I hope this finds you well. A quick note today. Firstly–
Thought to ponder–
“Nearness to God is happiness.”
Charles Spurgeon
I love this quote. At church we have a new song (about the same thing) which we’ve been singing that I can’t get out of my head. My husband just translated it into Turkish from Russian. Surprisingly this song isn’t in English.
Essentially, the lyrics are: ​Let the Whole Earth Proclaim
Let the whole earth proclaim, Christ has saved me; My soul sings in praise: Salvation is in Christ.
Come, let us rejoice in the Lord, There is no doubt, I am saved; Even if the whole world stands against me, Christ is my Savior.
Even if an angel were to come, And say, “You have not changed,” I would never waver, my Lord, For I would remember Your word.
Though my mind may doubt, My soul calls out to You; You give me peace, And tranquility in my heart.
I have put my faith in Christ; My spirit is unshakable in Him. I endure every hardship, And I live with joy!
(lovely music is linked at the bottom of the email)
Special feature this week–
The Heroes of Wessex. (Launching today!)
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The story takes place a couple hundred years after Trunk of Scrolls, and way over on the island of England, in Wessex. But otherwise, it seems to be a story very similar in heart to Marcellus’s story.
Click above or below to find out more.
That’s it for this week!
Enjoy the links, books, and music below!
Yours,
Darlene
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April 2026 BOOK SUGGESTIONS
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Launching TODAY! Heroes of Wessex
A Medieval Adventure Trilogy for Teens
My author friend Amy Ullrich is celebrating the conclusion of her medieval adventure trilogy with an epic Kickstarter event!
If you love…
Fast-paced historical adventures full of unexpected twists
Characters that stay close to your heart long after the book has ended
Family-friendly fiction that balances fun and adventure with thought-provoking themes
…you’ll love this Kickstarter!
Amy’s Heroes of Wessex trilogy is set during the reign of Alfred the Great, the king who saved a nation by turning its heart back to God. The series is about the ordinary people who stood by him and rebuilt Christian England against overwhelming odds.
About the Heroes of Wessex SERIES:
In the shadow of King Alfred the Great’s hard-won victories over the Danes, a fragile peace settles over Wessex—but it shatters in a single night, tearing siblings Edwin and Edith into a world of fire, treachery, and divided loyalties.
Cast onto separate paths, Edwin descends into betrayal and exile, haunted by guilt and hunted by the consequences of his choices, while Edith struggles to survive in a land where trust is deadly and truth is obscured at every turn.
As storms gather and unseen forces tighten their grip, Edwin must risk everything to return and face the man he has become. Reunited at last, the siblings are thrust into a final, desperate race against a hidden enemy whose reach extends deeper than they ever imagined—where courage is forged in sacrifice, and the fate of a kingdom hangs by a thread.
Acclaimed historical fiction author Douglas Bond has said of Amy’s work: “You will feel that you are there, experiencing the mounting conflict and desperate struggle first-hand. You won’t want it to end.”
Join the adventure NOW!
Last Chance -31 Stories of Hope
Final day: April 30
FREE: The Spectral Detective Series: The Prequel In the last days of war, the Allies stormed a fortress to claim a weapon of legend—and the line between science and the supernatural vanishes.
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek 🔥 Faith-forged Fiction 🔥 Dear Reader First some book news: I have a free short story for you. This short story is available only to people who receive this newsletter. The story is about Tamar, but told from the perspective of her brother Absalom. It’s a passionate exploration of the WHY behind “how things turned out.” It might make you cry. It makes me cry. Enjoy your tears. May it all draw you closer to Christ. Now…to the confession It’s all Emma’s Fault…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Sci-fi Fantasy Stories Dear Reader I’m still catching my breath from our whirlwind trip in England. Our family had business in England and we have been away from home for 3 weeks. Besides the conference and meetings we were at, we were able to visit sites of the following books or authors: Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre (Moors, Bronte Parsonage Museum)<–very sad place Pride and Prejudice (2005 film location: Chatsworth House in…
From the Desk of Darlene N. Böcek Faith-building Sci-fi Fantasy Stories Hey, Reader! I’ve been in the UK over the past couple weeks. Today, for example, in Cambridge, I took a break at the Pickerel Inn, which is one of the later places where friends J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis had their famous Inklings gatherings. I’m anxious to share with you some of the places I’ve seen, which may also soon show up in some of my stories. For example, where we were on Thursday and Friday was like…