NADINE BRANDES once spent four days as a sea cook in the name of book research. She is the author of the award-winning ROMANOV, FAWKES, and the Out of Time Series. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of soul-talk, Quidditch, bookstagram, and Oreos. When she's not busy writing novels about bold living, she's adventuring through Middle Earth or taste-testing a new chai. She and her Auror husband are building a Tiny House on wheels with their Halfling children. Current mission: paint the world in shalom.

Do the Orphans Know It’s Christmas?

Presents, Christmas tree lights, homemade fudge, knitted stockings and fireplaces. . . It’s Christmas. And I’m the first one to get sucked into the “magical winter wonderland” of it all. It’s my favorite season (yes, Christmas is a season. I’m willing to fight you over this.) I love the music,… Continue reading

Wives, Your Hubby is Christ . . . But You Are the Church

approach-God-as-the-bride

Today is hubby’s and my third anniversary. Three whole years. Now we’re experts! 😉 Recently, I’ve been going through Sacred Marriage, by Gary L. Thomas. He’s been writing on the husband’s role to “love your wife as Christ loves the church.” (Ephesians 5:25) This means hubby’s supposed to be perfect, right?… Continue reading

Why I Don’t Want to Die Yet

In church, we’re going through the books of Revelation and Ezekiel. Understandably, the “end times” have been on my mind. This isn’t a new topic for me. If you know anything about my book, A Time to Die, you know I’ve tackled the idea of mortality, finitude, temporarity . . . I am not afraid… Continue reading

“Yer A Wizard, Nadine” — A Potential Future With Theme Parks?

In author interviews, I’m frequently asked, “If you couldn’t be a writer, what would you do?” This week, I finally figured it out. (Tweet this!) Hubby and I celebrated an early anniversary by going to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida. Many of you know I’m… Continue reading

What My “Foreign” Mom Taught Me About Thanksgiving

I have a special appreciation for Thanksgiving. You see, my mom wasn’t born in the United States. She had a green card all of my young life, which — of course– I thought was super cool. But her heart for America pumped stronger than any US citizen’s ever could. I didn’t know… Continue reading

Heart of Petra — Book Giveaway

Have you ever felt like you’re the only dirty one inside your church? I know I have. You are not alone. And author Hilarey Johnson steps out to tackle this common feeling through her novel, Heart of Petra. She believes in the message behind this book so much she’s chosen to offer one… Continue reading

Music Behind A Time to Die

Half my inspiration comes from music. After all, the sense of hearing makes up 1/5 of our human forms of perception. We’re created to be inspired by sound. So, on that note (pun intended), I thought I’d share the playlist I listened to while writing A Time to Die. At first,… Continue reading