We have all been hit by OUTLIERS. In school, when the teacher grades on a curve, outliers are the death of our grade. Everyone bombs a test, but because one kid gets a 90 it knocks down everyone else's grade. The phenomenon of OUTLIERS is an important topic to...
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Sci-fi Fantasy Stories One more gift to add to your pile–Relationships Today I read in Malachi: Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. Malachi 3:16 This is my vision for the community I’ve started. It’s a small fellowship of readers who like sci-fi, fantasy, dystopia, and apocalyptic…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Sci-fi Fantasy Stories Merry Christmas from my home to yours! I know Christmas doesn’t always turn out as the perfect, ideal, family-ties and Hallmark movie type experience. Today I’m praying that no matter how it compares to your past or ideal hopes, that at the forefront you will dwell on the Word become Flesh. The miracle of the Incarnation–Mary saying, “may it be to me according to your word,” is a model for us in how we approach God. When…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Sci-fi Fantasy Stories The Darlene N. Böcek Book Community Hey friend, Now that the 2025 Kickstarter is over, I wanted to let you know what, Lord willing, 2026 holds in store on our Community site. This world is going dystopian. No doubt about it. Normal people have to figure out how to live in this chaotic world. We want CLEAN READS and UPBUILDING FICTION to help entertain and encourage us on this journey. We want to stay true to our faith as…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories Dear Reader, I’ve been wrestling with something for a long time, and I want to share it with you candidly. Over the past few years, we’ve all sensed it—that slow pull of the apps, the scroll that never ends, the way our attention is quietly siphoned away. Johann Hari wrote in Stolen Focus, “the algorithm has one driving principle: show you what keeps you looking.” Not what builds you up. Not what roots you…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories Let the Merry Holidays Begin! As we enter into the season of Christmas, as we begin to focus on the birth of our savior, here are some wise words I read yesterday from Martin Luther’s Commentary on Galatians. “Wherefore, when thou art terrified by the majesty of God, or when thou thinkest upon God’s judgment, unless thou hast Christ, thou wilt despair. Then straightway imagine Christ, the true and natural…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories Happy Thanksgiving! Hey Reader, On Tuesday I forgot to send Monica’s Pumpkin Pie recipe to you–forgive me. HERE’S THE RECIPE to download Have a wonderful holiday. yours, Darlene By the way–if you didn’t get to VOTE, here’s the info again… Choose the Podcast Title/art I am starting a new podcast where we will have fun and deep conversations with sci-fi fantasy authors to investigate pop culture and…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday! Hey Reader, My daughter has been experimenting with Pumpkin Pie recipes–So for about a week and a half we ate Pumpkin Pie every day. Yumm!** The good news–we found the perfect one! The better news–it also happens to be Monica’s recipe (If you know you know 😉). Then she moved on to Apple Pie. She made a dairy-free apple pie and sugar free/gluten free apple pie for me…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories Final hours—Box Set closes tonight A few Fun MEMES to close off our Countdown… Have you ever been in a group project where you had to do all the work? It’s almost a rite of passage for university classes. For the Return to Me trilogy, each person does their part: Reuben, Vera, and Monica. All three stories work together. Don’t miss out. It’s over today. Final call! The Return to Me box set Kickstarter…
“Final hours to JOURNEY beyond the veil!” From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Fantasy, Sci-fi & Speculative Stories This is your last chance Reader– Tomorrow, November 20, at MIDNIGHT, the Return to Me Box Set is going away. It is truly a LIMITED EDITION, since only the backers on this Kickstarter will have the beautiful box set. You really want this book set. You’ll love the stories and will delight in the beautiful box that houses them. Friend, this is it—our final hours. When…