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Step Into The Light Podcast introduces listeners to people who have found their way out of the dark shadows of life and those who lead others on their journey from darkness.
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Available archived episodes currently are EP #230 – #272
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Latest Show
2024-12-26
Episode #272 - Featuring Antony Kolenc
Antony has won several book awards, is a columnist for Practical Homeschooling Magazine, and hosts The Shepherd’s Pie radio show and podcast. A previous guest on Step Into the Light, Antony returns today to discuss the sixth book in his teen historical fiction Harwood Mysteries series titled The Devil’s Ransom. Join us as Antony discusses The Harwood Mystery series, it's message for teens, and his plans for an innovative and intriguing adult series due to release next year.
Recent Shows
2024-12-12
Episode #271 - Featuring Pastor Joseph Misiaszek
THE JOY OF SAYING YES by SARAH HANKS 4/22/2025 1:00:00 AM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK:Whatever it Takes
AUTHOR: Sarah Hanks
PUBLISHER: SonFlower Books
GENRE: Split-time/women’s fiction
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Part of the Sisters in Arms collection,
can be read as a stand alone
TARGET AGE: adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR SARAH HANKS TO PATTI’S PORCH. SARAH TALKS ABOUT HER LATEST NOVEL AND HOW IT RELATES TO HER OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
THE JOY OF SAYING YES
by
Sarah Hanks
My newest release, Whatever It Takes, explores the complexities of infertility and surrogacy. In this novel, Ivy faces infertility due to cervical cancer. Her sister, Everly, steps up to become her surrogate. Both sisters have deep wounds from their pasts, and they each have different philosophies on health and pregnancy. Tension abounds, but in the end, they both find the healing they need through surrendering to Jesus’ path for them.
I’ve never faced infertility, nor do I have personal experience with surrogacy. However, I did go through some of the same medical processes that Everly did. I’m currently pregnant with our 10th child through embryo adoption. Like Everly, I prepared my body through painful progesterone shots, took estrogen, and had an embryo that is not genetically mine implanted in my womb. Talk about real life research!
As I feel this little one kick and squirm inside me, I ponder what it would be like to surrender this child to another mother to raise. I can’t imagine how hard that would be. In my other research on the topic of surrogacy, I found that some women become surrogates for the money. A surrogate might get paid upwards of $30,000. It’s easy to see how much that could change one’s life and why one might be motivated to go through the laborious process. For those in debt or those struggling with large financial burdens, it makes sense.
Other women become surrogates to help another woman out. They either have a heart for infertile women or they have a personal relationship with the genetic mother. Such was the case with the sisters that inspired Whatever It Takes. Fierce love compelled one sister to be a surrogate for the other. You can read their story in Amazing Grace: A story of surrogacy and the love of two New Zealand sisters. This is a kind of love that endures great sacrifice for the sake of another. In it I see a picture of Christ.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” Romans 12:1 (NIV)
There are many ways we as believers can walk out this verse. I’d say Everly’s offer of surrogacy to be one way. While most of us will never go to such an extreme, the bottom line is saying “Yes” to whatever the Lord leads us to do.
For me, it was saying “yes” when the Lord prodded my heart to adopt an embryo. For some it might be saying “yes” to pregnancy in general. For others, it might be saying “yes” to eating healthy and/or exercising. Or saying “no” to activities that would harm oneself and one’s witness.
I have found no greater joy in life than saying “yes” to the Lord. Whenever He leads us to do something, we can be assured it will result in our eventual joy, even if it’s painful for a moment.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
Though He understands our fear, He sees beyond it to what lies beyond. He is always out for our good and His glory. When He is glorified in and through us, we are satisfied. When we are satisfied in Him, He is glorified. We never take that scary step alone. He is right with us, closer than our breath.
What is the Lord leading you to do today? How is He prodding you to step out of your comfort zone? Whether in a little or big way, I pray He strengthens you and emboldens you to say “yes”.
Book Blurb for Whatever It Takes
At the brink of the Civil War, Henrietta Frontenac is a fierce protector of her five younger sisters. As poverty and despair threaten their survival, Henrietta takes a bold step to protect her family. She disguises herself as a man to find work at the docks and is soon swept into the ranks of the Confederate army. Facing unimaginable risks, will she maintain her secret identity, or will unexpected love unravel all she’s worked for?
In the present, Everly Moore, a former wild spirit turned compassionate chiropractor, has spent fifteen years trying to redeem her past. When her beloved sister Ivy faces the heart-wrenching challenge of infertility, Everly finds herself at a crossroads, unsure if she can confront her own trauma and step up as Ivy’s surrogate. After Everly and Ivy stumble upon the story of their brave relative Henrietta, they are inspired to confront their own fears. But will they make the difficult choices that could change their lives forever?
Dive deep into this intertwined narrative where past and present collide, showcasing the unyielding strength of sisterhood. A story of love, resilience, and the battles that unite us across generations.
