Dear friends, fans, & fellow readers,

Math People tell me that 2020 is technically not a new decade, but to me the zero makes it feel like something. A chance to reflect, recalibrate, look back, forecast. So here goes.

First, I’m cancer-free. At least that’s what my oncologist says. Plus I’ve got a headful of ringlets and they’re AWESOME.

I still wrestle at times with extreme anxiety post-cancer, so I’m learning to lean on my therapist/ meds/ gym/ church/ husband/ gratitude journal. I’m grateful for big and small mercies every day. But I often wonder, “Was that…did that…what just happened to me?”

My husband Tom continues to thrive as lead pastor of Sycamore Creek Church here in Lansing, where I volunteer as the Junior High Small Group leader. Over the past 2-3 years we’ve gotten more involved in racial reconciliation among churches here, which has led to some wonderful friendships. Meanwhile our denomination is bracing for a split over LGBTQ inclusion, so prayers are appreciated.

Our two little boys–Micah (9) and Sam (6)–aren’t little anymore. Tom and I do not cry over this. The boys are thriving in school, running in packs with neighborhood children, ridiculously good at math (their mother is not), freakishly creative (their mother is), and generally the light of our lives–when they’re not in a timeout for sending each other to Urgent Care.

In December my parents, Bob & Peg Faulman, celebrated their 50th anniversary with family (that’s my mom in her wedding dress!). My sister Abigail Deloria and brother-in-law Phil continue to run Fiddlehead Farm in Northern Michigan (look for them at the Harbor Springs Farmer’s Market), where Abbie creates her phenomenal wearable fiber art.

A year ago this month my article “Madeleine & Me” appeared in Guideposts about how my 2018 breast cancer diagnosis interfaced with the publication of A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L’Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time (Zondervan). The subsequent response from readers around the world was stunning, a reminder that cancer initiates us into a harrowing fraternity/sorority of millions–and that we’re not alone.

Yeah, that’s Lauren Daigle on the front cover.
You know, me and Lauren.

In April, after attending as a guest at their annual retreat, I was honored by an invitation to join an august writers guild known as the Chrysostom Society, whose members over the years have included Eugene Peterson, Madeleine L’Engle, Calvin Miller, Richard Foster, Luci Shaw, Stephen Lawhead, Philip Yancey, and many more. This freaked me out in all the best ways. I said yes (duh).

At the 2019 Chrysostom Society retreat, Laity Lodge TX.

2019 saw lots of other L’Engle pizzaz, including co-directing “Walking on Water,” the first-ever Madeleine L’Engle Conference in November, alongside Brian Allain of Writing For Your Life and Madeleine’s youngest granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis. YOU GUYS: I GOT TO INTRODUCE KATHERINE PATERSON!! Listen to her keynote & my somewhat giddy intro here.

The stellar team from We Need Diverse Books at the Madeleine L’Engle Conference, with myself and L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte. Photo by Lisa Beth Anderson, courtesy of Crosswicks, Ltd.



Photo credit Nathaniel Lee.
Yes, those are floral Doc Martens, which I found at a garage sale.

I spoke about my cancer journey in a homily at the conference’s host venue, All Angels’ Church in Manhattan, that same weekend. You can listen to the audio here.

So what’s happening in 2020?

Recently I had the honor of writing the foreword for the newly released, updated edition of L’Engle’s collected poems, The Ordering of Love (I also wrote the foreword for the new edition of Madeleine L’Engle Herself: Reflections on a Writing Life in 2018). I’m a contributor for the forthcoming collection Faithful Daughter: True, Inspiring Stories Celebrating a Mother’s Love (Dayspring, ed. by Ami McConnell Abston)–available in time for Mother’s Day, of course!

As for my own books, this is the year of fiction (crowd cheers!). My goal is nailing down an agent & publisher for my novels, which means pulling back from other commitments (crowd groans). In the meantime you can find me at the Festival of Faith & Writing at Calvin University in Grand Rapids April 16-18 as well as the C. S. Lewis Festival in Northern Michigan Sept 18-19.

Speaking of Northern Michigan, if you’re looking for signed editions of my books, look no further than McLean & Eakin Booksellers in my hometown of Petoskey. They’re happy to ship most anywhere, so be sure to check out my Shop page for links to McL&E’s current titles–and support a real, brick-and-mortar bookstore. (I no longer ship books myself other than my out-of-print titles.)

Last but not least, together with my colleagues Sophfronia Scott (This Child of Faith, Love’s Long Line) and Madeleine’s oldest granddaughter Lena Roy (co-author of Becoming Madeleine) I’ll be co-facilitating “A Circle of Quiet: The Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreat” at Camp Washington Episcopal Retreat Center near Morris, CT, Nov 13-15, 2020. Stay tuned for registration info coming soon!