FAQs

Items
Favorite food? I love a great steak. I also enjoy Mexican and Asian food. Some of my favorite meals are fresh fruits and berries with a side of scrambled eggs.
How did you end up in Alaska? Good question! I wonder that myself every so often. My aunt had a bed and breakfast in Sitka, Alaska. My uncle died suddenly a few years ago and needed help so I came for part of a summer to give her a hand. She invited me for a second summer and I jumped at the chance to return. That's the summer I met Leif. I was doing a book signing. He walked in and bought two copies. We eventually hung out and began dating. He asked me to move to Alaska, and I told him, "No way! I'm not living there!" A few weeks later my mom met him and told me I was dumb not to respond to the invitation. This fall we will celebrate our sixth year wedding anniversary. In the summer of 2007, we moved back to America, I mean, Colorado, and we love our community on the outskirts of Denver.
How old are you? Old enough to know that question is optional.
In your critically-acclaimed book, The Organic God, you talk about how you went through the Bible verse by verse writing down every verse that revealed something about God. Tell us something you discovered. I learned so much from that spiritual discipline. One of the many things I discovered is that God is very specific about the things he loves. He obviously loves his people, and there's verse that says he loves the sanctuary, and we all know John 3:16 (even if you've only seen it on a placard at a game). But there's only one verse in the whole Bible that says what God really loves succinctly. And it's 2 Corinthians 9:7, "God loves a cheerful giver." As I've meditated on that verse, I'm beginning to realize just how pleased God is when we give just material possessions but of ourselves to others; which includes caring for the poor, the widow and the orphaned people who are closer than you think. I can go into a lot more depth on this, but that's in The Organic God.
The Sacred Echo is a book about prayer and hearing God's voice. You share some pretty intimate stories in the book about your own doubts, struggles and fears. How hard was it to write this book? I think by the time I finished writing The Sacred Echo, I was completely spent yet renewed. It was hard to write about some of my experiences as well as those that I love, but in the end I found my own faith strengthened. And in the process, I was reminded that there are some questions that only God can answer and leave unanswered.
What advice do you have for traveling to Alaska? If you're thinking about touring the Inside Passage, consider visiting in May. Not only are the prices on cruise ships reduced for the start-up season, but the weather is often the best of the year. Bring a raincoat, sunscreen and lots of layers. (Alaskan locals don't use umbrellas). Weather changes rapidly in southeast Alaska. It's often raining, but recently summers have served up some surprisingly balmy temperatures and sunshine. Book your excursions ahead of time. Alaskan cruise ships are known to fill up six months ahead of time. You can only imagine how quickly the excursions are sold out! Go online, talk to your travel agent and make sure you reserve your favorite adventures before you step aboard the boat. If you want to design your own vacation, consider taking the ferry. The Alaskan Marine Highway allows you to travel at your own pace on a ferry, and most of the boats offer staterooms you can reserve for an extra charge. If you are traveling a long distance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then northern Alaska is a must. Add at least five days to your Inside Passage itinerary in order to really see Alaska at a relaxed pace. Denali Park takes a full day. If you add white water rafting or another activity, it's a second night stay. This can be booked with any of the cruiseships, however, some travelers recommend renting a car and making the trip on your own.
What authors have influenced your writing & your spiritual life? I love great writing and storytelling wherever they can be found, especially when it's in a fab magazine like The New Yorker. I read anything and everything that's nonfiction, even the back of cereal boxes. When it comes to growing spiritually, I prefer Bible commentaries. I'm a boutique reader so I tend to read the books no one has ever heard of.
Your latest book, Scouting the Divine, is a one you've been waiting to write for nearly ten years. What took you so long? As you can imagine, I've had a lot of ideas for books over the last decade, but this is one that I've never been able to get away from. After I first met Lynne, the shepherdess, I remember thinking, One day I'm going to write about this. I didn't know that day would take so long to arrive. I think I've just been waiting for the right time, that God breathed moment when you know you're supposed to move forward. Looking back, I'm so glad that I waited. The years I've had to hone the craft of writing have helped make this book the best one I've written to date.

