In January of 2023, Connie and I were both single indie Christian writers. We met through our books in a Facebook Christian author group. Fast forward 2 years and now we are married and have already experienced several new chapters of our lives together.
We are working on a sequel to Connie's historical fiction/ Memoir, "Mae and Me" entitled, "Mark and Me" which will tell some of our backstory and the amazing providence leading up to how God brought us together in marriage. Not sure when it will be released, as we and the manuscript are a work in progress.
I knew back in the first three months of our friendship that Connie was an author that needed to be discovered after reading just three of her self-published books: Look Around! Ten Observations That Lead to One Conclusion, Mae and Me, and Symphony: God's Sovereignty Through Human Freedom. I discovered that Connie had a real and raw approach to her writing about her own relationship with God and others and that we shared the same view of the purpose of life: to know and be known in loving relationships with God and others. I not only loved her writing but began to have feelings for her as we began to communicate through emails. But I digress and will save that for the book we are co-authoring.
This past Christmas my wife purchased her newly published Teen fiction book as gift to me (the first book published as Connie Cook Worden). I was a little apprehensive about reading her fiction, well, because her other writing was so good, I didn't want to be disappointed, as not everyone is cut out to write fiction well. I know, I am not! I was delightfully surprised when I found her fiction to be a page turner for me, once I got into the story and the characters she so artfully and masterfully created. I then went on a reading binge and read 3 more after my first fiction works by my wife that I highly recommend (that's a lot for me as I normally don't read much fiction, and I was blessed):
The Carpenter and the Cradle: A History Weaver Adventure (History Weaver Series Book 1) Teen Fiction
A sleepy village.
An idyllic location.
A new friend group.
Hidden societies.
Sacred objects.
Ancient mysteries.
The lust for power.
The right to rule.
The conflict between the two.
They're all brought together by the trigger event of a hit-and-run outside Beaver Row Books that doesn't appear to be an accident. The incident pulls fifteen-year-old twins, June and July Eagles, and their friends into a world of mystery, intrigue, and adventure they'd never before imagined. But also a world of stories of beauty and meaning. And true love.
Patters of Swallows - Adult fiction
"In later years, Ruth couldn't have explained why the swallows had become a symbol. But she was afraid that the moment her father had knocked down their nest, leaving one baby bird at the bottom, that act had become her symbol in her mind for her father."
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Set in the 1950s in rural British Columbia, Patterns of Swallows follows the fictional life of Ruth Chavinski. Ruth's father deserted her and her mother when Ruth was scarcely old enough to remember him. That event set the pattern for a life of loss and seeming-tragedy. Yet, on a deeper level, her life's pattern was woven on a loom of unfailing love and grace, the threads held firmly in the hands of One who makes no mistakes.
Patterns of Swallows is a story of the grace and redemption offered to every person and of the healing this grace and redemption can bring to broken lives.
Sweet Serenity - Adult Fiction
"Last Name: Sweet
"First Name: Serenity
"That was how I filled it out on the form, and that is how they see me here because that is who I am (to those to whom I'm just a name on a form, that is). Sweet, Serenity. More commonly known as Serenity Sweet.
"I wish it were true. I wish my name were true of the person, I mean. It was wishful thinking on my mother's part, I'm afraid. Serene is one thing I've never been, and I don't imagine I've ever been considered sweet, either."
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Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease and fearing the loss of her memories and of herself, Serenity begins keeping a journal to hang onto memories while she still can. Her journey of self-discovery leads her to a destination she never could have predicted.
Who are the Corathane, the keepers of the firewand, and what is the secret they've guarded for generations? And what does that secret have to do with “quiet, bookish, ordinary” Jocelyn Quiring?
The summer Jocelyn turns fourteen, her adventures begin when her family moves to the North Country to be with her mysterious Uncle Leb who has some secrets of his own. The secrets she learns there change her entire life. They could change yours.
Not sure you want to give one of Connie's books a read? - You can listen to her read the following books on her YouTube channel for free to see for yourself:
Here latest fiction book is being recorded and posted chapter by chapter on YouTube:
Here meditations on the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of an average Christian, is available to listen to for free and for purchase through Audible and Amazon. Amazon link or Audible link
We hope and pray that you will consider these reads or listens to encourage you in your relationship with God and others. Blessings, Mark R. Worden