Sarah Hanks is an award-winning author of Christian fiction in both the contemporary and historical genres. After spending over a decade mostly writing and teaching Sunday school curricula for churches in her community, she jumped into writing fiction full-time with her split-time novel Mercy Will Follow Me. She and her husband have nine children, a couple of whom seem to have inherited their mother’s love for playing with words and crafting stories. Though Sarah dreams of a cabin by the beach, the family lives jammed together in beautiful chaos near St. Louis, Missouri. She buys earplugs in bulk.
THE GREATEST TEACHER by PATIENCE O'BRIEN 4/18/2025 2:45:00 PM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK:Heart of Honor
AUTHOR: Patience O'Brien
PUBLISHER: Hearts of the West Collection
GENRE: Historical Romance
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Hearts of the West Collection & stand alone
TARGET AGE: clean adult
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR PATIENCE O’BRIEN TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. PATIENCE TALKS ABOUT THE LESSON SHE LEARNED FROM THE GREATEST TEACHER.
THE GREATEST TEACHER
by
Patience O’Brien
“Those who can, do. Those who can't - teach. "
Have you ever heard that expression?
The first part, “Those who can, do.” refers to those with special skills - like great actors, singers, famous artists, or even authors who’ve penned bestsellers.
But the second part- those who can’t- teach, refers to people who didn’t achieve that level of fame and fortune in a field they wanted to pursue.
As an art teacher, I admit those words once bothered me, but they made me curious, too.
I enjoy drawing and painting, and always have, so I was sure I’d become a famous artist or successful illustrator someday. Growing up, I loved drawing, and I drew my first horse (which my mother saved :) at around three or four. I got straight A’s in high school art and enjoyed painting backdrops for our church Christmas and Easter plays.
So, when I was accepted to a college to major in art, my mother and I worked our fingers to the bone to pay for those five years of schooling. But during that time, I also wrote for the college newspaper and won some writing contests. I recall one of my art professors saying, “You should have taken literature courses instead.” (He mentioned this to me in my fourth year- (yeah, nice time to tell me, Mr. K.!)
Now, about the second part of that phrase– those who can't- teach...
I proved my professor right and graduated with a B+ and not the A I had dreamed of getting. And sure enough, I went into teaching.
But those ‘times in the desert’ were some of the most important in my life, and though I wasn’t doing the creative things I wanted to do, it was where I was supposed to be and what the Lord had prepared me for.
And I am forever grateful.
In the high school I’d taught in, I became a listening post (and happy to do so) for a fifteen year-old girl who eventually shared with me that she had been sexually molested by her stepfather. With her admission, and the trust that had grown between us, she allowed me to turn the issue over to the proper authorities.
Another time, I needed to deal with a young man who had managed to lock himself in my classroom with stolen keys and was intent on committing suicide. His mother had died recently, and once again, I was thankful the Lord stepped in and gave me the right words to encourage the boy to get further help.
But what about those who seem to have no gifts, you ask; those who are handicapped or who can’t live on their own? I found that they taught me more than I taught them. For they are teachers, too– they teach us compassion, patience, and the greatest gift of all– love.
So teachers who can, do…
Besides public schools, I taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, and during this time, I learned important lessons about spiritual gifts and fruit of the Spirit. I enjoyed encouraging people in their walk with the Lord, and I was over-the-moon thankful because it gave me direction. Inspired by the Lord, I had a strong desire to get His message of salvation out there through writing.
Now, I could encourage others in a new way and I wake up with joy and anticipation and give thanks daily to the Greatest Teacher–our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So above all, love the Lord and His Word and do your best for Him. If you let him into your heart, He will walk with you in your journey and bless others through you.
May you find your special gift basket– and have a blessed Easter.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
Questions (answer a or b):
a) Do you feel like you’ve ever had to take a second-choice job?
b) What skills, spiritual gifts, or fruits of the Spirit do you feel you’ve been blessed with that you can put to work for the Lord?
Back cover blurb for Heart of Honor:
A teacher is in danger of losing her heart and future to a man who holds a painful secret.
When Beth Pruitt becomes a teacher, she achieves her dream for her future--until she discovers she is bound by old-fashioned contract rules that require her to remain single during her teaching career. While Thomas Gabriel, a ruthless business tycoon lives in silent misery over a family secret...Beth follows the most important lesson plan of her life.
She hopes to save an orphanage but is forced to choose between her work and revealing Thomas Gabriel's heart-breaking secret and losing his love.
A thankful member of a four-generation family of police and military, Patience O’Brien is a public-school art teacher and Christian fiction author. She enjoys writing, reading, and painting. She and her family also own a small rescue ranch for animals and currently enjoy the company of a Palomino horse, a Belgian Malinois, a Dutch Shepherd, and three cats.