Favorite food?

I love a great steak. I also enjoy Mexican and Asian food. Some of my favorite meals are fresh fruits and berries with a side of scrambled eggs.

How did you end up in Alaska?

Good question! I wonder that myself every so often. My aunt had a bed and breakfast in Sitka, Alaska. My uncle died suddenly a few years ago and needed help so I came for part of a summer to give her a hand. She invited me for a second summer and I jumped at the chance to return. That's the summer I met Leif. I was doing a book signing. He walked in and bought two copies. We eventually hung out and began dating. He asked me to move to Alaska, and I told him, "No way! I'm not living there!" A few weeks later my mom met him and told me I was dumb not to respond to the invitation. This fall we will celebrate our sixth year wedding anniversary. In the summer of 2007, we moved back to America, I mean, Colorado, and we love our community on the outskirts of Denver.

How old are you?

Old enough to know that question is optional.

In your critically-acclaimed book, The Organic God, you talk about how you went through the Bible verse by verse writing down every verse that revealed something about God. Tell us something you discovered.

I learned so much from that spiritual discipline. One of the many things I discovered is that God is very specific about the things he loves. He obviously loves his people, and there's verse that says he loves the sanctuary, and we all know John 3:16 (even if you've only seen it on a placard at a game). But there's only one verse in the whole Bible that says what God really loves succinctly. And it's 2 Corinthians 9:7, "God loves a cheerful giver." As I've meditated on that verse, I'm beginning to realize just how pleased God is when we give just material possessions but of ourselves to others; which includes caring for the poor, the widow and the orphaned people who are closer than you think. I can go into a lot more depth on this, but that's in The Organic God.

The Sacred Echo is a book about prayer and hearing God's voice. You share some pretty intimate stories in the book about your own doubts, struggles and fears. How hard was it to write this book?

I think by the time I finished writing The Sacred Echo, I was completely spent yet renewed. It was hard to write about some of my experiences as well as those that I love, but in the end I found my own faith strengthened. And in the process, I was reminded that there are some questions that only God can answer and leave unanswered.

What advice do you have for traveling to Alaska?

If you're thinking about touring the Inside Passage, consider visiting in May. Not only are the prices on cruise ships reduced for the start-up season, but the weather is often the best of the year.

Bring a raincoat, sunscreen and lots of layers. (Alaskan locals don't use umbrellas). Weather changes rapidly in southeast Alaska. It's often raining, but recently summers have served up some surprisingly balmy temperatures and sunshine.

Book your excursions ahead of time. Alaskan cruise ships are known to fill up six months ahead of time. You can only imagine how quickly the excursions are sold out! Go online, talk to your travel agent and make sure you reserve your favorite adventures before you step aboard the boat.

If you want to design your own vacation, consider taking the ferry. The Alaskan Marine Highway allows you to travel at your own pace on a ferry, and most of the boats offer staterooms you can reserve for an extra charge.

If you are traveling a long distance for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, then northern Alaska is a must. Add at least five days to your Inside Passage itinerary in order to really see Alaska at a relaxed pace. Denali Park takes a full day. If you add white water rafting or another activity, it's a second night stay. This can be booked with any of the cruiseships, however, some travelers recommend renting a car and making the trip on your own.

What authors have influenced your writing & your spiritual life?

I love great writing and storytelling wherever they can be found, especially when it's in a fab magazine like The New Yorker. I read anything and everything that's nonfiction, even the back of cereal boxes. When it comes to growing spiritually, I prefer Bible commentaries. I'm a boutique reader so I tend to read the books no one has ever heard of.

Your latest book, Scouting the Divine, is a one you've been waiting to write for nearly ten years. What took you so long?

As you can imagine, I've had a lot of ideas for books over the last decade, but this is one that I've never been able to get away from. After I first met Lynne, the shepherdess, I remember thinking, One day I'm going to write about this. I didn't know that day would take so long to arrive. I think I've just been waiting for the right time, that God breathed moment when you know you're supposed to move forward. Looking back, I'm so glad that I waited. The years I've had to hone the craft of writing have helped make this book the best one I've written to date.