Welcome from Barbara Ann Derksen

Welcome everyone. Whether you have accessed this page from somewhere on the North American continent, from Asia, Africa, Japan, the UK or any number of other places around the world, I want you to feel free to make yourself at home. Wander through the pages of photographs, articles and other information to see what makes me tic.

Writing these days has proven to be a study in futility. I just released a new devotional – Two Up – but work on the mystery is halted due to family issues. If you are a praying person, please add my siblings and I to your prayer list as we contemplate the home-going of our mother. Any day now the Lord will also be taking a brother-in-law home to be with Him as well. This part of living is stressful; not only for the ones leaving behind their family members, but also for the loved ones left to fill the gaping void left by the person they loved so much.

My mother has been a tremendous influence in my life. She has always been a reader and instilled in me the love of the written word. She’s encouraged me a great deal as I’ve put pen to paper in whatever format. She’s also instilled organizational skills in me that stand me in good stead whether as a mother myself or as a writer who needs to meet deadlines, self imposed or otherwise.

I encourage all of you who write one way or another, letters included or the internet, to look within yourself and find the amazing treasures your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, have given you – treasures that are so much a part of who you are that you tend to take them for granted.

My tour schedule this summer consists primarily of biker rallies. Last year, when Straight Pipes was showcased at these rallies, several people approached to encourage my writing by saying how much the book meant to them. One young man even told me that he found God in the pages of the book. A couple of others phoned our evangelist with CMA to commit their life to the Lord after reading the book. This book and the new devotional, Two Up, are God’s idea, one I questioned at first, to encourage those in the biking community. Any fruit that comes from them are His and His alone. I am His servant.

I still intend to complete the edit phase of my new mystery “With Warped Certainty” but I have decided that this title is only a working title. I plan to begin work on it again this fall. In the meantime, I have moved permanently to Canada. My husband and I plan to open the Canadian market – heretofore untapped – to our creative works. God is in this move so He has a plan and we intend to join Him in that plan.

Our children’s lives continue to move forward. Lindsay, and her husband Chris, have accepted a pastorate at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. They purchased a three bedroom bungalow with a walk out basement where Lindsay has set up shop as a private piano teacher. She has acquired nine students and has happily conducted her first recital. Chris, her husband, pastors over 200 people and is busier than ever with all that entails. They have added a Lhasa Apso puppy named Sadie to their menagerie of two cats.

Chris and Karissa, with children Eden and Jericho, and Stephen and Jen, live in Steinbach, Manitoba Canada, Steve works for Biovail Pharmaceuticals as a shift foreman and Chris works for Excellerate Technologies – as a Xerox Consultant. Karissa is a busy full time mom and Jen continues to excel in her role as stepmother to Steve’s children, Jessica, Tyler, Harley and Tristan. Todd and Susan with their two children, Megan and Travis, are still in Red Deer Alberta, also in Canada. Todd is a Microsoft Technician and Susan works full time for Christian Motorcyclists Association Canada in their head office in Red Deer.

Fans and friends alike can visit http://www.cdbaby.com/ to listen to HC Derksen’s latest CD and to purchase his music. You can also visit his website at http://www.hcderksen.com/.

Please visit both of our websites often. Remember God loves you and He’s the only one that counts.