About
Why stories from off the beaten track?
As an insatiable reader from a young age, I read almost every genre. My favorites are mystery, fantasy, science fiction, dual timeline, supernatural—anything different, especially if it takes place in the South.
I remember checking out books from our high school library on space, medieval times, UFOs, and Bigfoot. The original Twilight Zone both scared and fascinated me. I loved the incredible twists each story held.
I want to bring hope instead of horror, though. Can I write stories with unforgettable characters, action, and suspense, but with a positive twist?
That’s my goal in writing.
My desire is to write with God and bring hope and encouragement through my words, both written and spoken, to everyone I meet, both online and in person.
The mission of my blog is to bring encouragement, hope, and a sense of wonder to others through words. Through thoughtful reflections and uplifting posts by my blogging team and me, we remind readers that even in difficult seasons, there is always reason to hope.
Through our Friday Fiction posts, my team and I also celebrate the imaginative worlds and stories of speculative fiction that inspire us, challenge us, and invite us to see our own world in new ways.
Above all, I want this blog to be a place where readers can find hope for the journey, encouragement for today, and stories that spark their imagination.
Meet the Blogging Team
Jennifer Hallmark
Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction with a twist. Her website and newsletter focus on her books, love of the South, and favorite fiction. She creates stories with unforgettable characters—her stories are a little eerie and otherworldly but with a positive turn.
When she isn’t enjoying her grandchildren or exploring the beautiful state of Alabama, you can find her at her desk penning fiction or studying the craft of writing. She also loves reading and streaming fantasy, supernatural stories, and detective fiction from the Golden Age or her favorite subject—time travel.
Jennifer and her husband, Danny, are managed by their half-Corgi rescue, Little Mack.
Cammi Woodall
Cammi Woodall is a daughter, sister, friend, reader, and writer. Also, addicted to Diet Mountain Dew but she is working on that! She started making up stories from a young age and writing them down in middle school. At age eleven, she continued the ongoing adventures of Luke Skywalker after Star Wars, and is mildly perturbed that George Lucas didn't go with her story. His version wasn't bad! She spends her time writing about battlefields, strong-minded princesses, royal court intrigue, and fantastical magic. Her free time is caught up in the stories of Stephen King, Leigh Bardugo, Dean Koontz, and Sarah J. Maas. A long-time contributor of book reviews for various blogs, Cammi enjoys sharing her love of stories and hopes to encourage readers to branch out and try new genres. Right now, her fiction writing is still kept close to her heart. One day, she wants to share it with the world.
A.S. Hardin
A.S. Hardin is a fantasy and science fiction author. Her writing focuses on dark speculative fiction and character-driven stories set in worlds shaped by history, folklore, and science. Her work often explores flawed characters, difficult choices, strange discoveries, and the consequences that follow.
Hardin has taught creative writing since 2020, and when she isn't writing or teaching, she reads, crafts, thrifts, and you can often catch her on weekends getting in some much-needed wind therapy.
Melissa J. Troutman
Melissa J. Troutman is an author, reviewer, and editor of stories that linger. She lives near the majestic Rocky Mountains in Colorado, where she works as a teacher, tutor, and freelance editor. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and a master's in Teaching English as a Second Language.
Her first novel was published in 2013. She is currently writing a four-book YA fantasy series. In 2020, she co-founded The Valley ministry blog, where she served as writer and editor until 2024.
Melissa is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) National and ACFW Colorado Springs.
K.A. Ramstad
K.A. Ramstad lives at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains in western Montana, where wildlife—including moose—regularly pass by her house. She enjoys writing about young heroes, their travels, and their animal friends. She wants her readers to have fun in a fantastical world while encountering God-honoring themes.
Her short stories are featured in Chipper Press’ anthologies The Spelunkers and The Princess, and she’s also featured in Beyond the Bookery’s Of Dangers and Dreams. Besides reading and writing stories, she loves coffee, her Corgi Maggie, and her cockapoo Benny.
Grace MacPherson
Grace MacPherson is a Christian fantasy author who writes about sacrifice, redemption, and the triumph of good over evil.
When Grace isn’t writing, she usually has her nose in a book. On the rare occasion that she pulls herself away from the written word, she enjoys knitting, watching movies with her family, and holding unattended babies at church.