Welcome to My Website
Thank you for visiting.
Just a quick introduction:
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama—the “Bible Belt” of Deep South, where I served for 20+ years in the ministry, including more than 5 years in youth ministry and 11 years as Senior Pastor of a Southern Baptist Church. Because of my repressive conservative Christian beliefs, I spent more than 8 years trying desperately (and unsuccessfully) to change my sexual orientation!
I share this to give you a better understand of me; these themes are featured prominently in my writings.
I’m the author of three novels, with a fourth due out shortly. I’m also an active blogger.
These days, I’m retired, living outside Dallas, Texas with my husband and our skittish rescue mutt, Brody.
My new novel, A Double-Minded Man, is scheduled to be released in the Fall. This is a personal story I’m excited to tell.
Please check back; I’ll be sharing more about the book.
Or, join my Facebook community where I regularly post details and announcements. (Just click LIKE once you get there.)
Along with my dear friend Tim Rymel, M.Ed., I’m co-hosting the Recovering from Religion podcast.
Our guests offer personal experiences and insights from inside various religions and religious organizations, such as Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses and Scientology. We talk with those who’ve been harmed by extreme religious beliefs and practices. Some of these folks ended up abandoning their faith, others re-defined it, and some are still in process. In addition, there are experts who can offer help, hope and healing.
My new novel, A Double-Minded Man, releases October 4th
Still grieving the recent loss of his wife, Nate Truett returns to work, ready to resume the familiar routine on staff at a conservative church in Birmingham, Alabama.
A chance encounter with openly gay Trey Stravos forces to the surface desires Nate has always successfully suppressed. As their friendship grows, Trey disrupts Nate’s self-imposed constraints, and introduces him to once-forbidden pleasures.
There’s a connection with Trey that Nate has never known, and an intimacy he didn’t expect. But what they’re doing goes against everything Nate’s been taught to believe.
Not to mention, if anyone found out, it would ruin his career.
Nate panics!
He begins attending a support group that promises it’s possible for him to change his sexual orientation.
The decision to get involved with this ministry does bring change, but not what Nate anticipated.
It also sets in motion events that thrust him into the media spotlight as a reluctant national spokesperson for successful transformation.
All while he struggles with unanswered questions and unresolved doubts.
To reconcile his internal conflict, Nate will have to question the faith he's always embraced and confront the feelings he's always hidden.
An interesting set of circumstances has led me to revisit and revise my first novel. It’s now been re-released in a SECOND EDITION.