A New Chapter Begins

I keep opening this website, staring at it for a second, and smiling as if I’ve just walked into a room I’ve been dreaming about for years.

So, welcome to my world.

This is my very first post on my brand-new website, and I’m so happy you’re here. It feels a little like unlocking the door to a cozy cottage after a long trip. The lights are warm, the kettle is on, there’s a chair by the window, and somewhere nearby, two characters are probably pretending they aren’t falling in love while facing a faith-shaking challenge.

That’s the kind of place I hope this becomes.

My first book, At Journeys End, is a 2nd edition of the original I wrote in 2018. So many of my readers enjoyed the book and shared great feedback, so I finally revised it. It also helps that I'm retired now and have the time! It is only days away from being published, which still feels unreal to type. I’ve imagined this moment for so long, sometimes quietly and sometimes with the kind of wild hope that keeps you up at night. Now it’s almost here. Not someday. Not eventually. Days away.

And somehow, that’s only the beginning.

I have three more books nearing completion, not just ideas stacked in notebooks! My second book of the Journeys End Saga is named "Searching for Hope". I hope to release it by the end of October 2026. Two more are very close to completion as well. "Tears in a Jar" and "Beauty for Ashes" are part of the Journeys End saga. You can read more about these books in the Featured and Recommended Books list on this site.

However, there is more to come. I have notebooks stuffed with ideas, characters tapping on my shoulder, and more story worlds waiting for their turn. I’m excited, nervous, grateful, and maybe slightly overwhelmed, but mostly I’m ready.

A soft place to begin a new story.

This little website feels like a front porch

I wanted a place that felt more personal than a quick update. Somewhere I could share book news, behind-the-scenes thoughts, little peeks at characters, and the moments that make this writing journey feel real.

A website may seem simple from the outside. A few pages, a few links, a blog post or two. But for me, it feels like putting down roots.

This is where I can say, “Come in, I’ve been waiting to tell you something.”

I’m hoping this space becomes a warm corner for:

• Book updates and release news

• Sneak peeks and cover reveals

• Notes about characters and settings

• Thoughts on writing cozy romance

• Moments from the messy, lovely process of becoming an author

  
  

There’s something special about sharing the journey from the start. Not after everything looks polished and perfect. Not after I know exactly what I’m doing. Right now, while the paint is still drying and the books are still finding their way into the world.

That feels honest. It feels sweet. It feels like the right beginning.

My first book is almost here

Some moments in life look quiet from the outside but feel enormous on the inside.

This is one of those moments. It feels magical. And a little terrifying.

Once a book is published, it leaves the little private nest where it was safe and known. It goes out into the world. People meet the characters. They picture the settings. They bring their own hearts and histories to the story.

And that’s what I love about books. A writer creates the spark, but the reader brings the glow.

And the input! I want to hear from my readers, good or bad. I love honest reviews, and appreciate what you have to say. Heart to heart.

Speaking of my heart...

I’ve always loved stories that make the world feel gentler for a while. Where faith moves mountains, and the characters grow into amazing people. They've weathered the storm, suffered the doubts, and come out new on the other side.

My books are not just another cozy romance. My books have suspense, hard choices, enemies that you almost love. My characters have fears, old wounds, awkward moments, and complicated feelings, while still finding and sharing hope.

My first series is based in a small town, where connection matters. Where a shared cup of coffee can mean more than a grand speech. Where a small town festival, a family recipe, or a rainy afternoon can become the backdrop for a life-changing moment.

Those details are never small to me. They’re the heartbeat.

I have tried to balance honest emotions, tenderness, and humor in what I write. Misunderstandings, overprotective relatives, community gossip that somehow travels faster than the speed of light and more.

Most of all, I love writing characters who are easy to root for. Not perfect characters, because perfect can get boring fast. I mean people who are trying. People who want to be brave. People who have to learn how to trust, forgive, speak up, let go, or open the door when love knocks.

Every book starts with a few brave words.

The ideas just keep coming

One thing I’ve discovered is that book ideas rarely arrive at convenient times.

They do not politely wait until the laundry is done, the current manuscript is edited, the calendar is clear, and the coffee is fresh. They appear while driving, cooking, trying to sleep, standing in line, or hearing one tiny sentence that makes my brain go, “Wait. What if?”

I have so many new book ideas I can’t wait to start working on.

Some are only little sparks right now. A character. A setting. A first meeting. A secret. A holiday tradition. A house on a quiet street. A café where everyone knows everyone else’s order. A person returning home when they thought they never would.

Some ideas already feel larger. They’re beginning to collect scenes around themselves, like snow gathering on a windowsill. I’ll write down one note, then another, then suddenly I know the main character’s favorite dessert and what they’re most afraid to say out loud.

That’s one of my favorite parts of writing. The moment when a tiny idea becomes a living thing. The moment when my characters become alive to me.

Of course, not every idea becomes a book right away. Some need time. Some need the right pairing. Some need to be tucked away until they’re ready. I’m learning to trust that too.

The stories that are meant to stay usually do.

They keep coming back.

A simple table can hold a whole world of ideas.

What I hope you’ll find here

I hope this website feels like an invitation.

Not a loud one. More like a handwritten note tucked into a book.

I want this to be a place where you can check in and see what’s new, but also a place that carries the same feeling as the stories themselves. Warm. Hopeful. A little playful. Full of heart.

You can expect me to share the happy milestones, like publication days, new covers, and book announcements. I’ll also share some of the quieter parts, because those matter too. The almost-there moments. The messy middle of a draft. The joy of finally fixing a scene that refused to behave. The strange affection writers develop for side characters who were supposed to have one line and then decided they belonged in the whole book.

Most of all, I want to make this a place where the books feel close.

Because stories aren’t only about the finished pages. They’re also about the anticipation before release day, the characters becoming clearer, the cover finally matching the mood, and the first time someone says, “I can’t wait to read it.”

That kind of connection is precious.

Starting small still counts

There’s a part of beginning anything new that can feel awkward.

The first website post. The first announcement. The first book. The first time you say out loud, “I’m an author,” and hope your voice doesn’t wobble.

But starting small still counts.

A first post is a beginning. A first book is a beginning. A first reader, a first review, a first kind message, all of it matters.

I’m trying to let myself enjoy this part instead of rushing past it. It’s easy to focus on the next task, and there are always plenty of tasks. But this moment deserves a pause.

So here I am, pausing.

This website is new. My first book is almost here. Three more books are close behind. More ideas are waiting, impatient and sparkling, ready for their turn.

And I’m so grateful I get to share the beginning with you.

A new book feels like a promise waiting to be opened.

Here’s to the first page

If this website is a little house, consider this post the first light in the window.

There’s so much ahead. Release news, finished drafts, new characters, future books, and all the sweet chaos that comes with building a writing life one story at a time.

Thank you for being here at the start. Truly.

I hope you’ll come back often, settle in, and follow along as these stories make their way into the world. The kettle’s on, the books are coming, and this new chapter has only just begun.

Deb Christensen