ooks and Works
As a writer I'm willing to tackle any reasonable writing project. My strengths and interests include biblical historical fiction and short devotionals. How the timeless truths of God's Word can be shown in life's simplest moments and most complex challenges is a path I especially enjoy walking with readers. (Please see excerpts under my most recent titles.)

Cat Nips: Life Lessons for Cat Lovers

Cat Nips is a collection of true short stories about a variety of cats. Each short devotional entry relates a humorous, unusual, or tender tale of a feline that illustrates a biblical passage or truth. This delightful paperback book contains 100 daily devotionals and retails for $4.97. It makes an excellent gift for teens or adults who agree with the adage, "dogs drool; cats rule." Cat Nips may be purchased from the author or at amazon.com, barbourbooks.com, or bookstores.

Excerpt: Cat Nips

Pouncer

David took up this lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan.(saying) "in life they were loved and gracious." 2 Samuel 1:17-23

Fully grown but long, lean, and limber, Pouncer is an unusual cat. He loves violin music. When Caleb, his owner, starts his violin lesson, Pouncer is there to climb up Caleb's leg. Pouncer also enjoys being groomed. He's been known to do a 360 in midair. Above all, Pouncer is a people cat. He loves everybody.

But other animals?

There is not an animal on the face of the earth that Pouncer has yet to meet and like. He's been known to tackle a hungry possum head-on. (He came out looking the loser, but the possum was gone in short order.) Once Pouncer attacked a Rottweiler. Caleb is at a loss to explain this dual nature of his pet.

David's lament for his dearest friend, Jonathan, is understandable.

David's love for Saul, however, is not so understandable. David never knew from one day to the next if Saul was going to call him his son or his enemy.

Some of us may have a friend or relative who is like Saul to us. Loving, supportive, and dependable one day, but cross, demanding, and mean-spirited the next.

The Lord God is never vacillating in his love and concern for us. He is the God who declares, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3

Dogma: Life Lessons for Dog Lovers

Dogma is a collection of 100 daily devotionals for dog lovers. Each true tale is coupled with a biblical truth or story. Stories of police dogs, assistance dogs, and crossbreeds illustrate biblical truth with humor and poignancy. A short 220 pages long, this attractive paperback retails for $4.97. Teens and adults alike enjoy these fast-reading accounts of man's best friend. Dogma is available from the author, or at amazon.com, barbourbooks.com, or bookstores.

Excerpt: Dogma

Poncho

None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. John 17:12

"I'm expecting a call from my dog."

Tim's fork stopped halfway to his mouth. His business associate was from California; he hailed from Ohio. He knew a lot of differences between the two states, but this was beyond anything he had ever dreamed.

"A call from your dog?" he asked.

Nan waved her hand in dismissal. "Not from my dog, of course," she said, "but about him."

"Is he sick or something? Staying with a family member?"

"No. He's lost."

"Oh. Got someone looking for him?"

"Not exactly. I mean, not by conventional means."

Tim set his fork down. It was taking all of his powers of concentration to figure out how one looked for one's dog without looking for one's dog.

"Poncho has a collar that's registered with a company that uses GPS to track missing dogs."

Tim scratched his head. "The Global Positioning System is used to locate your dog?"

Nan's cell phone rang. She picked it up and gave a thumbs-up to Tim.

"The GPS did it! Poncho's been found!"

God never loses sight nor track of people. None are lost to Him unless they willfully choose to walk away. Judas was lost to God's forgiving love because he chose to be. But, like every other man and woman who has ever lived or will ever live, Judas has never been lost from God's sight or consciousness.

Seekers...Finders

A composite of historical biblical fiction, Seekers...Finders takes the reader back in time to the days of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. Nine short stories relay the encounters of fictional characters to the real people, places, and events surrounding the last three years of Jesus as the flesh and blood Son of Man. This work is a subsidy published work by Katherine and may be ordered from the author directly. This paperback book, 177 pages long, sells for $5.00.

