About this Site
Welcome! We have created this site with today’s woman in mind; women who love the Lord, have busy lives, pray, need healing, cook, want to help others, work, and also need some inspiration and relaxation from time to time. Our bi-weekly posts are designed to help you through the week, with easy recipes along with stories shared by a variety of women from all walks of life.
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About the Book
“Someone you know needs this book!” Julie Barnhill, bestselling author of One Tough Mother.
You’re suddenly single again…
What do you do now? Where do you turn? Starting From Scratch When You’re Single Again carries the voices of twenty-three women who have, through divorce or death of a loved one, survived a horrific blow to their dreams of happiness and security.
Their experiences resound with the message that you can get through the grief, and not only will you survive; you will thrive!
Let each woman’s story and the guidance she offers be an encouragement to you as you rebuild your life.
Click here to READ AN EXCERPT.
TITLE: Starting from Scratch When You’re Single Again
AUTHORS: Sharon Knudson and Mary Fran Heitzman
PUBLISHER: Strang/Christian Life
RELEASED: September, 2008 PAPERBACK: 214 pages
ISBN: 978-1599792545 PRICE: $14.99
Now available in Spanish: CLICK HERE to order the Spanish version from Amazon.com.
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FREE STUDY GUIDE AVAILABLE
For personal or small group use, Spanish guide available soon.
Download and print the PDF file by clicking here:
“Starting From Scratch” Study Guide
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What people are saying about the book…
“This book is like a compendium of advice for what to do when disaster strikes. Themes such as depending on God to enter fully into your experience and standing firm against bitterness reverberate.”
–Dr. Jim Burns, president of HomeWord, author, and radio host
“If you have lost a spouse through death or divorce and longed for someone to understand the depth of your pain, read this book. Authors Sharon Knudson and Mary Fran Heitzman share women’s stories–including their own–of unimaginable loss and eventual healing. Poignant, tragic, humorous, yet always memorable. You’ll find a reason to hope again.”
–Joan C. Webb, author, speaker, and life coach
“This book is filled with page after page of hope. These stories allow the reader to learn from real women who were willing to share how God helped them turn from sorrow and move toward their futures.”
–Jane Kise, EdD, author of LifeKeys: Discover Who You Are
“Just because you’re divorced or widowed doesn’t mean it’s the end of your life. Statistically, we know that most people marry again. The stories and guiding principles in this book can serve to equip people so they are less apt to make the same mistakes twice. Starting from Scratch When You’re Single Again shows how to heal and move on, but also proves that keeping God central in marriage–and every area of your life–is key.”
–Wilfred G. Sager, EdD, retired marriage and family therapist
About Us
Sharon M. Knudson is a full-time freelance writer with over 400 publications in 50 different periodicals. She collaborated on six books for Christian authors before signing a contract with a major publishing house for a book of her own. Sharon speaks at Christian conferences, events and retreats. She is past-president of the 130-member Minnesota Christian Writers Guild, and is a Ministry Partner with the Lutheran Evangelistic Movement (L.E.M). In August, 2000 she was chosen Christian Writer of the Year by the American Christian Writers Association.
A former church organist and choir director, Sharon holds bachelors and masters degrees in music education, theory and composition. She has held administrative positions at four universities, most recently Northwestern College in Roseville. She has two grown daughters, a terrific son-in-law, and three grandchildren. She and her husband Bob are active as deacons, altar ministers, and Cleansing Stream leaders at North Heights Lutheran Church, a mega-church with two campuses in Arden Hills and Roseville, Minnesota. Her hobbies include reading, photography, gardening, and Hardunger cutwork embroidery.
Mary Fran Heitzman is a certified member of Toastmasters International and co-facilitates a Faith Interaction group at her church. In addition to coauthoring Starting from Scratch When You’re Single Again, Mary Fran writes essays, poetry, and magazine articles and is currently president of the 130-member Minnesota Christian Writers Guild. When she isn’t writing, she works with her husband at Heitzman Financial Group in Bloomington, Minnesota.
JoEllen Sue “Susie” Reuter keeps herself busy with jobs as a website designer and also a compassionate Humane Association Animal Caretaker. She is also a foster mom to several different pets at a time, and usually has a kitten or two on her lap when she is typing her blog posts late at night. Her boyfriend, John, appreciates her years of experience as a chef and culinary student, and it is usually his dinner plate that is pictured in the photos on this site. She has turned this website into her personal recipe file/cookbook, using the search feature on this site for her favorite recipes instead of dragging out the cookbooks every night. She has lived in New York, California, and Texas, and currently lives in chilly Eau Claire, WI, with her 2 cats and dog.
Special Thanks
Some say writing a book is a solitary endeavor. We know better, and offer special thanks to the following people…
Our 21 Starting from Scratch women, each of whom shared their stories with grace and transparency.
Cyndy Salzmann, our former publicist. She believed in our message and worked to make it visible in a thousand ways.
Martha “Matti” Stevenson, our publicist who exposed us to a wealth of her personal and business contacts.
Greg Johnson, our agent at WordServe Literary. He gave us good advice at all the right times.
Jessie Nilo, our graphic designer, who spent many hours making sure our book cover, promotional pieces and website banner looked just so.
Brady Schmidt, our photographer. He took three-hundred pictures and was gracious throughout.
Everyone at Strang Communications who gave our English and Spanish books the look and feel of excellence.
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This page has the following sub pages.
Sharon and Mary Fran, I wanted to thank you, again, for the book. I very much enjoyed reading it and have published my book review of it. You can read my BOOK REVIEW at http://anovelmenagerie.com/ghost/2008/12/15/starting-from-scratch/
Thank you for a book that meant so much!
Sheri
A Novel Menagerie
BookCharming.Com
I would like to purchase a copy of your book “Starting From Scratch” . . . I’ve been there! I AM there!
Thanks! Cathy
Do you know of a book like this that would be helpful from a Man’s point of view? Whether a widower or divorced or separated?
Sandy, we don’t know of any books dealing with this issue from a male perspective. However, Sharon has started her next book, and it will cover topics that are useful to men, parents, families, and more. Stay tuned for more updates in the future!