One Step From Grace: A Novel

One Step From Grace is the first novel I wrote several years ago. Long a goal to tell a complete story with multiple characters, layers, sub-plots, and voices, Grace is one of the writing achievements I’m most proud of. It opened doors in my career and allowed me to meet genuinely kind and interesting people through book discussions, across my community and beyond. It also gave me the opportunity to meet many good and talented individuals from the publishing industry who offered solid advice and encouragement.

On this site, I’ll be posting a newly-edited chapter of the novel each week during the early part of 2025 and hope that Karen, David, Cal — indeed all the characters who are part of this story — speak to you as they did to me when I first wrote them, and who still speak to me now. I tried to tell a story of one family and how the decisions we make — big and small — throughout our lives, impact and follow us, and so many others. The story of the Durling family aims to explore how we cope and how we live. And, ultimately, how we forgive and move on from the things that hold us, and others, back.

You can find the chapters in their own section by clicking on One Step From Grace in the menu, or at the bottom of this page. Initial chapters of the novel’s sequel, My Father’s House, will also be posted here later in 2025.

I hope you enjoy the story ~ drop me a note to let me know. Contact information is on the Inspirations and About the Author pages of this website.