Hello hello, fellow book friends!
I’m writing this to you from the passenger seat of our truck, as we roadtrip down to Florida for the last months of winter.
Snow is slowly fading in the forested scene out the window, and not a moment too soon—we’ve finally finished The Long Winter, which felt long indeed.
I’ve spent the last hour drafting a post on whether Christians should read books we disagree with… and somehow I wrote 800 words before finishing the introduction. 🙈
Apparently, I have thoughts.
So instead of giving you a mini-lecture from the passenger seat, let me ask you:
Have you ever read a book you disagree with? Should Christians read books that challenge—or even contradict—our theology? And truthfully: have you ever judged a friend for books she had lined on her shelves?
Leave a comment below to enter this month’s giveaway—I’ll mail one winner books straight from my actual bookshelf.
By far the most influential book I’ve been reading lately is Redeeming Eden: How Women in the Bible Advance the Story of Salvation, by Ingrid Faro and Joyce Koo Dalrymple. I truly can’t get it out of my head—especially the opening chapters on what it means that women bear the image of God and that Eve was formed from Adam’s “side.”
What I appreciate most is how this book holds Scripture in high regard while thoughtfully reexamining some of our inherited interpretations of familiar stories. And it shows how God delights in working with women to accomplish His purposes in the world.
This conversation has followed me everywhere—into the shower, into my Bible reading, even into the conferences I taught last month. Let’s just say… it’s very alive in my own writing right now.
I hope to finish Redeeming Eden in the next couple weeks as I settle into my new writing rhythm, but if you’re intrigued and want something that takes biblical scholarship seriously while remaining deeply rooted in Scripture, this one’s worth adding to your stack.
Next up: fiction. Because my brain occasionally needs a break.
I got The Line Between years ago after meeting Tosca Lee at a writer’s conference. She’s magnetic as a teacher—and an even stronger storyteller.
The premise? A young woman is expelled from an apocalyptic cult just as a global pandemic shuts down the world… and she’s tasked to transport the tissue sample that could lead to a vaccine. What’s wild is that Tosca wrote the pandemic plotline before 2020. The parallels are uncanny.
My favorite part was the first half, where dual timelines slowly unravel the protagonist’s faith within the cult while she’s racing to save the world. The second half slowed for me (I was more interested in the cult psychology than the pandemic arc), but by then I was fully invested in the FMC.
It’s written from a Christian worldview, but without preachy passages—faith is shown in motion.
Since February’s apparently the month of love, I try to read a marriage book around Valentine’s Day.
I first picked up Finding the Hero in Your Husband in 2021—and after filling several margins with notes of disagreement, I put it down.
I don’t always agree with the books I read (see opening question of this email). But in this case, I have the benefit of knowing the author. I texted Juli the first time I read it, and she was gracious and open to talking through my questions.
So I’m giving it another read this month. I’m hoping for another walk-and-talk to process it again.1 I’ll report back.
I don’t have a wordcount to share this month. Between California, NYC, Charlotte, and now Florida, most of my writing energy has gone toward developing messages instead of manuscript pages.
While in NYC, Flaviu and I slipped into the Metropolitan Museum of Art for what felt like the most enchanting early Valentine’s date night.
I paused in front of this statue of St. Catherine of Alexandria—patron saint of scholars and students (and readers, in my unofficial opinion).2 I first learned about St. Catherine last fall in this marvelous little collection of Christian women and men throughout history. I was struck by her courage: a noblewoman who refused to marry the emperor and remained faithful to Jesus at the cost of her life. She may just show up in a future book. 😉
And then I spotted an ancient papyrus and saw “Mount” and “Sermon” in Greek. My heart leapt—an early manuscript of the Sermon on the Mount?!
Nope.
It was an extra-biblical text about Adam’s third son, Seth, on Mount Sinai. Slightly less thrilling.
Still, studying that fragile scrap of writing behind glass reminded me how powerful words can be. Even controversial ones. Even debated ones.
Maybe someday one of our journals will be displayed in a museum.
Actually—please don’t. Just burn mine. For everyone’s sake.
Back to modern writing life.
Aside from conference messages, most of my recent word count has gone toward emails and social posts about our new Bible study eCourse, Planted. I’m genuinely excited about it—it’s a gentle 21-day rhythm to help women meet God in His Word.3
Writing marketing copy, however? Not my spiritual gift.
Sometimes I feel like the sentences I draft for social media have the lifespan of a fruit fly. It makes me want to unplug from the internet and move to a remote cabin with an ancient typewriter.
I kid.
I’d miss you all.
And I’d get carpel-tunnel. I hear those typebars are killer on the wrists. lol
One of the fun things about being an author is that you make friends with other authors. And then they release books, and you get to celebrate with them. So I thought I’d add a regular feature here highlighting my bookish buddies and their brand-new books.
If you want wiser, healthier friendships…
Becky Harling’s Friend-Wise is a gracious guide to strengthening relationships by rooting them in the wisdom of Proverbs. I haven’t read it yet, but I had brunch with Becky last year while she was writing it, and her heartbeat for this message deeply encouraged me. (Fun surprise: I make a tiny cameo in chapter one.)
If you’re longing to invest more intentionally in life-giving relationships—and learn from someone who’s walked through real trials with faith and humility—this one’s worth a look.
If you’re searching for clean YA romance…
Jaime Jo Wright (and her daughter Chloe!) wrote Love and Baseball, about a book-loving teen who creates an AI boyfriend—only to have his real-life lookalike show up at her school months later.
I haven’t read it yet, but I’m intrigued by the clean premise, thoughtful tech twist, and the kind of story I’d love to share with my daughters someday.
And now I’m curious—
What book on your shelf would surprise people?
Tell me in the comments to enter this month’s giveaway. I’ll send one reader a little stack straight from my own bookshelf.
Until next month, I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been reading and enjoying (even if in secret) in the comments below.
Cheering you on, one page at a time,
Asheritah
P.S. I’m convinced our bookshelves quietly disciple us. What book has shaped you most this year—whether you agreed with it or wrestled through it?
I’m showing my hand here, I guess, but I like to think of reading as a conversation, engaging the author as they present ideas. Usually, that means annotations in the margins, processing my thoughts in my journal, or talking it out with a friend. It’s a rare gift to process with the author, but I’m all about it. We could book club it! Read Finding the Hero, and let me know your questions?
I guess St. Jerome is the official patron saint of librarians, book lovers, and translators. And I didn’t grow up with the saints, so I won’t argue that point. But I’m rather taken with St. Catherine, and did you know she’s always depicted holding a book? Just sayin’. She could be the unofficial patron saint for those of us who didn’t grow up with patron saints.
Way to bury the lead, I know. Sign up for more marketing tips and tricks, so you too can learn how to not talk about the products you spend months creating. 🙈
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