Writing novellas is just plain fun for yours truly. Setting two people up to fall in love—well, if I were God, that might be my favorite part of the job. It’s delightful to imagine romantic scenes and I really enjoy digging into the character arcs of my heroes and heroines, trying to understand what makes them tick.
Usually there is some lie the characters believe about themselves, and it’s wonderful watching the one they are falling in love with help them discover the truth. But what may be my very favorite experience of creating these stories is that moment when a “takeaway” value unfolds. Often, even if I’ve planned a rough outline of the character’s spiritual journeys, there is something unexpected, and I find myself tearing up and thanking the Holy Spirit.
The creation of At Home with Daffodils, my novella in A Bouquet of Brides, is no exception.
Instead of sharing about the specific spiritual journey of my hero and heroine, I’ll tell you about one of those moments, the kind I’ve come to recognize as “God-moments” when something unplanned but extremely meaningful jumps out at me as the author.
I’ll resist describing the scene where it happened. I think it is beautiful and tender, and I don’t want to rob my readers of discovery. But I’ll tell you what I took away from how the story unfolded. I wept as I understood, at a deeper level, this truth: The community of God—the church—has the power to do great good in the lives its people. The church has the opportunity to act as God’s loving arms, embracing people, demonstrating God’s grace, and seeing the good in each of us that we often can’t see in ourselves. I think you’ll see what I mean when you read my story, At Home with Daffodils.
In the collection, A Bouquet of Brides, you’ll meet seven American women who were named for various flowers but struggle to bloom where God planted them. Watch how love helps them grow to their full potential!
To celebrate the release of A Bouquet of Brides, I’m giving away a copy of the book. Enter the drawing by signing-up for my newsletter or leaving a comment on my blog during the month of January (USA readers only). Check out my website, where I have free resources and information about the Free to Flourish writing and speaking ministry.
Author, speaker, and mom of four, Paula Moldenhauer encourages others to live free to flourish. She shares this message when speaking at women’s events, and it permeates her written work. Paula has published over 300 times in non-fiction markets and has a devotional book series, Soul Scents. Her first published novella, You’re a Charmer Mr. Grinch, was a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards, and she now has six published works of fiction. Paula and her husband, Jerry, are adjusting to a sometimes-empty nest in Colorado. They treasure time with their growing family of adult children, spouses, and spouses-to-be. Paula loves peppermint ice cream, going barefoot, and adventuring with friends. Visit her at www.paulamoldenhauer.com
Until Next Time,
Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Having grown up in Colorado, Rocky Mountain National Park was her playground. She lives in northeast Colorado with her husband of over four decades and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God’s peculiar people. Please visit her at 
“Holly & Ivy,” my #HistoricalRomance novella in A #BouquetOfBrides, takes place in 1890, in Washington State. It’s about a young woman who accompanies her impetuous younger sister on her trip across the country to be a Christmas mail-order bride and is helped by a gallant stranger.
In celebration of the release of “Holly & Ivy”, I’m giving away (US only) a print copy of 
What will you take with you when you read 
Just seeing the name of this dear sister-in-Christ makes me smile every time. 
I’m grateful for all Donna did to make our board run smoothly and for the encouragement she so often was to me personally. Her desire for excellence and her wisdom was such an asset! The Lord also used her to speak some thing into my life that I hadn’t understood about myself.
Talk about fun! It’s a delight to be included in the collection 
I don’t know if she gets tired of hearing it or not, but I can’t introduce Donita without saying that she wrote one of my favorite books ever, 
But Donita’s not only a fantastic writer, she’s a dear friend and mentor to many of us. In fact, I think it is safe to say she’s become a mentor to mentors, because I’ve heard both 
Drum roll please!!
Believe it or not, I was a bit afraid of Kathy Kovach when we first met. I’d joined a critique group because I met a special friend, Neva, pictured to the left, who made me feel safe. Neva felt like a sweet grandma, and I thought I might be brave enough to share my work with her critique group. The only problem was that when I showed up that first day she handed the reigns over to Kathy Kovach, who was serious about writing to publish. Kathy and I will always treasure precious Neva who passed away this year at ninety-two, and who wrote until the end. A faithful servant, she and her husband were Wycliffe Bible translators. I’ll not soon forget her most recent Christmas letter, or her quick humor. She said, “Since I moved away from Colorado, it’s gone to pot.” Neva attended several writer’s conferences with Kathy and me. In her twilight years she published her first books and learned to play the dulcimer. One year Kathy and I roomed with Neva at a conference. I think it was an ACFW conference in Nashville. We had trouble winding down, so Neva quoted all of John 14 to us, word for word. I’ve since tried to memorize the passage and only made it about half-way through. Yesterday we talked about mentors. Kathy and I received writing mentoring from Neva, but I value the life mentoring she gave me even more.
Of course Kathy and I became fast friends despite my early trepidation. For almost ten years Kathy led the critique group Neva had started! Kathy was the first in our group to traditionally publish, and we’re celebrating the release of her book in this picture. (This was the critique group at that time. Left to right, back row: Lynnette Horner, 
When the critique group disbanded years later, this was the team. We still contact each other here and there to brainstorm or celebrate. In front is author Donna Robinson. Holly Armstrong and Kathy are in the next row. 
Kathy and I roomed together at writer’s conferences (where I may or may not have awakened her in the mornings to show tunes), and when God called Kathy to act as the ACFW Colorado Coordinator, she asked me to be on the first board of the first chapter she established in our state. She eventually became the zone director, and I eventually followed in her footsteps, becoming state coordinator. This is a picture of the first board for the first ACFW chapter in Colorado. Left to right are Margie Vawter, yours truly, Kathy, author Bonnie Doran, and Jill Hups. Margie, Jill, and I all served as president of the group at some point and the three of us still meet with Kathy and our friend Deb Besaw for prayer time.
to serve writers with her. We’ve done a lot of teaching together. We’ve done a lot of working and learning together. We’ve played hard too. We took this selfie at a Chinese food restaurant the day we celebrated the book we co-authored, 
conferences and traveling together to various author events. The picture above was taken in 2013 when Mary and I traveled together to Montrose, Colorado to teach about writing at the library! We had fun shopping and messing around afterward. See why I call her Merry Mary?
Mary’s shirt. When I saw it, I knew it had to be featured on the cover of 
