C.S. Wachter's Blog: Hope, Hearts, and Heroes, page 10

A Giant Problem

One thing I find interesting and disappointing about today’s culture is the lack of ‘civil’ discourse. In a day and age where discussion can quickly devolve into argument, it would be impossible to come to any understanding between two disagreeing people if there isn’t a foundation of respect first. I would love to let my … Continue reading "A Giant Problem"

The Pasture Watch – Part Five: The Furnace of the Sky

It was a zonnestrider, a diurnal spirit that exhaled a deathly aura of fury and violence. No weapons were permitted on or around the pasture, not even the fairy blade. The fathers of Otto, Else, and Kitty were livid that they were not allowed either. Dr. Kikkert, as the least physically dangerous of the older … Continue reading "The Pasture Watch – Part Five: The Furnace of the Sky"

An excerpt from Harvesting Hope

My latest book releases today, so for today’s post, I decided I would share an excerpt of it. First, the description of the book: The last year has been a whirlwind of trials and triumphs for the Tanner family. With injuries, near foreclosures, and a family tragedy behind them, Jason Tanner, the oldest of the … Continue reading "An excerpt from Harvesting Hope"

The Elusive Plot

How many authors or aspiring authors have a pile of unfinished manuscripts stacked in a drawer or on their computers? How many of them were so sure each one of these would be their best work yet, only to lose interest after a few thousand words? I’m in danger of becoming one of those. A … Continue reading "The Elusive Plot"

For the Love of Words Part 2

I love using words like myriad paint colors to create images in readers’ minds. The English language allows me to use a wide pallet while the rules of writing and grammar set the boundaries that define the edges. But, like any language, English has its idiosyncrasies. I would like to look at a couple. First, … Continue reading "For the Love of Words Part 2"

The Struggle of Claiming the title ‘writer’

This post was originally published on Boondock Ramblings, January 21, 2020. Writing a book is weird and hard. That’s sounds dramatic, I know. And it’s not like it is hard like farming or construction or being a doctor or a police officer. I don’t mean that, of course. I mean, writing is mentally draining and … Continue reading "The Struggle of Claiming the title ‘writer’"

The Pasture Watch – Part Four: The Cure

By the time morning came the fairy tree was not only withered but rotten. The fallen leaves that had dried and then been wetted by the dew filled the whole place with the bay leaf smell. Otto thought it was rather inconsiderate of the fairy’s signal to make such a mess after only one brief … Continue reading "The Pasture Watch – Part Four: The Cure"

Engaging Your Readers

Doesn’t the man in the photo above look engaged in what he is reading? As a reader, don’t you want a book to draw you into its story like that? As a writer, don’t you want your book to draw readers into your story that deeply? So, what is it about a book that draws … Continue reading "Engaging Your Readers"

The Pasture Watch – Part Three: The Signal

Dr. Tom Kikkert was friendly about the number of people he let in the room when they were those who needed to be there. He kept the true proverb, that “companionship is the purest medicine”. Otto’s room had warm brown walls: the doctor tried to avoid sterile white. Otto’s barrel-chested father sat by the bed … Continue reading "The Pasture Watch – Part Three: The Signal"

The Pasture Watch – Part Two: The Sting

Otto Kunger had a round head, with close-cut hair, and round, thick glasses; however his spirit was quite squarish. His eyes were quick and clever, so that when he went “hunting” with Kitty in the fields and woods, while she found things more often, he found things that were usually more interesting; consequentially, they each … Continue reading "The Pasture Watch – Part Two: The Sting"