Touching Lives and Hearts Through Storytelling

A BAXTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS
What is it that people love about the Baxter family? Karen Kingsbury says, “They are the family people remember having, or the family they never had. Through tragedy and triumph, they stick together whether or not they agree.” The newest book in the Baxter narrative, A Baxter Family Christmas, shows how God wants us to forgive one another.  

Two years have passed since the terrible car accident that took the life of John Baxter’s daughter Erin, her husband and three of their four daughters. Prompted by grief, and missing his daughter, John has invited a stranger for Christmas Eve dinner-Kendra Bryant, the transplant recipient who now has Erin’s heart. In light of their father’s idea, Ashley and her brother Luke don’t think it’s right. They want to protect their ten-year-old niece, Amy- the only surviving member of the accident. But John is determined and believes meeting this woman is something his deceased daughter would want. At the same time, Maddie West, the eighteen-year old daughter of Brooke Baxter West, is praying for meaning this Christmas. Could she find it in a newfound friendship with a boy she never expected to see again? Maddie believes in miracles, especially at Christmastime, but this is a stretch even she can’t imagine. Meanwhile, Kendra Bryant has been struggling these past few years to find purpose in the tragedy that gave her a second chance. He believes the invitation to see the Baxters and witness their unwavering faith in God can instill peace and happiness back into her life.

Heartwarming and touching, filled with love and redemption, A Baxter Family Christmas bring together two families in the aftermath of loss and in the midst of an unfolding love story, all with the help of one very special child.

WRITING SUCCESS
“I always knew I wanted to be a writer,” says Karen. “It is just something I was born with. I consider it a true gift from God.” After graduating from college in 1986, Karen became a full time reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Her first book, Missy’s Murder, was based on a murder story she covered in Los Angeles as a reporter. She sold a version of the story to People magazine in 1989. A New York agent read her People story and asked her for a book proposal. The book hit stores in 1992. She then wrote three more true crime novels. Next she wrote four collections of answered prayers and miracle stories under the name Kelsey Tyler before transitioning to inspirational fiction in 1998.

Her first novel, Where Yesterday Lives, was a real challenge for Karen to get published. Although publishing companies said they liked the story, they were not sure what to do with it since it didn’t contain foul language and had no sex scenes. Finally, the Christian publishing house Multnomah published her novel and gave her a multi-book contract. Her books made a real connection with contemporary fiction fans. Since her first novel, Karen has written more than 60 faith-based novels, 15 of which have hit #1 on national lists. There are 25 million copies of her award-winning books in print. 

KAREN’S TESTIMONY
Karen was raised in a denominational faith, which gave her a strong belief in God and an ear to His calling. But she did not have a relationship with Christ until she met Don, the man she would eventually marry. She met Don at a local health club in Southern California. Right away she recognized that Don was a clean cut guy who wasn’t into drugs or drinking and was in the process of trying to learn as much as he could about God. Don suggested a date with a kicker, "Can I bring my Bible? Maybe we could read it before the movie?” Karen found that request rather strange. She had never even opened a Bible before, but agreed to his unusual request. That night Don wanted to read Philippians. She could tell his Bible was very important to him.

For the next three months, Don was constantly bringing up the Bible as a source of discussion and debate. "There were times when I was so sick of talking about the Bible,” Karen says. "I understand now that God was convicting me, trying to open my ears to the importance of His truth. But at the time it felt only like conflict. We were in our mid-20s; it was summer in Southern California. I wanted to go to the beach; Don wanted to go to the Bible," remembers Karen. Their opposing interests eventually led to a crisis. After Don showed Karen a Bible verse that made her feel uncomfortable, she took his Bible and threw it on the ground. It hit the road hard and the binding broke down the middle. He picked the pieces up without saying a word, and quietly, sadly, he climbed in his car and left.

That weekend was a life-changing one for Karen. The next morning Karen headed to the bookstore and bought her first Bible. In the quiet of her room, Karen looked up key words that represented her traditions. It took about five minutes for her to figure out that those words weren't even in the Bible. It was then than Karen felt God telling her to let go of her man-made beliefs and grab hold of His Scripture. She called Don to apologize. The next week Karen and Don began looking for a Bible believing church. Karen began falling in love with God’s word, which eventually led her to write Christian fiction.

Dubbed by Time magazine as the “queen” of Christian fiction, Karen receives tens of thousands of letters from readers who say that Karen’s fiction has dramatically changed their lives. These letters and e-testimonials of improved marriages, spiritual awakenings and new found hope have enabled her to formally trademark her work Life-Changing Fiction. Karen’s novels have been a magnet for film and television producers. Many of her books have been made into movies, such as, Like Dandelion Dust, A Time to Dance, and The Bridge.