I’ve loved to read as long as I can remember, and as I’ve taken on the career of writing myself, many authors have caught my attention as mentors. Let me share three of them with you.

Dee Henderson
I love Henderson’s books because I love mysteries. Also, Ms. Henderson is from Illinois and writes about the easy-going people of the Midwest. Since I’m from Missouri, this feels like home to me and is the atmosphere I also am comfortable writing about. She has just the right amount of romance, keeping it as one of many strands woven into a story.

I’m not a mystery writer, but I strive to grow in these other techniques of Dee Henderson’s work. I have read all of her books that I can get my hands on, but I’ve read The O’Malley Series multiple times. I’m getting ready to start it over again.

Jan Karon
My husband Murray and I have spent many delightful hours listening to audio books of Jan Karon’s Father Tim Kavanagh, his family, and friends—the hilarious people who live in the small southern town of Mitford. We laugh and are touched by the warm stories of people who meet God’s grace in Mitford.

I would love to one day write books that a couple could enjoy together the same way my husband and I enjoy Karon’s books.

Robin Jones Gunn
Robin Jones Gunn writes stories about new romance, relationships between mothers and daughters, and grandmothers, women with their careers, friends traveling abroad, married couples who need to find new hope in their relationships. I highly recommend this author for young readers, junior high and up, though she also encourages me through her stories for women.

I love to share her books with my daughters. That’s another goal I have—to write stories mothers and daughters can enjoy by swapping books with each other.

And all three of these women have taught me much about how to write God’s mercy and grace naturally into the everyday lives of people you might meet on the street in any town.

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All My Tears by Kathy McKinsey

Meet five women who struggle with life’s deep sorrows. Beth fights to recover from alcoholism and to mend her relationships with her family. Ann doesn’t believe God will forgive her. Kathleen wrestles with a years-old fear and with saving her marriage. Cassie needs to learn to deal with chronic depression. Martie finds herself the single parent of the eight-year-old niece she barely knows when the child’s parents die in a car wreck.

See how god gives them the gifts of hope, healing, and love.

Kathy’s debut novel–All My Tears—is now available on Amazon!

You can connect with Kathy online at her blog, Kathy’s Voice.