FAIRYTALE OPTIMISM IN THE REAL WORLD by MEGAN MILES 4/7/2025 8:10:00 PM BY Patti Shene
FEATURED BOOK:Snow and the Seven Brothers’ Circus
AUTHOR: Megan Miles
PUBLISHER: Legacy of Grace Publishing (Indie Publishing)
GENRE: Christian Historical Romance, Fairytale Retelling
SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Remade. Reloved. Series
TARGET AGE: New Adult (Late teens/20s)
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR MEGAN MILES TO PATTI’S PORCH. MEGAN TALKS ABOUT THE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN FAIRYTALES.
FAIRYTALE OPTIMISM IN THE REAL WORLD
by
Megan Miles
From a young age, I have always been an optimist. A hopeless romantic. A lover of the happily-ever-after stories. And that colored the way I viewed the world and life. Even when my childhood friend tried to explain his “realism” views, I would cheerfully tell him, “When optimism lets you down, just be optimistic it’ll turn out better next time!”
Those ideals get a lot harder to hold onto as you grow up. The world is very quick to tell you (and show you) that reality is far from rose-colored happy endings where the prince comes and everything is saved. It likes to hand you messy, heaping platters full of ugly grief, broken dreams, disappointment, and darkness.
When the idea for Snow and the Seven Brothers’ Circus started to form in my mind several years ago, I didn’t know what the theme of the story would be. I just thought it would be fun to retell Snow White in a circus setting.
Then, as often happens for me, somewhere along the journey of writing, rewriting, and editing, the true depth of the story emerged. I discovered Catherine wasn’t just a girl who ran off to the circus. She was a girl stripped of all her joy and belief because of terrible things that happened to her. I discovered she was a girl searching for a reason to hope again.
Unbeknownst to me, while I crafted this story, I was in the middle of losing hope myself. While nothing I faced was to the degree of grief and loss Catherine faced in the story, I had my own set of broken dreams made worse by major life changes and grief. One thing piled on top of another until I found myself in a dark place, deeply discontent and full of doubt. I knew about God’s promise in Romans 8:28 to work all things for good, but I doubted if I could agree with His version of “good” for my life.
If you’ve ever found yourself in that kind of dark pit, you probably understand why everyone says optimism has no place in the real world. Maybe you agree.
Fairytales are accused of being worthless because people think of them as nothing but rainbows and sunshine that fail to reflect reality. When you actually read fairytales, especially the classics, you see that isn’t the case at all. In fairytales and life alike, bad things happen to good people. Evil wreaks havoc. Things get dark. But that’s not the end of the story.
One of the things God taught me as I fought my way out of that dark place was that He already gave us the end of the story, and the ending makes all the difference in the world for the rest of the story. I won’t spoil the end of Catherine’s story, but forgive me for spoiling the end of ours.
Our Hero has already revealed that at the end of this age, the victory is His. Often when we’re stuck in the muck and mire, we can’t see the Hero at work. It’s hard to believe He’s always with us, but believing that eventually everything will be made right isn’t a childish notion or an unrealistic ideal. It’s a promise given by our Savior.
In that, there is hope.
In that, there is a happily-ever-after better than we can fully imagine.
Being an optimist isn’t about ignoring the hard parts of life; it’s about knowing that no matter how dark and messy things get, the end of the story has already been decided. So, it may not be as innocent (or ignorant) as it was when I was younger, but I’m choosing to be an optimist again. I’m still a hopeless romantic. I still love my happily-ever-after stories.
If you’re having trouble believing in that, my prayer is that when you pick up my story, you’ll find a reason to hold onto hope again. Do what I did and ask God to show it to you. He will be faithful.
I believe that I shall lookupon the
goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take
courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:13-14 ESV
Blurb for Snow and the Seven Brothers’ Circus
Blinding spotlights.
Roaring cheers from an adoring crowd.
Every fiber of her being gliding on the wings of euphoria.
Upon her twenty-first birthday, Catherine Penner is set to inherit her late parents' vast estate and thriving coal mines, if she can make it to her birthday. An undiagnosed wasting disease threatens to steal her life, leaving her parents' legacy in the hands of her cold guardian.
Fighting to hold onto hope in the face of her own demise, Catherine reflects on the one bright spot in her life. Like another lifetime altogether, Catherine remembers a time when she was known by a different name. A time where she found belonging and purpose at the Seven Brothers' Circus, but even those beautiful memories come with painful reminders of what's been stolen from her.
As Catherine wrestles with the hopeless meaning of her short life and her fragile health, it becomes clear that something sinister is playing with her future. Will she find enough hope to push through to a promising future? Or will her life fade away like her beautiful memories?
Buy links for Snow and the Seven Brothers’ Circus:
Megan Miles’s biggest passion centers around creating character-driven historical fiction with themes reflecting God’s grace. After penning her first story at nine-years-old, writing became an unstoppable habit that has filled her free time and her dreams ever since. When she isn't writing or working, she has a tendency to volley between every hobby under the sun, including reading, sewing, growing succulents, or playing with her dog.
Megan is a member of ACFW and can be found online at her “bookstagram” account, @mmiles.author, Facebook, or through her website.
