An Excerpt from Handful of Demons

“What’d I tell you,  Aunt Casey? He’s sincere. I know he is. He’s so sweet . . . and he’s a hunk too. You just gotta give him another chance."

“I don’t know, Megan.” Casey stared out the window at the narrow stream of chattering people strolling over from the main building.

Father, I don’t know what to do. Seems like every time I turn around Edward has a different personality. I’m too tired to deal with it anymore. I wish I could come home to You. Everything’s happening too fast. I don’t have time to think.

The approaching people froze where they were. A bird in flight hung in the air as though from a wire, wings extended.

Casey gaped. She turned to look at Megan. She was staring at her through blank eyes. Her mouth open as though she were speaking. Her hands behind her head to adjust her ponytail. Still as a stone. Like a childhood game of statue.

Silence. No conversation from the next room. The ceiling fan stopped short overhead. The second hand on the clock was stuck between two little marks.

A soft breeze ruffled Casey’s hair and the smell of wild clover and honeysuckle hung in the air. She jerked her head around frantically. “What’s happening, Lord?”

I’m giving you time to think.

2012 - A Year for Goal-Setting

So far, 2012 has been a year of goal-setting-and-goal meeting. I made the deadline with "Whom He May Devour" and sent it off into cyber-land. Now it's a case of hurry up and wait. But that's okay. I can use a little time off.

Did I say time off? No such thing . . . not in 2012. September 2012 is the slated publishing date of "Handful of Demons", and I'm hitting it hard working with two wonderful ladies on interior design and cover design. It's one of those situations where whatever needs to be done, there's something else that has to be done first. But with their gentle guidance, I think I'll make it through.

Speaking of goals, I set one for myself to lose 10 pounds. It's not going as fast as I'd hoped, but I'm getting closer. At least I'm going the right direction.

Satan raises his ugly head from time to time and tells me I should be sitting on the porch in a rocking chair enjoying life. "You've earned it," he says in a cajoling voice. "Yeah, yeah," I say back to him. "Wouldn't you just be tickled pink if we all sat back and stopped spreading the bad word about you and your plans for us?"

Christians can't afford to take it easy. Not in this world. We'll get plenty of rest in the next. For now, we need to be out there talking about Jesus and exposing Satan for what he is.

The battle is real . . .

Thirteen Days and Counting

"The Devil Made Me Do It" is nearly finished. That's good. The deadline for entry is only 13 days off, and it still needs considerable editing!

However, I've changed the name. Dee felt "The Devil Made Me Do It" was too frivolous. That phrase is usually used in a joking manner. True. So, the tentative new title is "Whom He May Devour", since this book is anything but frivolous.

And Satan is anything but frivolous. He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. It's my prayer that the novels I write might bring an awareness that the devil and his demons are not fictional characters made up to keep children in line. They are very real, very present, and very scriptural.

The battle is real.