Rachel Hauck

Best-selling author and award winning author Rachel Hauck lives in central Florida with her husband and loving pets. She earned a B.A. degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and spent seventeen years in the corporate software world before leaving to write full time. Rachel loves to teach and mentor writers.

She is a Book Therapist at www.MyBookTherapy.com, a daily craft blog and community for writers. In the past, Rachel is the president of American Christian Fiction Writers and now servers on the Advisor Board. Visit her blog and web site at www.rachelhauck.com.



Diamonds for Christmas

The other day, while walking my cute little dog, I met a young man waiting for the bus. He said hi; I said hi. Dog did her business. (I’m just painting a picture here.)


He sat on the bench, a folder and old-looking book on his lap.


“What are you reading?” I asked.


“James Patterson. The Alex Cross novels.”


“Really? Wow . . . so you like to read?”


“A lot. It’s a great way to escape and relax, and to learn.”


What an awesome young man. In his mid-twenties with a book in his hand instead of a Game Boy.


“I’m a writer,” I said.


“Really.” Eyes wide. “What do you write?”


“Chick stuff, girl books, life and romance. Funny, but deep with a touch of brilliance.” (Come on, y’all, it’s called promotion. And diamonds are brilliant, so it fits the story.)


“I like to read those kinds of books. I like everything. Where can I get one?”


I ran home with my little dog, and huffing and puffing I grabbed three books, several bookmarks, and the Barnes & Noble gift card someone had given me.


Driving back to meet my new friend, I knew this was a God encounter.


As I autographed the books, he kissed the gift card and put it in his wallet while I learned more about him.


At twenty-five, he was a father and living with his girlfriend’s grandma while trying to get his education and some job training. “I know knowledge is power,” he said.


I prayed with him and asked God to release His divine destiny in his life. In the natural, he has a long way to go, but God can do all things, the impossible, even speed up time while opening doors.

Reading is power. It causes us to expand our hearts and minds. We meet characters who become friends and linger in our hearts longer than any video game or movie.


As we enter the Christmas season, for gifts consider a book or bookstore gift certificate. Sit with your children or grandchildren and read. Turn off the TV and read a book.


When I was in fifth grade, my teacher read the Laura Ingalls Wilder books out loud to the class. We fell in love with a little girl living on the American frontier in the 1870s.


I love what I do. I’m awed that stories I write are printed and bound and sold in stores. It’s amazing to me. But it all started with reading.


Give diamonds this Christmas. Give the gift of reading.



Love Starts With Elle