Most of us have that one person in our life who has the ability to transform even the simplest of stories into something unforgettable. Maybe it’s a friend who makes you laugh until your side hurts, or a cousin who can turn an ordinary day into a memory you’ll never forget. Those stories stick with us because they make us feel. They help us understand each other and remind us that we’re connected… through laughter, love, and the shared experience of being human.

That’s the power of stories. They help us make sense of the world. They bridge generations, cultures, and even strangers. Whether it’s a story told around a dinner table or a book we read alone at night, stories remind us that we’re not as different as we think. Our experiences might not look the same, but the emotions behind them… the joy, the pain, the hope, et…. those are what connect us. And let’s not forget about the gift of escape. Stories let us step out of our own lives for a while and into someone else’s. Sometimes that small escape is exactly what we need.

I think that’s part of the reason why I fell in love with reading. I wasn’t always a reader. In elementary school, books were just books, but then I opened The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When the main character stepped through that wardrobe, I stepped through with her… That book gave me a way to step outside of my life… and into something far different. It gave me space to breathe… It gave me comfort when my own life felt too heavy.

That’s what made me want to tell my own stories. A good story doesn’t just offer words… it’s more like an invitation. We all carry hurt, and hope, and the things that live in between… but stories are the threads that tie those pieces together. They give a voice to those who are unheard (or misunderstood). And sometimes it gives us a space for healing… whether through escape or by working out the pieces of ourselves inside a character’s journey.

I write redemptive stories. I write about people who’ve been through hard things but still find a way to heal… about characters who fall but keep getting up to try again. The world isn’t always kind. Sometimes there’s hardship and pain and there are some whose voices are silenced by circumstance. Everyone deserves to be seen and heard and to know that their story matters. That’s what I hope my writing does. I hope it offers a little light in dark places…

I hope it starts a conversation.

Stories are meant to be shared. When I write, I’m reaching out… hoping that when people read, they’re reaching back.

And that’s why, for a few days, I’m giving several of my books away for free… to share the gift that stories give me.  From 11-5-25 thru 11-8-25 Click Here

What stories left a lasting impression on you?