penstemon publications

During a year that I was fortunate enough to spend in Africa, I created a weekly blog, Come to Africa with Me, geared for the elementary age audience. While researching the history of Mozambique for my blog, I came across a story that haunted me and kept begging to be written. I’ve done my best to bring it to life in White Shadow, a newly-published historical novel. I am a freelance journalist and have worked as a lifestyle magazine editor and newspaper staff reporter. I currently write for North Forty News, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, my hometown, a job that satisfies my intense curiosity about human beings, their quirks, enthusiasms and motivations. I blog frequently on all sorts of subjects at libjames.blogspot.com. My middle grade novels, Running Mates, Frisbee Dreams and Muffin Magic for younger readers, are loosely based on experiences in my life and with my children and grandchildren. When I’m not writing, I relax by creating OldBags, notecards and bookmarks made from used tea bags. I empty and iron tea bags and use them as small canvases, enhancing the stains produced by the tea leaves. To counteract the effects of sitting, I dig in the dirt in my backyard and get outdoors as often as possible. I’ve been hitting the running road for more than 40 years, long enough to earn some age group American and world records along the way. I’ve been a member of the Colorado Running Hall of Fame since 2012, and in 2016 was inducted into the USATF Masters Running Hall of Fame. I have two sons, two daughters, four in-laws and a dozen grandchildren. I cherish every one and work hard to keep up with them all-and remember all their birthdays.