Excerpt: Seekers...Finders

Areli

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John...(saying) "It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3: 13, 15

Bloodied, bruised, and smeared with dirt and gravel from the unkempt hair at the top of his head to the ruined sandals on his feet, Areli stood breathing heavily. The hardened muscles of his arms and thighs quivered from exertion. His tunic was stained with grime, sweat, and blood. He wiped the back of his hand across the sweat burning his eyes. His adversary's appearance was very much like his, though he had not managed as Areli had to keep all his teeth in his head. Nor was the loser any longer conscious, let alone standing. He lay in the sun with the blood on his face already beginning to congeal. Areli thought of giving the foul-smelling braggart one final kick to the ribs in hopes of breaking a few of them, but thought better of it. He had whipped his quarry; it was enough to let him toast in the intensity of the sun's rays....

"Your zeal will be your undoing one day, my young friend," his aging friend, Shaul, had said to him earlier that day. "The Lord God has ways of dealing with cheats and oppressors."

"And are we who know the Law to sit by and watch while our so-called 'brothers' do more harm against their own than the procurator himself?" Areli had retorted.

His friend had merely shrugged his shoulders and returned to his woodcarving. "We can not and will not fix all the ills of Judea in a day or in a year."

"Or in a century at this rate!"

"Nothing good comes of anger and hate," Shaul said quietly.

"And nothing comes comes of doing nothing!" Areli spat back at him who had been his friend and mentor since youth.

He had stomped out of Shaul's home, his temper hot and his fists itching for a fight.

Short Stories for Long Rainy Days and More Short Stories for Long Rainy Days

These earlier works (1998) may still be purchased at amazon.com. Both books are attractive, hardback books. Each book is a collection of short love stories. The stories are written to remind readers of "the life-changing power of love to transform hearts and lives." Prices vary; original retail price: $12.99. If you enjoy chick lit, but are short on time, these books make for fun, fast reads in snatches.

A Synopsis of Some of the Stories from Short Stories for Long Rainy Days

In “Premeditated” Lily Blackstone and Scott Ferguson find that their dissimilarities pose problems for their upcoming wedding day.

Will Davidson, a confirmed bachelor for all of his sixty years, decides an attractive widow may be just the one to make him leave his solitary days behind in the story, “A Time to Begin.”

“The Longest Wait” tells the tender story of Joey and Frances. Its ending will surprise and delight you.

A Synopsis of Some of the Stories from More Short Stories for Long Rainy Days

Andrea Sanderson has “Second Thoughts” about her marriage when she sees her husband with a young, beautiful woman.

Starr is unwillingly to release her daughter, Belle, to the care of another in “Letting Go.”

“Rocky Too” Gil Stewart finds his attempts at getting to know his attractive neighbor thwarted at every turn by her protective, snarling Akita, Rocky.

Short Stories from Days Gone By

Like the Long Rainy Day books, this collection of short stories is an older work of the author’s. Unlike the previous books, however, it is a collection of true stories. Stories in this book retell the stories of people interviewed by the author. Many of the tales are from World War II. Some are sweet tales of love; others are intriguing stories of simpler times. This book is a wonderful gift for mature adults. Originally this hardback gift book retailed for $12.99. It is still available at amazon.com.

A Synopsis of Some of the Stories from Short Stories from Days Gone By

In “Assignment: Anzio” Elsie recalls her harrowing experiences as a young Army nurse working in one of Europe’s bloodiest theaters during World War II.

Carmen shares her first impressions as one of the first missionaries to enter Russia, the former USSR, “When the Wall Came Down.”

Al tells his tale of growing up in the deep South and marching with Martin Luther King Jr in “A Story Behind the Story.”

or Magazine Editors
My magazine and journal publications over the years are as diverse as they can be. My published work has included medical research and case studies, humor, and short fiction. I'm particularly interested in writing informational medical articles for lay people. Lung health and disease is my specialty, particularly in relation to the young. A short list of some of my most recent articles in medical journals follow. If you would like to see actual copies of any of these articles, you may contact me via e-mail for a copy.

'Tis the Season for RTs to Review Knowledge (About Anaphylaxis and Anaphylactic Shock). Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners 2003: 16:15; 20-21.

Test Your Radiologic Skill: Left hemithorax opacification in a term newborn infant. Respiratory Care 2000: 45; 1113-1114.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct to treating burn patients. Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners 2000: 13; 10, 16.