Just Telling Different Stories
Dear Friends,
As I sat down to write this month’s newsletter, it occurred to me that some of you may be wondering what I’ve been up to lately. The answer is simple. I’m still writing. In fact, I write every single day. The difference is that these days I’m spending a lot more time writing true stories than fictional ones.
For more than thirty years, I had the joy of creating mysteries, romances, children’s books, devotionals, and all sorts of fictional worlds. Looking back, I realize there was one thing nearly every one of those books had in common: Food.
- There was always someone baking a pie.
- Someone stirring a pot of soup.
- Someone gathering family around the table.
- Someone expressing love with a casserole, a birthday cake, or a plate of cookies.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but those kitchens weren’t imaginary.
They were inspired by the women who raised me: My mother. My grandmothers. My aunts. The ladies from church whose cookbooks still sit on my shelves today.
These women have all gone home to Heaven now, but they left me something priceless: their recipes, their traditions, and the understanding that feeding people is one of the sweetest ways to show love.
Lately, I’ve found myself preserving those stories in a different way.
Instead of writing about fictional meals, I’m cooking real ones.
Instead of inventing family recipes, I’m pulling out handwritten recipe cards and well-loved church cookbooks, trying to keep those memories alive for another generation. That’s what I’d love to share with you this month.
I’m grateful for the women who shared their love of cooking and baking with me. Every week in July, I’ll introduce you to one of those ladies, places, or memories that quietly found their way into my novels—and I’ll share recipes inspired by real-life stories.
Like the women who went before me, I absolutely love working in the kitchen. Over the past year, that passion has grown into a much bigger part of my everyday life. I’ve spent countless hours developing recipes, photographing food, collecting family stories, and working on several food-related projects with my family, on my own baking blog but also on my son-in-law’s blog, Backyard Texas Grill. It’s been such a joy that I can’t wait to tell you more in the weeks ahead.
This Week’s Family Table
- Chicken Fried Steak
- Southern Potato Salad
- Slow-Cooked Southern Green Beans
- Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
Whether you make one recipe or all four, I hope they’ll inspire you to gather the people you love around your own table this weekend. Until then, may your table be full, your hearts be grateful, and your family create a few memories worth passing down.
Blessings on you all!
Janice
