Author

As you can see as you glance about the page, I am a novelist and a poet, but I am also much more. Most of the time you will find me reading, biking, walking, dancing, or hanging out with my family and friends, preferably at the beach. I love anything related to creativity, and I am a passionate follower of Christ who longs to serve him in all I do.

Silly Little Sparrow Photos

Perhaps the best way I can sum up who I am is by sharing my favorite scripture from the Message version of Matthew 11. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

This is how I desire to live, and this is the reason I write. My hope for you is that you will learn the unforced rhythms of grace and begin to move freely and lightly in the flow of the Holy Spirit.

The links above will take you to pages about my writing and my life. Please note that I love to speak at schools, churches, conferences, etc...on writing and/or spiritual topics. If you are a fellow author or a publisher, you might be interested in my editorial services as well.

More About the Author

After completing my master’s degree in writing at Regent University in 1994, I spent the following years as a wife, mother, dancer, and teacher, only writing some poems and a few short plays along the way. It wasn’t until 2001 that I even had the idea for my first novel, but then came baby number three and five years of homeschooling.

The Sleiman Family

Finally in 2006, I felt I had gained the needed life experience to become an author, and that it was time to get to work telling my stories. Another five long, hard years later my first novel, Dance of the Dandelion, released with Whitefire Publishing. This novel was awarded the 2009 Overall Winner of the Touched by Love contest for unpublished authors and an Honorable Mention in the published Selah Awards. Then came Love in Three-Quarter Time with Zondervan and my first contemporary novel, Dance from Deep Within. You can find free samples of these books on amazon.

Next on the horizon is a three book series with Bethany House Publishers. The Valiant Hearts Series offers strong young medieval women in stories of romance and adventure. Book 1, Dauntless, features a Robin Hood type heroine and is tons of fun. It is now available and is the Library Journal April pick of the month in Christian fiction!

I am represented by Tamela Hancock Murrary of The Steve Laube Agency. Since selling my first book to WhiteFire, I have also become an acquisitions editor for the company. I am a member of the Inkwell Inspirations blog, HEWN Marketing, ACFW, and a contributor to Christian Review of Books. I hold publishing credits in poetry and songwriting, and I was the writer and featured teacher in a nationally distributed instructional dance video for children. I have written several songs about the plight of the Islamic people, which have been produced in association with the Christian Broadcast Network. In addition, I have taught college and high school classes in writing and literature, as well as homeschool classes in the fine arts, and now enjoy teaching at writers conferences throughout the nation.