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.

2016, You’re Done. 2017…Here I Come.

Last year I skipped the whole 2016 wrap-up + 2017 goals post. I love reading other people’s resolutions and it’s about time I did one of my own again. (Actually, I think I skipped only last year, so really it hasn’t been that long since I did this.) So . . . did… Continue reading

10 Ways To Have A Bookworm Christmas

You’re a bookworm. It’s Christmas. And sometimes we bookworms tend to get lost and confused amidst the holidays and books and gift cards and book money and bookish gifts. So I’m here to guide you in the fine art of perfecting a bookworm Christmas. (Tweet this) Are you ready? Here we… Continue reading

Who Else Has a Hard Time Believing?

Several years ago, I was listening to the radio station and the host of the hour said that instead of New Year’s resolutions she liked to pick a word. A word to dwell on or define her year. I thought that was kind of cool. I mean, I like words. ?… Continue reading

12 YA Books Paired With 12 Christmas Songs

I’m a Christmas music snob I can’t just listen to the generic department-store music. I hand pick each song that goes into my playlist and it goes in only with a very specific reason: Maybe it’s a song that hubby grew up listening to during Christmas. Or maybe it’s the song… Continue reading

What Are You Thankful For?

It happens at almost every Thanksgiving dinner: “Let’s go around the table and everyone say ONE THING they’re thankful for.” By the time it comes around to me, everyone’s already said “Jesus” or “my family” or “my spouse” and I’m left looking like a copycat. 😛 When I’m asked this question,… Continue reading

Guys . . . I Saw J. K. Rowling. ?

I sometiems get nervous telling someone I’m a Harry Potter fan. Mainly . . . telling a Christian someone that I’m a Harry Potter fan. All because of the ol’ controversy about magic. Which has some valid points, but also which gets blown out of proportion most of the time. Aaaaaanyway… Continue reading