A Fictional Place - part 2

It was about the 1850's when Kye Valley started getting settled.  Several farms and small ranches were started up and down the valley.  William Kye owned the largest farm at the western end of the valley.  He later bought land next to his farm and plotted out the town that was named after him.

In the late 1800s lumber became a big industry in the valley.  A lumber mill started in the town of Kye Valley.  Two wagon roads started with one on each side of the Shaw River.  Lumber was brought down from the hills, down the wagon roads and into the town of Kye Valley.

The towns of Kye Valley, Gold Prairie, and Shaw Falls each had its own covered bridge that spanned the river.  All three were painted white.  In the 1920s Gold Prairie's bridge caught fire and burned.  The town leaders decided to replace it with a steel bridge.  But the residents of the town and neighboring farms protested that they wanted another covered bridge to replace the one that was lost.  A new covered bridge ended up being built there.  The new one was wider and taller to accommodate automobile traffic more easily.  It was painted white just like the ones at Kye Valley and Shaw Falls.

A Fictional Place - part 1

Wheatland County  begins in the eastern part of Oregon's great Willamette Valley.  It runs east across the foothills of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains.  In Wheatland County there is a narrow valley that is about 20 miles east of Interstate 5.  It stretches 40 miles east into the foothills.  The Shaw River traverses across this valley.  An old country highway runs along side of the river.  The valley is surrounded by a series of interlocking hills known as the Evergreen Hills, and it is dotted by three small towns that are nestled beside the river.  The towns are Kye Valley, Gold Prairie, and Shaw Falls.  The valley floor is mainly blanketed by farmland.  This is Kye Valley.

Most of my stories take place in this valley.

Blogger Note

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Isaiah 9:2 NIV

There are different things that I'm thinking about doing with this blog.  One of the ideas that I have is eventually sharing some excerpts from my finished stories.  Another idea that I have is to tell about some of the main characters from the stories.  I'm also thinking about describing the fictional places where the stories take place.  I hope that what's presented here will encourage and inspire people.

For right now I will probably adding posts just on the weekends.  I hope everyone has a good week.  :)


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

God's Great Love

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 NIV

It doesn't matter what we're going through, or what we've done, or how far we have wandered away.  God still loves us.  His forgiveness is great and so is His compassion.  Lamentations 3:22-23 says "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." NIV

That's what I want to show in the stories that I write.  It's the message in how the characters deal with the issues that come up in their lives.  Which way is the right way to go?  Is God still there to help them?  Is God still on the throne?


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

A Favorite Verse

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."  Psalm 45:1 NIV

God has called me to write.  I want to write inspirational stories that encourage people in the things of God.  I have been working on some story collections.  I would like to get a couple of them published in about a year or so.

Currently I am working on two stories.  "Boundaries" is being edited into a second draft.  "Sweet Nathaniel's Eyes" is in the first draft with what I like to call a working title.  The title may change later.

Over time I would like to share excerpts from some of my finished stories.  I hope people will enjoy them.  :)