we could handle it together—as a team. Taking on challenges is easier with a supportive partner.

In my novel, the main character, Audrey, takes on country life and guardianship of her brother’s children, all by herself. The story explores the challenges of raising kids alone. It’s one thing to be strong, but to humble ourselves and accept help is another matter—and something Audrey finds even harder. When an offer of friendship shakes the walls she’s built, she must choose between the kids’ welfare and her pride.

Many of us struggle with acknowledging our need for help. We humans are well known for holding out far beyond our limits, yet that is exactly where God meets us. When we surrender, His love and grace lift us up and put us back on our feet.

That’s a big part of my life story! How about yours?

Writing Update

Exciting news about my novel: It’s about to be published!

I met Cynthia Hickey, owner of Winged Publications, at the ACFW conference, and she asked for a proposal. She liked the book enough to take a chance on me and it, and I signed the contract in late September.

The book, which I renamed Wonders in the Deep, came back from Winged Publication’s editor last week. It will go live on Amazon when I’ve looked it over and returned it. Below, you can see the beautiful cover Cynthia designed.

Now, of course, it’s time for some serious marketing. I’m finishing up a short story drawn from Audrey’s backstory. This piece will be my “reader magnet.”

A reader magnet is a freebie that writers provide in exchange for a reader’s subscription to their newsletter. I’ll be sure to send you the story, too. I so appreciate that you already signed up—even without a freebie!

For now, here’s a preview of my reader magnet:

The A on Audrey’s law-school exam was not surprising. What would have surprised her was a reply from the guy on the MeetMeNow dating app—“LawSlacker237.” She’d sent the greeting that morning. Most of her messages to matches went ignored.

She pushed her apartment door open and dropped her backpack onto the stained carpet. She grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. The sun was low, and she tugged on the tangled cord over the kitchen sink, lowering the battered blinds to shade the room. The bass beat of music, playing in the apartment above, pounded through the ceiling.

Audrey had reached above her hopes with the greeting. LawSlacker237 had a gorgeous smile. He was muscular. His curly sun-bleached hair brushed his dark eyebrows appealingly, and those hazel eyes… Anyway, he’d never be interested in her. He was probably inundated with attention.

She flopped onto her sagging loveseat and swiped her phone open. Tapping in the passcode, she put her feet up and sipped her water. A notification popped up at the top of her screen.

LawSlacker237 had answered.

And here’s the cover for Wonders in the Deep:

Prayer

Now more than ever, we need to pray for families, young people, loved ones, and our hurting world.

Dear Father,

Please shine Your light on all who are confused by divisive messages. We “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122) and for the protection of Your dear people, the Jews, and for innocents in harm’s way. Comfort the hurting. Protect the vulnerable. Give peace and hope to those who are in pain.

In Christ’s name,

Amen.

Thank you for praying for my writing. Together, we can point people to the God who heals and lifts us up.

Do you have a prayer request? Let me know!

Life-Changing Fiction

Looking for a good read? Here are some suggestions:

The Screwtape Letters

by C.S. Lewis

The dissection of evil strategies in C.S. Lewis’s classic, The Screwtape Letters, is eerily relevant for today. It’s a satirical exchange between two demons, discussing how best to undermine and defeat all that’s good and true in the world. Read and learn!

Buy now

A Million Little Choices

by Tamera Alexander

A Million Little Choices is a dual-timeline story about two women who inhabit the same house, one hundred years apart. One must protect innocent people from an abuser. The other is reeling from her husband’s “near” affair. (Dangerous territory, anyone?)

Buy now

The Atonement Child

by Francine Rivers

I read The Atonement Child years ago, and it stayed with me. That’s a mark of a great novel, which one expects from Christian fiction giant, Francine Rivers. This story explores abortion and its long-reaching consequences, with a side of men’s attitudes towards women.

Buy now

Saving Grayson

by Chris Fabry

Oh, wow! Saving Grayson is another new book with a super intriguing premise. The main character has Alzheimer’s and must try to right an old wrong. Looks like I’ll be sleep deprived for a while, haha!

Buy now

Goodnight, Little Pony

by Melissa Stevens

Horse-crazy little girls will love Goodnight, Little Pony. And the AI-generated artwork is amazing. Best of all, this book was created by Paul’s daughter, Melissa!

Buy now