I started out this morning planning to write—it’s the King’s Daughters’ Writing Camp March camp, and I'm determined to finish 4 WIPs this month—but as I tried to figure out what this new story was, I began writing something that I knew was actually for my newsletter.

For several years, I've wanted to write a story called Anything because I didn’t submit to the Anything anthology and I’ve regretted it for 6 years. I finally had an idea and decided to write it this camp. But you know me and my ideas. They’re more of an inspiration than an idea. I have this cover (don’t judge, I made it those 6 years ago)

plus a verse (Genesis 18:14) and half a story I began last year for the Peace anthology but never finished. So when I began writing this morning I essentially had to figure out where this was going and what it was about.

I ended up writing a 99% nonfictional account of myself lately, realized it didn’t fit into the story, decided the Lord wanted me to share it, and hopped over here to tell the real tale.

I might have mentioned before that I enjoy Marco Polo-ing friends while I take walks. I haven’t walked all winter but I finally took my first walk of 2026 last week, and as I did so I Marco Polo-ed my friends. Since it’s been literal months since I talked to them, I gave a more or less quick update of my life. And to one of them, I explained the Wedding Saga.

You see, I was asked to be a bridesmaid for the first time by a close friend who basically saved my life 6 years ago by being there during my most depressed and suicidal years. I had already told her I’d be at her wedding; my parents already agreed to take me there. But due to circumstances beyond control, the wedding got moved from somewhere near me to basically as far away from me as it could get within the same continent. I’d have to fly.

I’ve only flown once in my life (and I was sick as a dog so that was fun) but it was across my own country. I’ve never flown internationally—and I have some long-held trauma about border crossing that makes me extra anxious about flying internationally. There’s also my health. I’d have to travel with someone. The mutual friend I’d expected to go with didn’t think she could go. My mother’s tied down by home affairs she couldn’t delegate. My father couldn’t find a replacement to preach for him the weekend of the wedding. My siblings work.

So I prayed. December, January... I prayed pretty much daily. At first I was positive God would do something. Optimistically, I didn’t fully realize the obstacles in the way. After a few conversations, I began to see it was probably a no-go, and I’d have to tell my friend I wasn’t gonna make it. The deadline to tell her was February. As the time got closer, so did my anxiety. I began to wonder if maybe I was just selfish, refusing to consider travelling alone because I was worried about stepping outside of my comfort zone.

Eventually, I called a friend and asked for her advice. After an hour’s chat, we agreed that I just couldn’t fly alone. I hung up pretty sure I had to text my friend to say it was all off.

Four days later, I knew I had to tell her it was all off. I picked up my phone to do it, put it down again.

Then my father walked in and casually announced he’d bought the tickets.

I was going. God had opened doors.

But now I had a new worry. What about a bridesmaid dress? I knew it would be terribly difficult to find one that fit all necessary requirements. For the last month and a half, I’ve been worrying over it.

As I told my friend this whole story on Marco Polo, a thought just hit me square in the forehead.

If God got me to the wedding, he’ll get me wedding clothes.

If he can open a door, he can equip me to walk through it.

I’d been so busy worrying I forgot about the prayers he’d already answered.

So, what else am I worrying about that is actually in his hands? 😉

With love,

Katja

|| Monthly Freebie ||

// I am featured in The Bookworm: Spring Edition! It is a Christian and clean reader’s guide featuring over 100 books in a variety of genres. Peruse the selection and find some books to add to your purchase list or to-read pile. You can download your copy here.

// Rachel Kovaciny’s Dancing & Doughnuts was chosen as ONE Audiobooks’ free audiobook for March. You can add the book to your listening library in March, and you have until the 1st of June to listen to it. This was one of my favourites of Rachel’s books, so if you like Westerns, non-magical fairy tale retellings, humour, and/or mysteries, then check it out here! 😉

|| News ||

// The Peace anthology was published! My short story in here is about 2,000 words and connected to Myriam Carey’s stories in Act in the Living Present and My Roots Shall Run Down. 😉

// The LBFJ Story Contest is back!! After a great first trial in Quarter 1, I decided to host the contest again for a second quarter. The Google Form to submit stories will be coming shortly. Please do read the rules as we have some new ones. 😉

// The A Noble Comfort hardcovers will be disappearing shortly. All the information as to why can be found here. I plan to pull them the first week of April. (And no, ANC didn’t win the OUAP Awards, but I’m happy we made it to the finals.)

// I am currently searching for beta-readers for the rewritten and expanded version of My Roots Shall Run Down, which can be read as a standalone. The deadline to read the book is August 1, 2026; and potential triggers are anxiety, tension, and a few verbal attacks. If you’re interested, you can sign up here!

Relocating to the English countryside for her health was the last thing Myriam Carey wanted to do … but can mothering her little cousins teach a lesson which brings true rest to her soul? 

// I am currently hosting a read-along for ANC! We are only on week 2 (chapter 3) so if you want to join us there is still time to catch up and enjoy all the extra stuff. We have decided to do this on Slack instead, and I am having fun recording myself reading chapters aloud, sharing pictures of the original handwritten draft, dropping in plenty of behind-the-scenes info, and that type of fun. 😉 If you’re interested in participating, drop me a comment here!

|| A Poll ||

Our last poll result was 25% “Yes,” 25% “I don’t care,” and 50% “I’d like to try for a while and then vote again.” 

And the new poll is here: Would you rather answer several questions about the newsletter in a form, OR fill out a poll answering these questions every month?

Answer Here

|| Posts ||

• My Thoughts on Clean Fiction
• The Smashing & Dashing 2025 Character Awards
• The Once Upon A Time Book Tag
• January Wrap-Up // 2026 Edition

|| A Thought ||

Spring has sprung (or nearly) and the Redwall song “The Gates of Spring” has been in my head for ages, so I thought I’d share, because I think it sums up the feeling of March so well 💙 You can find the lyrics here. I also thought I’d share this poem by John Newton which I apparently sent someone else and she sent it back to me to mention how much she loved it and now I love it all over again and want to share it. You can listen to it sung here.

Kindly spring again is here,

Trees and fields in bloom ap­pear;

Hark! the birds with art­less lays

Warble their cre­at­or’s praise.

Where in win­ter all was snow,

Now the flow­ers in clus­ters grow;

And the corn, in green ar­ray,

Promises a har­vest-day.

Lord, af­ford a spring to me,

Let me feel like what I see;

Speak, and by thy gra­cious voice,

Make my droop­ing soul re­joice.

On thy gar­den deign to smile,

Raise the plants, en­rich the soil;

Soon thy pre­sence will re­store

Life to what seemed dead be­fore.

P.S. Feel free to reply to this email and tell me about your day, your month, or your last favourite quote! 💙