Rachel Runnalls's Blog, page 2

H I D I N G: school edition

Youth leaders and pastors are using 'HIDING - every scar has a story' to open conversation about issues like bullying, abuse, self-harm, empathy, and where God is when we're hurting. The 'School Edition' is HIDING's raw, redemptive story with less explicit language content to facilitate classroom use with students Grade 9+. Plus an author interview geared to high school students in the back!    Please drop me a comment or message me if you're a teacher taking the plunge with your class! I'm open

Oat & Blueberry Muffins

There’s a few recipes I know by heart because I’ve made them so many times for my family over the years. These muffins are amazing with chocolate chips as well, but seeing as it’s January and we just binged on Christmas treats, blueberries pack in more nutritional goodness and are just as tasty in their own way.   Ingredients   1 cup rolled oats 1 cup milk (not skim) 1 tbsp white vinegar   1 cup flour (or ½ white, ½ whole wheat) 1 tbsp bran 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp baking soda ½

Good coffee+fast pen #amwriting

  Is it true you're writing another book? Please tell me it's a HIDING sequel!!   It's a HIDING sequel! When I finished HIDING two years ago I found I couldn't leave Cary there, and picked the story up shortly after that novel ends. I think... fingers crossed... I have another full length novel project in me about Cary and the White family. I'll be sharing a sneak peak of that new novel here very soon - keep you posted!   Do you have a favourite writing spot? Or food? Or beverage? That is

Holiday sale on Kindle edition!

      Thanks to everyone who took the time to share or review HIDING with friends this holiday season. The Kindle edition of 'HIDING - every scar has a story' is only 99 cents (USD) until December 30th. Get yours here!                 And as an extra bonus, the Kindle edition of my husband's book 'Into the Valley: Spiritual Reflections on Depression' is also just 99 cents. This is a thoughtful non-fiction book written out of his own journey with depression and anxiety. Get yours here!

Q: What was your publishing journey like?

It is an amazing time to be a creative person with wifi access! I've been dreaming of being a published author since I was a little girl writing fanciful stories in my notebook during math class. I had no idea that by the time I had a novel-length project publishing and sharing my book would be so accesible.    A couple years into writing HIDING I realized that if I was not willing to omit either the explicit language or the overt Christian spirituality I would have a lot of difficulty finding a

Smoking, swearing and the gospel

  Exceprt from an interview with a pastor's wife and parent.   What would you want to say to churches that are concerned about protecting their youth from young people like Jon or Cary, who smoke or swear or have anger issues or doubts?   The reality is at some point your kids are going to encounter someone who smokes or swears or has problems, and if they are 14+ I recommend reading HIDING with them as a safe way to open a conversation about how to respond to messy people in a Christ-like way.

When God is Not Good - sermon on Psalm 73

 "When God is Not Good: not so simple answers on the high road of faith"   I had the privilege of preaching on Psalm 73, Sunday August 18 2015 in my home church and HIDING got a mention. I was drinking Psalms like water in the difficult time of our family life that pressed that story out of me, and some of the Psalms that spoke most deeply to me appear in the section breaks of the novel. You can click the sermon title to have a listen.   Grace and peace, r  

My Top 4 Inspiring Fiction Books

  The Shack, by Wm P Young   I had completed my first draft of HIDING when I came across The Shack. Its gritty storyline, paired with a real and present picture of the Triune God rocked my world. At the time I seriously doubted that I could find either a publisher or a readership for a novel that had brutally honest shit going down and a vivid, personal Jesus together in one story. The Shack broke new ground, bending genres to combine suspense with spiritual formation - and millions of readers

Whole Wheat Honey Bread

  Is there anything that says 'home' better than a warm slice of fresh-baked bread? Last winter I learned to make our family bread, and this recipe is the one I use every week (with small variations here and there). It is my adaptation of the Whole Grain Bread recipe on the Roger's flour bag. I knead it up in a Bosch mixer. Whole Grain Honey Bread 3 hours prep/bake time. Makes 4 loaves. 1/2 cup warm water (warm but not hot to the touch) 1 tsp honey 2 T traditional yeast Step 1: Mix in the