My husband and I have been in discussions lately about how much longer we can make our computers last. Mine is two or three years old now. His is a bit older, I think. And they're ... well-loved.
And as I got to thinking about possibly having to break in a new laptop, I thought, "aww. That means I won't have my stickers anymore."
I had never been one to put stickers all over things. I don't have one of those fancy cups you're supposed to decorate. No bumper stickers adorn my car. But for some reason, when this all white laptop arrived, it called out to me for more. So, I asked for a few stickers for a birthday and the trend grew from there.

Have you ever fallen off a horse? Did you have the nerve to get back on? My friend, Luann Edwards, takes her own experience and weaves it into one of her newest stories. See what you think.

​If you’ve ridden a horse, what is your most vivid memory? Is it the gentle breeze across your face, a lovely view along a meandering stream, or the earthy scent of the leather saddle? For me? I remember the sickening thud when I landed, the long, lonely limp home, and the bitter taste of humiliation when I admitted my fall to my family. That adventure took place forty-five years ago, but the memory remains etched in my brain.
 
On their farm, my husband’s parents had two horses, Copper and Champ. I’d ridden Copper often and felt confident to ride him to the mailbox, a quarter mile away, but he wasn’t saddled up. Champ, the horse I had never ridden and the more spirited of the two, stood ready. Riding Champ couldn’t be any harder than riding Copper. Right? Wasn’t I now an experienced rider?

Do you love when an author includes pieces of their own hometown in their stories? How about horses? Do you love a good story with stables? Well, my dear friend Ellen Withers has just the tale for you! And check out the fun title: Show Me Skulduggery. I want to read it just because of that title! See what you think after learning about her inspiration.

​While growing up in Mexico, Missouri, at the end of my elementary school day, I used to walk from my school to my grandmother’s house. Because my grandmother lived one block from the school, her place was much closer than my house. Spending time with my sweet and wonderful grandmother was one of the greatest blessings in my lifetime.
There was another blessing I experienced when making that journey to Grandma’s house. My path took me beside the big stables, show rings, split-rail fences, and lush green lawns of Simmons Stables. Mr. Simmons trained many of the finest Saddlebred horses in the world. He did this for over 60 years, right in my hometown. 

We're here today to chat with delightful author Sarah Hanks. She just might be busier than I am as she has five times as many children (if you're bad with math, just keep reading and you'll find out how many that is). Her books sound just as delightful and I hope you'll check them out after getting to know her here today.

 When you write, is there a genre you gravitate toward more than another? Why?

I write split-time because I can’t seem to decide whether I enjoy historical or contemporary better. It’s fascinating to me how history impacts the present and I love to explore those connections in my novels. Nothing happens in a vacuum. My stories show how history inspires people in modern-day to make either similar or different choices.

Which of your characters is most like you and how?

That’s a hard one because there are pieces of me in every story I write. I will say that Amber’s journey with POTS in Fall Back and Find Me closely mirrors my own. I’m not Amber—Our personalities are a bit different—but the experience she goes through and how she deals with it reflects my own personal experience.
This is hard to admit because Amber is not always the most likeable character. When I went through 7+ years of chronic illness, I probably wasn’t the most likeable person either. Though I tried to display a tough and positive front, I was struggling big time with discouragement. The lesson Amber learns about her identity not being in what she does but in what Christ says about her is powerful. I know this first-hand as it truly changed my life to ask Jesus each day what He says about me. I’m thankful that readers tend to stick with Amber through the bumps and come out on the other side with a newfound understanding and appreciation of those who struggle with chronic illness.