Ruth
Recently, I attended a craft show to sell my books. To be honest, I didn’t have high expectations because I only paid $35 for my spot. To my surprise, I sold many books that day. But when I look back, what stays with me are the people, not the sales.
Each person who stopped at my table reminded me that a book can travel much farther than an author ever realizes. That day, I received a few beautiful reminders of this truth.
At one point, a teenage girl stopped and asked, “Do you remember me?”
I felt embarrassed that I didn’t remember meeting her before.
Then she said she bought my book, Allure of Elegance (Paradise PA Mystery Book 3). Not only had she read the book, but she’d enjoyed it so much that she recommended it to her mother. A while later, she returned with a middle-aged woman. The two of them stood at my table and talked about the book. After I informed them that the book had received two awards in 2026, they praised it again and encouraged me to keep writing.
I was deeply touched.
Later, a woman in her late twenties stopped by. She read the blurb of The Way We Forgive (my memoir), learned I am a pastor’s wife and a scientist, and asked me how I became a Christian.
I hadn’t expected such a question at a craft show, but I welcomed the opportunity to answer. As a PhD biochemist, I didn’t come to faith without struggles and questions—most notably the debate over creation and evolution. That changed when the Holy Spirit helped me recognize God isn’t constrained by human concepts of time and space. Both creation and evolution talk about the element of time, which isn’t applicable to God. The Bible uses concise language to convey the fact that God created the universe. I mentioned to her that faith didn’t mean abandoning my scientific background. Instead, science and faith need not be enemies. Science helps me investigate the world, while faith addresses realities that go beyond scientific measurement.
The woman listened thoughtfully, bought my book, and thanked me for sharing my testimony. I don’t know what will happen next. Perhaps she’ll simply read the book and enjoy the story. Perhaps something in it will make her think more about forgiveness, faith, or God.
Shortly afterward, a man came and picked up Eclipsed System, my award-winning Christian science-fiction novel. He admitted he wasn’t an avid reader himself but his buddy loved science fiction. After reading the blurb, he decided to buy the book for his friend. Then he explained why. His friend, who grew up Catholic, had become an agnostic. The book’s themes of sin, redemption, and transformation might help his pal reconnect with God.
That comment stopped me for a moment.
When I wrote the book, I wanted to tell a science-fiction story while also exploring spiritual questions. But I never imagined that someone might purchase the book because he hoped it would help another person’s spiritual journey.
What an unexpected encounter!
By the end of the craft show, I’d sold most of the books in just a few hours. Of course, I was happy about the sales. More importantly, I’m thankful for the opportunities to share my faith, even in unexpected places.
And above all, I’m grateful to the Lord for giving me the inspiration in the first place.
