Exciting news! Dicing with Disaster, Book 1 in my new Blender Adventures series has launched. The series includes four novels about a blended family for readers ages 8-12 (and above).

What girl wants a blender for her twelfth birthday? Not Emily Hanford. But Dad’s poor gift choice fades in light of her suspicions that he’s beginning to date. That would be a disaster, unless Emily introduces him to the right woman. Her life spirals out of control as she experiences flashbacks and anxiety. Friends offer advice on living with a single parent, talking to boys, and even understanding math. But will Emily receive the help she really needs? Can she accept her dad’s dating and come to terms with her mother’s death? And will she discover the hope of her true home?

Here’s what readers have to say about Dicing with Disaster:

Dicing with Disaster is a humorous story that draws you into a young girl’s life, takes you on a rollercoaster of change, and leaves you with a sweet message of hope. Glenda Faye Mathes’s characters are so relatable, you will find yourself missing them as soon as you turn the last page.

—Susan R. Lawrence, author of The Long Ride Home and The Blue Marble

Readers who appreciate the Matthew in the Middle series by Glenda Faye Mathes will be delighted to see her new series, Blender Adventures. Book 1, Dicing with Disaster, features young Emily as she experiences trauma associated with the loss of her mother, compounded by her father’s dating and the normal challenges for her age. The book’s captivating cover is a perfect portrayal of the story’s mood and pace. As always, Mathes makes the narration and dialogues gripping and realistic, leading to lasting lessons that take place as naturally as they would in real life.

—Simonetta Carr, author of the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series and her comprehensive work, Church History

If I had read Emily’s story when I experienced loss at her age, I would have felt seen and understood. Loss during the developing teen years is devastating and detrimental, but grieving young people can benefit from this intimate and relatable narrative. Dicing with Disaster realistically portrays the unique dynamics and complexities of loss, but also the hope that still exists in the midst of grief. May this novel serve as a sounding board to normalize mental health and societal concerns for young teens and tweens, an often-overlooked population. 

—Kaitlin Johannsen, LMHC, Clinical Therapist and Guidance Counselor

Available on Amazon and other outlets.