Hello and Welcome to My Blog

I am the author of the Time and Again mystery series. The first book, Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station, introduces Abby Thomas, a young woman on a college service project with 11-year-old Merrideth. Abby's boyfriend John helps out in book two, Unclaimed Legacy. Currently, I am working on book three, in which Abby’s college roommate Kate enlists her help solving a family mystery.

I live in Waterloo, Illinois, where (when I'm not writing) I enjoy reading, gardening, and learning about southern Illinois history. I am married and have three grown children, three grandchildren, and canine buddies Digger and Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). 

You can read descriptions of my books below. And after that is my blog where I post articles about the writing experience,  the history behind the stories,  and my reviews of books I've enjoyed. Subscribe to my blog to get the latest updates. I'd love to get to know you, so feel free to post your comments. 

 

Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station

Abby expected to spend the summer in the dilapidated old house in Nowhereville getting to know
her student Merrideth.

She didn't expect to get to know Charlotte Miles, the girl who had lived there 160 years before.

She planned to tutor Merrideth in math and English--not history. But that's before the freaky program on her new computer started waking her with its invitation to "take a virtual tour."

It turns out a lot of stuff happened in that old house. . .and most of it never made it into the history books.

Time and Again is a story told in the past and in the future.  A story of three girls and their journey of self-discovery and faith.

 

What people are saying about Time and Again:

By  Tiffany A. Harkleraod TOP 1000 Reviewervine Voice


 


 Let me start off by saying this book had a very unique premise to me, sort of a "Back to the Future" meets virtual reality, with a little dash of "Seventh Heaven" thrown in. I loved the idea of this book being focused on several generations of women. Abby and Merrideth are wonderfully developed characters, and I loved watching them bond over the history behind the house and its previous inhabitants. . . 

 I felt like this book had two distinct storyworlds, one in the present, and one in the past, and both were developed in rich detail. The historical aspects of the story were particularly fascinating to me, and I really loved learning the backstory to the house and town. I liked how real historical facts were woven into that backstory as well.



There is a definite Christian flavor to the book, without being preachy or over the top. Abby's character is a Christian, though she has her flaws, and there are some scenes where biblical principles are discussed, but I think that the book still has secular appeal. The book is actually appropriate for both young adult and adult readers. All in all, I found this an engaging, entertaining read, and I hope that there are more stories to follow.

 

Unclaimed Legacy

“I call it time-surfing,” Abby said. “It’s like being there except no one can see or hear us.”

  “Whatever you call it,” John said, “that was crazy—what we just did. Beyond realistic.

 I mean, I was in that guy’s head and knew everything he was thinking.”

 

Abby’s weird computer program is working again. And it comes in handy when they agree to help the Old Dears next door with their family tree. Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies’ ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson, Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family’s reputation. But was he really guilty? Abby and John get inside the mind of a murderer to find out. But while they’re rummaging around in the Old Dears’ family history, they discover the truth of God’s promise to bless a thousand generations …

… and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed. 

 

What people are saying about Unclaimed Legacy:

In this sequel to Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station, we revisit Merri and Abby who have come across quite an unusual computer program… With it, they can log into the program in old homes and take a virtual trip back into time and view what life was like for the people who lived in that particular home…

…The reader is taken on a fiction time travel of sorts where the author, Deborah Heal, has taken pieces of real live history and woven them into the story to create a fantastic story geared to keep the reader entertained and on the edge of their seats through the whole book. I’ve been delighted to be given a sneak peek into this sequel … and have to say I adored every single bit of this. . . . read more here.