Deb Kinnard started writing at age ten, frustrated because there was no preteen girl with a horse on “Bonanza.” From there she progressed to short stories and really bad poetry.

In college, she gained two degrees in health care and spent time observing hippies, basketball stars, el-ed majors and other strange species.

While raising two active girls and cherishing a husband, she enjoyed a career that has encompassed Spanish translation, volunteer work at a crisis line, years in assorted ERs that don’t resemble the one on TV, and a day job at a big Chicago teaching hospital.

She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, serves as secretary to the Chicago-Northwest Chapter, and confesses to being a loud singer at church. In 2002 and 2003, she sold her first and second novels, Powerline and Oakwood to Treble Heart Books. Angel With a Ray Gun was released in 2006, “Something Borrowed” in the Brides and Bouquets 2007 anthology, and My Silent Heart in November 2007, all by ByGrace Publishing.

When Deb’s not at the computer writing, she keeps busy with reading, playing the guitar, and needlework. She loves to travel and meet new people, some of whom turn up later in her stories.

So if you meet a short woman with a light in her eye…

Deb’s Books:

To order any of Deb’s books, just click on the book cover and it will take you to the order page.

MY SILENT HEART

Diane Marshall knows loads–live loads, dynamic loads, dead loads, all part of life as a construction manager. She’s used to carrying hers, as a woman in a man’s career. After her boyfriend fell hard for someone else, can her private load get any heavier? In DeBrett, Paul Cameron funds the church renovation, so he’s assigned to co-manage. Diane is stuck with adjusting to small town life and dealing with a widower who apparently wants a memorial to his lost wife. Paul is stuck working with a person who attracts him—the last thing he wants. Somehow this project will teach them to trust God in a whole new way. Now if they can only figure out how…

BRIDES AND BOUQUETS 2007

“Something Borrowed”: “Eagle” Scott Delaney is every young woman’s dream. With everything to offer, he fears he’s incapable of falling in love. “Turtle” Leah Tillman has felt inferior to her lovely, accomplished sister all her life. Thrown together as attendants to her sister’s wedding, this unlikely pair borrow something — God’s grace to seek happiness together.

ANGEL WITH A RAY GUN

Matt Greenlee mixes an active ministry with science fiction writing under a pen name. When he’s assigned a new—female—editor, Matt scents disaster. What sort of damage will she do his next bestseller? Secretly he fears attraction, considering himself poor husband material. How can he risk his heart? AJ Mercer edits books for a living, and she’s good at it. Matt as an author is a challenge. As a man, even more so. Her wingy, crystal-power, anything-goes mother advises her to go with the flow. AJ’s offbeat upbringing has left her wary of both Christianity and men, but she’s attracted to her client. The gloves are off—his biases versus her need for success. When these two mix it up over a book, can they find happiness, either loving or literary?

OAKWOOD

Carrie Montoya’s life contains a double challenge: a physical therapy career and jettisoning her Hispanic heritage, Her client, Randy Sinclair, is challenged both physically and emotionally. With Carrie trying to reinvent herself, and Randy pushing friendship away with both hands, they enter into an unlikely contract. Gradually this mismatched pair learns there’s a lot more to rehab than getting back on one’s feet.

POWERLINE

Cassandra McAdam volunteers at the church-sponsored crisis line. With a wall around her heart due to early losses, she believes she hasn’t much to offer the callers. A devastated man calls the Powerline to discuss his thoughts of suicide. Jeff Hadley recently lost his wife, so he questions why a loving God allows such suffering. Though caller and client are not suposed to meet, an accident brings them face-to-face. Jeff realizes Cassie’s voice is that of the woman on Powerline. Cassie soon wonders if a relationship based on helping can possibly turn into a partnership of equals.